Scared to buy an r-d1

[JayC]

I can get a new-in-box r-d1 for less than the used ones on ebay. I currently have an m3 and m6 with 15/28/35/50/90 lenses.
I also own Hassy gear and a Nikon dslr with a compliment of pro lenses.
I only looked at the R-d1 when to price was to high. I had convinced myself that I was happy with my set-up. Then the guy calls me and tells me the new super low price.
I enjoy all types of photography, although my "street" stuff is limited to inanimate objects and people I know. I enjoy fine art style landscape photography and sports and just started making small amounts of $ photographing real estate for realtors.
I had decided that my m gear would be for everyday suff and travel, the Hassy for those big landscapes, and the digital for sports, weddings (I have shot 2), and the real estate. Would I be stupid to give up one of my current camers for the Epson? Or would that camera really help me in some way? Please help. I told the seller I would buy it, but can sell it off right away and make a few bucks. I have read every post in this forum and still it seems that the camera could end up being a dog/paperweight/compromise.

 

[Keith]

I think an RD-1 makes a lot of sense for those times when you just want to go out and shoot a rangefinder without burning dollars worth of film. There's another thread somewhere that talks about the rising cost of using film and it appears to be global with shifting currencies etc ... a digital rangefinder at a premium price is an asset in these times.

As you said you can always sell it for at least what you're paying for it if you don't like it! 🙂

 

[back alley]

i'd certainly exchange it for the m3 or the m6.

but that's me.

 

[Trius]

If you are unsure I would pass it up, except that is easy to sell on if you don't like it. It's probably worth giving it a spin in that case. It might be useful for the real estate work as well as street.

 

[JayC]

I kind of like "having" my m3 and m6. I don't want to give up one unless it is the best thing to do. I was going to send my m6 off for a veiwfinder upgrade when I decided the r-d1 was too much money. I kind of wanted to be battery independent when I travel. But the new price for me is really low. But not low enough to justify not selling something.

 

[tajart]

new in the box for a decent price...from a local source?
have you seen it first hand or had a chance to handle it? is the seller reputable? return privileges?

i too had reservations about buying a camera that was no longer in production and had known issues, but when i came across a clean one that i could see, hold, and try a couple of frames, i did it. and love it.

i say try to add it to your inventory of tools if you can without selling the ones you love. i too had my vf upgraded when i had my m6 cla'd...but since then, the rd1 gets the most use.

i don't think you'd regret having this camera...and if you did, it doesn't seem you'd have any problem finding a buyer for it...

 

[laptoprob]

I agree with tajart. You won't regret using the R-D1. Expecially if it is such a great deal. Not too good to be true?
But if the choice is difficult to pick another piece of equipment having to go...

 

[thegadsby]

had my RD1 for a couple of years and love it

always had missaligned viewfinder masks but who cares the pics are superb and you can get used to it

Depends whether you want to take pics or polish a new piece of kit!!!

Go f r it you wont regret it

 

[JayC]

Well I am on my way home with it right now. The rf patch is a bit off at infinity, but I can fix that, right?

 

[Steve Litt]

I sold my M6 in favor of my RD-1 M2 and GRD.No regrets at all.

Regards
Steve

 

[Tuolumne]

Check out Rich Cutler's RD-1 site here. It has all the information you could ever want about the camera.

/T

 

[kuvvy]

JayC, I've only had mine for two days. Bought it after reading all teh recent threads. So far I like it. I still have a number of other cameras, an Oly system, a Nikon D80 plus Sigma 30mm, a Hexar silver, Minolta CLE and bunch of P&S. It's the best of both worlds in that it's RF shooting but without the film cost, but that said, I'll still be keeping my film shooters too. Just go for it.

 

[Pablito]

I have read every post in this forum and still it seems that the camera could end up being a dog/paperweight/compromise.

you answered your own question.

 

[Platinum RF]

Keep M3 and M6 then use your DSLR for digital, RD-1 is out of day, we need a full frame at least 12M camera to be able to use for a long time.

 

[bobdubois]

Hi JayC,
In my experience, every camera is a compromise. I have a Nikon F and an M3 both of which I will never sell, a Canon G7 point & shoot, 3 Nikon DSLRs, Nikkor lenses ranging from the 12-24 to the 500 f:4 p an RD-1, an M8 and a bunch of M mount lenses. Depending on what I'm shooting I pick what I think will be the best tool for the job. Althought the specs of the RD-1 aren't terrably impressive by today's standards, it has several strong points: it's the quietest camera I own other than the P&S; the lenses range from excellent to superbe; it's smaller than any of the DSLRs; it's a rangefinder which is a wholely different camera from an AF DSLR; and finally, despite all it's shortcomings, it lets me make some images I like. In the end, a camera is just a tool, for some jobs a drf is the best job for some it definately is not. Neither of the two currently on the market match the current DSLRs in spec. That notwithstanding, depending on your needs one of them may be the best tool for the job. If I had a strong preference for shooting film, I'd keep the newer M and sell the M3. I don't, so I'd keep the M3 because it's a classic. Actually, I'd probably find a way to keep them both and buy the RD-1 until I decided what I wanted to do ultimately.
Best of luck with your decision.
Bob

 

[colker]

I think an RD-1 makes a lot of sense for those times when you just want to go out and shoot a rangefinder without burning dollars worth of film. There's another thread somewhere that talks about the rising cost of using film and it appears to be global with shifting currencies etc ... a digital rangefinder at a premium price is an asset in these times.

As you said you can always sell it for at least what you're paying for it if you don't like it! 🙂

digital is more than economy. it means no trip to film lab (develop and contact sheets, prints, scans etc..). plug and play.
quality from digital? i love it. grain is charming and all that but digital has a 3D quality that more and more becomes the standard of excellence.
i am addicted to digital.

 

[Johnmcd]

Keep M3 and M6 then use your DSLR for digital, RD-1 is out of day, we need a full frame at least 12M camera to be able to use for a long time.

Yep, the R-D1 is out of day...

Better sell it 🙂

 

[JayC]

I love that shot, John. My r-d1 has a serial number of 0045** and it already has the firmware update. This is a new camera though. The plastic protector was still on the lcd, the charger cable was still would up as it came from the factory, etc.
I took about 12 shots so far and none look that good. I have not adjusted anything from the factory settings yet, however. What is the data on that shot? (lens, iso, post processing).
My shots at 800 and 1600 have a lot of noise - nothing that I expected from all the praise. I will be reading the archive section of the forum to get all the info I can find.
Jay

 

[Johnmcd]

What is the data on that shot? (lens, iso, post processing).
My shots at 800 and 1600 have a lot of noise - nothing that I expected from all the praise. I will be reading the archive section of the forum to get all the info I can find.
Jay

Hi Jay,

This shot was at 1/56 sec @ F2 or F1.4 with the Nokton 40mm MC. iso 800. 800 is definitely the 'sweet' spot for the R-D1 and I will shot that at a lower shutter speed at the expense of going to 1600.

I find the Nokton 40mm 1.4 is the perfect companion and it is rarely off the camera.

At 800 the noise should be fine and, if anything, complimentary to the image. I have a series taken at a rock gig with the same combination of lens and iso - very challenging lighting.

http://johnmcd.zenfolio.com/p218746131

I always shoot RAW and process in EpsonRaw which comes with the camera. I find it great for retaining the unique R-D1 colour and for getting rid of vignetting.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

John

 

[JayC]

Adjusting the rf was a piece of cake. Close focus test and infinity are spot on.