hhoolee
Newbie
(Please excuse what may be a long-ish post.) Hi, this is my first post and am glad that I discovered the site. I have been an SLR user for many decades and only now have discovered rangefinder cameras. I have taken a particular interest in possibly purchasing a rangefinder and have been researching what to me is a new photographic field. The smaller sizes and lighter weights of both bodies and lenses is very appealing to me. The optical quality also is attractive. However, the most significant barrier for me is that I really do not want to return to film, now that I have discovered the digital format. With many dollars invested in Canon equipment, I am quite satisfied with the image quality and ease of controlling my final images. I suppose I could shoot negs/transparencies and scan them, but that would be a last resort. And I definitely do not want to return to darkroom work as I did in the 1970s.
My fully loaded bag weighs about 25 lbs (no exaggeration). Adding in a Gitzo, food, water and miscellaneous items, I am quite loaded own. I can find a lighter replacement for my Canon 1D Mark II, but like the image quality. And the lenses would still be heavy. Fortunately, I am not a long-distance hiker, but do go out often doing landscape photography.
What has caught my eye is the Epson R-D1. At only 6 Mp, the image quality likely is not up to film. Although there are a range of opinions as to what megapixel density equals film (some say 8, other say 11 or more), it seems to me that Epson's 6Mp may be unsatisfactory.
One question I have is who among you have used or still use both digital SLRs and RFs- specifically the Epson? I continue to hear about the legendary Leica glass and assume that a Leica lens on a 6 Mp camera might look quite good. As you know, there are many Canon digital users who extol Zeiss glass as being far superior to Canon. And I assume that Leica and Zeiss glass are generally equivalent. The Epson is tempting. If I actually purchased it and a lens and really liked it, I could sell my current equipment and buy some good RF glass.
Another question is whether Leica will be offering a digital body (besides its fixed lens model) in the near future and what its specifications are reputed to be.
I understand that rangefinder camera users will most likely remain in the minority, as most photographers like the ease of SLRs with their automated features, or P&S cameras. But it also seems that there is a resurgence of interest in rangefinder camers. Who knows, in a few years there may be a few viable digital RF cameras from which to choose. Any comments you may have will be much appreciated.
My fully loaded bag weighs about 25 lbs (no exaggeration). Adding in a Gitzo, food, water and miscellaneous items, I am quite loaded own. I can find a lighter replacement for my Canon 1D Mark II, but like the image quality. And the lenses would still be heavy. Fortunately, I am not a long-distance hiker, but do go out often doing landscape photography.
What has caught my eye is the Epson R-D1. At only 6 Mp, the image quality likely is not up to film. Although there are a range of opinions as to what megapixel density equals film (some say 8, other say 11 or more), it seems to me that Epson's 6Mp may be unsatisfactory.
One question I have is who among you have used or still use both digital SLRs and RFs- specifically the Epson? I continue to hear about the legendary Leica glass and assume that a Leica lens on a 6 Mp camera might look quite good. As you know, there are many Canon digital users who extol Zeiss glass as being far superior to Canon. And I assume that Leica and Zeiss glass are generally equivalent. The Epson is tempting. If I actually purchased it and a lens and really liked it, I could sell my current equipment and buy some good RF glass.
Another question is whether Leica will be offering a digital body (besides its fixed lens model) in the near future and what its specifications are reputed to be.
I understand that rangefinder camera users will most likely remain in the minority, as most photographers like the ease of SLRs with their automated features, or P&S cameras. But it also seems that there is a resurgence of interest in rangefinder camers. Who knows, in a few years there may be a few viable digital RF cameras from which to choose. Any comments you may have will be much appreciated.
