RD-1 Build quality comments

[AeroDan69]

Hi All,

I've been lurking on the board for a bit, and have done a TON of reading this past week. What a great resource this site is! I went bleary eyed 🙂

So, I'm considering an RD-1S purchase on my next trip to Japan, but have some reservations that I hope you can help me resolve.

I'm *seriously* finicky about build quality. Since I don't have the luxury of holding an RD in my hands, I wonder if you can give me a critique of it's "feel" and build. I'm used to film bodies like my Leica M's, which honestly, are built like tanks. The analog feel of these cameras makes them feel like professional tools - something life long, that inspires ruggedness.

Is this the case with the RD-1?

For reference, I got the chance to test drive a (now discontinued) Leica Digilux 2 (aka Panasonic Lumix) a short while back, and though it's a fine carry camera, was really disappointed with the plastic, light feel.

Perhaps my expectations are too high, but how far off of my M's is this sucker?

Thanks for any feedback, and happy shooting!
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[AeroDan69]

Almost forgot, one thing I found in my net searches is the following statement from shardsofphotography blog:

"The camera is quite a bit heavier than the Bessa R. The R-D1 is not of the indestructive build of a Leica M2 and I don't think it will survive a drop on the pavement very well. That does not mean, however, that the camera is a worthless piece of plastic. On the contrary, I would say. The camera feels sturdy and solid. The layout of the dials, displays and buttons is excellent."

If this could be expanded a bit more... How far off from M territory is it? Will I have another Digilux build experience?

Thanks all,
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[RML]

Ad,

as I wrote in that review, it'snot an M2 and really no other camera is. But it feels sturdy and does not give me the impression of being cheap, lightweight plastic. It's quite hefty and lies solidly in my hand. I find it difficult to explain how it feels and would advice you to handhold one in a shop (when in Japan?) and decide if it is what you want. For me, it's my carry-everywhere-everyday camera and I think that feeling goes for most-if-not-all R-D1 users.

 

[Phil_Hawkes]

Hi.
I started this posting, and it just grew and grew... so I hope there is some useful information SOMEWHERE in here.

I have two R-D1's (serial #'s 0026xx and 0046xx). I bought the second one about 7-8 months after the first. The main difference between the two cameras is some loss of paint on the older R-D1 (I bought a better case once I had the 2nd R-D1. At the moment, the 2nd R-D1seems to be focussing more accurately, but that may just mean that I have to recalibrate the rangefinder.

I guess I have taken around 18000-20000 shots between the two cameras, so they have had lots of use. I take at least one camera with me most f the time. The two cameras have seen several cross-pacific flights between them. ONe of the cameras travelled up a river ina canoe and the traversed a waterfall (in a waterproof case!!). I don't think I've dropped either camera a serious distance, but I'm sure both have had plenty of bumps. Thus far, nothing seems loose. The screen seems to scratch easily, so either hide it and/or put screen protector plastic on it.

I dont think I've held a Leica M, so I can't compare the R-D1 to the M. I do have a Hexar RF.. so I'll try comparing to that.

There seems (to me) to be a slight bit of movement in the filmwinder/shutter cocker of the R-D1 cameras, but that was there from the beginning. Otherwise, the winder feels fine. The Hexar has no manual winder

I am often changing ISO and shutter speed (I tend to choose shutter speed rather than use AE). Both of those operate perfectly. The click-stops for the shutter are not as tight as on the Hexar RF. I prefer the R-D1 shutter click-stops.


The rangefinder focussing mechanism seems to go awry periodically on the R-D1, but I have no qualms in adjusting that myself. I've never tried getting the Hexar readjusted.. I don't think I would try doing that myself

No problem with the dials showing number of shots remaining etc.. Amazingly, the glass on top of the dials hasn't been scratched on either R-D1 camera. Either I've been lucky, or they have used high quality glasss there. Similarly, none of the viewfinder surfaces have scratched. None of the viewfinder surfaces on my Hexar have scratched either

The rewind knob used for toggling on the display is excellent. The click-stops for the toggling on the older R-D1 camera are not as tight as on the newer camera, but otherwise it is fine.

The selector switch for choosing to adjust white balance or file quality actually feels tighter on the oder camera than on the new... or that could be my imagination. The selector has a bit of movement in it on both cameras, but not much. The selector switch itself appears to be quite strong.

The display screen and the folding-away mechanism still feel fine. No problem with the buttons on the screen. The buttons on the newer camera feel slightly tighter... a little like the buttons are still being worn in.

The on-off switch gets a lot of action, but it feels fine on both R-D1 cameras. The on-off on the Hexar feels similar .

The old R-D1 has paint scrapes, but I seem to be treating the 2nd R-d1 better, unless they changed the paint in between. Most pain has worn off on the top corners, on the hinge holding the display screen and the hotshoe. I don't use the flash often, but maybe this paintcame off due to accessory viewfiders and levels. No paint has worn off at the strap lugs. Both cameras have worn off the paint where you use your fingernail to open the dorr to the SD card. The paint on the Hexar has worn off as much as on the first R-D1.

When mounting my Leica and Voightlander lenses , once the lens is attached and locked, it is still possible to get a slight amount of rotational movement ( fraction of a millimetre). There is also some up-down movement. It is not clear if the older R-D1 has more movement than the later R-D1. My Zeiss ZM 25 seems to fit without movement oin both R-D1 cameras. The amount of movement is less on the Hexar, and nonexistent for the ZM 25

I'm not sure that this amount of movement affects focus... maybe? Perhaps this is related more to the amount of use of the lens, rather than the cameras.. since the older lenses seem to have more movement.

No problem with tthe frame selector... but I prefer the frame selector on the Hexar

The door to where you put the SD card fels the same on both caermas. This door is plastic, but it seems to be fine. It feels at least as strong as the plastic thing used to open the back on the Hexar RF

No problem inserting or removing SDcards.

The battery door is plastic and metal.. no problems with that yet. It is easy to quickly change batteries. Changing batteries on the Hexar is more difficult, but the battery on the Hexar lasts for 2000 shots (or something liek that) so there is no need to change batteries during a single shoot

For some reason, the rubber around the eye-piece of my older R-D1 has become loose... maybe it caught on something.

Some glue has become loose on a front rubber gripa on the older R-D1The rubber grip on the newer R-D1 doesn't look like coming loose any time soon... so maybe this problem was fixed in later R-D1 cameras. The Hexar rubber grips have had no problems .

Recall that the shutter button turns off the display screen if the display screen is on. If yuo are using a remote cable trigger I think I've used the wrong name here, sorry!) then this is a real pain because you get people set up, go to press the remote cable button and nothing happens.. so you get in the habit of pressing the remore cable button twice... or pushing it hard. I am sure that this is not good for the screw thread in the shutter trigger. Im' not sure that this is a build quality issue.. but I wanted to complain about it anyway 🙂

Overall, I have to admit that the the Hexar looks and feels like it has better build quality... the Hexar exudes more prestige.

The R-D1 looks more plastic, but it doesn't feel any more plastic, and my experience is taht it isn't any more plastic than the Hexar.

I hope you enjoy your RD-1s. We all lok forward to seeing what you think of it.

Phil

P.S. Despite me noting some negative things about my RD-1 cameras, I am really very happy with them. They never cease to impress me or others who see the photos.

 

[AeroDan69]

Phil, amazing post, thanks for such a complete reply! I'll certainly post my impressions after I've had the camera in my grubby little paws 🙂

RML, thanks for the clarification - I'll give it a good looking over when overseas.
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[JonasYip]

Not nearly as detailed as the other post, and perhaps not very useful if you haven't handled these cameras, but on a feeling-of-solidity scale of D70 to D1x I feel the RD-1 is way over towards the D1x. I bought it sight unseen expecting something closer to the middle if not leaning towards the D70 and was pleasantly surprised.

j

 

[AeroDan69]

Not nearly as detailed as the other post, and perhaps not very useful if you haven't handled these cameras, but on a feeling-of-solidity scale of D70 to D1x I feel the RD-1 is way over towards the D1x. I bought it sight unseen expecting something closer to the middle if not leaning towards the D70 and was pleasantly surprised.

j

On the contrary, this gives me a good comparison point - it's tough to rate something so subjective, but since I have extensively used the D1X and to a much lesser extent the D70 (have a D200 backup body) - it does help me.

In terms of build quality, it feels like it's more important today than ever. There are so many dslr's and compacts to choose from, and in the race to get the "latest and greatest", I always seem to look back enviously on good film bodies for their long lives, bauhaus craftsmanship, unobtrusive nature and analog simplicity.

I certainly don't begrudge progress, and have just as much invested in modern stuff as most in the biz... but... this past year I've taken a new approach to photographic equipment: If it's built like a tank and takes great pictures, make art and don't fret about what superceded it.

Anyonw remember the Minilux? Mine was stolen many years ago, but I never forgot how cool that little bugger was. Titanium, solid as a rock, and despite some flaws, very trustworthy. It felt good to carry, and it never let me down.

It's so rare that manufacturers build things "for life" anymore - when I see something of that caliber, I almost feel obliged to buy to support craftsmanship ya know?

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[AusDLK]

In my opinion, the R-D1 is a Leica-like as any non-Leica can be. It has a very solid feel and heft. I own (or have owned) M3's, M6's, M7's, Xpan, G2, and Hexar RF. The R-D1 is no slouch compared to any of them. As mentioned in a previous posting, my only compliants are that the "digital film" advance has less substantial in feel than an M; and the shutter sound doesn't offer the same satisfaction. But, all in all, these are very minor.

I too was ultimately dissatisified with the DigiLux 2. I parted company with mine some time ago. It's not even close to an M in user experience despite the Leica bug on the front. The R-D1 is no DigiLux 2 -- it is just a few notches below an M experience. I have no regrets.

 

[Flinor]

I just got home from a week of travel with my new RD-1 and the first thig I did was to change mysignature that shows at the bottom of thr post. I'm enough of a luddite that I took my Contax T with me, not willing to fully trust the Epson.

The only defect I have found so far is a very slight vertical misalignment of the rangefinder, so slight that I have to realley look for it. The only bad shots were operator error. (When you change from daylight to tungsten you change film. You don't turn a knob. Stuff like that.)

As far as build quality, it is not one of my Leicas but feels at least as substantial as my CLE and better built and nowhere near as plastic as a Mamiya 7. I also bought mine sight unseen from a member of this forum and am very pleasantly surprised by the heft and feel.

 

[Sean Reid]

The body itself feels as solid as an M. The shutter cocking lever and various switches are not as solid as on an M but they are at least as well made as the controls on the Leica DMR back and they hold up just fine. I would prefer that the cocking lever and switches be made of solid metal but that's as much for aesthetics as anything else. The R-D1 doesn't quite feel like an M but it's very close. In fact, in some respects, I like the build quality better than that of the Zeiss Ikon.

Cheers,

Sean

 

[ZorkiKat]

the 'winding feel'

the 'winding feel'

my only compliants are that the "digital film" advance has less substantial in feel than an M; .

Could it be due to the fact that the RD-1 winding lever is not really a winding lever in the truest sense? There's no film to wind in the camera and the lever's function is just to cock the shutter. That should make it lighter than the real winding levers tasked with both shutter cocking and film pulling functions. 😀

Jay