Joe:
I had an RD-1 and liked it; it gave a very film-like response. There are some limitations that you should be aware of though:
1) short rf base-length (spotty accuracy with fast glass (50/1, 75/1.4, 90/2))
2) Noisy ISO 1600
3) Bessa-style build quality/mechanical durability
4) RF accuracy harder to user-adjust than M8
5) small LCD, by today's standards
6) 1.5 crop factor
I had lots of "keepers" from mine, but traded in/up to an M8. IQ on low ISO's is better for my purposes on the M8, but at the sizes I print not that much of an issue.
lest you scare people away (as you already seem to have done)
1) spotty accuracy? i've had no more problems using those lenses other than the normal growing pains. good excuse for missed shots, but more than likely it's user error. i actually found the 75 Lux easier on my R-D1 than the M8.2.
2) not if you expose properly.... i find the 1600 on the R-D1 much more pleasant than high ISO on an M8.
3) true but they seem pretty damn solid
4) not really (R-D1) but no comment on the R-D1S. on the plus side, if it does go out of whack and you're scared to fix it -- Steve's Camera has a much faster turn around than Leica.
5) small? only small? how about pathetic! i agree with you and raise it. then again, it keeps me from chimping
😛
6) bigger than the G1's 2X crop factor
and you forgot number seven, which is truly my biggest gripe with the camera -- the shutter is loud enough to wake the dead (it's really the only thing that tempts me toward the M8.2).
the R-D1, most importantly, is the most fun you can in the digital domain if the whole rangefinder experience floats your boat. i love mine -- it has spoiled me.
********************************
use it in joy, joe!