Sold My Two R-D1's Today

[AusDLK]

When at least one folder of RAW files from my European trip was found to be missing this morning, it was the final straw.

I listed an R-D1 for sale here and on LUG and CVUG and it was sold within six hours. Then to someone who had inquired about the first camera, I sold the second.

Plain and simple, rangefinder digital photography is just not in the cards for me.

It is (probably) well known what I think of the M8. And while I generally like the R-D1 very much, it represented just too much of a compromise for me.

Here are the specific reasons (besides the lost image files) that I decided to part with the cameras:

1. the unreliable nature of the rangefinder (I didn't really want to learn how to align it myself)

2. the battery (I don't want to have to worry about charging it -- I want to grab my camera and go without a thought to the battery)

3. the SD card (when I click the shutter, I want the camera to take a picture -- no matter what and sometimes I want to take more than two in rapid succession)

So, digital rangefinders are a complete bust as far as I'm concerned.

I will just have learn to love DSLR's for those tasks not suited to film rangefinder photography.

 

[kbg32]

Sorry for your bad experiences Dave. I am selling my RD-1 as well. Not because I have had trouble with it. It has performed flawlessly. I just replaced it with a M8 and this is one beautiful camera.

I hope you sort things out.

 

[dcsang]

Well..

I think this occurs with a lot of first gen products - not just digital rangefinders - we all want the "digital M3" don't we??

Right now we have either the Leica M8 or the R-D1 - both have their issues and some can work amongst the shortcomings of the cameras - but I'm going to wait it out.. sure it might not happen till I'm 50 but I'm going to hold out for now and keep shooting film as long as it's still around until they can get into second or third generation and then I'll jump in.

Sorry to hear it didn't work out Dave.. but then again... you now have enough cash to grab yourself a new MP no? 🙂

Cheers
Dave

 

[Sailor Ted]

In America we say "I lost my pen."
In Spain we say "My pen lost me."
In RFf we say "Some have lost their frigin minds."

 

[back alley]

ted, we never say that here on the forum...

 

[AusDLK]

>we all want the "digital M3" don't we??

What I want(ed) was an M7 with a digital sensor instead of film. Period.

I want the shutter advance, I want it to take my Rapidwinder, I don't want an LCD screen.

In other words, from the outside it is indistinguishable -- physically and sonicly -- from an M7 -- except for maybe a white balance button and a USB port cover.

I truly believe in my heart of hearts that this is what ALL M8 owners really wanted -- all who presently own and love the M8 would still have bought this alternate model and loved it even more -- and those of us who find the M8 unacceptable for whatever reason would have no real excuse not to be an M8 lover too.

Oh well.

 

[AusDLK]

>In America we say "I lost my pen."
>In Spain we say "My pen lost me."
>In RFf we say "Some have lost their ****in minds."

For cripes sake, Ted, my man, what does this mean...?

 

[Sailor Ted]

In Spanish (as I understand the language) they blame the object when it is lost as in- my file lost me.

In English they blame the self when an object is lost.

In RFf it seems the exodus is somewhat crazy for a few high profile photogs.

 

[Sailor Ted]

Aus,
I do understand however why a DRF would not be right for some and if you can get along with the ergonomics of a DSLR then it is by all means the greatest return for you dollar so far as IQ and options are concerned. You need predisposition for, or in great need of, what a DRF has to offer before it makes sense.

 

[Vickko]

I'm going to be an RD1 owner / user !!!!!!

I'm going to be an RD1 owner / user !!!!!!

I bought one of Dave's RD1's.

Okay, I'm excited. I've read tons of threads on the RD1 and M8.

I accept that I may be disappointed. But I also am prepared to be delighted.

Either way I want to experience it first hand.

And I trust Dave that he has "evaluated" the particular camera, so it isn't going to start off as a "dog".

Maybe down the road, I'll be reselling it.

But for now, I can't wait to get it and run it with all my Leica glass.

Thanks so much Dave.

 

[Vickko]

Oh, anyone want to buy a Linhof IV?

Oh, anyone want to buy a Linhof IV?

Oh, anyone want to buy a Linhof Tech IV?

I gotta raise cash to pay for Dave's RD1.

Not joking. Email me if you want the Tech IV, it's on the 'bay.

Vick

 

[ampguy]

Good luck Dave,

Technology is not for everyone. For 20 years, we tried to get my mom on email, us kids, her grandkids, and it's just not in the cards for her.

Keep the Hexar RF, but you should still keep a spare set of batteries in the bag with your film.

 

[AusDLK]

>Technology is not for everyone

I'm all for technology -- I enjoy a nice life due to my building of a software company.

But only when technology produces tangable improvements over existing methods.

 

[RML]

Does this mean we'll have less whining about the R-D1's failures? 😛

Dave, too bad about your experiences. Enjoy the film! I mean that.

 

[Bike Tourist]

>

What I want(ed) was an M7 with a digital sensor instead of film. Period.
QUOTE]

I agree and as long as we're dreaming, no bells, no whistles, no LCD screen. I don't mind setting forth with one type film in my camera, so I wouldn't mind setting up my digital RF by plugging it in to my computer's USB port and adjusting the parameters that way with no external buttons. Well, maybe it would have my 5D's full frame sensor, reworked to accept non=retrofocus wide angles.

I did say it was a dream.

Primative but satisfying for me.

 

[rsl]

Let's face it, a rangefinder is a specialized tool good for one particular thing: street photography. For practically everything else you need a view camera with film, a medium format or an SLR, film or digital.

I laugh when I hear people talk about doing landscape with a 35mm camera or its digital equivalent. If you're seriously going to try to do Ansel, you'd better set up with Ansel's kind of equipment. For work like product photography you need something without the rangefinder parallax: a view camera or an SLR.

I've done a lot of street photography with various Leicas, an Olympus E-20, a Nikon D100, and a Nikon D2x. It's possible, and the results often are fine, but it isn't easy. If you're going to get in among 'em you need a camera that's small, black, and quiet. The D2X only satisfies one of those requirements.

Now I'm doing street work with an R-D1 while I wait for Leica to get the bugs out of the M8. It's delightful. But when I'm on to something besides the street, I'm back to my D2X. If I ever decide to do landscape again I'll go buy a 4 x 5 view camera.

Dave hasn't lost his mind. He's just setting up with what he needs for the kind of work he's planning to do. More power to him!

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

So the question is: does this deserve the AusDLK "POS" moniker too? :angel:

 

[M4streetshooter]

I think that the dissapointment comes from the expectations from the shooter and not so much the camera. The Epson is a fine camera for a very specific group of shooters. That doesn't just mean streetshooters (no pun intended)....I've done weddings, events, portraits street copy work everything that photography has to offer and all with Leica M's...my personal favorite M4. The epson is a very intuitive camera but not automatic...it fails in that area not from design but from expectations. The camera was designed to fill a void for rangefinder shooters that didn't want to go to the darkroom anymore....of course it has it's little things that you have to get used to but so does any camera....for me, it's the perfect marriage of eye, hand and camera.....I may be new to the Epson, but certainly not to photography or rangefinders....

I'm gonna do a post later today about the DSLR Detox for me and now it's off to Brooklyn for the day.....

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

In America we say "I lost my pen."
In Spain we say "My pen lost me."
In RFf we say "Some have lost their frigin minds."

LOL -- yep, blame it on the design, and not one's inability to find the way into the seemingly unknown.

I am trying *not* to misplace my expectations, and adapt accordingly. Let's see who wins, Man or Machine.

 

[AusDLK]

>So the question is: does this deserve the AusDLK "POS" moniker too?

No, no. That will be forever reserved for another camera. I will always be fond of the R-D1. It's a wonderful creation. As expressed so well by Russ Lewis:

"Dave hasn't lost his mind. He's just setting up with what he needs for the kind of work he's planning to do. More power to him!"

>Primative but satisfying for me.

Dick, we are in complete agreement. Dare we pray that Leica will read this and come to their senses with such a thing as the M9...?

Now, that IS a dream.