Honestly; is it worth buying?

Honestly; is it worth buying?

  • Yes

    Votes: 74 67.9%
  • No

    Votes: 35 32.1%

  • Total voters
    109
Range finders rule, I'll just keep saving...I've 2 more months and I'll have its price ready:D (you'll understand when you convert L.E to $)
 
In answer to posts suggesting that buying a RD1 locks you into a system, this is only partly true. I have been using a RD1s with great pleasure for a number of years, but I have invested in a lumix GH2 with an M to micro four thirds adapter, and I can use my M lenses on a state-of-the-art electronic view finder camera, and I can take videos with sound when necessary. I feel very spoilt, and have no excuse for poor photos.
 
I decided it was worth buying one. It's not arrived yet (bought it off eBay a couple of days ago). I've to a DSLR (a Canon EOS 7D) with a few lenses, some of them very good. But it's too heavy to carry sometimes and it's pretty big and obtrusive in use. The R-D1 is enough cheaper than a used M8 that it still makes sense to me: I paid £770 for mine, I rarely see used M8s go for less than £1500. At this stage I've never used a rangefinder so it makes sense to not spend too much until I decide if it's for me or not.
 
I totally want one, but I have so much trouble manually focusing my GSN with my left eye (the good eye) that I fear spending the money on a used RD-1 to discover I just can't focus it.
 
I totally want one, but I have so much trouble manually focusing my GSN with my left eye (the good eye) that I fear spending the money on a used RD-1 to discover I just can't focus it.

I don't know the GSN for comparison, but I know some other RFs with similar sized RFs (CL, CLE, QL17, Canonet 28...) and I can say, that the R-D1-RF is a totally different thing. It's much bigger and the brightness of the patch against the rest of the RF is simply no comparison to the others. Although I have no trouble to focus a QL17 for example, the R-D1 is much easier.

Nevertheless, I would recommend to try the R-D1 before buying. Maybe you can find an owner in your area to have a look.
 
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