Is six-year-old digital camera, the R-D1, worth considering?

jsrockit said:
Huh... Epson isn't trying to pretend to be a film camera with its rewind lever and film rewind knob?
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As Menos says, the Epson is basically a film Voigtlander Bessa with a sensor stuffed in it, including the manually cocked shutter. Designing a new shutter would have added hundreds of pounds to the price of an R-D1.

Also, the battery lasts milliseconds as it is - last thing it needs is to be drained even more by electric cocking!

Personally, although I got used to the cocking lever, I didn't like it - when I had an R-D1, I'd never used a film camera in my life, so manual cocking was completely alien to me...!

Other than that, I still think the R-D1's ergonomics are better than my M8's. Not that I'd go back to the R-D1 because its image quality is too poor compared with my M8 (let alone more modern offerings).

If I had to buy a second camera to complement my M8 (or M9 if I had one), I'd seriously consider the new breed of mirrorless cameras that can take Leica M lenses. Micro-4/3 cameras have sensors that are too small, and the Sony APS seems flawed, but more models will doubtless appear...

The R-D1 was a great camera and a classic of design, but with its obsolete sensor - dating from 2002 (8 years is Antediluvian in digital camera terms!) - it's had its day. If you have an M9, why buy what is essentially the same camera with inferior image quality?
 
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RichC said:
As Menos says, the Epson is basically a film Voigtlander Bessa with a sensor stuffed in it, including the manually cocked shutter. Designing a new shutter would have added hundreds of pounds to the price of an R-D1.
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Right, so the Leica is less film like than the Epson... :bang:
 
Consider the R-D1!!!

Consider the R-D1!!!

I had two and sold one to finance an M8 I still want that EPSON back. The second R-D1 still gets used and I'm not sure I will be able to part with it even come the time when I want and must have an M9 Like others here I love the 1:1 RF, file quality at 1600 ISO (better than M8 at 1280) quieter shutter, manual controls and dials and the 'advance' lever that keeps the shutter action quieter and, I think, aids battery life. Those are small, easy to carry batteries with, at least, reasonable endurance.
For low light work the R-D1 at 1600 ISO with a 50mm Heliar 1.5
is a killer combo! At 6Mp the files are detailed enought at I bought and then promptly sold an Oly E3 (10Mp, 14-54mm) when I compared its files with those of the same subject shot with an R-D1 and Voigtlander 35mm lens.
If the price is right and it has no 'issues', buy the EPSON! 😀
 
LCT said:
Not so strange. I have a 5D and i keep using my D70 for fun and because i prefer a crop camera for certain purposes.
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I can understand keeping an RD-1/D70 around if you already have it. But going out and buying it when you already have a M9/D700? Seems like a solution in search of a problem to me.

The OP can, of course, do as he wishes. 🙂
 
Andy Kibber said:
I can understand keeping an RD-1/D70 around if you already have it. But going out and buying it when you already have a M9/D700? Seems like a solution in search of a problem to me...
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Matter of tastes. A crop body is more convenient for long teles for instance. As for the M9, i would not use it more than my M6J i'm afraid. The latter is a quite expensive camera that i bought for the sole reason that it was the first .85x M available. Problem is i need a 1.25x magnifier to shoot both eyes open with it and i hate this gadget so the nice M6J remained on the shelf whilst i still used my 40+ y/o beaten M3. I won't do the same error twice. Epson launched its 1:1 bodies in the meantime fortunately.
 
LCT - the EPSON R-D1 though is not a valid option, when in search after a crop body, to get "more reach" over a M8 or M9.

When shooting motor sports, I vastly prefer the M8 + 135 Telyt or 90 Cron in low light over the R-D1!
The M8/ M9 gives greater reach by blowing up the file, where the 6MP files from the R-D1 can't catch up.

Also the R-D1 really is not working well with anything longer than 75mm or faster than f2.8 from 90mm on.

When one needs reach (a crop body), the M8/9 is at the moment the only option in DRF.
I have my 35 3.5 Summaron LTM lens on the R-D1 and use it for BW - this is the right lens for the R-D1 and works beautifully.
 
As a low-cost alternative DRF which shares your current lenses I think it's a good idea. Sometimes you just don't want to take a really expensive cameras with you, such as the M9, for any number of reasons.
 
menos said:
LCT - the EPSON R-D1 though is not a valid option, when in search after a crop body, to get "more reach" over a M8 or M9...
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Not sure what you mean by 'reach'. I'm using FF as well as crop bodies. Only difference is print size and DoF in my experience. APS-C with fast lenses provides a good compromise and 6 mpix are OK for A4 prints and 23" displays. Just shot this one for instance (R-D1, Lux 50 asph). Good enough for me and no moiré on the shirt contrary to M8 & M9 most probably.

http://tinyurl.com/3y785rf (2.8 MB file)
 
scott: in my eyes, it depends on the price. i'm not up to date on the price of a used m8, but let's say it's $1,500. considering that, i personally would only spend $500 on an RD-1. (i fully expect to be flamed for saying this in a thread that requests advice from RD-1 owners.) that said, i think the RD-1 or M8 are still excellent cameras. the development of the M8 didn't make the RD-1 a bad camera, nor did the development of the M9. just my thoughts. cheers.
 
LCT said:
Not sure what you mean by 'reach'. I'm using FF as well as crop bodies. Only difference is print size and DoF in my experience. APS-C with fast lenses provides a good compromise and 6 mpix are OK for A4 prints and 23" displays. Just shot this one for instance (R-D1, Lux 50 asph). Good enough for me and no moiré on the shirt contrary to M8 & M9 most probably.

http://tinyurl.com/3y785rf (2.8 MB file)
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We are both on the same line here 😉

In Nikon DSLR terms, I often used the Nikon D300 with a telephoto, to get more reach than with the Nikon D3, as of the same pixel count on the crop sensor.
You effectively get more reach with the crop camera (on a 1:1 pixel basis).

With digital rangefinders, it is exactly, as you understand it (my point, a bit here) - the R-D1 will not give more reach, as of the wider pixel pitch as with the Leica cameras.
The crop on the R-D1 opposed to the M8/9 is just cutting off parts of the image - even worse so (if reach is, what you are after) - is "pulls" you less near to your subject, as of the big difference in pixel count.

For this years Le Mans 24h race, I decided myself between taking a D3 and 300mm telephoto (veeery heavy and bulky), M8 or R-D1 with 90mm and 135mm.
I decided myself, to take the M8, buy a 135 APO one week prior to the race and take my M7 for some wide shots at night with pushed TX.
I did extensive testing between the cameras before I decided, for which will give me the best bang at the race.
The M8 won hands down, while interestingly, the M9 would not improve this in theory (I didn't had the chance to elaborate yet).

The M8 delivered images, worth printing A4/ A3, that rival the D3 with 300mm on pixel basis 😱

- this is, why I more and more consider, getting rid of the heavy DSLR stuff (motor sports being the only valid terrain left, to keep the stuff for).
 
menos said:
We are both on the same line here 😉

In Nikon DSLR terms, I often used the Nikon D300 with a telephoto, to get more reach than with the Nikon D3, as of the same pixel count on the crop sensor.
You effectively get more reach with the crop camera (on a 1:1 pixel basis).

With digital rangefinders, it is exactly, as you understand it (my point, a bit here) - the R-D1 will not give more reach, as of the wider pixel pitch as with the Leica cameras.
The crop on the R-D1 opposed to the M8/9 is just cutting off parts of the image - even worse so (if reach is, what you are after) - is "pulls" you less near to your subject, as of the big difference in pixel count.

For this years Le Mans 24h race, I decided myself between taking a D3 and 300mm telephoto (veeery heavy and bulky), M8 or R-D1 with 90mm and 135mm.
I decided myself, to take the M8, buy a 135 APO one week prior to the race and take my M7 for some wide shots at night with pushed TX.
I did extensive testing between the cameras before I decided, for which will give me the best bang at the race.
The M8 won hands down, while interestingly, the M9 would not improve this in theory (I didn't had the chance to elaborate yet).

The M8 delivered images, worth printing A4/ A3, that rival the D3 with 300mm on pixel basis 😱

- this is, why I more and more consider, getting rid of the heavy DSLR stuff (motor sports being the only valid terrain left, to keep the stuff for).
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Very interesting. Thanks for sharing that!
 
I think the R-D1 is a quite unique camera. it is the digital rangefinder the closest to a film camera; one has to think and to aim then shoot; because the next shot will need to rewind the shutter.
The tones and colours are far more to my liking too. It is not very good with the Leica M and that is the reason why I stick to the R-D1 and hope for a R-D2...
 
Gabriel M.A. said:
LOL - or the one you take out when you need to go buy some groceries, pick up the dry cleaning, or just go out for a picnic. 😀
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All of the above, and more. I own a 36 year old British car that I use and maintain every day 😉 The R-D1 is with me all the time. It may not be an M8 or 9, but its infinitely better than any point and shoot I've tried, both with respect to IQ and handling. Colour and tones are beautiful, noise handling waaaay better than anything with a sensor the size of a pinkie finger nail. The only cameras that compare are the aforementioned Ms. The R-D1 may not be better than these, but it sure is different.
 
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Hello everyone

Thought I'd take this opportunity to introduce myself and stop lurking! Found an amazing wealth of information, opinions and tips on this site and a big thank you to all, you have helped me without even knowing it.

My name is Greg. I'm from Sydney and I've recently aquired from RFF an R-D1, 5cm/2 Nikkor and a 50/1.4 Canon. I found a hood for it on that infamous auction site and I'm stoked for want of a better word.

My interest in photography has only just resurfaced the last couple of months since using a Minolta 7 with b&w many years ago (bought a roll of film for it today though) and some crappy digitals that I can't even remember the names of. I bought an LX3 6 months ago and that is a great little point & shoot but something was missing so I went out and bought a DMC-LC1 (Digilux 2 twin)...much more pleasurable to use but still something was missing so I 'arrived' at the R-D1 now and I'm very, very happy!

When I pick the R-D1 up it's hard to put it back down, that's when I know it's right for me.

For anyone out there like me....a green as grass newbie that's contemplating the R-D1 go ahead, buy it, learn to use it and enjoy it. The M8 is a technically better camera but for me I think I'd miss all those dials, lever and just the feel of the thing. It makes you want to use it. I think an M8 would be 'wasted' on me anyway with my current skill level. I'll probably get one down the track but I'm completely content with the Epson at the moment. It's more important for me to aquire a couple of wide lenses and learn how to compose and focus at the moment than worry about a 'better' body.

I've never even handled an M8, so maybe for me ignorance is bliss....
 
Welcome Greg and very wise words spoken there ;-)

Congratulations on the camera - you sound, you will surely enjoy it.
Share some pictures, as soon you feel like it!
 
G'day mate.

Good on you. I came across my R-D1 when it was being wielded by its former owner, a friend of mine. I new that this was something special. I searched high and low for an affordable one for nigh on half a year. I even started looking at Digilux-2s as a surrogate, until my friend gave in and sold me a complete set-up for a very reasonable price. I now can't stop using it, after a year or so, I'm still in love.

Good luck to you.

P.S. Regarding a wider lens. Look for a Cosina Voigtlander 28/f1.9 Ultron, it won't disappoint.
 
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