menos
Veteran
When I got my used sample, one of the first things, I did was adjusting the vertical alignment, which was quite a bit off, making focussing on diagonal lines hit and miss and checking the infinity focus.
I did not have to touch the infinity focus by much and did not have to adjust rangefinder focus itself, as this is spot on.
After the setting, I shot the R-D1 for a few days mainly with the 50 Lux ASPH and had reliable, spot on focus.
Yesterday evening, I headed out for some more shooting was a bit too adventurous.
I flipped the LCD closed and just shot. I did better not rely on the R-D1 rangefinder. All shots (as in a.l.l.) are out of focus. It is just the tiniest bit out of focus, that ruins the shot but could possibly not be seen in a very small print. Brilliance is completely lost this way.
I inspected the camera further and took endless focussing samples in my apartment on several ranges. All shots out of focus.
I did not conduct another setting session yesterday, but got a bottle of green Loctite and plan to remove the top plate and do a proper full adjustment this night (wish me a clear sky - the moon would be ideal).
I exposed another issue, that next to the tilted bright lines in the viewfinder, the parallax correction is completely out of whack, causing completely wrong framing (cut off right frame, too much left frame).
Together with the very loose leather on my sample (I thought it was just from aging) - I now suspect some unqualified adjustments being made by the former owner.
Has anybody have had "focus creep" issues with their camera?
Has anybody had a misaligned brightline (tilt and parallax) and have it had repaired properly?
There is little to find, other than "tilted brightlines - repair under warranty from EPSON".
I am a bit stumped now and do not plan, to get lost with crop body purchases (M8s are always smiling at me from the shop window).
Having shot the M6 yesterday too, I must say, there is quite some substantial difference in feel and precision to the R-D1 and first doubts come up except the great handling and the exhibited image quality, I got from the sensor
I did not have to touch the infinity focus by much and did not have to adjust rangefinder focus itself, as this is spot on.
After the setting, I shot the R-D1 for a few days mainly with the 50 Lux ASPH and had reliable, spot on focus.
Yesterday evening, I headed out for some more shooting was a bit too adventurous.
I flipped the LCD closed and just shot. I did better not rely on the R-D1 rangefinder. All shots (as in a.l.l.) are out of focus. It is just the tiniest bit out of focus, that ruins the shot but could possibly not be seen in a very small print. Brilliance is completely lost this way.
I inspected the camera further and took endless focussing samples in my apartment on several ranges. All shots out of focus.
I did not conduct another setting session yesterday, but got a bottle of green Loctite and plan to remove the top plate and do a proper full adjustment this night (wish me a clear sky - the moon would be ideal).
I exposed another issue, that next to the tilted bright lines in the viewfinder, the parallax correction is completely out of whack, causing completely wrong framing (cut off right frame, too much left frame).
Together with the very loose leather on my sample (I thought it was just from aging) - I now suspect some unqualified adjustments being made by the former owner.
Has anybody have had "focus creep" issues with their camera?
Has anybody had a misaligned brightline (tilt and parallax) and have it had repaired properly?
There is little to find, other than "tilted brightlines - repair under warranty from EPSON".
I am a bit stumped now and do not plan, to get lost with crop body purchases (M8s are always smiling at me from the shop window).
Having shot the M6 yesterday too, I must say, there is quite some substantial difference in feel and precision to the R-D1 and first doubts come up except the great handling and the exhibited image quality, I got from the sensor
bennyng
Benny Ng
I've got both the R-D1 and R-D1s and had to sent one of them in for a slight RF alignment. Other than that, no issues with any of the problems such as loose leather, inaccurate parallax correction, etc.
Cheers,
Cheers,
Paul T.
Veteran
My R-D1's vertical alignment was off; it irritated me on other cameras I owned, but I learned to live with it on the Epson.
On the bright side, there's no reason why you should have any worse problems than are encountered on the Bessas; it's not an orphan camera in the way the Hexar RF is.
On the bright side, there's no reason why you should have any worse problems than are encountered on the Bessas; it's not an orphan camera in the way the Hexar RF is.
LCT
ex-newbie
The vertical alignment of both my R-D1 and R-D1s were off as well. The R-D1 was easy to adjust through the hotshoe but the vertical alignment screw of the R-D1s was inactive so i've had to send it in to Epson under warranty. No problems since then but the R-D1 needs some little adjustments from time to time. I treat the R-D1s more gently as it is still impossible to adjust the RF through the hotshoe and i'm not skilled enough to remove the top plate of the camera.
guyplatt
NewToRangefinders
Same here
Same here
Dirk,
Sorry to hear about your focusing problems, I am in pretty much the same boat. After spending some time to adjust the horizontal focus I went out a couple of times with poor ligth and tried shooting wide open. I couldn't get anything in focus at all. Extremely disappointing. I cam home and test ted the focus in better light and found that the horizontal focus is off again.
I never did manage to get the vertical perfect but I got used to it.
Today we had super light and I shot only at F8 and F11 and everything came back looking great.
I have an M8 but I actually prefer using the RD-1. However I worry what to do. It doesn't seem worth it to send the camera off for adjustment UNLESS there is a way of tightening up the mechanism so it doesn't come loose again so fast.
regards
Guy
Same here
Dirk,
Sorry to hear about your focusing problems, I am in pretty much the same boat. After spending some time to adjust the horizontal focus I went out a couple of times with poor ligth and tried shooting wide open. I couldn't get anything in focus at all. Extremely disappointing. I cam home and test ted the focus in better light and found that the horizontal focus is off again.
I never did manage to get the vertical perfect but I got used to it.
Today we had super light and I shot only at F8 and F11 and everything came back looking great.
I have an M8 but I actually prefer using the RD-1. However I worry what to do. It doesn't seem worth it to send the camera off for adjustment UNLESS there is a way of tightening up the mechanism so it doesn't come loose again so fast.
regards
Guy
Yesterday evening, I headed out for some more shooting was a bit too adventurous.
I flipped the LCD closed and just shot. I did better not rely on the R-D1 rangefinder. All shots (as in a.l.l.) are out of focus. It is just the tiniest bit out of focus, that ruins the shot but could possibly not be seen in a very small print. Brilliance is completely lost this way.
I inspected the camera further and took endless focussing samples in my apartment on several ranges. All shots out of focus.
I did not conduct another setting session yesterday, but got a bottle of green Loctite and plan to remove the top plate and do a proper full adjustment this night (wish me a clear sky - the moon would be ideal).
I exposed another issue, that next to the tilted bright lines in the viewfinder, the parallax correction is completely out of whack, causing completely wrong framing (cut off right frame, too much left frame).
Together with the very loose leather on my sample (I thought it was just from aging) - I now suspect some unqualified adjustments being made by the former owner.
Has anybody have had "focus creep" issues with their camera?
Has anybody had a misaligned brightline (tilt and parallax) and have it had repaired properly?
There is little to find, other than "tilted brightlines - repair under warranty from EPSON".
I am a bit stumped now and do not plan, to get lost with crop body purchases (M8s are always smiling at me from the shop window).
Having shot the M6 yesterday too, I must say, there is quite some substantial difference in feel and precision to the R-D1 and first doubts come up except the great handling and the exhibited image quality, I got from the sensor
darkmaterials
Newbie
akk2
Established
I adjusted my RD1s myself, the screw is working
LCT
ex-newbie
See:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18901
and photos here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimbobuk/sets/72157603780299417/
see also: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31755
http://www.richcutler.co.uk/r-d1/r-d1_16.htm
http://www.richcutler.co.uk/r-d1/r-d1_17.htm
aldobonnard
Well-known
For the adjustment to be durable, you'd better stop the screw and plate but putting a little of nail varnish at one intersection. I adjusted my R-D1 about 9 months ago and fixed the screw movement in this manner. Nothing has moved since. I did it inside my house and aiming at infinity (outside obviously!).
Previously I didn't want to stop the screw with nail varnish and adjusted without, but the fix didn't resist a couple of shots and it went back to the original position (OOF). It's a little tricky but with enough care and patience, you can make it. Otherwise don't take the risk and send your camera to a professional.
See Rich Cutler's instructions about RF adjustment. They're very clear.
Previously I didn't want to stop the screw with nail varnish and adjusted without, but the fix didn't resist a couple of shots and it went back to the original position (OOF). It's a little tricky but with enough care and patience, you can make it. Otherwise don't take the risk and send your camera to a professional.
See Rich Cutler's instructions about RF adjustment. They're very clear.
menos
Veteran
I forgot to update you on my focus issues.
I wrote a bit about my experience of the second adjustment with Loctite:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1038&message=33878797
I wrote a bit about my experience of the second adjustment with Loctite:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1038&message=33878797
Rob-F
Likes Leicas
Guy: it would be interesting, to those of us who may still be undecided, to hear why you prefer the RD-1.
menos
Veteran
My R-D1 developed a soft focus again yesterday, while out shooting.
Unfortunately, I recognized this only, when I was back home. I did not shoot much, but had a few shots I really would have liked, to turn out good - they are lost.
I checked the rangefinder again with all lenses and the focus shift is consistent at infinity with all lenses. All lenses are ever so slightly soft at closer distance - even the 50 Lux ASPH, which is bitingly sharp under good condition.
The Loctite on the infinity screw is still good - the screw can not be turned with a tool without removing the Loctite first, which is good news.
The bad news is, the rangefinder adjustment on the R-D1 is not consistent, even with locked screws.
After some fiddling, I could better the soft focus a bit, but could not get the biting sharpness, I had after my initial adjustment.
I think, the R-D1 is a lost case in this regard and needs checking and touchups every week or so, which annoys me, as I cannot rely on this camera.
I have my eyes open for another solution parallel to the R-D1, which I keep using for certain things - be it a descent scanner to go with my film shooting or a digital Leica M.
Additionally, I found, that the mount of my R-D1 is not as precise as the one on my Leica M6.
On the R-D1, I can move the lens within the mount by apr. 0.15mm - 0.2mm parallel to the mount, which in theory and with a perfectly parallel mount to sensor adjustment should be of no concern regarding sharpness. If the optical planes sensor, camera mount, lens mount have any misalignment in this regard, this could indeed influence the shift in focus.
The soft focus is consistent between my 50 Lux and 35 Cron, so I regard the lenses as the last point to look after.
Unfortunately, I recognized this only, when I was back home. I did not shoot much, but had a few shots I really would have liked, to turn out good - they are lost.
I checked the rangefinder again with all lenses and the focus shift is consistent at infinity with all lenses. All lenses are ever so slightly soft at closer distance - even the 50 Lux ASPH, which is bitingly sharp under good condition.
The Loctite on the infinity screw is still good - the screw can not be turned with a tool without removing the Loctite first, which is good news.
The bad news is, the rangefinder adjustment on the R-D1 is not consistent, even with locked screws.
After some fiddling, I could better the soft focus a bit, but could not get the biting sharpness, I had after my initial adjustment.
I think, the R-D1 is a lost case in this regard and needs checking and touchups every week or so, which annoys me, as I cannot rely on this camera.
I have my eyes open for another solution parallel to the R-D1, which I keep using for certain things - be it a descent scanner to go with my film shooting or a digital Leica M.
Additionally, I found, that the mount of my R-D1 is not as precise as the one on my Leica M6.
On the R-D1, I can move the lens within the mount by apr. 0.15mm - 0.2mm parallel to the mount, which in theory and with a perfectly parallel mount to sensor adjustment should be of no concern regarding sharpness. If the optical planes sensor, camera mount, lens mount have any misalignment in this regard, this could indeed influence the shift in focus.
The soft focus is consistent between my 50 Lux and 35 Cron, so I regard the lenses as the last point to look after.
Last edited:
back alley
IMAGES
that's a shame.
i have fear about mine doing something similar but so far, i have been lucky.
maybe it needs a good tune up?
i have fear about mine doing something similar but so far, i have been lucky.
maybe it needs a good tune up?
guyplatt
NewToRangefinders
Hard to explain really why I prefer the RD-1. I guess in hand it feels more comfortable to me. I really like the manual winder -- makes me think more before taking a shot. The controls are all so simple that using the camera is just more fun than the M8. Shooting RAW and jpg with the jpg's in B&W works really well for me.
I like the image quality very much, although the vignetting is excessive with my Zeiss 2.8/25mm lens. I tend to use mostly a 35 or 50mm lens on the camera.
However, echoing what Dirk (Menos) says, I have also lost confidence in the camera for shooting wide open. In low light I don't take it out as I don't think I can get sharp focus with it. I have tried adjusting the rangefinder but after a few days for use it is out again. If I have enough light to shoot f/4 then I will use it.
I think I will send the camera off for professional adjustment and see what happens then. It's a shame as I like everything else about the camera.