Epson discontinues R-D1, R-D1s

[Didier]

Sad, but not unexpected:
http://db.riskwaters.com/public/showPage.html?page=453252

🙁

Didier

 

[mwooten]

Didier,
Good to have you back. How are you doing?

Michael

 

[Joe Mondello]

Deed, it seems odd that this is news to the BJP today since this was reported a few weeks back in other circles. Perhaps now it is "official." ;-)

The real news for me is the line about Epson honoring warranty and repairs for the next 6 years! Which is great news.

Thanks for the link!

 

[dovi]

Any Ideas on why they stopped production? I guess the RD-1 is now oficially a collector's Item!


"The maker stopped production of the R-D1s (the modified mark II version of the camera, launched last summer) fairly recently, despite a reported recent surge in demand. In fact, Epson blamed this increased demand for its sudden discontinuation - and for its inability to fulfil all of its orders in Europe, saying the speed of sales had far outstripped its expectations."

 

[dcsang]

Any rumours of Cosina-Voigtlander releasing a digital RF??

Only asking since the Epson body was CV; even if the innards were not.

Dave

 

[Didier]

Didier,
Good to have you back. How are you doing?

Michael

Hi Michael

Thanks for asking. Yes my health issues are going back and I'm now working again since three weeks. Coinicidently I received my R-D1s back today - there was a black gluey dirt (mechanical oil?) on the sensor which I was afraid to clean myself, had sent it to Epson (and this time they could even manage NOT to disalign the RF!).

So count on me pals will spend more time here (but am still catching up my work). I could keep the PAW pace but several weeks were shot with film - and are unprocessed yet...

Didier

 

[Didier]

Any rumours of Cosina-Voigtlander releasing a digital RF??
Only asking since the Epson body was CV; even if the innards were not.
Dave

Rumours have been around, but none became real.

My personal estimation is that Cosina might be in the game if Zeiss Ikon decides to realize a digital RF camera project one day (and I'm shure they have such plans in their drawer). I could imagine they wait for a bigger sensor. But maybe Epson's capitulation speeds up the things, who knows. As said, these are personal speculations, the only real hint for me is that certain designs of Zeiss Ikon M lenses are intentionally suitable for digital sensors. Another hint is the market. That rangefinder niche isn't too small for two competitors.

Didier

 

[Jim Watts]

For those that missed them see these two earlier threads on this;

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41921

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42347

I'm still curious as to how many R-D1(s) were finally produced.

 

[Didier]

For those that missed them see these two earlier threads on this;
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41921
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42347
I'm still curious as to how many R-D1(s) were finally produced.

Sorry that I had missed those threads. Concerning the total amount of sold cameras, I don't think it's more than 20'000 (10'000 for each model R-D1, R-D1s), even if Eddie Isao mentioned this amount as scheduled one year production. He said that in an interview from 2004 - shortly after the R-D1 release at PMA. AFAIK the 10'000 R-D1 were not sold out, that's on of the reasons why so many went through the "refurb" sales after the R-D1s release.

I guess Epson has given up for other reasons than production amount and profitability only. The digital rangefinder camera has always been a foreign object in their product line. A luxury, special interest item inbetween inkjets and medical gear. More prestige to lose than money to win. Many Epson managers in many countries were confused about the service issues this product caused.

But the R-D1 was certainly a succès d'estime and will have it's unique place in the history of photographical instruments.

Didier

 

[nksyoon]

Sorry that I had missed those threads. Concerning the total amount of sold cameras, I don't think it's more than 20'000 (10'000 for each model R-D1, R-D1s), even if Eddie Isao mentioned this amount as scheduled one year production. He said that in an interview from 2004 - shortly after the R-D1 release at PMA. AFAIK the 10'000 R-D1 were not sold out, that's on of the reasons why so many went through the "refurb" sales after the R-D1s release.

Good to see you back Didier.

I always thought it was just 10'000 cameras and the unsold units of R-D1 were then modified and re-launched as R-D1s?

 

[Jim Watts]

Good to see you back Didier.

I always thought it was just 10'000 cameras and the unsold units of R-D1 were then modified and re-launched as R-D1s?

Yes thats right. I think we talking a maximum of 10K cameras here (about 5K of the R-D1 based on serial numbers) and I suspect quite a few less than 10K overall based R-D1s serial number reported so far in this forum.

Deed,
your post was still relevant because of the different link to BJP, which is the first one where I have seen it stated that Epson will honour warranties and repairs for 6 years. Although how they will do it with no new cameras to replace the defective ones they can't cope with repairing remains to be seen!