I want to acquire a R-D1

Licorice said:
Kevin, I know the misalignment problem, 33% of Epson DRFs suffered however I think this is easily corrected at home following DIY instructions online. But the backfocusing... is this the body's fault or is it specific to some lenses or to some defective lenses? If it's the camera body then how to fix that.
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You haven't seen Rich's R-D1 site yet ??
http://www.richcutler.co.uk/r-d1/r-d1_16.htm
Don't lose that link !!

Have fun with your R-D1. It's really a great camera!
 
Rich Cutlers site is great for info, but........Im afraid that it indiscrimately encourages RD-1 owners to modify their cameras. Right now Im visualizing some RFF klutz taking off the top plate and poking around inside a delicate electronic system trying to fix something themselves to save a little money instead of sending it in for a proper CLA. Then, not fixing it, damaging something else, and then trying to sell it b/c they dont want to pay for a CLA. I mean, lets leave some repairs up to the professionals.

Also, I dont mean to sound pessimistic, but buyer beware: not only eBay, but RFF as well (sorry guys, I have to say it). For example there was an RD-1 for sale a few months back, they said the camera had been CLAed and everything was great. I then looked at the selling members posts on older threads. They wrote multiple notes on how they needed to fix this and fix that, and they sent the camera to Steves 3 times, replacing multiple parts, and the camera finally worked properly, but they still didnt know exactly what the problem was, only that it worked. Needless to say, I decided not to buy that frankenstein machine.
That said, I reallly like RFF, and I bought an RD-1s recently from an ad on RFF, so Im not totally naysaying RFF!! It turned out the guy I bought from lived close enough so that we met in person and made an exchange. It was a great transaction, and I feel lucky.

In the end, sometimes we are conservative and still get a bum deal; or vice-versa, we take a chance with used camera gear and get a great product. But I would encourage you to hedge your bets and go with the odds.
Good luck, and dont let this stop from getting an RD-1. Its now one of my favorite cameras of all time.
 
Rich Cutlers site is great for info, but........Im afraid that it indiscrimately encourages RD-1 owners to modify their cameras. Right now Im visualizing some RFF klutz taking off the top plate and poking around inside a delicate electronic system trying to fix something themselves to save a little money instead of sending it in for a proper CLA. Then, not fixing it, damaging something else, and then trying to sell it b/c they dont want to pay for a CLA. I mean, lets leave some repairs up to the professionals.
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People carelessely opening their cameras are fine by me, it allowed me to buy my R-D1 for 200€! The previous owner forgot to unplug a ribbon cable when opening the top plate and ripped it:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56871

The only other way I can think of to get one at that price for now is the wonderful spanish site sent by Licorice, you can even get a M9 for 1500€ there! :)
 
efkbl said:
People carelessely opening their cameras are fine by me, it allowed me to buy my R-D1 for 200€! The previous owner forgot to unplug a ribbon cable when opening the top plate and ripped it:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56871

The only other way I can think of to get one at that price for now is the wonderful spanish site sent by Licorice, you can even get a M9 for 1500€ there! :)
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Wow, great job. Did the seller described you what the problem was? If so I can understand a person like you who knows what to do can buy it. However if you did not know what was wrong I doubt if you would dare buying it for the fear of ending up with a burned IC or something similar ly nonrepairable.
 
Licorice said:
Wow, great job. Did the seller described you what the problem was? If so I can understand a person like you who knows what to do can buy it. However if you did not know what was wrong I doubt if you would dare buying it for the fear of ending up with a burned IC or something similar ly nonrepairable.
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Yes, I was very lucky to find and win an ebay auction
- for a broken R-D1
- clearly mentioning that a cable was ripped.

But even so I was quite nervous about being able to repair it or not!
 
Well, unlike my first perception, there are many options available. Ffordes prices are around USD 1600 - 1700 and buying from them seems to be the safest bet.

I also contacted the seller at flickr and he happens to have a 100% feedback and a good rate at ebay, and hİS price is better, maybe I can buy from him.
I think I have to take the risk, not pure risk but an "educated" risk if I can call it so, I mean the risk remaning after evaluating the odds.
 
Its not only a question buy or not a R-D1 on ebay, rff or elswhere. After some time it is also a question sell or keep a like-new-R-D1, because it is a camera that brought me back very fast to real photography. Using a Leica now there are some emotional feelings looking back to R-D1, standing around :) Never had this kind of thoughts at a DSLR.
 
Epson R-D1

Epson R-D1

Licorice said:
Well, unlike my first perception, there are many options available. Ffordes prices are around USD 1600 - 1700 and buying from them seems to be the safest bet.

I also contacted the seller at flickr and he happens to have a 100% feedback and a good rate at ebay, and hİS price is better, maybe I can buy from him.
I think I have to take the risk, not pure risk but an "educated" risk if I can call it so, I mean the risk remaning after evaluating the odds.
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You'll not be desapointed by the Epson. For the lens try to find a Summicron C40 It is cheap, good and just fits the 35 framelines
 
I am really disappointed that somebody else is buying that camera at flickr. We were communcating with the seller and suddenly it's gone. Price was good at USD 1200, I could afford that. The other guy, he is lucky.

I am very upset now.
 
If it was as good as it looked, I would be disappointed to. Have faith, there will be more good'uns popping up before you know it.
 
there can be great deals here and other forums on the net.
i got a super deal over at dpi on a rd1. the cover was home made and ugly and the seller wanted some quick $$ for a lens purchase. and i got a mint camera from tony rose, sold by him on consignment for someone.
 
The experience with the R-D1 shows to me, that a sample, that has been used for a while by a reputable person with a "track" in form of shared photographs and threads about their camera is worth more than an unknown sample from an auction site or even a second hand dealer.

This way, you know already quite some details about the sample. I guess, prices do not differ wildly.
A used R-D1 at just under 1.000,- EUR is not exactly an expensive digital rangefinder, where further bargain should make a decision.

I bought mine from a second hand shop. After buying it, I have found out, that the previous owner or the seller did a "makeup" and painted the slightly worn edges of the body with black paint (I hate such guys!).

I got lucky and after some time of regular use, I know, I have a rock solid sample.
I could as well be with a brick with the reported issues of shutter, LCD, circuit board and alike.

If I would buy another one, I definitely do not over a auction site (despite for a unbeatable price under market value).

The rangefinder can be adjusted easily. I would stay away from super fast long glass.
The most, I enjoy with the R-D1 is my 28 and 35 Cron. These are reasonably fast and do not produce issues, having too little DOF for the bigger focus tolerance of the R-D1.

The tilted bright lines are a nuisance at first. I learned to frame and compensate very quickly though and have good frames with only occasionally needed cropping now.

It is a lovely camera, well worth the money.
 
menos, thanks for the advice.
It's very difficult to get a R-D1. On top, I need to have it shipped to Italy or UK. I know that Italian customs is a big problem and it's like an "oubliette" for such items, even for shipments from another EU country. Do you know if R-D1 shipped from EU to UK is a problem in UK customs or they just let it pass.

Sometimes I think I might better buy an M8 at around $2.2k however R-D1 has unique features I will certainly miss on M8. Only M9 could change my mind if it were "reasonably" priced. :)

By the way I intend to buy an 35 or 40 mm, I would need a fast lens to be in more control of DOF. However I do not want to sacrifice quality: sharpness, contrast and character.
 
phototektour said:
Its not only a question buy or not a R-D1 on ebay, rff or elswhere. After some time it is also a question sell or keep a like-new-R-D1, because it is a camera that brought me back very fast to real photography. Using a Leica now there are some emotional feelings looking back to R-D1, standing around :) Never had this kind of thoughts at a DSLR.
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Second that. Never experienced any thing like this with a digital, but havent tried the Leicas. I purchased mine through eBay. No problems at all. Following the RD-1 must be a M9 :eek:.
 
Licorice, regarding UK Customs, I have been stung by them on a couple of occasions recently, but only when buying from the US. This is a great annoyance as there are many members here selling some super stuff, but add on the Customs charges and any bargain goes out the window.
I spoke to UK Customs and they told me that providing the item is imported from Europe then there is no charge. You could always check this out on the UK Customs website too.
 
Not quite right. No VAT or customs when imported from within the EU. Other European countries might as well be located on Mars.
 
I think that a good RD1 (serviced with VF cemented down in perfect alignment) is as good as any Leica. That's why I paid top dollar here in the classifieds for a perfect used one that had gone to Steve Choi for a $300 fix-up and RF cement down.

Previously I had 3 other RD1s, including a brand new "S" form Matsuiyastore that needed RF alignment out of the new box. (Having DAG fix it was cheaper than sending back and forth to Japan).

My RD1 focuses 50/1.4 and the 75/1.4 (Germany) perfectly and as accurately as any Leica.

I also keep a Megaperls 1.25x on it, but it is not needed to equal a Leica for focusing.
 
Licorice said:
menos, thanks for the advice.
It's very difficult to get a R-D1. …

By the way I intend to buy an 35 or 40 mm, I would need a fast lens to be in more control of DOF. However I do not want to sacrifice quality: sharpness, contrast and character.
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I don't have much experience with different 35 − 40mm lenses.
I found out, that the 35 Cron ASPH is a wonderful length on the R-D1, but the 28 Cron ASPH has worlds better optics than the 35 and I therefore prefer this now (without the hood it still is reasonably sized, if you are used to fast SLR lenses).
 
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