RFJapan
Newbie
Hi everyone. I've just signed up. Brief background : been shooting seriously for about 4 or 5 years, started with DSLRs like most people (and still use one for sports, etc) but when I came across RFs I was intrigued and initially got a second hand M8. Nice camera in many ways, but had way too many quirks and problems for the price demanded, so I used it a year or so and sold it.
I thought I regretted doing that, but I just realised that what I regret is that I sold the experience of using a RF camera.
I live in Japan (hence the name) and there are three or four good camera stores in my area. One of which has an M9, 8.2, 8 and also a R-D1S (all used). I played around with the M9 for a bit in the store, but it didn't inspire me (maybe too much hype? Anyway, it didn't feel much different from the M8 and the price tag was over double the price of the 8.2 and three times that of the 8. Not worth it in my book).
I never paid much attention to the R-D1S, but having read up about it a bit it seemed like a reasonable little machine which might well be a decent alternative to a dodgy M8 or super-expensive M9. Plus it has that m-mount, so you'd still get the benefit of those lenses (the one thing that I think almost everyone agrees on with Leica is the lenses).
So a couple of days ago I gave it a try in the store, and it felt pretty good. Those controls are kind of odd (to put it mildly) and at first I couldn't make sense of the camera at all, but when I did, and started taking pictures, that rangefinder experience came right back. It really is a different kind of thing to DSLR shooting. Plus it's under half the price of the used M8 and doesn't need filters, coding, etc. I know that there are some incompatible lenses, but you can't have everything (the lens I'd most like to use on it is a Voigtlander 1.5 50mm, which I had for the M8...is that a lens which works OK on the R-D1S? I hope so, it's a fantastic lens especially given how inexpensive it can be).
The 6 MP count doesn't bother me; I used a Digilux 2 for a while and that produced some very nice pics, but it wasn't a real RF. And of all the cameras I've used, the one which I felt the least affinity for (and which disappointed me the most) was the one with the highest MP count. So I'm certainly in the "MP is overrated" camp. My DSLR has 12MP, and that's more than enough for anything I expect to shoot.
Given that I'm in Epson's home country, I guess I have far more chance of getting a R-D1S repaired should something go wrong with it.
Guess I'm really posting this to get some ideas of what to expect if I do get this thing. It's very reasonably priced - the camera plus the Voigtlander I mentioned earlier still would be less than the M8 body alone. I don't shoot mega-wide very often, so that's no problem (the only lens I could imagine using of that kind is that super-wide heliar 15 from Cosina, which usually comes packaged with a hotshoe finder anyway).
Anyway, sorry for the rambling post, will post more if (and hopefully when) I pick up the camera.
I thought I regretted doing that, but I just realised that what I regret is that I sold the experience of using a RF camera.
I live in Japan (hence the name) and there are three or four good camera stores in my area. One of which has an M9, 8.2, 8 and also a R-D1S (all used). I played around with the M9 for a bit in the store, but it didn't inspire me (maybe too much hype? Anyway, it didn't feel much different from the M8 and the price tag was over double the price of the 8.2 and three times that of the 8. Not worth it in my book).
I never paid much attention to the R-D1S, but having read up about it a bit it seemed like a reasonable little machine which might well be a decent alternative to a dodgy M8 or super-expensive M9. Plus it has that m-mount, so you'd still get the benefit of those lenses (the one thing that I think almost everyone agrees on with Leica is the lenses).
So a couple of days ago I gave it a try in the store, and it felt pretty good. Those controls are kind of odd (to put it mildly) and at first I couldn't make sense of the camera at all, but when I did, and started taking pictures, that rangefinder experience came right back. It really is a different kind of thing to DSLR shooting. Plus it's under half the price of the used M8 and doesn't need filters, coding, etc. I know that there are some incompatible lenses, but you can't have everything (the lens I'd most like to use on it is a Voigtlander 1.5 50mm, which I had for the M8...is that a lens which works OK on the R-D1S? I hope so, it's a fantastic lens especially given how inexpensive it can be).
The 6 MP count doesn't bother me; I used a Digilux 2 for a while and that produced some very nice pics, but it wasn't a real RF. And of all the cameras I've used, the one which I felt the least affinity for (and which disappointed me the most) was the one with the highest MP count. So I'm certainly in the "MP is overrated" camp. My DSLR has 12MP, and that's more than enough for anything I expect to shoot.
Given that I'm in Epson's home country, I guess I have far more chance of getting a R-D1S repaired should something go wrong with it.
Guess I'm really posting this to get some ideas of what to expect if I do get this thing. It's very reasonably priced - the camera plus the Voigtlander I mentioned earlier still would be less than the M8 body alone. I don't shoot mega-wide very often, so that's no problem (the only lens I could imagine using of that kind is that super-wide heliar 15 from Cosina, which usually comes packaged with a hotshoe finder anyway).
Anyway, sorry for the rambling post, will post more if (and hopefully when) I pick up the camera.
Welcome to RFF!
You 're definitely in the right country if you need your R-D1s serviced. Epson charges a very reasonable 5,250 yen plus parts to service the R-D1s.
http://www.epson.jp/support/shuri/10_digital_camera.htm
You can even use their "door to door"service where they come and pickup the camera.
http://www.epson.jp/support/shuri/doortodoor/
As for the R-D1s itself, it is still a very capable picture taking machine and so still has a lot of fans. I would have kept mine if it weren't for the crop factor.
You 're definitely in the right country if you need your R-D1s serviced. Epson charges a very reasonable 5,250 yen plus parts to service the R-D1s.
http://www.epson.jp/support/shuri/10_digital_camera.htm
You can even use their "door to door"service where they come and pickup the camera.
http://www.epson.jp/support/shuri/doortodoor/
As for the R-D1s itself, it is still a very capable picture taking machine and so still has a lot of fans. I would have kept mine if it weren't for the crop factor.
fotomeow
name under my name
I used to have an M6 and bought an RD1s. Sold the M6 and bought an M8ux3. Sold the M8.ux3. Still have the RD1s, and just bought an M9P today to back it up.
:bang:::angel:
:bang:::angel:RFJapan
Newbie
I used to have an M6 and bought an RD1s. Sold the M6 and bought an M8ux3. Sold the M8.ux3. Still have the RD1s, and just bought an M9P today to back it up.
Haha, I bet you could drive Leica people apoplectic with that comment!
Thanks to the links, Jonmanjiro, very handy. Japan is typically way ahead of most countries in terms of customer service (I'm from the UK originally...so I guess it's an unfair comparison
)
umcelinho
Marcelo
the R-D1 is sort of a magic camera. there is nothing like it. it's the closest a digital camera can get to an analogue camera. crop factor will influence if you prefer shooting wide: my fav field of view is 35mm, so I use a 21/2.8 Zeiss Biogon to have a 32mm equivalent field of view. I would like to have a faster 35mm equivalent, but the good high iso helps. I usually shoot iso 800 tops for better dynamic range, but 1600 is pretty decent.
I feel that despite it costing half of what an M8 costs. it delivers much more than half of what the M8 delivers. Also, it won't need those clumsy UV/IR filters (ok, it DOES have magenta blacks and magenta fire, but it's so rare to affect images that I even forget about it).
I've used the 50/1.5 many times and it's a great match for the camera, although for a 50mm equivalent I'd get a 35/1.4 SC Nokton. very compact, very fast, very good lens. great match.
welcome to RFF!
I feel that despite it costing half of what an M8 costs. it delivers much more than half of what the M8 delivers. Also, it won't need those clumsy UV/IR filters (ok, it DOES have magenta blacks and magenta fire, but it's so rare to affect images that I even forget about it).
I've used the 50/1.5 many times and it's a great match for the camera, although for a 50mm equivalent I'd get a 35/1.4 SC Nokton. very compact, very fast, very good lens. great match.
welcome to RFF!
kuvvy
Well-known
I have no regrets free getting my RD1. Currently I'm using it along with a CV 15mm, 35 UC-Hexanon and a 50mm chrome Jupiter 8. The image quality is good and the handling super. The screen is small and as you say it has it's quirks but what camera doesn't. You've already compared it to the M8 etc and its given you a positive vibe, so I say go for it.
I'm off out with another RFF member shortly and it's the RD1 that's goin with me and I'm leaving the X100 at home.
I'm off out with another RFF member shortly and it's the RD1 that's goin with me and I'm leaving the X100 at home.
ulysses.o
Established
i dont have a lens for mine yet but i LOVE holding and pointing it at my GF pretending to take a picture super excited to get a lens when i save up enough lol.
i do recommend getting an ultra fast SD card under 512mb then putting a small bulk file big enough to set your image count to 36/38 and really take on the experience of film, i recently purchased 3 512mb cards for $23.
One 512 set me at 44ish frames, suguru recommended i put the bulk file in because 256mb was 22ish and i only shoot 36exp. so it would've been weird.
i do recommend getting an ultra fast SD card under 512mb then putting a small bulk file big enough to set your image count to 36/38 and really take on the experience of film, i recently purchased 3 512mb cards for $23.
One 512 set me at 44ish frames, suguru recommended i put the bulk file in because 256mb was 22ish and i only shoot 36exp. so it would've been weird.
RFJapan
Newbie
Oh yeah, that's something I meant to ask as well. Is there a limit to the size of SD card that the R-D1S will take? For instance the Digilux 2 wouldn't accept anything over 2 (or maybe 4, I forget) gigs. I know that some older cameras do seem to have some kind of limit...
RobVinc
I am a registered alien..
Yes,
The R-D1 and R-D1s are limited to 2GB SD-Cards.
Not sure if the R-D1x(G) will take SDHC.
The R-D1 and R-D1s are limited to 2GB SD-Cards.
Not sure if the R-D1x(G) will take SDHC.
Ronchnam
Established
R-D1s
R-D1s
Already posted elsewhere :
"Three days ago I put my "beloved" R-D1 for sale on a French RF site (summilux.net) as I figured out buying a Leica M8.
2 hours later I cancelled the ad as I was convinced that it was a mistake.
No regrets"
R-D1s
Already posted elsewhere :
"Three days ago I put my "beloved" R-D1 for sale on a French RF site (summilux.net) as I figured out buying a Leica M8.
2 hours later I cancelled the ad as I was convinced that it was a mistake.
No regrets
"Out to Lunch
Ventor
Another Epson R-D1 enthusiast here. I liked the R-D1 so much I bought a second R-D1s. I paid around USD 1,600 for each. One from Matsuiya store and the other through Dirk at http://www.japanexposures.com/services/#equipment. Both second-hand but 'as new' -it seems the Japanese take very good care of their cameras. I mostly use wide lenses on both: 15, 21, 28 and 35mm zeiss-ikon and voigtlander.
kermaier
Well-known
The 50/1.5 Nokton works great on the R-D1. There are very few M-mount or LTM lenses that are truly incompatible with the R-D1. (Actually, I can't think of any right now.) The worst pairing I've experienced was with the Leitz 21/3.4 Super Angulon -- the deeply protruding rear element caused significant vignetting and made metering nearly impossible. There are some lenses that cannot be safely collapsed on the R-D1, but I don't know any that cannot be used at all.
I have found that the R-D1 has similar IR sensitivity to the M9. I use UV/IR filters only under incandescent lighting, which seems to be rich in infrared wavelengths that the R-D1 can capture.
::Ari
I have found that the R-D1 has similar IR sensitivity to the M9. I use UV/IR filters only under incandescent lighting, which seems to be rich in infrared wavelengths that the R-D1 can capture.
::Ari
RFJapan
Newbie
Guess I'm in the club now! I picked up the R-D1S today along with a color Skopar as a first lens. Nice to have that RF shooting experience back, and proves (to me, anyway) that is is entirely different to DSLR shooting.
I've put up a few of my first shots on flickr, so if I'll be excused for taking the lazy way out and linking them for now...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11231349@N00/6161733759/in/photostream
(title only makes sense if you speak Japanese..sorry!)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11231349@N00/6161734001/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11231349@N00/6162269882/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11231349@N00/6161734987/in/photostream/
I've put up a few of my first shots on flickr, so if I'll be excused for taking the lazy way out and linking them for now...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11231349@N00/6161733759/in/photostream
(title only makes sense if you speak Japanese..sorry!)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11231349@N00/6161734001/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11231349@N00/6162269882/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11231349@N00/6161734987/in/photostream/
kermaier
Well-known
Ccongratulations and welcome to the club! Is that the 35mm Skopar?
::Ari
::Ari
RFJapan
Newbie
Yeah, it's the 35 (works out to more or less a 50mm POV on the R-1DS, but I use 50 a lot so that works for me). Amusingly came with a free hotshoe viewfinder which I can't use But seems to be a nice lens to start with.
But seems to be a nice lens to start with.
kermaier
Well-known
The 35 Skopar is great on the R-D1 -- more expensive lenses will have only marginal advantage in overall image quality, though faster are definitely available.
Ari
Ari
Cagliostro73
Established
Hi! I've just bought a RD1! After a long search I found it in a leica store in rome at a bargain price (600 €) used, 297 shutter actuations only and very well kept...
I think I was lucky... wasn't I?
I think I was lucky... wasn't I?
krötenblender
Well-known
That was more than luck! Incredible price for that camera. Have fun!
