...let me count the ways...

back alley

back alley

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Jul 30, 2003
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why do we (users) love the rd1?

...looks like a rangefinder camera of old
...the 'film advance' lever
...the colours it produces
...m mount...so many lenses to use
...
 
...affordable
...quite reliable
...don't need UV/IR filters
...accessories are cheap
...1:1 vf
 
...the "feel" of using it.
...the mixture of "old rangefinder methods" with "Modern instant digital results".
...the look of others when they are told its "digital".
...the results.
 
I sometimes think I may have missed something by never having owned an RD-1.

If they can turn a cranky curmudgeon like Joe into such a romantic ... maybe one could help me! :D
 
back alley said:
why do we (users) love the rd1?
Click to expand...
What's really special about the R-D1 in the digital camera market is the excellent user interface for taking photographs. I'm only missing a dedicated button/system for formatting the card without LCD use and it would be perfect. The menu system is a bit gimmicky but at least it's a fun touch. The analog displays are a piece of engineering art. They are beautiful and what's most important, quick and easy to use. If there were a Nobel prize for digital camera design, the guy who came up with the logarithmic "pictures left" display would deserve it two years in a row.

The 1:1 viewfinder is another great thing. Like many others, I also like the colours from this camera.

Overall, it's a great camera to use and it produces great results. It has turned out to be very reliable as well, which was initially my major concern with this camera. The battery life is pretty bad, but cheap batteries are easy to get.
 
... M/LTM mount
... B/W from Epson PhotoRaw software
... awesome feeling to take photos (I know that is personal experience, but I feel I take "better" pictures) ;)
 
- Digital RF, affordably (some might argue otherwise)
- Ergonomics, I like the looks and the handling
- Once set up, never use menus. No need
- May not be a Leica, but it sure is better built than most other cameras
- The colour rendition is like no other camera I´ve seen
- 6Mpix is lacking in the resolution department, I know. But pictures are still sharp
- M and LTM glass
- Which other cameras had revolvable screens in 2004? The plate on the screen back, with conversion table for focal lengths vs real FOV made to look like an ASA dial. Just one of those details that convinces you that effort has been put into this camera.
 
... the film advance lever
... shooting both eyes open in 1:1 finder
... never touching the menus
... beautiful color images
... beautiful look of camera
 
… The awesome Seiko dial display
… the LCD screen (when it's closed!)
… when the LCD screen is closed, the really really beautiful focal conversion dial
… the RAW pictures @ 1600 iso developed with Epson Photoraw
… the leather half-case by Mr Zhu
… hope that some day we will see a full-frame R-D2!!!!
 
- that you can push these files like crazy (ISO 6400 − 12800 not an issue)
- the kaa-ching sound of the shutter, following … silence
- the Auto Exposure position on the dial, locking and easily being unlocked and clicked to +2/3 for perfect exposures
- the perfect meter reading, as it should be in all RF cameras
- that you always know, which speed is set and never dump into 1/4 territory, when you want to shoot moving people
- the lower weight, making it the perfect backup body, you slip in the bag
- the higher body for big hands and better grips

If I only would use mine more - still pondering of letting it go - I 'll use it this evening ;-)
 
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