Future for the R-D1 ?

24mgdriver

24mgdriver

Michael A. Bender
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I'm thinking about the future, now the Leica M9 will start with full format sensor, so what will happend with the "Leica for workers " i mean the RD1.

I dont know if it is right that the M9 will sell for about 5500.- Euros or even more, a little car, of cause. But ...its a Rangefinder with full format sensor. And a 15mm Voigtländer lens will be much more interesting with full format

What did you mean, are there many Rd1 cheap for sale..now, because this time is over ??? But who one earth will give me sooo
much money :)

just wait and see whats behind the M9 sign , right ?
 
24mgdriver said:
I'm thinking about the future, now the Leica M9 will start with full format sensor, so what will happend with the "Leica for workers " i mean the RD1.
Click to expand...

it is, and will remain a cult camera with a small but very dedicated band of followers. As time goes by they will get harder to repair, but Steve's Camera in Los Angeles seems to have no problem keeping them in tune.

the main reason for the RD1's popularity in my opinion is that the handling of the RD1 is much better than the Leica M8 or 8.2. Of course, the image quality is better with the digital Leicas.

Stephen
 
JSU said:
The R-D1 will be around for a long time yet and should hold its value regardless of what Leica does.
Click to expand...


I beg to differ. Digital bodies simply do not hold value well. M8's can be had for a fraction of their original price (new) and even less used. It's still around $2k for an outdated camera, but I think with the M9 due out that people are going to try to pad the blow of $7000 USD or however much by selling their m8/m8.2 while they can still fetch a decent premium for them. Ultimately the M8 will drop below $1500 in the next year (my prediction) due to aging sensor technology and a newer, better offering in the M9.

With the M8 dropping into a range much more easily affordable, I can't see people going for a 6MP r-d1 unless the price of the R-D1 were to drop as well.
 
The future of mine will be in my camera bag for a while. I love it, and I especially love the advance lever, which I kind of wish Leica had included, though it is kind of corny. I feel the need to physically advance the camera to the next photo. But eventually I will sell it and get an M9...someday.

Not next month!
 
i can't read the crystal ball when it comes to the rd1s that are 'out there', but mine will be here for a good long time (fate willing).

would i like a newer sensor and full frame? sure...but when my used car cost me 12k how in the world could i ever spend 7k on a camera? unless the lottery pays off, that is ;).
while i love this hobby the idea of a 7k camera is just a fantasy.

besides, i kinda like being part of a 'cult'...
 
Leica has chosen a wide magnification for the M9 viewfinder again (0,68x).
Those who prefer 1:1 have no choice but the R-D1 so far.
 
Many times, I was tempted to sell my RD-1 to get an M8 or possibly to prepare for the M9, but every time I use it, I can't let go... maybe it's the advance lever, maybe it's just plain nostalgia, maybe it's because the price of the M9 would mean me seeling more than my RD-1. Whatever it is, I know my RD-1 will be with me a long time, to be complemented by an M9 when the M11 comes out :)
 
Mephiloco said:
With the M8 dropping into a range much more easily affordable, I can't see people going for a 6MP r-d1 unless the price of the R-D1 were to drop as well.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I think it's pretty safe to assume that the R-D1 price will be below M8 price. The difference may not be significant, though. Epson has some nice qualities that the Leica doesn't (and vice versa). The competition is not as fierce as in the DSLR land.
 
In my opinion the R-D1 is more than the advance lever or even a cult. For me is a way of thinking.
I think all the people in this forum will be agree with me, ..."we love and enjoy the rangefinder photography".
The M9 can will be a very nice camera, but after used my R-D1s for two years, I don't need a Leica, I'm sure about it.
For me the R-D1 brought to my life a new feel about the rangefinder photography, I mean in the way that I use a camera. I love when somebody get surprised and ask me ... "Is that a digital camera? WOW!". It's a real retro camera!!!

The owners of a R-D1, we never have a serious problem like the use of a special IR filters, the necessity of coding the lenses, the wish of a sapphire crystal, the happiness of see the brass through the black paint, or think about the feeling of the vulcanite covering, or is the dot is black or red...

The R-D1 is not perfect, but supporting the honorable Stephen, to fix the problems will not means thousands of dollars or get the new version paying some more thousand dollars and thank you for all the money that you spent for the IR filters and encoding the lenses.

We have to be more practical and focus more in taking pictures that is the basic to be in this forum. I prefer to experiment with use my money buying different lenses and accessories for my camera than have a camera with the new color of Leica dot.

My conclusion is that we don't have to forget that the R-D1 came when Leica said that the digital rangefinder M-Mount camera will no be possible.
After 5 years the R-D1 basically didn't change. Why? simple, because we got with the R-D1 the thing that we want. Just see how many R-D1x are still selling right now, with basically the same 6 mp sensor and the same features. Comparing with the M8, the M9 will be the third camera in three years. Is Leica forgetting the legendary M essence of "get our cameras and the model will survive for more than ten years"? The succession of the M8 will be the worst failure of a M legacy market after the M5 in my opinion, with all the respect because I still considering the M5 a wonderful camera.

The photography market in the present years had notice that the enthusiastic feeling regarding the digital rangefinder M-Mount stay alive. A important fact can be the Micro 4/3 cameras that support adapters for M-Mount lenses for example.

I'm sure that something very important will happen after the release of the M9 with a full frame sensor.
Maybe we will see a R-D2 or maybe the name and the company will be different, but the Japanese photography industry will not stay sitting with a crossing hands.

For me the R-D1 still being the king!
 
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All I can add to mdspace is Amen. Selling the RD-1 was one of the biggest mistakes of my life. And I am now in the midst of disposing of some excellent Pentax gear to rectify that mistake. The Pentax gear is doing better than I expected and every so often I cast a covetous eye at the M8/M8.2, especially if the price starts to fall, so I must maintain focus.

BTW, I also feel that the M5 was the best of the M's.
 
I love my R-D1. It's a great camera, it's usable, durable (for me, at least), cool looking and gives me what I want. I do wish it had higher and lower ISO's available. If the M9 were like the 5D2 sensor, then I'd seriously consider selling the R-D1. But until then, I'm just going to keep shooting with the R-D1.
 
I understand that Kodak worked in harmony with Leica to produce the full-frame rangefinder sensor. Shouldn't that sensor be adaptable to other rangefinder manufacturers for their version of the full frame rangefinder (Zeiss, Epson, Voight.)?
 
mdspace said:
For me the R-D1 still being the king!
Click to expand...

....its true....no matter how much i deny it...i love my Rd1s. I was thinking about selling for fund a M8...but why not have both? There is too much sentimental value in my RD1s. I take it everywhere, and that how it should be for the rest of my life.
 
mdspace said:
In my opinion the R-D1 is more than the advance lever or even a cult. For me is a way of thinking.
I think all the people in this forum will be agree with me, ..."we love and enjoy the rangefinder photography".
The M9 can will be a very nice camera, but after used my R-D1s for two years, I don't need a Leica, I'm sure about it.
For me the R-D1 brought to my life a new feel about the rangefinder photography, I mean in the way that I use a camera. I love when somebody get surprised and ask me ... "Is that a digital camera? WOW!". It's a real retro camera!!!

The owners of a R-D1, we never have a serious problem like the use of a special IR filters, the necessity of coding the lenses, the wish of a sapphire crystal, the happiness of see the brass through the black paint, or think about the feeling of the vulcanite covering, or is the dot is black or red...

The R-D1 is not perfect, but supporting the honorable Stephen, to fix the problems will not means thousands of dollars or get the new version paying some more thousand dollars and thank you for all the money that you spent for the IR filters and encoding the lenses.

We have to be more practical and focus more in taking pictures that is the basic to be in this forum. I prefer to experiment with use my money buying different lenses and accessories for my camera than have a camera with the new color of Leica dot.

My conclusion is that we don't have to forget that the R-D1 came when Leica said that the digital rangefinder M-Mount camera will no be possible.
After 5 years the R-D1 basically didn't change. Why? simple, because we got with the R-D1 the thing that we want. Just see how many R-D1x are still selling right now, with basically the same 6 mp sensor and the same features. Comparing with the M8, the M9 will be the third camera in three years. Is Leica forgetting the legendary M essence of "get our cameras and the model will survive for more than ten years"? The succession of the M8 will be the worst failure of a M legacy market after the M5 in my opinion, with all the respect because I still considering the M5 a wonderful camera.

The photography market in the present years had notice that the enthusiastic feeling regarding the digital rangefinder M-Mount stay alive. A important fact can be the Micro 4/3 cameras that support adapters for M-Mount lenses for example.

I'm sure that something very important will happen after the release of the M9 with a full frame sensor.
Maybe we will see a R-D2 or maybe the name and the company will be different, but the Japanese photography industry will not stay sitting with a crossing hands.

For me the R-D1 still being the king!
Click to expand...



I very agree to all what you said, thank you.

So I can save time now, go out, shot some pics and don´t care about any M8.x M9 and Mn´s :)
R
 
Delta KJ said:
I understand that Kodak worked in harmony with Leica to produce the full-frame rangefinder sensor. Shouldn't that sensor be adaptable to other rangefinder manufacturers for their version of the full frame rangefinder (Zeiss, Epson, Voight.)?
Click to expand...

Given the probability that Leica underwrote the development of this sensor, they probably also have an exclusive on it.

/T
 
What mdspace said. However, I will note that the R-D1 also suffers from IR pollution under artificial light and requires IR filters just like the M8.

/T
 
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