Honestly; is it worth buying?

Honestly; is it worth buying?

  • Yes

    Votes: 74 67.9%

  • No

    Votes: 35 32.1%
  • Total voters
    109
I'd buy an RD-1 and a micro four thirds

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It's a lovely little camera BUT it's no longer made, and the manufacturer doesn't even make cameras any more.

This is why I'd go for an M8 instead, even though the Epson is arguably prettier.Well, that, and I'd rather have the bigger sensor and more megapixels -- but the lack of support is what puts me off.

Cheers,

R.
 
Well "film fan" for me buying a digital camera = dealing with the crop factor, or maybe that's naive me thinking. I was thinking about the four thirds for the sake of weight, the other option would be a rebel. However, a pretty good one seems to save more and buy a DRF, it'd be worth the save, and in the same time, it'd give a real camera feel to it, rather than a bulky flashy DsLR.
However I'd almost failed to notice you are a film fan, and rightfully though, for me nothing will ever replace film, but I've the gear anyway, and i donno 4, 5 years ago, I was very resistant to the existence of digital cameras.

Not now I am a busy process engineer who works somewhere 220 kms away from home, have limited time during the week and the weekend flies by between travelling back home, seeing people, doing all the things I've/want, need to do. And it's a much slower process to shoot film, I still enjoy it though, that's why I am still keeping my cameras and even buying more lens, more gear.

At the end of the day, i dig film and film cameras, but it's all for the sake of making photographs. I enjoyed very much having the sony h2, produces really nice photos, but it gets frustrating, with the fact that it's a semi-camera, not just a P&S, not a DsLR, and I feel I am growing out of it/ or feel like being too advanced to have this as my only digi cam. I am not enjoying it anymore...
 
The ONLY reason this camera is still worth money is that it is the least expensive digital rangefinder. You can say what you want about the image quality, but you're honestly not buying it for that, you're buying it so you don't have to buy an M8 or god forbid an M9.
I would much rather save the money and get a second hand Sony Nex 3 in a few months. The M-mount adapter is expensive as HELL right now, but there will be third party ones, and I'm hearing rumors that an EVF is on it's way.

Of course, if a coupled rangefinder is what you want, and you can't swing a Leica, this is your one and only option.
 
LCT said:
Perspective does not change when shooting from the same point.
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Yes it can (see Roger's note).
However, all that does not matter really. My point is only that I want my 35mm lens to not only cover the 35mm view, but also have the same signature of 35mm (aka, the same old distortion without an increase due to the wider lens being 'converted' to 35mm for the crop factor). Does this make more sense now?
 
You can say what you want about the image quality, but you're honestly not buying it for that, you're buying it so you don't have to buy an M8 or god forbid an M9
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No some buy for image quality......... I bought one because of the files just as I have a D2 ,a DP1s the sensors are different ............... a ricoh GR1 film camera etc. Image quality is about the file produced and is not specific to detail, but other factors e.g. colour rendition, differences in dynamic range etc
 
filmfan said:
...My point is only that I want my 35mm lens to not only cover the 35mm view, but also have the same signature of 35mm (aka, the same old distortion without an increase due to the wider lens being 'converted' to 35mm for the crop factor). Does this make more sense now?
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Yes it does of course but as an FF (5D) and APS (R-D1, Nikons) user, a 28 on APS gives me the same feelings as a 35 on FF cameras. There are compromises to accept for sure but it is a matter of habit. Now give me an M10 with a 1:1 VF and my good old Epsons will take some dust i guess.
 
Just sold my RD1 and got an M8.2 a few days ago and still warming up with the new toy. I like RD1's handling better but it makes me a bit insecure with the customer support issue. If an RD2 with the same ergonomics will come out in the future, I'll be all over it for sure. Btw, RD1 high ISO is miles better than M8, no UVIR filters and 6 bit coding.
 
LCT said:
Looks like we'll have to disagree here, Roger. DoF changes, feeling of compression may change as well but perspective remains the same when shooting from the same point. See http://tinyurl.com/34g6xh6
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This is the basis of my argument. If it looks different, it is different.

Perspective is a psychological construct -- otherwise we'd accept 'falling over' buildings a lot easier than we do -- and any arguments about 'perspective not changing' are easy to reject if they do not achnowledge this. Also, as I say, vanishing point perspective is not the only one.

Cheers,

R.
 
again, it's those WHO DO NOT OWN the rd1 that have the most problems with them...we users see it differently and that's what counts for me.
 
That's what I love about RFF, an identity crisis every 15 minutes!

I think that's probably what sucked me into rangefinders before I fell in love with that cool VF!
 
nomade said:
One question remains though, where to get one?
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Post a WTB ad in the RFF classifieds. There's a good possibility you'll find someone who's willing to sell their backup R-D1 (as I did), or someone who's migrated to an M8/9 who just needs a push to pass on their R-D1.

::Ari
 
Perspective indeed will remain the same, only the field of view being equivalent to a different focal length. Still it might be an advantage for some that enjoy a low cost .7m focusing fast "50" - the 35mm Noktons - or fast 1.5s.

I prefer the look of a 50mm in full frame, but as for digital, it's a few thousand dollars away :)
 
I think the key with making the decision "Honestly, is it worth buying" comes in two stages.

The first is the question of initial purchase. Does the camera/lens meet your requirements for value. Are other people able to produce pictures (perhaps image quality) you are looking for? Are reports of reliability (or lack there of) appropriate for your level of investment? Are you willing to take the time to next step (start of the second question)?

The second question is are you willing to take the time to learn the camera. The days of three control cameras (focus, shutter speed, aperture) are long gone. You need to take the time to read, to practice, and to test. By testing I mean really testing by trying adjusting the setting and looking at the results, not just clicking the shutter. Write down the settings, use the info saved to match up with camera setting.

The only reason I moved away from the RD1 family was because I switched to Nikon RFs. I am sure you like the RD1 if do a bit of work. Very cool controls and GREAT images.

Good luck.

B2 (;->
 
BillBingham2 said:
The days of three control cameras (focus, shutter speed, aperture) are long gone.
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Remarkably, R-D1 is almost a 3-control camera. Once you've decided on your RAW/JPEG settings, you only need to deal with focus, aperture and shutter speed. (The 4th traditional control, ISO, is also set via a physical knob on the top deck -- that was also available on 3-control cameras, with the caveat that you had to change film as well!) You never need to go to the on-screen menus while shooting, and you don't even need to keep the screen exposed if you don't want to chimp or check histograms as you go.

::Ari
 
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