My Personal R-D1 Challenge

[kshapero]

My only digital setup is a:

Nikon D200 (new)
Nikkor 28mm/f3.5 Ai'd lens
CV 40mm/f2 lens (new)
Nikkor 50mm/f1.4 lens

What does the R-D1 have over this setup? I paid about $1100 for this setup. What am I missing? In some ways it is similar to the R-D1. All lenses are manual and I shot aperture preferred or manual exposure. I know it is bulkier but it is also built better (water sealed).

 

[back alley]

the rd1 is a rangefinder, that is pretty much it.

my panasonic g1 kit does as much as the rd1, even more considering it goes from 28mm to 400 in 2 small, lightweight lenses.

but my heart belongs to the rangefinder...

 

[Todd.Hanz]

size and weight I would guess. I shoot a D200 with a 50/1.2, 105/2.5, 24/2.8, and a sharp as hell 80-200/4, all manual focused lenses...love it, love it, love it!

Todd

 

[kshapero]

In my heart I am a rangefinder guy (own a Bessa R3M and a ZI). I had an R-D1 but could never get past the lousy battery life. Bought the D200 on an impulse for $600 at Best Buy. Had the older lenses, then picked up the CV 40mm pancake (what a gem). Now here I am.

 

[back alley]

you just needed to buy more batteries...

 

[kshapero]

you just needed to buy more batteries...

I had 3 but.....oh well, here I am now. So am I missing something besides the mystical Rf experience?

 

[back alley]

not mystical akiva, just comfortable in the head, heart and hand.

 

[Todd.Hanz]

you've gained a few mega-pixels too...

 

[f16sunshine]

One reason. The D200 can not mount ZM lenses. My 5D sees very little time behind tv RD1 and ZM Biogon 2/35. We all have favorite lenses. For me none are in F mount. If your happy. Stay with the Reflex. 🙂
I only keep my reflex system for longer lenses at this point.
If the new 1.5 crop Samsung evil camera has a short enough register for LTM and M lenses. The DRF's in my kit may be traded in. Life is short shoot what makes you happy. 🙂

 

[axiom]

...Life is short shoot what makes you happy. 🙂

This line is golden

 

[LCT]

My only digital setup is a:
Nikon D200 (new)
Nikkor 28mm/f3.5 Ai'd lens
CV 40mm/f2 lens (new)
Nikkor 50mm/f1.4 lens
What does the R-D1 have over this setup?...

Over i don't know but i have 2 main reasons to use the R-D1 aside from my Canon and Nikon DSLRs.
RF first. We don't view the world through a TV set or a periscope with a rangefinder. Try to shoot both eyes open with a DSLR. You may like it or hate it but it's not the same world as reflex cameras.
Also M lenses from any origin are often better than Nikkors.
Now i still use my little D70 with pleasure and some Nikkors like 180/2.8 or 135/2 are second to none IMO.

 

[Johnmcd]

What does the R-D1 have over this setup? I paid about $1100 for this setup. What am I missing? In some ways it is similar to the R-D1. All lenses are manual and I shot aperture preferred or manual exposure. I know it is bulkier but it is also built better (water sealed).

I have many digital cameras (see sig.) I use the 20D for sport and work; the GRD when I want to save space or shoot macros; and the Sony F717 is for IR.

But the R-D1 is for the joy of having a camera slung over my shoulder that gives me great pleasure to use and is a fantastic low light portrait camera and 'street camera'. It's my 90% of the time camera.

I'm with the other guys on this one. If it feels good, shoot it! 🙂 I just don't see any sense in comparing. Unless you are comparing it to my 20D.

PS. As a OM user since a teenager, can't wait for the new 4/3 'Pen'?. If they can get that right, it might share top billing with my R-D1.

 

[Tuolumne]

I have used both the r-d1 and the D200, also the Lumix G1. To me, the r-d1 has much better image quality than the D200, especially at high ISO where I shoot alot. The G1 has better high ISO quality than both, and it's high ISO images are usable without further processing in Noise Ninja. The G1 is lighter and more convenient to use than both the r-d1 and D200, while the r-d1 is much smaller and lighter than the D200 with any lens. As my eyes age, I appreciate auto-focus more and more, so the r-d1 doesn't do that at all. Both the G1 and D200 get the nod for that. I can use all of my M lenses on the r-d1 and the G1, not at all on the D200. Finally, I get great flash shots with a Nikon SB-27 on the R-D1, not as great on the D200 and the G1 so far is hopeless with flash. So, ever since I got the R-D1, I almost completely stopped using the D200. Since I got the G1, I have almost completely stopped using the R-D1. So, for me, they are quite different systems. Of course, all that matters is what you are happy with and enjoy using yourself. If you ask for comparisons here, you'll just make yourself unhappy!

/T