Is the RD-1 headed for a nosedive?

tbarker13

tbarker13

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Obviously we've talked a lot about how the M8 and M9 will be impacted by the arrival of the Fuji Xpro-1.
But I really wonder how the Epson RD-1 will fare. Let me say right up front that I love the RD-1 when I owned it. Liked it better than the M8 in some regards.
But I wonder how many potential RD-1 buyers are now holding those same funds and waiting to see how the Fuji performs. If it does do well, I could see it really pushing down the sales prices on the Epson.
 
I thought this too. But it is not a given. So far all the posers have been digital rangefinder look a likes. I mean really, (I ought-ta know I had one) does anyone really consider "focus peaking" a rangefinder experience? Etc, etc. So far the R-D1 and the M8/9 are the only digital rangefinders out there. So we will see how Fuji does. But (my final word on this) IMHO, the Fuji X100 (I had this, too.) sucks because the manual focus sucks. Maybe I am on old purist. Maybe.....
 
well if it does...so be it but the people who have one now probably dont care about the value they just enjoy using it, if we valued all our gear as a stock shares we wouldn't have as many cameras or enjoy photography....just remember when you buy a new car as soon as you have left the lot it has already lost some value
 
How will you focus M-mount lenses on the new Fuji? Sure, frame lines will be neat to see projected in an optical viewfinder, but will there be focus confirmation, and how good will that be? Focus peaking would be via live view, which means the full EVF. In which case it's the same as a GXR and a Nex 5n. I've had both of those cameras and MF isn't bad in either case, just different. But I'm not sure I see where the new Fuji does something different, or better. Maybe I'll be surprised.
 
Certainly true for those who crave the rangefinder focusing experience. For those who just want a small camera, however...

I suspect a lot will depend on the quality of the Fuji lenses. If they are competitive with Leica, Zeiss and Voigtlander, that may be enough for some people.
I'm not suggesting the market for an RD-1 will vanish overnight. But this could remove some of the demand.
 
i've wondered the same thing...but i have no idea where the price will go...it might go up if people don't like the new fuji!
i wonder about the fuji pro...it looks, and if like the x100, will feel like a rangefinder but it's not.
if the fuji lenses are not up to expected snuff...the whole thing falls apart.

the rd1, weather folks want to agree or not, is a special machine, a unique machine that produces unique and beautiful images...i am finding there is no price that can be set for that.
i just bought a d90, nice machine and i love the new 40 i put on it...but the images are not nearly as beautiful as the rd1 produces. skin tones are dreadful for one, all mottled...

ok, rambling here...if the price on the rd1 drops like a rock i will buy a few more...maybe one for each lens...hmmm, i'll need a new bag then...
 
Well, I am fully film right now, but with 2 kids now, processing has become more difficult with limited time so I'm feeling some internal pressure to go digital.

The R-d1 seems rather nice (minus the crop factor), but $1200+ still seems a bit steep for a 7 year old digital camera with a 6MP sensor. I don't think I'd go for it for more than $600-$700.

The Ricoh is newer with a better sensor for about the same price, but I don't know how focus peaking works and would want to try it before I bought it. Unfortunately, I don't think any store carries Ricoh here.

Bottom line, is that I think I'll be with film for some more time.
 
tbarker13 said:
I wonder how many potential RD-1 buyers are now holding those same funds and waiting to see how the Fuji performs.
Click to expand...
There are already more than half a dozen crop sensor camera bodies that can take M mount lenses and are more modern than the R-D1. From what we know so far, the only new thing on the X-Pro1 is the hybrid viewfinder. Since Fuji has kept their mouth shut about the possibilities of using the optical viewfinder in any effective way with adapted lenses, it is safer to assume that these lenses will be best used via the EVF. If this really is the case (which we obviously do not know for sure), the X-Pro1 offers nothing new for the rangefinder user looking to use their LTM/M lenses. It is however probably a better camera in some other ways than some (all?) of the existing competition, which may be enough to pull some potential R-D1 users towards the Fuji instead. Surely any new camera may have that effect, and the Fuji seems very interesting and capable in its own territory. That territory is not digital rangefinders using M mount.
 
R-D1 is a great camera. Enough said. Whether its worth $[fill in blank] is up to each user, how much the user wants a digital rangefinder that takes your m-glass, and how much they value the newer sensors. Whether that's $600 or $1200, doesnt matter to me, except if it does hit $600, i most surely would want a second.

I'd consider buying the fuji, but just want to wait and see about the manual focus.
 
tbarker13 said:
But I wonder how many potential RD-1 buyers are now holding those same funds and waiting to see how the Fuji performs. If it does do well, I could see it really pushing down the sales prices on the Epson.
Click to expand...

I would gather that there aren't many since there aren't that many used Epsons on the market. To me, if you want the Epson, you are looking at it because you like the fact that it is closest thing to a film camera in the digital world. It's so outdated (note: I didn't say not useful) that you truly have to love the camera to be considering it these days. There is no reason to otherwise bother with the Epson if you are just looking for any old camera to stick your lenses on.
 
I sold my Rd-1s because I couldn't focus at max aperture due to an anomaly in the retina of my right eye. For me my X100 is a Godsend, the Pro-1 even more!
Don't care the manual focus sucks, X100 autofocus is good enough for everything I shoot (It focuses on humans properly at F2/3200 ISO 1/10th of a second) which is, in itself pretty amazing, with very good IQ.
 
back alley said:
i've wondered the same thing...but i have no idea where the price will go...it might go up if people don't like the new fuji!
i wonder about the fuji pro...it looks, and if like the x100, will feel like a rangefinder but it's not.
if the fuji lenses are not up to expected snuff...the whole thing falls apart.

the rd1, weather folks want to agree or not, is a special machine, a unique machine that produces unique and beautiful images...i am finding there is no price that can be set for that.
i just bought a d90, nice machine and i love the new 40 i put on it...but the images are not nearly as beautiful as the rd1 produces. skin tones are dreadful for one, all mottled...

ok, rambling here...if the price on the rd1 drops like a rock i will buy a few more...maybe one for each lens...hmmm, i'll need a new bag then...
Click to expand...
Agree on all points. We shall see.
 
kshapero said:
I thought this too. But it is not a given. So far all the posers have been digital rangefinder look a likes. I mean really, (I ought-ta know I had one) does anyone really consider "focus peaking" a rangefinder experience?
Click to expand...
I'd say that focus peaking is a "Nikon F3 w/ waist level finder and H screen" experience. It works really well for what it is, it's just different.
 
kshapero said:
I So far the R-D1 and the M8/9 are the only digital rangefinders out there. So we will see how Fuji does. But (my final word on this) IMHO, the Fuji X100 (I had this, too.) sucks because the manual focus sucks. Maybe I am on old purist. Maybe.....
Click to expand...

totally agree that if one wants the RF experience outside of leica, the only digi alternative is epson, though imho it is way overpriced at the now going rate of $1400+usd. that being said, and that being the definition, the fuji CANNOT compete because it will NOT be a RF! the fuji will compete with the ricoh and nex7 as incredibly high quality mirrorless digi- cams that can accomodate M and M39, among almost all other, lenses. for those who want the RF experience that's really the beginning and end of the analysis. why do we keep demanding of these tools things they are expressly not designed to give?! the pro x1 is NOT a RF.

and btw, NEITHER IS THE X100! please stop erroneously complaining about this incredible camera because it does not do what it was NOT INTENDED to do, simply because you WISH it were so intended! the x100 is a compact autofocuse camera, thats it! its not a RF or any other kind of manual focus tool. to keep complaining that its MF 'sucks' is like complaining about how difficult it is to cut down a tree with a chainsaw when the motor's off! a chainsaw is NOT INTENDED to work with the motor off, and the x100 is not intended for manual focus and the x pro1 is not intended to be a RF. what is so difficult about these comcepts?
 
i don't see the rd-1 as overpriced at all. They are a damn collectable. First M digital- and very cool analog readouts. Wonder how long they will last?
 
I doubt Fuji will implement a practical method to use the XP-1 in manual focus mode with analog lenses.

I don't see how the XP-1 will have any affect on RD-1 prices. People who own M and LTM lenses and need/want an optical finder only have three digital options.
 
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