New RD-1x

In this day and age, there isn't really such a thing as 'japan only.' This is a pretty clever move on epson's part (for them, not necessarily for us.) They know that this is basically a niche product, so instead of undertaking the expense of marketing and distributing the product worldwide, they are letting internet pundits like us do their marketing for them, and they are letting all of the worldwide distribution be taken care of by enterprising japanese camera stores/ebay sellers. This is conjecture on my part, but it wouldn't surprise me if they wouldn't honor warranties on rd1x cameras that end up in the states or europe, which also makes it cheaper for them. Twenty years ago, a Japan only release would be nearly disastrous, today it is merely an inconvenience.
 
Double Negative said:
$2-3k for a 6MP camera? WTF is Epson smoking?

I've never been one to be caught up in the "megapixel race" especially considering my DSLR is 8.2MP, my M8 is 10.3MP and my G9 is my highest pixel count camera at 14something. But c'mon. 6MP in a "new" camera is a bit weak.
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If you can make nice images with it, WTF cares? So, I think your claim of never being caught up in the MP race is "a bit weak". 😀
 
Did I miss something in the translation??

Did I miss something in the translation??

O.K... I can see where Epson/Cosina knows that there's a niche pocket of pent-up pressure for a digital rangefinder. There's a bunch of us that would love to have one but can never justify spening the outrageous $$$ for an M-8.

But give me a break! Unless I missed something in the news release, this is just the old RD-1 with a lens thrown in. Did they find some huge cache of unsold RD-1 bodies in the back of the warehouse and now they're going to unload them by adding an "x" to the label?

My first reaction to the news was that, "O.K.... I'll buy one, with the lens, for $1000. But $2000 or $3000??? Why would anyone do that? Six megapixels? And probably the old processing software?

Maybe I missed something. Maybe these Epson pixels are super plump... capable of obsorbing twice the light of any other pixel we've seen to date. But unless I see what makes this camera any better than something Olympus or Panasonic are about to release... no thanks.
 
Jamie Pillers said:
O.K... I can see where Epson/Cosina knows that there's a niche pocket of pent-up pressure for a digital rangefinder. There's a bunch of us that would love to have one but can never justify spening the outrageous $$$ for an M-8.

But give me a break! Unless I missed something in the news release, this is just the old RD-1 with a lens thrown in. Did they find some huge cache of unsold RD-1 bodies in the back of the warehouse and now they're going to unload them by adding an "x" to the label?

My first reaction to the news was that, "O.K.... I'll buy one, with the lens, for $1000. But $2000 or $3000??? Why would anyone do that? Six megapixels? And probably the old processing software?

Maybe I missed something. Maybe these Epson pixels are super plump... capable of obsorbing twice the light of any other pixel we've seen to date. But unless I see what makes this camera any better than something Olympus or Panasonic are about to release... no thanks.
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Yes, mostly the original RD1 apart from the screen and they are probably using up old inventory. So what? We can exercise free will.

As it happens the RD1 does have magic pixie dust pixels, but it takes a special kind of user to make them work 😉
 
hilarious

hilarious

This is hilarious. Funny how seriously people take camera equipment.

Epson releases an unannounced, totally out of the blue, "new" digital rangefinder and people get pissed. Hell, from the sounds of it, they would have been better off just not releasing the thing.

Youtube is awesome, I highly recommend these two videos as relevant to the conversation at hand:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnwf2RShNV0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jETv3NURwLc
 
Obviously it's selling for 3k

Obviously it's selling for 3k

digitalintrigue said:
So how much is it, $2k or $3k?
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Why is there still any confusion about this?

The only place that is actually taking preorders for one (Epson Japan) is selling them for 299,800 yen ($3,065). But Adorama, who won't be stocking the camera, have a reported price ($2000), and a lot of people here and there who can't read Japanese have apparently made that price into their pet theory, in spite of reality.

Just when I start to feel hurt that nobody listens to me, I remember what I've gained by being one of those apparently rare souls on RFF who actually reads and listens. Hahaha!
 
noimmunity said:
The Epson Shop Website where the actual price, the only real price so far, the only price at which this camera can be purchased in reality, is listed.
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1. the manufacturer's recommended price is often considerably higher than street price
2. are you sure that the price on that page refers to body-only? Some japanese speakers have said that there's a kit price (with lens and grip) and another lower price for body-only
3. prices are adjusted for local markets - camera prices are traditionally higher in Japan than when the same cameras are exported
4. the Japanese market has very high taxes on electronic goods
5. exchange rates vary

So that's why there's doubt about the price. Happy?
 
Somehow I believe Epson wants to test the market with this RD-1 release (which is probably be made from stacks they still had) - they sold their camera very well in Japan, still now. If this upgraded RD-1 will be sold as well ... maybe they try an RD-2? Maybe Sony (who has inherited all Epson production stuff) does it?

Well - I sold my RD-1 for an M8 though I liked it very much. If an upgrade will come as a real competitor to M8.2 - this would definitely be a great alternative...

Cheers, dacaccia
 
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