RD-1 vs. RD-1s vs RD-1x

RD-1 vs. RD-1s vs RD-1x

  • RD-1

    Votes: 64 47.8%

  • RD-1S

    Votes: 43 32.1%

  • RD-1X

    Votes: 27 20.1%
  • Total voters
    134
Seems like no one has yet seen the R-D1x, so it is impossible to speak with accuracy.
Between the R-D1 and the R-D1s I would pick the former because it appears to be easier to adjust the RF. Although everybody prefers the fold out/hide away LCD panel on the R-D1, for long term serviceability it has to be safer to go with the R-D1x's integral screen.

I don't think the R-D1x is worth the premium of buying new. I vote R-D1.
 
I'm not sure yet.

The Higher SD card capacity of the R-D1x is nice, but has battery life been improved? Will the non-moving display be a big source of power drain? It'll take a while before you fill up a 32GB memory card and you'd be switching batteries a lot before then I guess. Has the R-D1s rangefinder adjustment issue been fixed in the R-D1x?

I have a regular R-D1 with the latest firmware and it suits me fine for now.

Then again, if I wanted to buy one now (and if I had the cash), I'd probably go for the R-D1x anyway.
 
There is NO difference in the rangefinder adjustment screws in the R-D1 and the R-D1s. Both cameras are EXACTLY the same. NO mechanical difference.

I have seen both cameras opened up, and the expert on Epson repair in Japan told me the same thing.

Somehow, this rumor got started and multiplied on the web.

The ONLY difference is the "s" printed on the R-D1s.
 
R-D1 introduced on March 2004

R-D1s introduced on March 2006 (identical but with a firmware upgrade) only Japan.

R-D1x introduced on March 2009 (identical but with fixed 2.5 screen, firmware upgrade and support SDHC up to 32 GB) only Japan.

All of them have the same mechanical inside and any changes in the rangefinder. Forget the myths about the new rangefinder in the R-D1x.
Something that surprised me was the finishing of the paint, something look different between them. I had have in my hands the three models and I found this. I am not sure if the quality is better or was better. If we compare the Bessa R2 first models with the model with the modified film rewind and the new ones, the finish of the paint is different.

Another interesting thing is that Epson are focused specially in the Japanese market some years ago but since I became interested in this camera and got it , I had never saw another person in Japan taking pictures in the street with this camera, I feel after more than two years in Japan is also a uncommon camera.
 
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Ahmed Poltroon said:
There is NO difference in the rangefinder adjustment screws in the R-D1 and the R-D1s. Both cameras are EXACTLY the same. NO mechanical difference.

I have seen both cameras opened up, and the expert on Epson repair in Japan told me the same thing.

Somehow, this rumor got started and multiplied on the web.

The ONLY difference is the "s" printed on the R-D1s.
Click to expand...

Thanks, Ahmed, for clearing that up.
 
Do you know the difference between these rangefinders of the RD-1 and the RD-1s? and Which one in better?

Somebody in Japan told me that there are not changes in the RD-1s and RD-1x, they have the same rangefinder innards.
 
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I know nothing about the R-D1x sorry but i own both a R-D1 and a R-D1s and i can tell you that vertical misalignments are easy to adjust by DIY with the R-D1 but it is impossible, at least for me, with the R-D1s. Do a search on the forum you will find a few posts about this.
Couple of them below:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=404674&postcount=84
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=486414&posted=1#post486414
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=455392&postcount=8
 
I spent two years with an R-D1 and then had a two year break before recently buying another R-D1 in the same week as the R-D1x was announced.
I paid 900 euros for a camera that had hardly been used and saw no reason to pay more for an R-D1s or consider an R-D1x.
Although a new firmware upgrade would be nice if it's going to be backward compatible and has european menus :)

Peter
 
If you have both the RD-1 and the RD-1s, what do you think about the paint and the finish of both cameras? Something different?
 
mdspace said:
If you have both the RD-1 and the RD-1s, what do you think about the paint and the finish of both cameras? Something different?
Click to expand...

The paint on the Rd1 flakes off easily.

The paint on the Rd1s is a bit better.

The paint on the Bessa-R cameras is much much better
it rubs away very slowly revealing the "brass" like old Leicas.
Why couldn't CV use this paint when they made the Rd1
 
patina

patina

the paint on my rd1 seems to be fine, no chipping...
if the bodies were brass would people be as concerned about the black paint wearing? you can always touch up light wear marks with a sharpie...or just let the wear marks show that your camera gets a lot of use.
 
why oh why not a new, great sensor!?! After all the talk about Mr. Cosina :)) NEVER EVER EVER EVER issuing another DRF, we now get a new RD1 with a bigger card and a less flexible screen. What gives?
I sold my RD1 less than 6 moths ago and have never regretted selling a camera as much. I would have jumped to an RD1 with a newer sensor!

By the way, I must have lucked out with mine, because I never experienced the well publisized paint chip and RF allignment issues everyone is talking about. My RD1 worked flawlesly every time in every condition, and the battery did last long enough for most shoots...
I would probably vote RD1 here, given I can't see the fixed screen as a positive...:)
 
Had my RD-1 since 2005 and it is not flaking or misfunctioning in any way. Love the camera. Have been using it on a multiyear project that began with an M6. Great unobtrusive camera! Had DAG do the rangefinder alignment two years ago, and it's going strong. If and when it goes, hopefully there'll be the RD-1X available. Tried the M8, but my right thumb kept looking to do something. :<)
 
RD1x is my vote

RD1x is my vote

Even though I don't have one at the moment, sold my last one to Mr. Flibble, I would vote for the x version for the improvements, expecially (sic) for the larger LCD. My vision is poor and I NEVER moveved the LCD on any of my RD1's. I too, wish they had gone with even a slightly larger imager, though the 6mp is very nice. Bob.
 
Ahmed Poltroon said:
There is NO difference in the rangefinder adjustment screws in the R-D1 and the R-D1s. Both cameras are EXACTLY the same. NO mechanical difference.

I have seen both cameras opened up, and the expert on Epson repair in Japan told me the same thing.
Somehow, this rumor got started and multiplied on the web.
The ONLY difference is the "s" printed on the R-D1s.
Click to expand...

This might be true for some R-D1s, but not for all of them.
See: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=72309 . The difference of vertical RF adjustement is clearly visible on the photo. On the R-D1s the screw only acts as a guide. I consider the R-D1s RF design to be more robust against de-adjustement, but also more difficult to adjust :-(

I would need to know more about the R-D1x to make a vote. Actually it does not seem to offer any advantages to me compared with the older models.
Anyway, I probably will stick to the R-D1s until a used M8 will be affordable for me (in the 2000 EUR range).

Regards, Yves
 
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I am not sure, but I think that some RD1S models align the same as the RD1, while others like LCT's are clearly different.

I do know I was able to get my RD1S aligned very reasonably by DAG. My current RD1 with RD1S firmware is one of my best (and is for sale in the classifieds, since I'm using the M8 now), and it had its RF/VF aligned by Steve Choi, then glued down the way Epson probably should have done them originally.

I think the RD1 original is the one to get. The others just seem to add frivolous stuff like the M6TTL, and suck more battery juice, etc. YMMV.
 
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