Newbie Here be nice, please!

[greggebhardt]

Just getting ready to put the order in for the R-D1 and Leica 35mm Asph 1.4

I am getting the jitters cause I see some have had some stuck pixels and focusing problems. Tell me this was from early R-D1 bodies and all is fixed now. I use a Nikon D2x for most of my owrk but am blown away at the images I see from the R-D1.

Also what flash are you people using on your camera, I have a Metz 54MZ 4i and was wondering if Metz made a dedicated module that would give me TTL metering with the R-D1.

I have read everything I can get my hands on for the R-D1 and hope I am making the right choice.

Also how about "build quality". Does this camera have the quality built in to hold up to several years of use. I plan on buying more Leica glass but at $3k+ a pop it will be at least a few months between purchases. I am hoping I will be able to use my Leica glass with any new RF digital cameras that will be in the future. I understand that Leica will have their own, but do not want to wait.

Please forgive all the questions but I am very excited about this camera. Wish Someone could tell me where to buy it cheaper than $3k for the R-D1 and $3k for the Leica 35mm 1.4 Asph lens! 😱

 

[Matthew]

Can't comment on the R-D1, but if you're willing to buy the Summilux used you can get them for $2200 in good shape. I've seen them go as low as $1500 with cosmetic wear but good glass, but that's pretty rare and you've got to act quickly if you want to buy one. As far as other Leica lenses, the used market will save you some money. While the newest Leica lenses are great, they've been building great lenses for a while, so often an older lens is a much better bargain in terms of quality to price. (Some people just have to buy new though...) There are several websites given summaries of the lens series/history and recommendations as to which ones are better than others. Sean Reid has compiled a fairly exhaustive list of various lens' performances with the R-D1. I don't know the link off the top of my head, but I'm sure he or someone else here can provide it.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I think you'll find a lot of enthusiasts here for older glass as well, lenses that will not run $2K a pop.

The RD-1 can use Leica Thread Mount lenses via an adapter. Full RF coupling is maintained. You can pick up a Canon 50mm F1.4, 85mm F2, and other lenses that will "fill out the arsenal" and give amazing results. You will be able to get most of your money out of the lenses if you resell them later if you feel the need for newer lenses. Lenses like the Canon 50mm F1.4, Nikkor 5cm F1.4, and Nikkor (and Canon) 8.5cm f2 maintain good resell today as they are very highly regarded. The Leica Summarit 5cm f1.5 is one of my favorites. With a CLA they can be had for $250 and will give great results.

 

[Larry Kellogg]

What's a flash? 🙂

Larry

 

[MP Guy]

get the 21 asph. you will love it!!! Plus, its a great all around lens.

 

[JoeFriday]

what's a pixel??

 

[peter_n]

Welcome to the forum Gregg! We are always nice to newbies here - for one day, and one day only! 😉

 

[Roman]

Welcome!

I also use Metz flashes (2x 40MZ 2, and a few smaller, older models), and their homepage (www.metz.de) has a feature that finds the right adapter number for your camera - unfortunately, the R-D1 is not listed (yet?) They do have a contact feature, too, so you might try asking them directly!

Roman

 

[greggebhardt]

Welcome!

I also use Metz flashes (2x 40MZ 2, and a few smaller, older models), and their homepage (www.metz.de) has a feature that finds the right adapter number for your camera - unfortunately, the R-D1 is not listed (yet?) They do have a contact feature, too, so you might try asking them directly!

Roman

I will use the flash seldom as I hate it but there are also times I got to. Thanks for the info. 🙂

 

[greggebhardt]

Welcome to the forum Gregg! We are always nice to newbies here - for one day, and one day only! 😉

Why thanks, I will try to behave. The R-D1 and 1.4 asph 50mm! is on the way. I know there is some very good older glass out there but I will venture out to other glass later. Will be looking at 24mm and 75mm later, maybe 90mm.

 

[rover]

Does the RD-1 have TTL flash control?

New Leica lens every couple months, God bless you man. 😉

And welcome.

 

[greggebhardt]

What's a flash? 🙂

Larry

I don't like them either and seldom use, but there are times . . . . . 😱

 

[Roman]

Admittedly, I also rarely use flash with my rangefinders (though my Leica CL might look 'interesting' with the twice-as-big Metz on top...), I rather load them with TMax P3200..
But for quick snaps at work or of family, with an AF-SLR and a zoom lens, a flash does not look out of place... 😉

Roman

 

[Dan Lazin]

You can knock $500 off that R-D1 price by buying from Hong Kong. I got mine from Tin Cheung Camera (tincheungcamera.com.hk), but most people recommend Dr. Joseph Yao -- joseph@yao.com, I think.

In exchange, you'll be operating on a Japanese warranty, but since most of the RD-1's problems are mechanical, not electronic, I just decided I was fine with sending it to DAG Camera in Wisconsin for an out-of-warranty repair if anything was wrong. (And, indeed, the rangefinder was misadjusted -- an $85 fix, but who cares when you save $500?)

The Japanese/Hong Kong version also comes with a different wall plug, naturally, but it's a standard two-prong figure-8 connection on the end where it plugs into the charger. Any electronics nerd has a closet full of the North American version, or you can likely grab one from Radio Shack for a few bucks.

To answer your question: no, the problems aren't really fixed, but Epson seems to be good with warranties, or you can pay a few bucks to get it fixed yourself. You'll likely have to learn to live with a few hot pixels, though. Six hot pixels out of six million is pretty unnoticeable.

 

[greggebhardt]

You can knock $500 off that R-D1 price by buying from Hong Kong. I got mine from Tin Cheung Camera (tincheungcamera.com.hk), but most people recommend Dr. Joseph Yao -- joseph@yao.com, I think.

In exchange, you'll be operating on a Japanese warranty, but since most of the RD-1's problems are mechanical, not electronic, I just decided I was fine with sending it to DAG Camera in Wisconsin for an out-of-warranty repair if anything was wrong. (And, indeed, the rangefinder was misadjusted -- an $85 fix, but who cares when you save $500?)

The Japanese/Hong Kong version also comes with a different wall plug, naturally, but it's a standard two-prong figure-8 connection on the end where it plugs into the charger. Any electronics nerd has a closet full of the North American version, or you can likely grab one from Radio Shack for a few bucks.

To answer your question: no, the problems aren't really fixed, but Epson seems to be good with warranties, or you can pay a few bucks to get it fixed yourself. You'll likely have to learn to live with a few hot pixels, though. Six hot pixels out of six million is pretty unnoticeable.

Well just got offline with B&H photo and both the R-d1 and 50mm 1.4 asph will arive via overnight on Wednesday. I am a Nikon DSLR user for many years and am looking for something light with excellent image quality to get me to leave the D2X and lenses at home.

The 50mm will do nicely but am going to the Grand Canyon for a week, next month and will atleast have to get a 24mm to cover the large senics.

Anyone got suggestions for "wide" for my R-D1, please let me know.

Nice to be aboard!

 

[rover]

If you are looking for wide coverage remember the digital cropping factor. That 24 will only be a 36 I believe on the RD-1.

 

[back alley]

What's a flash? 🙂

Larry

hey! that's my line!

welcome greg.
i recommend that you read sean reid's stuff before buying any lenses.
he has some good things to say about lower contrast (older) lenses and shadow detail with the rd-1.


😉joe

 

[ray_g]

Welcome, Greg!

 

[Larry Kellogg]

Well just got offline with B&H photo and both the R-d1 and 50mm 1.4 asph will arive via overnight on Wednesday. I am a Nikon DSLR user for many years and am looking for something light with excellent image quality to get me to leave the D2X and lenses at home.

The 50mm will do nicely but am going to the Grand Canyon for a week, next month and will atleast have to get a 24mm to cover the large senics.

Anyone got suggestions for "wide" for my R-D1, please let me know.

Nice to be aboard!

Welcome Greg!

I hope you weren't too offended about my wiseguy comment wih regards to flash. A guy in a camera store in San Francisco told me that he never sold any flashes for Leica and at one point tried to give one away to get it off the shelf!

I know the feeling about wanting to find something lighter than a DSLR. I just finished selling off all of my 20D equipment, including a 35mm 1.4L, 70-200 f/4 L, 10-22 zoom, and a 50mm 1.4. I'm going to miss the 20D for some things but I'm having so much fun with the R-D1 that I think I'll get over it.

I also succumbed to the urge to buy the 50mm 1.4 ASPH! That was on top of the horrible urge to buy the 35mm 1.4 ASPH, and before that, the Zeiss 25mm! That's it, I'm done!!! You people are dangerous. The 50mm lens showed up today. I now sit here, looking around my apartment for something else I can list on eBay! Let me know what you think of the 50mm 1.4 ASPH.

I do have one comment on the 50mm 1.4 ASPH, what do you do about a lens cover when the hood is extended? The regular len cap doesn't fit it, of course. I would like to carry it in my with the hood extended all the time with some kind of cover but maybe that is too dangerous. I guess I'll have to extend and retract the lens cover all the time, kind of a pain, considering the 35mm 1.4 has that neat hood with a cover.

Have fun shooting!

Regards,

Larry

 

[SteveRD1]

The 50 F1.4 is incredible. At least Im not crazy! Now two others have bought it after me just 3 weeks ago! Greg, enjoy the cam! Im saving my pennies for my next lens, which WILL be a leica lens. I need a 35 and something wider. BUT Im broke after all of this so I need to wait a bit.

Steve