Goin' back to the R-D1 (long)

[TVR]

agree with all of the above, what we have is a piece of history, and the absolute simplicity, the analogue gauges and the cocking lever are the winner for me plus the images you get, the camera often gets commented on the film like images it produces from forums.

 

[jsrockit]

I just have to ask... why jpegs?

 

[Lss]

I just have to ask... why jpegs?

The R-D1 is one of those cameras where the JPEG engine actually does a good job. A really good job. If you only want black&white output, there is very little use for the RAW file, the JPEGs are that good. I prefer having the RAW, too, but with this camera I can understand those who just do not bother. For colour RAW makes more sense for easier and more consistent WB adjustments, even if the JPEG output would generally be sufficient for you.

Here's one (out of camera JPEG with a slight curves adjustment and cropping):

 

[dreilly]

You mean why do I shoot JPEGs if I can?

I learned black and white process in school, and though I love to look at it, I never really got into darkroom work. When I started making pictures for myself, I discovered slide film and used that for years. To me, nothing approaches the quality and feeling of a slide projected on a screen. But for all those years, I had literally no post processing to do, nor freedom to tweak after the exposure. Well, for a while I was mounting my own slides which was fun in a deshelling pistachios kind of way.

Now I shoot digital, and have this amazing post processing system at my disposal, Lightroom. I truly love this program! But my day job has me looking at the computer all day. I do paid photographic work regularly that involves shooting about a 1000 images (restaurants) and winnowing that down to 50. I love the work, but the pay is limited. If I can get my images through post with as little fuss (and time) as possible, the happier I am. Of course the output has to please me.

I also find that JPEGS often offer me sufficient latitude to change what I want to change. I don't print huge (my restaurant shots end up in a magazine and so are never larger than pretty much letter size).

The best JPEG engines produce better results, and faster, than I can usually achieve working with a RAW file. I know, I can learn how to process RAW and maybe I'll be able to do better than a good JPEG engine, but then there's still the issue of time spent doing something that isn't my favorite part of photography.

I guess I've never minded working within limitations, so the argument that RAW gives you maximum freedom has never swayed me. To me, that's maximum freedom to spend more time in front of a screen, tweaking parameters that most people will never appreciate and, in my experience, won't make a mediocre photo into a great one. That's just my take on it, of course. If people enjoy post processing and dark/light room work that's fantastic, and they do good stuff with it. I have just found that I really enjoy having a camera with a built in processor that I can trust. EDIT: To be clear, I'm not knocking people who post-process. It's a hugely critical thing and I just like it if my camera can do a decent job at it. And I find, for my photography, that the place for my creativity is in the process of recording the image. Others flourish in the processing.

I hope that at least makes some sense!

 

[jsrockit]

Thanks guys... I was just wondering because I see many R-D1 users using jpeg... more so than any other camera I would think.

 

[dreilly]

Somebody made the point somewhere (I should be a political speechwriter!) that Epson's JPEGs are so good because they have more R&D and experience in things like color management and image processing, things that scanners and printers do.

 

[Out to Lunch]

I share your sentiments and will be sending my two Epsons to Japan for a bit of cleaning and adjustment. PS. I find that the Mr. Zhou half cases offer very good protection for these cameras. Best, Peter

 

[shadeofpale]

Thank you very much for your entertaining report!

I like my R-D1 very much, but I like my Pentax too.
One Camera for one man is never enough! 😎

 

[chris00nj]

Interesting and funny read, and is helpful in my current decision process. With the addition of kiddo #2, I find that it is extremely difficult to keep a film-only photography.

The candidate digital cameras: R-D1, M8, M9, Fuji X-Pro 1.

The R-d1 seems expensive for 7 year old technology and the 6 MP may be limiting.

M8 - Still too expensive to have so many issues (IR filter, black lines, poor high iso perfromance etc). I actually did get a chance to hold one of these a few years back and had the a similar reaction:

...Then I got the crazy idea to eschew AF entirely, and try an M8. That was last week, so this is all still fresh. I bought one. And I shot with it this weekend on a restaurant gig. The first time I pressed the shutter button I was kind of revolted. What a strange noise, ...

The M9 is so pretty, but so expensive. I could break the bank and go for it, but it is not perfect: good not great performance at 1600 ISO (I have no real need for higher ISO).

Which has me leaning towards a Fuji X-Pro 1. Great sensor from the photos I've seen. Amazing performance at ISO 1600. Focusing my old lenses may not be too hard with the EVF. Sure it doesn't have an optical rangefinder, but I plan on staying 25% film (especially B&W)

 

[dreilly]

What do you plan on doing with the images? Depending on the answer, 6 megapixels may not be too little.

I wrote this I think on both of the X-1 Pro speculation blogs, but I am not at all confident in the X-1's manual focusing. Having used the GXR and the Nex 5N with Leica glass, I wouldn't want to be without focus magnification and the peaking mode. The peaking on the GXR is seemingly more effective, the magnification function on the Nex is better implemented with the touch screen because you can easily select your focus point. Right now it seems the X-1 isn't going to have focus peaking though they may add it, if they can. My conclusion using the Nex and GXR is that manual focusing is possible, and quite doable, but i do have to say that it is not enjoyable like it is with a rangefinder. The big draw on the X-1 is the optical viewfinder, which can't work with either peaking or magnification, which leaves "focus confirmation", which is just autofocus where we do the work, leaving all the usual AF problems the same (like are you really focusing on the eyes or the ear? The green dot doesn't tell you that.)

When I put the M8 up for sale, I put it away in its box. It was really starting to grow on me and I realized with the R-D1 on its way I couldn't afford both. So hopefully it sells before I change my mind and end up trying to sneak my name on Kodak's bankruptcy papers.

 

[photografity]

What do you plan on doing with the images? Depending on the answer, 6 megapixels may not be too little.

I wrote this I think on both of the X-1 Pro speculation blogs, but I am not at all confident in the X-1's manual focusing. Having used the GXR and the Nex 5N with Leica glass, I wouldn't want to be without focus magnification and the peaking mode. The peaking on the GXR is seemingly more effective, the magnification function on the Nex is better implemented with the touch screen because you can easily select your focus point. Right now it seems the X-1 isn't going to have focus peaking though they may add it, if they can. My conclusion using the Nex and GXR is that manual focusing is possible, and quite doable, but i do have to say that it is not enjoyable like it is with a rangefinder. The big draw on the X-1 is the optical viewfinder, which can't work with either peaking or magnification, which leaves "focus confirmation", which is just autofocus where we do the work, leaving all the usual AF problems the same (like are you really focusing on the eyes or the ear? The green dot doesn't tell you that.).

Couldn't have said this any better myself! 🙂

 

[SteveM_NJ]

This was a nice thread, I'm always happy to see items about the R-D1, confirms what I feel when I use and enjoy mine.
(And thanks for the comparisons, i've never tried m8 or m9).

Cheers.

 

[dreilly]

Just sold the m8 and just got the r- d1 in the mail. Just in time, the m8 was seducing me... The new r-d1 is in decent shape.... MOre gray hairs than the one I sold but no rf slop either so it's a wash. Slapped my zm25 on it and off I go. Chimping the first few shots, ah, delicious vignetting. I can always correct in post but I probably won't. The 25 really compliments the sensor nicely....

Glad ingot the old lover out of town before the new one caught site of her...

 

[Mudman]

Glad and sorry to hear you sold the M8.

 

[Godfrey]

Sounds like you've found your camera and process. Life is good. Enjoy it!

I tried an Epson R-D1 after been fascinated with it for some years. Aside from the fact that the one I obtained had a minor intermittent problem with the LCD (easily taken care of), I discovered it just wasn't the right fit for me. I didn't like the viewfinder, the controls felt awkward to me.

I wanted the digital equivalent of my M4-2 (and my other Ms of the past). The only way to get that was to buy the M9. I did, it does the right number for me. Yeah, it's a Ramen Noodle year now—I don't care, I'll live.

With the M9 I capture raw and work the processing just like I always did/do with film, it feels much the same as the M4-2. But I can sure get a lot more photography done with it ... scanning film is slow.

 

[dreilly]

Yeah, in this whole process I started to wonder about getting something like an M3 and a Pilot meter, and shooting chromes again, but scanning is time consuming. I'm still thinking of getting a "back up" film body....Leica M3 or Bessa R3a...but that's another thread I suppose.

 

[astro8]

This has been an interesting thread.

I enjoy your writing and observations as a lot of what you have to say hits home with me.

Welcome back to the fold dreilly.

 

[huntjump]

I love the ZM 25 with the R-d1. With the 1.5x, its ideal for me since i love the 35mm length.

the only thing i didnt like about the R-d1 is the shutter speed dial lock. Tape the release button down

 

[bellyface]

the R-D1 will always have it's 'niche' market and will appeal to all generations of shooters out there. The Fuji X-pro 1 won't steal that thunder from it. I hope to later this year own an R-D1xg.. somehow 🙂


the Esquier by bellyface, on Flickr