2nd hand RD1 testing question - expectation of speed between clicks

[dng88]

A few days ago, I finally went to a second hand shop and take a bit photo (with my own card) with RD1, my first hand-on with it. I came back and reviewed the picture all taken on ISO800 with CV/Canon lens and quite like it. However, one thing seemed strange. The camera seemed to be very slow - time between click is around 13 seconds and is quite consistent. I tried RAW+JEPG and switch to RAW alone without any speed increase. I used SANDISK Ultra II 2GB. The camera has RAW+JPEG and ADOBE RGB and hence shall be the RD1s frameware (with 3 RAW buffer?).

I have spent quite a bit reading about this camera on the web (inclusive of subscription to Reid site) in the last few year 🙂. I thought the maximum delay shall be 2-3 photos then 3-4 second pause 1 photo then 3-4 second 1 photo (or 8 seconds then 2-3 photos).

Have I been wrong about this? If not, is there some setting I need to do? (I would only intended to use RAW+JPEG on B/W, as just JPEG is not want I want.)

Any help would be much appreciated.

BTW, what other thing I should be aware of for a second hand RD1?

 

[usayit]

13 seconds between pictures is definitely not what I experience on my RD1.

I can get 3 photos then a 5-8 count then 2 photos then a 5-8 count then 2 photos etc... This is using an Ultra II 1GB SANDISK card shooting just RAW.

 

[dng88]

That is what I expect as well. Is there any setting that may influence this? I do not have one obviously and given the short amount of time to test it (as one in 2nd hand shop), what shall I try? It is hard to imagine that it is broken and slow it down. But really cannot get this if it is 13 seconds.

 

[Fred Burton]

Format the card in the RD-1.

 

[nksyoon]

How did you measure this time of 13 secs? You can still shoot when the red light is blinking.

Similar to usayit, my experience is that you can shoot about 3 shots in about 2 secs before the buffer is full, then you have to wait another few seconds (not 13!) before being able to take another shot.

 

[Gid]

I just tested this on my RD1. 3 shots in reasonably quick succession (at ISO800) and it was about 7 seconds before the buffer cleared. Card is a Sandisk Extreme III 2GB, but anything faster than a Sandisk Ultra II doesn't seem to make any difference in normal shooting.

 

[efkbl]

What is happening if you shoot right after the first picture? I can also hardly find an explanation for such a slowdown in writing times, maybe you can try another card, or as Fred Burton suggested format your card in the camera.

 

[dng88]

Thanks all for comments.

For the test and whilst I am in the shop I just treated it like a film camera 🙂 I actually counted 1001/1002/... and up to at least 1008 between the time of pushing the first click and (by keep on clicking the shutter until) it takes another picture. May be there is red light, but as it is my first hands on with RD1 I did not sure. Anyway, my D70/D200/D300 subconsciously asked me to ignore any light I guess. But I noted that there is a needle that move significantly and when it stopped the second picture is taken.

For the 13s, I completely forgot that you can actually read the file time stamp. Initially I think that it is 8 seconds (1008). But when back at home I read the time stamp of the few shots which I used to count the time gap, it is 13 seconds in the 3 test I done (RAW+JPEG 1 time; change RAW+JPEG -> RAW; silly and desperate enough change sRGB to RGB). Guys in the shop did not help much by saying that RD1 is like that. Leica M8 would be better.

I take Fred advice and would try again when I wen to that shop again i.e. reformat the card in the camera and had one more go.

However, if there is any other setting affecting this, please help to advice. As I think I cannot keep on being a tester in a second hand shop. 🙂 Until then and any further advice, I reported to you my testing result of formatting the disk first.

 

[Didier]

Formatting the card might be worth a try, as I also believe this must be the reason for that strange delay. If it takes still 13 second until you can make the next shot, there's something wrong with the camera and you should forget it.

Other things to check out on a used R-D1 are rangefinder alignment, focus accuracy and sensor dirt.

Alignment: is there any vertical and horizontal disalignment? First is easy to see, second can be tested with the lens turned to infinity, then look at something which is at least 500m away, or better more. The double picture in the patch should be congruent.

Focus accuracy: Make a test with f2 or f2.5 (because faster apertures need some more experience to focus correctly), at closest distance (0.7-1m), then at mid distance (3-5m). Balustrades or handrails, shot with angle of 45° or smaller, are very useful for that purpose. Be shure you remember which bar you focused, for instance put an object on it.

Sensor dirt: make a picture of the sky, stopped down to f16, focus at closest distance. You will then see every dirt on the sensor. But even if it has (and I guess it will), it can be cleaned.

Didier

 

[Jim Watts]

The delay may possibly be due to the battery in the camera being nearly out of charge. When the battery is just about discharged you can get an extra frame or two by leaving 15 - 30 seconds between pictures. Check the battery indicater says that you have a good level of charge and if possible try another battery. Defective batteries can also give this problem.

 

[sirius]

There is a setting for noise reduction with dark scenes. It will increase write time.

 

[efkbl]

Jim Watts is probably right. I get the same kind of delay when the battery is nearly empty: the big needle indicating the remaining number of pictures on the card moves to zero, then if it is not completely empty it moves back to the number of remaining exposures after 10-20 seconds.

 

[dng88]

That seems to settle down on the issue - most likely just due to battery, perhaps card format/noise reduction. If I bought this I would try all these plus what Didler has said said.

Just received an email today from a local shop (Tin Cheung) that they have some new RD1s to sell at US$2,154. That might bypass all these worries about a 2nd hand purchase of a 6MB D100 sensor based camera with no guarantee I guess.

I would struggle in this coming month on what to jump into.

Thanks all for your advices. Many thanks indeed.