jamxo
work in progress
Okay so I am tempted by the R-D1(s).
I am doing a few magazines and shoots around christmas, combined with a few odd jobs, and if I sell some cameras, and save a little, I should be able to scrounge together around £1,250 - which is what refurbed R-D1s with 1 year warranty cost at Robert White. Or If I am lucky, get a decent second hand one at a little less.
But my mind is far from made up - please allow me to explain my thought process:
For pleasure I shoot 100% film on my Bessa R2a, Hexar AF, Canon A-1, Minolta Autocord, Bronica ETRS etc etc. I scan this on an Epson V700 and then printing digitally or quite often go into the darkroom. I love film. I love having to wait and work towards my images, I prefer the detail/contrast/color rendition/tones/dynamic range of film. I really do love it, and whilst its not perfect, this scanning work flow allows me to shoot alot of film reasonably quickly and get pretty good results.
For paid work which specifically requires digtital, I currently use a Canon 30D which is more than enough to get good results that I need.
However a digital rangefinder, which could print decently up to A4, and would allow me to use IMO lenses that are more affordable, faster, smaller and genereally better than SLR lenses would be incredible. I could use this camera in tandem with my film rangefinders and get the best of both worlds, for both personal and paid work.
Pro's and Con's I can think of for getting the R-D1:
+ Love the rangefinder way of working, perfectly suits the jobs I get
+ Already have an R2a so would get on find with the Epson
+ I love the analog style of the camera, and the fact that I can get rid of the screen
+ Camera seems suited to shooting digital in a film working method sort of way
+ Already have a decent set of lenses
+ Can just, just, just about afford it.
+ 6MP is realistitcally all I need at present, dond need a 21MP monster
+ Seems that the camera, if without RF flaws etc, is actually pretty decent?
+ Just love the idea that I could have one set of core lenses, and then have similar film and digital bodies to interchange to suit my needs
+ I have a 30D for longer lenses and so this could work well if paired with the R-D1 for digital shoots
+ Apart from the M8 which I can't afford and doesnt really appeal to me, no other digital Rangefinders seem likely in the next few years?
- For alot less I could get a Leica M6, or some awesome medium format kit and further enjoy my film workflow
- Are the images the R-D1 produces good enough for small professional work? (it has a pretty old sensor doesnt it?)
- Quality issues with the camera out of the box
- I dont get sucked up in the megapixel race, if i got a working R-D1 I would use it untill bust, but the lack of support in a few years slightly worries me?
- Unless this camera really will suit me, and I will enjoy it, and the images it produces, maybe I should hold off spending £1000+ and putt it toward saving for future purchases...
I hope I have explained clearly where I am at and why the R-d1 is attractive to me, yet what position I need it to fufill, and so I would just like to ask all of you that have and use the camera (especially in an almost everyday occasionally professional context) if you enjoy it and if you find it a decent workable tool with which to make photos?
Thanks alot in advance,
Jamie.
P.s. Please check out my photos in the links below to see what kind of things I shoot, if it will help you decide if this camera would be useful to me?
I am doing a few magazines and shoots around christmas, combined with a few odd jobs, and if I sell some cameras, and save a little, I should be able to scrounge together around £1,250 - which is what refurbed R-D1s with 1 year warranty cost at Robert White. Or If I am lucky, get a decent second hand one at a little less.
But my mind is far from made up - please allow me to explain my thought process:
For pleasure I shoot 100% film on my Bessa R2a, Hexar AF, Canon A-1, Minolta Autocord, Bronica ETRS etc etc. I scan this on an Epson V700 and then printing digitally or quite often go into the darkroom. I love film. I love having to wait and work towards my images, I prefer the detail/contrast/color rendition/tones/dynamic range of film. I really do love it, and whilst its not perfect, this scanning work flow allows me to shoot alot of film reasonably quickly and get pretty good results.
For paid work which specifically requires digtital, I currently use a Canon 30D which is more than enough to get good results that I need.
However a digital rangefinder, which could print decently up to A4, and would allow me to use IMO lenses that are more affordable, faster, smaller and genereally better than SLR lenses would be incredible. I could use this camera in tandem with my film rangefinders and get the best of both worlds, for both personal and paid work.
Pro's and Con's I can think of for getting the R-D1:
+ Love the rangefinder way of working, perfectly suits the jobs I get
+ Already have an R2a so would get on find with the Epson
+ I love the analog style of the camera, and the fact that I can get rid of the screen
+ Camera seems suited to shooting digital in a film working method sort of way
+ Already have a decent set of lenses
+ Can just, just, just about afford it.
+ 6MP is realistitcally all I need at present, dond need a 21MP monster
+ Seems that the camera, if without RF flaws etc, is actually pretty decent?
+ Just love the idea that I could have one set of core lenses, and then have similar film and digital bodies to interchange to suit my needs
+ I have a 30D for longer lenses and so this could work well if paired with the R-D1 for digital shoots
+ Apart from the M8 which I can't afford and doesnt really appeal to me, no other digital Rangefinders seem likely in the next few years?
- For alot less I could get a Leica M6, or some awesome medium format kit and further enjoy my film workflow
- Are the images the R-D1 produces good enough for small professional work? (it has a pretty old sensor doesnt it?)
- Quality issues with the camera out of the box
- I dont get sucked up in the megapixel race, if i got a working R-D1 I would use it untill bust, but the lack of support in a few years slightly worries me?
- Unless this camera really will suit me, and I will enjoy it, and the images it produces, maybe I should hold off spending £1000+ and putt it toward saving for future purchases...
I hope I have explained clearly where I am at and why the R-d1 is attractive to me, yet what position I need it to fufill, and so I would just like to ask all of you that have and use the camera (especially in an almost everyday occasionally professional context) if you enjoy it and if you find it a decent workable tool with which to make photos?
Thanks alot in advance,
Jamie.
P.s. Please check out my photos in the links below to see what kind of things I shoot, if it will help you decide if this camera would be useful to me?
