Minor differences in R-D1 Models - labels different?

[Plasmat]

I have three R-D1's.

One bought used off eBay, two refurbs directly from Epson.

I noticed the other day that one camera is labelled differently on the bottom.

Two say "FVAO" and the other says "FVBO". The label is also slightly different.

All are in the 1500-1900 serial number range.

Different model runs? Different markets? Minor changes?

What's on your cameras?

 

[mwooten]

Well I guess you've gotten us all to look under our cameras.
My serial #1012xx, and the camera came via Robert White in the UK.

Michael

 

[jlw]

I'm going to take a wild guess that "FVA0" and "FVB0" refer to the labels themselves, designating one with a Federal Communications Commission compliance symbol (for US markets) and one with the compliance symbols for other markets.

I recognize the "CE" symbol, but can any of our global readers explain the "CPT" or "PCT" graphic?

 

[Plasmat]

Interesting.

The R-D1 and the R-D1s both still have the Epson G911a model number, which says to me that both are exactly the same camera.

It's been reported here that the rangefinder adjustment screws are slightly different on the RD-1s. I wonder if that's fact or conjecture?

 

[ampguy]

my 49xx refurb (appears new) has FVA0

 

[Aurelius]

J230

serialno 1004xx

great camera!

 

[Plasmat]

Has anyone ever seen a serial number above 5000?

 

[Ben Z]

Mine is 49xx, but no, never heard of one above 5K. If these were Leicas those label differences would be of utmost interest to collectors 😀

 

[LCT]

...It's been reported here that the rangefinder adjustment screws are slightly different on the RD-1s. I wonder if that's fact or conjecture?

Fact as far as my R-D1 and R-D1s bodies are concerned.
With the latter, the screw dedicated to RF vertical alignment has not the same orientation and is smaller than that of the R-D1.
Also that screw is now inactive so that the only way to adjust vertical misalignments on the R-D1s consists in removing the top plate of the camera instead of the hot shoe on the R-D1.
Better know a good craftsman when the R-D1s is out of warranty.🙄

 

[jlw]

Interesting.

The R-D1 and the R-D1s both still have the Epson G911a model number, which says to me that both are exactly the same camera.

It's been reported here that the rangefinder adjustment screws are slightly different on the RD-1s. I wonder if that's fact or conjecture?

Now we know it's fact, but we don't know whether it's a difference specific to the R-D1/R-D1s changeover, or possibly just a running change that was implemented irrespective of the model number.

This type of change is common among manufacturers: examples I can think of include the various permutations of the Leica M3 (two-stroke vs. single stroke; style of shutter speeds; style of strap lugs; size of exit pupil; number of screws on the front; etc.), the Canon 7s (Canon introduced a completely redesigned rangefinder without changing the model number, along with other changes such as size/style of rewind crank, style of meter window cover, etc.) and the Leningrad (lever and spring in the takeup chamber that control film advance; later models have a heavier spring and advance more reliably.)

 

[LCT]

Easy to check.
Suffice it to remove the hot shoe and turn the vertical alignment screw.
Nothing happens with the R-D1s.

 

[Geoff]

how do you remove the hot shoe? Wondering....

Geoff

 

[LCT]

how do you remove the hot shoe...

See:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=238929

 

[kiliii]

Mine is SN 5033, with FV90 printed on the bottom

 

[iml]

I suspect the codes on the label are geographical region codes. My R-D1s, bought in the UK, shows J230, which is probably the code for Europe.

I've had no reason to take the hotshoe off (yet), but LCT is the only person I have come across who has identified a hardware difference between the two models, so when/if it needs realigning I'll take a look. I'm hoping he just got a weird one 🙂

Ian

 

[Geoff]

See:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=238929

Thanks!

Geoff

 

[Jim Watts]

I suspect the codes on the label are geographical region codes. My R-D1s, bought in the UK, shows J230, which is probably the code for Europe.


Ian

Not unless its changed over time or we are now getting a mainland Europe designation with the change of distributor.

My 2 year old S/N 24xx has FVBO.

 

[iml]

Aha. I could well be wrong, but the other 2 people in this thread with the same code as mine are based in Europe. All 3 are RD-1s rather than R-D1 too, and all three have highish serial nos (mine is 1012**).

Ian

 

[ZorkiKat]

but can any of our global readers explain the "CPT" or "PCT" graphic?

I think the pCT stands for the Russian standards logo, analogous to the UL logo in American labels.

The label on the bottom of my camera is mostly in Japanese:

"Epson R-D1s G9Z0
モデル　G911A
定格 DC 3.7V
セイコーエプソン　株式会杜“
Logo on one side consists of the letters VCCI enclosed in a double rectangle, like a TV screen.

Serial number is 100XX8

 

[manojd]

Mine has the Japanese label too just like the one above with the same G9Z0.

Stupid question: where do you see the serial number?