Sure are a lot of R-D1"s for sale lately

leicasniper said:
Yeah. Canon only sold 25 million digital cameras last year.
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In comparison of the 5-6 billion humans, that isn't all that much. Most of it probably comes from emerging markets
Living two blocks away from Les Champs-Elysées (most visited street in the world), I do look a lot at what other people are using as cameras and I am always surprised to see the quantities of older digital cameras models. Ixus II and III are all over the place, as well as some cameras with LCD's even smaller than the RD1. Reflexes you mainly see the D40-60 and Canon equivalents. Very little film cameras, though you do see some nice ones now and then.
I get the impression that the majority of people upgrade when they get their camera stolen or broken, not because of technology. At least, not the casual shooter.
 
yanidel -- i hope i run into you one of these days... you may get to see my camera before me, though, as i'm loaning it out to somebody in your neck of the woods while i play with his M8...
 
As a more recent R-D1 buyer, I didn't buy based on resale value. I bought it because I liked it and it was the only option other than an M8. I love the ergonomics on it, the size. It's a great camera. I do find the 6mp a little limiting, especially when it comes to cropping. But in general I'm happy with the image quality and have no plans to sell the camera. Even if something new that's not an M8 arrives, I'll keep the R-D1.
 
I too hold a certain interest regarding the falling price of the R-D1, my concern is that is not falling fast enough to allow me to pick up another body anytime soon.
 
Just sold mine recently. Loved it but love film more so I have an R4M for "hobby" shooting and an evil DSLR for general purpose use. My D60 is almost smaller and lighter than the R-D1 was and I await with interest the new OlyPanaLeica Micro4/3rds body. Smallness, lightness, and convenience are as important to me as image quality.

As a shameless plug I have 2 "D" finders for sale in the classifieds, open to offers. (12mm and 25mm)
 
cam said:
yanidel -- i hope i run into you one of these days... you may get to see my camera before me, though, as i'm loaning it out to somebody in your neck of the woods while i play with his M8...
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How could you do that ? Do your fingers search endlessly for the ISO and exposure compensation dials ? 😀
More seriously, let us know your impressions on RD1 vs M8. I did not have too much time with the M8 so would like to know how you feel about it after some usage. And maybe we can meet up sometimes after the holiday period (with, "au sacrilège", a M8 in your hands) 😉
 
yanidel said:
How could you do that ? Do your fingers search endlessly for the ISO and exposure compensation dials ? 😀
More seriously, let us know your impressions on RD1 vs M8. I did not have too much time with the M8 so would like to know how you feel about it after some usage. And maybe we can meet up sometimes after the holiday period (with, "au sacrilège", a M8 in your hands) 😉
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it was my first week with the camera, first day with a new (old) lens and i'd invited an old gentleman to join me at the outdoor table to smoke. i was obviously taking some photos of him, but didn't want to break and stare at my camera as i changed to a lower ISO. LOL! it's called dyslexia. i've done it with focusing as well. i found one good reason to have an infinity lock -- let's me know if i'm going in the wrong direction :bang:

i'll let you know how i feel about the M8 as well. i'm especially interested in trying it with some of my older lenses. the fellow i'm doing the short swap with only has the Leica on loan as well. playing with my Epson over lunch got the bug in him... IMO, they are very different cameras and both have strengths and weaknesses. if money was no object... 😀 and talk about a lot of used cameras turning up for sale -- the M8 wins hands down!
 
leicasniper said:
Yeah. Canon only sold 25 million digital cameras last year.
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Canon and Nikon did better than most manufactures, because of their SLR sales, but at some cost.

Canon did increased its total volume sales of digital cameras by 16%, by very aggressive pricing, but in revenue terms this only amounted to a 1.9% increase in overall value. As a company they saw their 2008 first 6 months global net income decline 16% compared to 2007, camera income declining more than the business machine division.

Their latest trading statement admits a trading slowdown due to exchange rates and the yen/dollar exchange rate. They consider price competition will remain fierce with digital cameras, but remain optimistic (they would hardly scare their shareholders by saying anything else). Lets hope they are right. Given the credit crunch many people may not consider a new digital camera (even a Canon)a high priority!
 
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i just bought a new one. controls incredibly well laid out. Not so sure about the rear door. Having to get used to the rewind knob and the fact that it is only 6 MP. Mounted 35mm Summicron IV. Along w/ my MP fits well into my Domke. Easier for street photog than my DSLR.
 
yanidel said:
You must remember that we are not all professionals were IQ must be perfect nowadays to sell. My A4 prints (that I keep for myself mainly) would not benefit from a M8 sensor. Actually did the test with the same lens on both M8 and RD1 and sincerely, the lens is far more important than the camera to what I could see.
Personally, this is no question about devotion, but I just don't like DSLR. So the choice was between M8 and RD1. Yet I must admit the the RD1 got me pretty addicted to RFs, which is good news for the future I suppose.😉
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Bang on on this one for me too: the RD1's ergonomics is what brought me back to the RF world anyway; and got me hooked.
To me, photography is a process, not a result; to that effect the camera is a big part of it. I think the existence of this forum is in agreement with that line of thinking.
 
leicasniper said:
It is interesting that to so many, it isn't the final photo they are interested in, but the stuff that makes the photos. Nothing wrong with that. But it is interesting.
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it *is* the final photo, though. if you have an intuitive camera and enjoy using it, you are more likely to have it with you. and you won't be fussing ten deep in some elaborate menu structure when that decisive moment comes.

i care very much about the final photo!
 
leicasniper said:
It is interesting that to so many, it isn't the final photo they are interested in, but the stuff that makes the photos. Nothing wrong with that. But it is interesting.
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Just out of curiosity, what do you think of HCB or Capa ? Picture quality was many times not that great yet going through books of them is a pure pleasure.
To me the final photo is not a question of quality, but of what emotions it conveys.
 
leicasniper said:
It is interesting that to so many, it isn't the final photo they are interested in, but the stuff that makes the photos. Nothing wrong with that. But it is interesting.
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Its one's way of looking at things I guess. For me, everything is a process, from point A to point B: everything in between is part of that process: when I draw, it's my pencil, when I play music, my instrument, when I take photographs my camera. The result is not exclusive to the means. For some others, it may be different.
 
yanidel said:
Just out of curiosity, what do you think of HCB or Capa ? Picture quality was many times not that great yet going through books of them is a pure pleasure.
To me the final photo is not a question of quality, but of what emotions it conveys.
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I find the same when I go to the world press award exhibition here in Toronto every year: technically, many of those photos would not stand up to even amateur scrutiny; they can really move you though. See link below, there is some spectacular work out there.

http://www.worldpressphoto.org/inde...k=blogsection&id=18&Itemid=187=bandwidth=high
 
I told my girl friend that there's been many 2nd-hand R-D1(s) for sale. She said we should buy another, because she loved ours so much.

Since I lied about the price when we got the first one, I really can't tell her why we can't afford a 2nd one now.... Cause & consequence...karma....

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Like many here, I admit that a DSLR is very convenient and is great for tele, but if I can only have one camera, it would be an RF, no doubt. An R-D1s is more bulky and heavy than a Bessa R2A, but with a compact Summicron 35/2 IV it's still a very ideal tool for street shots.

6MP is enough here too.
 
leicasniper said:
I don't hold HCB and Capa to the same standards I hold modern photographers.
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Just came back from the biggest bookstore in France : FNAC. There are much more books on Doisneau, HCB and Capa than any of the modern photographers ...
It reinforces me too think that I perceive photography as art, not the quest for image quality. It is a bit like comparing the painter Jacques-Louis David to Manet ... one was technically perfect, the other one brought blurry and impressions instead of pure representation of pictorial reality.
In the end, you like one or the other but IQ is definitely not the ultimate artistic criteria.
 
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