JT2007
Established
As for probably a lot of people owning this camera the question of the lasting of R-D1 shutter has bothered me. Even though there are naturally people who will be able to fix it, for some kind of money no doubt.
It would be interesting to know how many times have you used your shutter and and have you had any complications with it?
My shutter has been used for about +10 000 frames. And some time ago I had my first problems. The shutter just failed to move/click. Soon I realised it had something to do with the battery. I was using some Non-Epson Fuji-np 80 "copy" batteries which had served relatively well only allowing about 50 shots from the beginning and slowly getting worse. Now the shutter basically stopped working with these batteries for maybe after a couple of shots.
But then I tried the Epson original (which I've always had) which has a been a stronger performer. But the same problems occured even with this battery even though with considerably more shots (30-50). This lasted for a couple of days, but then suddenly it started working normally again and yesterday I was able to shoot almost 100 frames with it before the batterys powers were normally outlasted and the shutter worked until went off.
I haven not dared to use the "copy" batteries. Has anyone any ideas why did this occur and how worried should I been of a total failure of the shutter? Should I just buy more fresh batteries and hope for the best?
Thanks for sharing your situations and views.
It would be interesting to know how many times have you used your shutter and and have you had any complications with it?
My shutter has been used for about +10 000 frames. And some time ago I had my first problems. The shutter just failed to move/click. Soon I realised it had something to do with the battery. I was using some Non-Epson Fuji-np 80 "copy" batteries which had served relatively well only allowing about 50 shots from the beginning and slowly getting worse. Now the shutter basically stopped working with these batteries for maybe after a couple of shots.
But then I tried the Epson original (which I've always had) which has a been a stronger performer. But the same problems occured even with this battery even though with considerably more shots (30-50). This lasted for a couple of days, but then suddenly it started working normally again and yesterday I was able to shoot almost 100 frames with it before the batterys powers were normally outlasted and the shutter worked until went off.
I haven not dared to use the "copy" batteries. Has anyone any ideas why did this occur and how worried should I been of a total failure of the shutter? Should I just buy more fresh batteries and hope for the best?
Thanks for sharing your situations and views.
loneranger
Well-known
Well, epson makes good copiers, but I dont think they have a track record in cameras.
jmkelly
rangefinder user
Um... but Cosina does. The shutter is nearly identical to that of a Bessa RxA and Zeiss Ikon.
I have been using an Epson battery and an off-brand battery interchangeably for 18 months plus, and have never encountered the shutter problem the OP is having. My shutter has had at least 6,000 actuations (or 16,000
). I get about 100 or more shots on a full charge with either battery, so long as I don't do a lot of chimping. Since the problem is intermittent I might suspect that there is a loose connection to the battery inside the camera. Steven Choi is good for repairs.
yanidel
Well-known
Over 30'000 actuations and no problem. Using only Epson batteries, get usually 150-200 out of them before recharging. Knocking on wood ...
edhohoho
Established
Steve's Camera Repair in Los Angeles does work on the R-D1 shutter. Normally if he has to open the camera up, he will automatically lubricate and do whatever else he does in order to help prevent shutter failure. Very nice guy and good turnaround times. Perhaps he will be able to rescue your intermittently functioning shutter.
mn4367
Established
I use both the original Epson battery and some cheaper replacements. Shooting only raw I get about 100 shots on each, with the Epson sometimes a little more. The cheap ones drain remarkably faster out in the cold.
About 10.000 actuations, never had a problem so far.
About 10.000 actuations, never had a problem so far.
Woodmancy
Newbie
I thought that I was about to get the same problem. My shutter was intermittent yesterday and failed completely today. Then I noticed my card was full (I rarely use the dial on the top for this). With a new card the camera works just fine. If the card gets full on the Epson, the shutter won't fire.
santi-u
Established
Well, i'm using two original batteries, 1000 actuations and having intemitent failures too. The camera has two months, bought it at Matsuiya in Japan and i'm thinking to send it back to Noriaki due to its guarantee status, but i'm affraid maybe i have to pay duty costs so i don't know what to do. Sending it to Steve in LA will be the same problem.
The problem is that it does'nt depends on the battery charge i think, some times there's no shutter response, it's like the power was off. Then, misteriously, i try again and works. I've lost some "decisive moment" shots due to this bad function. I never now when is going to happen, seems like a bad contact.
I don't know if the shutter problem comments i read are the same as mines, the common ones on this beautiful camera.
The problem is that it does'nt depends on the battery charge i think, some times there's no shutter response, it's like the power was off. Then, misteriously, i try again and works. I've lost some "decisive moment" shots due to this bad function. I never now when is going to happen, seems like a bad contact.
I don't know if the shutter problem comments i read are the same as mines, the common ones on this beautiful camera.
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jbf
||||||
You do know that there are slow raw write times... you could easily be experiencing that. You cant just fire off like crazy when shooting with raw files. You can usually do three in sucession, but it all depends on the card you are using.
santi-u
Established
Yes jbf, i thought about that but sometimes happens when is no red light reading anything. Maybe is the card, i have a 2 Gb sandisk III Extreme or Ultra (i 'don't remember) and two 2 GB Transcend that are cheaper ones and i'm affraid the problem happens with those ones. I will check it. Thanks!
mn4367
Established
Maybe the power was off. If you've set the camera to auto power off after some minutes and the camera goes off then the first press on the release powers it on again but you'll have have to wait about 2 seconds before the needle gauges are on their correct position. As far as I remember, before they haven't reached this position the shutter won't fire.
santi-u
Established
I've never noticed there was an auto power setting Michael, maybe the problem its me that i'm getting a bit paranoid reading failures and problems I will check it also.
Thank you again!
I will check it also.Thank you again!
Didier
"Deed"
As for the batteries, I use Epson only, especially since some other R-D1 users mentioned problems with third party accus.
As for the shutter, it can likely be repaired; mine went nuts, too. Stevecamera repaired it, including RF alignment and sensor cleaning I paid $300, got the camera back within two weeks (from USA to Europre).
Didier
As for the shutter, it can likely be repaired; mine went nuts, too. Stevecamera repaired it, including RF alignment and sensor cleaning I paid $300, got the camera back within two weeks (from USA to Europre).
Didier
JT2007
Established
Didier, did they tell you anything at Stevecamera about the problem with the shutter? I mean did they tell you what was fixed and how?
My shutter has steadily gotten worse and worse and basically I'm unable to use the camera at the moment.
I highly doubt that the problem has anything to do with memory cards and even batteries. I've used the same memory cards all the time, and the same original battery for the last month since I had my first problems with the shutter (while using a NON-original battery though). Certainly it has nothing to with slow raw writing times or auto-power switch-off.
Didier
"Deed"
JT2007
Established
What do you think could restarting/booting the system help: I was thinking about installing the r-d1s firmware even though i own the r-d1s version of the camera.
Or is this not recommended considering I already own the S-version of the R-D1?
Thanks for the help, this problem with the shutter is eating me inside.
Or is this not recommended considering I already own the S-version of the R-D1?
Thanks for the help, this problem with the shutter is eating me inside.
edhohoho
Established
I don't think you can reinstall the R-D1s firmware once it has already been loaded into the camera because a while back I received a replacement refurbished R-D1 body that had a firmware or LCD screen malfunction, and when I tried to reinstall the firmware, the camera would not proceed because it indicated the current version was already installed. (Ended up having to send that body back for yet another replacement.)
Anyway, regarding the shutter issue, I never had that problem but I asked Steve to take a look at it and do some preventive servicing of the shutter when he opened up my R-D1 to fix a dead LCD screen. He didn't get into specifics, but he said something to the effect that the R-D1 shutters are not properly lubricated during assembly, which could lead to premature failure. So anytime he has to open up the camera, he usually checks the shutter and lubricates it.
I'll be seeing him in the next day or two, so I can ask for more specifics.
Anyway, regarding the shutter issue, I never had that problem but I asked Steve to take a look at it and do some preventive servicing of the shutter when he opened up my R-D1 to fix a dead LCD screen. He didn't get into specifics, but he said something to the effect that the R-D1 shutters are not properly lubricated during assembly, which could lead to premature failure. So anytime he has to open up the camera, he usually checks the shutter and lubricates it.
I'll be seeing him in the next day or two, so I can ask for more specifics.
jmarcus
Well-known
Here is my experience.
I get more then 200 shots with my original Epson, 2 year old battery. I don't chimp at all. The only time I turn on the LCD is to format the next card.
I have some $20.00 third party batteries that started out with a long life but are now down to about 150-175 shots.
My shutter locks up if I don't let the rewind lever fly back on its own. I don't bring it back carefully, as I have been told to do on a M3. When I let it come back slowly it occasionally jams. I turn the camera off and then on, when I hear a click I cock the shutter again and I'm back in business.
The other thing I like to point out is that the shutter release button gets lose, or rather the ring that holds it in place. When this happens I can't release the shutter. The first time this happened to me, I freaked out, but then realized I could release the shutter with a cable release so I know it was something simple. I retightened the ring and the button works fine.
James
When I get a backup camera mine is going to Steve's
I get more then 200 shots with my original Epson, 2 year old battery. I don't chimp at all. The only time I turn on the LCD is to format the next card.
I have some $20.00 third party batteries that started out with a long life but are now down to about 150-175 shots.
My shutter locks up if I don't let the rewind lever fly back on its own. I don't bring it back carefully, as I have been told to do on a M3. When I let it come back slowly it occasionally jams. I turn the camera off and then on, when I hear a click I cock the shutter again and I'm back in business.
The other thing I like to point out is that the shutter release button gets lose, or rather the ring that holds it in place. When this happens I can't release the shutter. The first time this happened to me, I freaked out, but then realized I could release the shutter with a cable release so I know it was something simple. I retightened the ring and the button works fine.
James
When I get a backup camera mine is going to Steve's
JT2007
Established
thanks a lot for your replys edhohoho (would greatly appreciate if you get any information from stevecamera!), jmarcus and others too!
about the release cable, thanks for the mention jmarcus. now that I think of it some time before i had my first shutter failures I tried to use a release cable but for some reason i stuck it maybe too deep. Could it be possible that this has caused the problem?!?!? If so any ideas how could I check this?
this click after the switch-on that you were talking I'm experiencing too, only steadily more often the shutter won't move even after this click.
does anyone have experience about lubricating the shutter by themselves? Is this something to be done by a relatively handy normal person or camera repairer with NO experience with the R-D1 or only by some one with specific experience with the R-D1? Stevecamera's 300 dollars is just a lot for me especially if it's just a lubrication of the shutter.
Thanks for the comments and advices once more!
about the release cable, thanks for the mention jmarcus. now that I think of it some time before i had my first shutter failures I tried to use a release cable but for some reason i stuck it maybe too deep. Could it be possible that this has caused the problem?!?!? If so any ideas how could I check this?
this click after the switch-on that you were talking I'm experiencing too, only steadily more often the shutter won't move even after this click.
does anyone have experience about lubricating the shutter by themselves? Is this something to be done by a relatively handy normal person or camera repairer with NO experience with the R-D1 or only by some one with specific experience with the R-D1? Stevecamera's 300 dollars is just a lot for me especially if it's just a lubrication of the shutter.
Thanks for the comments and advices once more!
santi-u
Established
Finally my problem mentioned before was the auto power settings, i had it at the minimum. I noticed that and changed it. The camera now is working perfect.
Thank you Michael for the advise and thanks to everyone!
Thank you Michael for the advise and thanks to everyone!