Blank image on RD-1

billh

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Jul 30, 2005
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14
Lately I have to make two or three exposures before an image registers (I get two or three blank frames). Has anyone else experienced this issue? I assume it has to go somewhere for repair.

Thanks.
 
You might try a few different memory cards to make sure it isn't simply a problem with a card.

I've occasionally had the experience where the shutter will click but no image is written to the memory card; it has happened when the battery was almost dead, and also when the card had just become full.
 
Cold weather?

Cold weather?

I just experienced a few shutter clicks with no frame being taken. It might be a cold weather issue, since I was shooting in Ottawa and the temperature was right around freezing. The manual does suggest that the temperature range for the camera is quite limited.

Anyone else experience cold weather problems?

Cheers,
Kirk
 
Thanks. I will change batteries and cards and try again. It was warm outside, and this also happened inside, so temperature does not seem to be an issue in this case.
 
I'm experiencing failing shots when I'm using a battery other than the original Epson, but only when the battery indicator tells me the battery is 1/4 full or less. It seems the Epson battery is better able to handle the fluctuations in power consumption than these other batteries I have. Symptoms are very clear: indicator tells me the battery has juice, I shoot and the shutter sticks refusing to budge at all. Problem is easily solved by switching off the camera, removing the battery and replacing it again, switching on the camera and (trick of all tricks) switching shutter speeds. That releases the shutter. I'm happy to have 3(!) batteries at hand, of which 2 are not Epson originals. These two extra batteries are my fall back batteries, and I use them only when the Espon is really empty during shooting. Otherwise I recharge the Espon battery before going out.

I don't know if this is what you experience but use this info for what it's worth. :p
 
I experienced this with my first R-D1. After about one thousand frames it started to shoot about 25% black frames. This happened regardless of battery type or condition, or type of memory card I was using.
 
Just to clarify my previous message. About 25% of the frames that I shot were blank - i.e. black. The dealer from whom I bought the camera tested it with new batteries and cards, and concluded that it was a camera problem. I was given a replacement camera, which in turn developed a shutter-release problem. At that point I took a refund. Very reluctantly, because otherwise I was very happy with the R-D1. I'm now frustrated by not having a digital M, but don't feel inclined to risk another R-D1 - given the fact that it is far from cheap.
 
Simon, I think my problem is the same or similar to yours. I tried a fresh battery and card, and still get the blank frames. Taking the RD-1 is often preferable to carrying around the much larger and heavier 1Ds2, but quality really seems to be a problem with these things. I hope Leica is on time with their digital M.

Where do I send it for repair - Epson?
 
I have a serious blank frame problem with my Epson which I bought early in 2005. It started last month, at the end of my trip to Argentina. There were very occasional blank shots, usually just after i turned on the camera. The problem rarely repeated itself. Then after returning to Canada, I found it happening maybe three times in succession. Yesterday, when I was shooting some bands playing, I was getting over 10 blanks in succession. The shutter sounds like it is working. The exposure data is written on the card.

I don't believe it is a card or battery problem (I'm only using Epsons now), because fortunately I bought a second body from an RFF member in the fall, and the problem is only with my original camera.

I read in the post I link to below, that at least in 2006, someone at Epson in Indiana could fix these things. I will contact them and see how it goes.
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33353&highlight=blank+frames
 
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