guage pointers cannot be aligned

[AusDLK]

On R-D1 #1, the battery and white balance guage pointers have never aligned with the 0 point. The alignment function in the firmware moves the pointers but not far eniough -- both need to go further in a clockwise direction to register correctly.

This is no big deal with the white balance indicator but it is annoying with the battery indicator -- a full battery never registers more than 2/3 full or so.

Anyone have any luck correcting this problem?

I wonder if there is a manual aligned screw or something if one is brave enough to go under the hood.

Eventually we committed R-D1 users may have to learn to make simple repairs to our cameras... For example, I wonder if I shouldn't learn how to do rangefinder alignments for myself -- it looks like R-D1 #1 also has a slight clockwise shift in the framelines... Rats!!!

 

[Plasmat]

I have the same problem. Analog meter failure in an off-warranty R-D1.

In one of my somewhat futile conversations with an Epson technician here in USA, one of them did do me the favor of consulting a database of troubleshooting problems that was only available from the Japanese Epson parent company.

He told me that there was a USB port, covered by the leather skin of the camera, that was a diagnostic port to the innards of the camera, and that using said port, there was Japanese-only software for making corrections to exposure metering, shutter speeds, major needle alignment, and other problems.

However, and this is the rub, nobody outside of Japan had access to this software or knew how to use it, and secondly it was only in Japanese. Apparently, there are some near mythical Japanese technicians hidden in the bowels of Epson Japan who can toy with the camera.

I think it's shameful for Epson to orphan the users of it's flagship $3000 digital camera.

Maybe continued emails and letters to the higher execs of Epson Japan could get some action on our behalf.

As I said before, the Epson staff in North America is utterly and completely clueless about this camera. It cannot be repaired or aligned here by anyone.

http://www.epsonrd1.co.uk/testimonial/isao.html

Isao Edatsune is the actual project manager and "father" of the R-D1. Let's get his email address and deluge him with requests for help!!!

Let's find his corporate email address!!

(I think if Epson R-D1 owners put up even a fraction of the stink raised by the Leica M8 crybabies, we might actually get some results from Epson Japan. The last thing they want is bad publicity by disgruntled customers. It really IS shameful the way they have orphaned the buyers of this expensive product)

 

[Bob Parsons]

Hopefully this should help you fix the problem:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23109

See posts #9 and #16 by fgianni.




Bob.

 

[Plasmat]

Yes, that must be the service port the technician was talking about.

I've read about the cure by repeated use of the menu elsewhere, but unfortunately it does not work with my camera.

If you plug the USB port into a computer, as mentioned in that thread, the camera will probably not show up without the proper drivers. The drivers probably are installed when the Japanese service software is installed, but nobody in North America has this software, and it's not in English.

 

[fgianni]

Hopefully this should help you fix the problem:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23109

See posts #9 and #16 by fgianni.




Bob.

Post #25 actually has clearer instructions, I was a bit in a hurry that day.

 

[jlw]

If you plug the USB port into a computer, as mentioned in that thread, the camera will probably not show up without the proper drivers. The drivers probably are installed when the Japanese service software is installed, but nobody in North America has this software, and it's not in English.

I tried it (the connector is the same as the one used on the Epson P2000 storage device and on Nikon DSLRs) and you're right, it doesn't show up.

Also, the "USB Prober" application that's part of Apple Developer Tools doesn't detect it either. This is supposed to be able to retrieve basic connection data for any USB device.

I wonder if it's necessary to put the camera into some kind of "diagnostic mode" to make the port active. I remember that the Contax G cameras had a sequence of button-presses that put the camera into a service mode that allowed various adjustments to be made.

 

[Plasmat]

It would be very beneficial for Seiko Epson to provide it's service organizations with the software and knowledge to repair the R-D1. It's almost mind-boggling that they have completely written off support of a $3000 high end camera.

 

[AusDLK]

I'll be go to hell. My guages are just were they're supposed to be...

Didn't work for awhile -- I think it is important to click Finish the second time. I was just returning to the higher menu without clicking Finish and that didn't result in any changes.

But, how cool is this?

I gotta know -- who the heck figured this out in the first place???