sell rd1 - buy m8 - end result?

back alley

back alley

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first, let me say that i am not planning to do this...

but i do wonder when i see people selling their rd1s with the intent of getting an m8 in it's place...what happens after the m8 arrives?

for those who have done this...was it a good idea? do you miss the rd1? are you more satisfied with the m8 experience than the rd1 experience?

bottom line...is the image quality better?
 
I think so. I loved my R-D1. I even tried going back to one at one point, after selling an M8.
But I just couldn't make the switch stick.
Ended up getting another M8 and that's what I'm still using.
 
I've sold my R-D1s when I received M8. I didn't have problem with R-D1s, but I couldn't keep both. I am more of up to 50mm shooter, so M8 worked better for me.
 
I've owned the Rd1, M8, and 8.2. I loved the handling of the RD1 and the much improved 8.2 over the 8, and hated the 8.

8.2's are not that much more than 8's now. I would get the 8.2, or stay with the RD, but avoid the 8. Personally the M8's loud shutter, bad body covering, and inaccurate frame lines really annoy me. Plus, the 8.2 is available with my favorite Leica exterior: vulcanite and black paint!

Stephen
 
CameraQuest said:
I've owned the Rd1, M8, and 8.2. I loved the handling of the RD1 and the much improved 8.2 over the 8, and hated the 8.

8.2's are not that much more than 8's now. I would get the 8.2, or stay with the RD, but avoid the 8. Personally the M8's loud shutter, bad body covering, and inaccurate frame lines really annoy me. Plus, the 8.2 is available with my favorite Leica exterior: vulcanite and black paint!

Stephen
Click to expand...

That's actually the route I took. I do really like the quieter shutter. If I were going to buy and M8, I definitely spend the extra for the m8.2 if I could swing it.
 
I still own my R-D1 but I moved on to the M8 and then the M9. Each time file quality increased significantly.
I still take out the R-D1 from time to time but the feeling is a bit like having a Sunday road trip with an old Triumph. ;)
 
The files from the M8 are much better, to my taste. Maybe it is the lack of AA filter. The files look unlike most other digital cameras, at any price.
The RD1's high ISO capability is overrated in my opinion. Plus, it doesn't even have a 2500 iso setting. Needless to say, high ISO isn't why one buys these cameras.
For some reason it was harder to keep the RD1 sensor clean than the M8. And the RF regularly went out of alignment (but user adjustment is possible and not difficult).
I love the 75 FL, and the M8 is the only body I have with framelines. (And they are not "inaccurate", they are simply optimized for a particular distance--minimu, in this case, which suits me really well).
I wouldn't consider going back to an RD1. I still shoot film, so the pleasure of cocking a shutter is still in my life.
I would love to have an M9, but it looks very unlikely for about 4 years.
 
High ISO

High ISO

noimmunity said:
The files from the M8 are much better, to my taste. Maybe it is the lack of AA filter. The files look unlike most other digital cameras, at any price.
The RD1's high ISO capability is overrated in my opinion. Plus, it doesn't even have a 2500 iso setting. Needless to say, high ISO isn't why one buys these cameras.
For some reason it was harder to keep the RD1 sensor clean than the M8. And the RF regularly went out of alignment (but user adjustment is possible and not difficult).
I love the 75 FL, and the M8 is the only body I have with framelines. (And they are not "inaccurate", they are simply optimized for a particular distance--minimu, in this case, which suits me really well).
I wouldn't consider going back to an RD1. I still shoot film, so the pleasure of cocking a shutter is still in my life.
I would love to have an M9, but it looks very unlikely for about 4 years.
Click to expand...


Nope, I always shoot M8 at 1250 or 2500 unless I'm forced to go to 640. It was the same with RD-1 and currently my favorite film on the Bessa 667 is the delta 3200 (usually @1600).

I've get rid of the RD-1 for an M8 (still have it) and I do prefer the results with the leica, not to mention the finder (even if both can't compete with the 667). BTW I'm a 50-90 kinda guy. Usual combo is M8 + 75/2 and 35/1.2. If only one lens is the option, usually I grab the 50/1.4 pre-asph summilux, if shutter noise is the concern I usually go with the 667 (the better gear I own so far...miles aways) or a GR-D or even the oly Epic II I always have with me (loaded with neopan 1600)
 
pstevenin said:
Nope, I always shoot M8 at 1250 or 2500 unless I'm forced to go to 640.
Click to expand...

Don't want to hijack the OP's thread, but I'm interested to see some examples. Looked through your gallery photos but couldn't find any such M8 shots.

pstevenin said:
Usual combo is M8 + 75/2 and 35/1.2.
Click to expand...

That's one of my favorites, too.
Envy you for having a Bessa III.
 
I had an RD1S and now have an M8. I'm much happier with the M8. On a tactile level, the RD1S was too tall, and the M8 is too deep. A film M works best of all, of course.

I worry less about the M8 than I did about the RD1S. Once the VF alignment was knocked out, I really stopped enjoying using that camera.

The M8 files are amazing, and really the only digital files that get close to film (for me). My 5D2 just sits unused. The RD1S somehow never seemed as sharp, too.
 
noimmunity said:
Don't want to hijack the OP's thread, but I'm interested to see some examples. Looked through your gallery photos but couldn't find any such M8 shots.



That's one of my favorites, too.
Envy you for having a Bessa III.
Click to expand...

this one for ex : http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=74664&ppuser=3312

or that one : http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=73068&ppuser=3312

but you're right nothing with either the 35 or the 75. I do not post photos anymore here. The 75 is damn sharp... I do like the gritty aspects of the files. I sometimes also shoot down to -3 stops (either 1250 or 2500) and push it on computer and eventually have an acceptable results (like a 3200 bw or a pushed Tri-X on a M6); but never did that with the RD-1.

I do understand about the 667 ;->
 
I was initially frustrated about the switch when I had to send my M8 to NJ for a new sensor. And lately I have been having problems with the shutter release, which seem to have been the result of using a soft release (removed the softie and all is well now). So, the M8 has been a bit vexing with respect to technical problems.

But I love the camera, just love it. It gets more use than my film M's, which I could never say about the R-D1. I also never thought I cared about the crop factor, but the larger sensor on the M8 really turns out to make a difference to me. The colors are superb, and handling is a joy. I replaced the covering with griptac.

I do miss the shutter charge lever though!
 
Interesting thread. I sold my RD1 because I was not satisfied with file quality and went back to MF and a M4. The RD1 did not compare to 35mm slide. Now that I am shooting MF film again, my M4 is being used for general photography and low light while important is in MF. I am thinking of switching from the M4 to the M8 and this thread is helping me steer in that direction. Thanks!!! (starts counting pennies again sadly :( )

As to the RD1, I love that it has a cocking lever. Something about it is just so enjoyable. If I sell the M4 for the M8, I will miss that lever something terrible. The Mamiya's shutter lever is nowhere near as nice as on the M4.
 
Veils

Veils

Hi, i did that, sold the epson and bought an m8, got rid also of almost all vc lenses! kept the viewfinder of 21mm just because it inlcudes a lens with it :D I´m waiting to get the zeiss 21!

I shoot film most of the time but got an m8 just to get digital backup for lenses and special times (few) when digital is better than film.
M8 doesn´t see much action either!
Even got rid of all leica film bodies, kept the best leica ever IMHO the III-G!

Bye!
 
I liked my R-D1 and was thrilled that I could use my M and LTM glass with a digital body. I too found that the RF was easy to knock out of alignment. I also found that the RF was not accurate enough with fast glass, although I was able to figure out work-arounds for that. I did like the files, though. The camera went to DAG several times to try to get it to play nice with the 75/1.4 and 50/1 -- in the end, his diagnosis was that the RF mechanism just did not have enough sensitivity to reliably focus these lenses.

My only disappointment with the M8 was that although its design addressed all of my concerns about the R-D1, it introduced a whole new set of problems. IR-sensitivity and a different level of RF intolerance. A couple of my lenses don't focus well on the camera when wide open (135/3.5, 135/2.8, 50/1.4). But overall, I got a huge bump in IQ and better high ISO performance. I am pleased with the trade up, but I am interested to see whether there is a full-frame mirrorless camera with a good EVF that allows use of Leica mount glass. the new Olympus is like the junior version . . . I'm waiting for prime time.
 
RD1 best

RD1 best

I have them both, and I like the Epson RD1 better and I wish that Epson would update it´s design.
 
I have both. I originally intended on selling the RD1 but I enjoy it too much.. for different reasons. I like the 1:1 viewfinder, the handling, and I seem to prefer RD1 at higher ISOs. At more normal ISO settings the files from the M8 files are better.

I know with a 100% certainty that I would miss the RD1 if I were to sell it. If forced to sell, I'd probably sell the RD1. Big regrets because I was lucky enough to get my RD1 fairly cheap.
 
interesting set of answers...some surprising.

of the problems mentioned regarding the rd1, i have not suffered through any of them. my first body arrived with an out of allignment rf but i fixed that pretty quick and it has not returned (to either body). my fastest lenses are 1.4 and 1.5 and they focus easy enough for me. i imagine that someday i might have an m8/m8.2 as i like to play with the machines but i'm in no rush.
 
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