Honestly; is it worth buying?

[nomade]

I am sick of the semi-thing I have, I want to buy a real thing, either a DSLR or a DRF. I am leaning towards a rangefinder though, this is how I learned about photography, and my favorite type of camera, but it's very uncommon, well like any RF...

 

[back alley]

check out the image thread in the rd1 forum and the flickr rd1 group...

 

[WalterM]

I don't think so, especially with the price of used M8s steadily declining. It's not a terrible camera, just a bit dated.

I feel like this is a dangerous post on an rd-1 board though.

 

[noimmunity]

I am sick of the semi-thing I have, I want to buy a real thing, either a DSLR or a DRF. I am leaning towards a rangefinder though, this is how I learned about photography, and my favorite type of camera, but it's very uncommon, well like any RF...

Just remember the old advice: buying a camera is to buy into a system, with all the associated benefits and limitations and costs of each. No poll can help you figure out what your priorities are.

Ken Rockwell has a neat explanation of the resolution myth http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/mpmyth.htm that may help push you over to the R-D1. "Color and tone are far more important" ... and the R-D1 definitely holds it own here!

Good luck!

 

[back alley]

I don't think so, especially with the price of used M8s steadily declining. It's not a terrible camera, just a bit dated.

I feel like this is a dangerous post on an rd-1 board though.

exactly!

m8 price declining
rd1 price maintaining

 

[kermaier]

Yes, very satisfying camera with a real analog feel to it. The 1.0x viewfinder magnification is great. Image quality, even with 6MP, is more than good enough for 8x10 prints. ISO 1600 in B&W looks like pushed Tri-X. Only a few conditions where IR filters are needed ( I find that incandescent light gives me slightly reddish skin tones).

If you can get one for $1000, that's half the price of a used M8.

So, depending on your budget and the physical interface you prefer, it may be well worth buying. Even if/when I get an M8/9, I think I'll keep the Epson.

Ari

 

[kshapero]

Yes, very satisfying camera with a real analog feel to it. The 1.0x viewfinder magnification is great. Image quality, even with 6MP, is more than good enough for 8x10 prints. ISO 1600 in B&W looks like pushed Tri-X. Only a few conditions where IR filters are needed ( I find that incandescent light gives me slightly reddish skin tones).

If you can get one for $1000, that's half the price of a used M8.

So, depending on your budget and the physical interface you prefer, it may be well worth buying. Even if/when I get an M8/9, I think I'll keep the Epson.

Ari

I agree with this observation.

 

[jmkelly]

Flame me if you must but IMO the R-D1 got it right out of the gate and Leica has been playing catch-up ever since. Feels like a Bessa? So what? Get an R-D1 and an M3 for less than the cost of a used M8.

 

[jarski]

for aging digital cameras, both M8 and RD1 hold their value surprisingly well. perhaps too well (although wont complain as M8 owner 😛 ). dSLR path might be better option right now, consider e.g. K5 and small Pentax primes ?

 

[isorgb]

R-D1, however is still cheaper than M8. If you are going to do digital B/W, it seems to me that the R-D1 is a better choice. For the same price you can buy a R-D1 with lens 35mm. Viewfinder 1:1 (R-D1) is also worth considering.

 

[Pickett Wilson]

I think it makes sense to stay somewhat closer to the current level of sensor technology than the R-D1. To me, buying old digital cameras is like buying a Nikon F6 and shooting nothing but GAF 500 (an old, really bad, grainy slide film from the 1970's) in it instead of a much better modern film.

That's not to say that the R-D1 doesn't produce good photos, it's just that much less expensive cameras have much better specs these days. Time moves on. As someone pointed out, if you want to build a system, choosing the R-D1 is going to force you in a specific direction, buying lenses that work with the crop factor, and locking you into M-mount lenses. Where do you plan to take that system into the future? M8, M9? That's pretty much where you will have to go.

 

[btgc]

It also depends on price. I just put aside old digital camera which gave up small cloud of electrons. Getting it repaired? Considering price I paid for it, no thanks. Probably R-D1 will live longer but it's your gamble.

 

[Ezzie]

I agree with Picket. Any system camera choice will have a longstanding effect. Switching system later on will be governed by the amount of lenses you´ve accumulated. If you can´t afford a swap to another lens mount, your choices are limited, you´ve got the rather limited and expensive M system, end of story. Admittedly film versions too, but that´s beside the point. I´ve an R-D1 and am very happy with it. But I was lucky and got a pool of lenses along with it at a ridiculous price. I wouldn´t have invested in the system if I were to start from scratch at present.

 

[flip]

I just sold mine. Not because I think an M8 or 9 are in my future - I think they are still a building up to the stable M10. Rather, it was all about crop factor. It works for you or it doesn't. In the meantime, as I wait for 'the one,' I consider my investment in a film scanner to be both economical and an act of consumer activism on behalf of film. And I have to burn through a lot of rolls before I hit the price of a digital FF RF.

In the meantime, sort out the good glass folks drop to finance their M9's. ;-D

 

[LCT]

Would i buy another R-D1, yes. Would i advise you to do the same, no if you don't need a 1:1 viewfinder and if you can live with the IR-cut filters of the M8.

 

[tokek]

An RD1 and a lens is a camera enjoyed by few photographers...........you probably don't really want one otherwise you would be asking where can you get one that is in good condition

 

[ChrisN]

Nomade, I cannot offer advice about a choice between digital possibilities, but I would say - welcome back! I had not noticed that you had begun posting again, until just now. I hope you will stay a while. Cheers! 🙂

 

[johannielscom]

exactly!

m8 price declining
rd1 price maintaining

...until M8 price reaches RD1 price.

that said, I'd like one, but having just consolidated my stay in the 'analog' realm (see signature), I have no arguments left in either financial and marital debates 😉

 

[umcelinho]

The R-D1 is an unique camera: no other will have the same analog feel as the R-D1, period.

R-D1 vs M8 is like SNES vs Playstation 1: The first will provide lots of fun even after years and years. The second became outdated as soon as the PS2 came out. And the PS3 became outdated as soon as the PS3 came out. Same will happen when PS4 comes out and so on. SNES goes strong 😉

 

[f16sunshine]

I miss mine already. The in camera B+W Jpeg engine is far more pleasing (most say film like) than any other digital camera I have used (M8,5d,5dii, LX3). The camera is great up to iso1600 if you have light. 6mp bonus.....Sometimes smaller files are much handier than big fat ones. That last point to me is becoming critical at times. Often I know I will not be printing but rather just sharing online. As my life has been a mobile one fro a while. Hardrive space has become crucial on and off for a couple of years. Smaller raw files are handy when it's all you need.
I say if you can find one just go for it. As Joe points out... the price is stable. You can send it back out if you need to and not lose $.