New RD-1x

it's certainly a big shame that Epson didn't fit a new sensor, along with the necessary consequent changes. And I wonder what proportion of the camera is made up of left-over parts.

But what this DOES prove is that Epson is still open to the idea of a boutique-style product, and that the R-D1 is NOT an orphan, which we thought was the case. All of which makes the prospect of a future version with a decent sensor more, not less, likely. And gives us another alternative in the meantime.
 
It's hard to understand Epson's thinking. With used M8's going for only a few hundred more, who is the target buyer? Since most people never print anything, I guess it makes a great web cam, but still. I think I would buy the used M8 over a new 6mp camera. Epson orphaned the camera before. Who is to say they won't do it again when they run out of sensors.

A real mystery.
 
Hey - Epson is following the lead of the M8.2 ! A new camera with superficial improvements, like an LCD enhancement, in a market where there is no competition.

I think it is a pretty smart move given the world situation - almost no R&D produces a new, badge-engineered niche camera. A low risk proposition in uncertain times.

I think this is great news, and I figure most who don't see it that way never used the original and wouldn't consider one at any megapixel level.

Now I have to go post my for trade ad - to swap my 10MP (or whatever it is) G1 for an Rd-1!
 
A dead camera is resurrected. How an this be a bad thing?
It might be a little outdated now, but at least it's still there as an option.

The most encouraging thing is that Epson think they can make money from it again - however you look at it, it's a vote of confidence in the dRF sector.
 
Pickett Wilson said:
It's hard to understand Epson's thinking. With used M8's going for only a few hundred more, who is the target buyer? Since most people never print anything, I guess it makes a great web cam, but still. I think I would buy the used M8 over a new 6mp camera. Epson orphaned the camera before. Who is to say they won't do it again when they run out of sensors.

A real mystery.
Click to expand...

WE GET HOW YOU FEEL NOW!!! Wow I think your last eight or so posts have gone on about the same darn point. We got it.
Something to consider: no-one is forcing you or anyone else to buy it.
 
back alley said:
thanks, i needed that 😉
Click to expand...

And your LCD can flip which is more practical that it sounds. Plus you have the camera NOW.

Great news from Epson anyway. Yes to all the improvements that could have been made, sad there weren't, but great just the same they put it on the market.
 
Quote from engadget.com

"Epson just modernized things a bit by adding a handgrip (model R-D1xG), a bigger 2.5-inch LCD, support for the SDHC card format (up to 32GB), and improved EDiART image processing. But this shooter isn't about the specs, it's about emotion."

improved image processing should give
even better high ISO files 🙂
faster write speeds

32gb cards should give you lots of files to play with using the 6 mp sensor 🙂

I hope the batteries will last longer but I doubt it with a bigger lcd
 
It's good news but see little advantage over the R-D1s. I have an upgraded M8 shutter and never bothered with the M8.2. I do want a spare R-D1s though so I might spring for it after all.
 
bigdavid said:
wow. what a smart reply and a very constructive one. but your pictures are boring at best. so...

I think its a good step for Epson to keep the RD1s parts alive. Besides M8.2 which I incidentally own but not happy with, I have the option of another M-mount digital other than the nonsense G1.
Click to expand...

what an extraordinarily strange comment... tokek's work is actually very, very good?!? i think i might even concur with his (tokek) sentiment.
 
Epson R-D1 Digital RF

Epson R-D1 Digital RF

If the quality control is as bad as with the original RD 1 you can forget it.
I bought the first retail sold RD 1 in Hong Kong and went through three units before I got an acceptable one. Epson were good about it - exchanging one camera after another but I don't intend to ever go there again
 
Harry Lime said:
The original RD-1 used the same SONY sensor as the Nikon D100 and I would be very surprised if it was even still in production. If this is a different sensor (maybe the same as in the Nikon D40 or D70?), they had to update some of the support electronics to allow the camera talk to it. In that case the logical choice should have been to step up to a higher MP sensor, like in the D60/D90/D300. But maybe EPSON didn't want to spend the money to design a faster bus, image processor etc.
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Didnt the D100 and D70 use the same sensor? I get the feeling that that same sensor has been in the D100, D70, D70s and now the D40. It started life as the pro sensor and ended up in the basic dslr with different firmware. Its probably still in production.
I get the feeling that this is a cheap way of making money for Epson, possibly reviving some interest in their RF idea, before the introduction of a newer RF with a more advanced sensor, bus, cpu etc.
 
SimonSawSunlight said:
and the D40 sucks big time, especially compared to the epson :angel:
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And you base that statement on what? Because the RD-1 is more expensive?

The D40 had surprisingly good high ISO performance. The RD-1 used a sensor that dates from 2002. The industry has made a lot of progress since.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond40/page25.asp

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond100/

I highly doubt that Epson can still buy the original sensor and may have replaced it with another one from Sony. In which case they may actually be using the sensor from the D40.
 
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nbphoto said:
Didnt the D100 and D70 use the same sensor? I get the feeling that that same sensor has been in the D100, D70, D70s and now the D40. It started life as the pro sensor and ended up in the basic dslr with different firmware. Its probably still in production.
I get the feeling that this is a cheap way of making money for Epson, possibly reviving some interest in their RF idea, before the introduction of a newer RF with a more advanced sensor, bus, cpu etc.
Click to expand...

From what I know the 6MP sensor in the D70 evolved from the unit in the D100. I'm guessing the chip in the D40 is part of that lineage, but with all of these companies technology trickles down from the higher end models. I don't think we can assume that just because they have the same MP count that they are actually related...

The sensor in the D90 is based on what's in the D300.
 
nbphoto said:
Didnt the D100 and D70 use the same sensor? I get the feeling that that same sensor has been in the D100, D70, D70s and now the D40. It started life as the pro sensor and ended up in the basic dslr with different firmware. Its probably still in production.
I get the feeling that this is a cheap way of making money for Epson, possibly reviving some interest in their RF idea, before the introduction of a newer RF with a more advanced sensor, bus, cpu etc.
Click to expand...
When it comes to Nikon, the target audience may have changed from pro to the lowest end of the DSLR market, but the image quality got better and better in the process..

I see no reason why Epson should be ashamed to use that sensor. If it's (still) good enough for Nikon, why not? The price is merely a reflection of the production volume differences.. I wouldn't be surprised at all if the RD-1x (at $2000) would be a loss leader while the D40 (at some $300) would still generate profit..
 
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