Dan Lazin
Member
I just got my R-D1 back from warranty service in Hong Kong. (I'm in Canada, but my camera is covered by the Hong Kong warranty.) I had sent it in for rangefinder adjustment; the vertical alignment was off a bit, but more troublingly, the image in the RF patch was tilted with respect to the viewfinder. (I'll explain in a minute.)
The repair sheet indicates that they fixed the RF adjustment and also replaced the (lightly scratched) LCD screen and most of the rubber parts. Those cosmetic repairs were nice, and they did a good job of fixing the vertical alignment, but the tilted RF patch is just as bad, and focusing accuracy is much worse.
Attached is a photo of my keyboard, taken with a Voigtlander 40/1.4 at f/1.4. I'm focusing on the H, which is the blurred smear next to the G; actual focus is several keys away.
When I focus, the H itself appears to be in focus in the viewfinder (which is an improvement; previously, the two Hs wouldn't quite superimpose). However -- this is the twisted-RF-patch part -- the edges of the key itself (as seen in the RF patch) are at a decidedly different angle than the edges of the key in the rest of the viewfinder. I'll borrow an SLR later to try to take a photo of the inside of the viewfinder when this is happening.
So: what should I do? Before I sent it to Hong Kong, I checked with DAG, and he doesn't know what the problem might be. I don't think Epson Hong Kong knows how to fix this. I could send it to Hong Kong again in hopes of a replacement, but the kicker is that Canada Customs just told me I was lucky the camera came back with the same serial number; if Epson replaces it, even under warranty, I have to pay taxes again on the full declared value of the camera, and Epson says (again, bizarre) that the camera is worth $3800 US.
Anyone have any luck with a far-flung Epson arm agreeing to transfer their warranty to their home country's Epson arm? If I could send it to Epson Canada, I wouldn't have to worry about tax on $3800 US (plus another round of shipping).
The repair sheet indicates that they fixed the RF adjustment and also replaced the (lightly scratched) LCD screen and most of the rubber parts. Those cosmetic repairs were nice, and they did a good job of fixing the vertical alignment, but the tilted RF patch is just as bad, and focusing accuracy is much worse.
Attached is a photo of my keyboard, taken with a Voigtlander 40/1.4 at f/1.4. I'm focusing on the H, which is the blurred smear next to the G; actual focus is several keys away.
When I focus, the H itself appears to be in focus in the viewfinder (which is an improvement; previously, the two Hs wouldn't quite superimpose). However -- this is the twisted-RF-patch part -- the edges of the key itself (as seen in the RF patch) are at a decidedly different angle than the edges of the key in the rest of the viewfinder. I'll borrow an SLR later to try to take a photo of the inside of the viewfinder when this is happening.
So: what should I do? Before I sent it to Hong Kong, I checked with DAG, and he doesn't know what the problem might be. I don't think Epson Hong Kong knows how to fix this. I could send it to Hong Kong again in hopes of a replacement, but the kicker is that Canada Customs just told me I was lucky the camera came back with the same serial number; if Epson replaces it, even under warranty, I have to pay taxes again on the full declared value of the camera, and Epson says (again, bizarre) that the camera is worth $3800 US.
Anyone have any luck with a far-flung Epson arm agreeing to transfer their warranty to their home country's Epson arm? If I could send it to Epson Canada, I wouldn't have to worry about tax on $3800 US (plus another round of shipping).
Attachments
Gabriel M.A.
My Red Dot Glows For You
eek. I'm sorry to hear about your troubles. It's too bad that DAG didn't have an answer for you. Have you tried Sherry K.?
This is the sort of thing that has prevented me from getting the RD-1. I may luck out, like the majority of owners. But when you get snake eyes, it's not a good position to be in. I hope you get it sorted out.
Out of curiosity, did you get it on the 'bay?
This is the sort of thing that has prevented me from getting the RD-1. I may luck out, like the majority of owners. But when you get snake eyes, it's not a good position to be in. I hope you get it sorted out.
Out of curiosity, did you get it on the 'bay?
BillBingham2
Registered User
Another place to ask is Stephen Gandy. Would be out of Warentee, but his guys (and perhaps gals) do good work. What about Epson US? NAFTA should cover you about shipping and all.
Just some thoughts, very sorry to hear. Please let us know how you make out.
B2 (;->
Just some thoughts, very sorry to hear. Please let us know how you make out.
B2 (;->
Dan Lazin
Member
No, I bought from Tin Cheung Camera in HK.
I'm not familiar with Sherry K. Who is she?
I'm not familiar with Sherry K. Who is she?
ffttklackdedeng
Registered User
Sherry Krauter afaik, from the U.S.
AusDLK
Famous Photographer
DAG is fixing (or has fixed) exactly the same RF problem on my twice dropped R-D1 that I read described here. Don is tremendous asset to the rangefinder community. I'd never send my camera to Epson (warranty or not) for any RF adjustment. No need (unless, I suppose, that some parts need replacement, but that is rare). Knock on wood.
Dan Lazin
Member
I'll check with DAG again; last time I talked to him, when this problem was occuring in a more limited fashion, he didn't think he could fix it, but that was many months ago. Maybe he's figured it out since, or maybe -- more likely -- I didn't describe it very well. Once I have the photos of the viewfinder when this is happening, it should be easier to diagnose.