Thank goodness for the RD-1

[Innerimager]

and this forum. Here's what I mean. The announcement of the M8 got my blood boiling. I really wanted to try the world of RF photography and Leica lenses. I prepared by getting my 3 lenses, including selling my highly regarded nikon 28/1.4 for funds, and reading everything I could about range finders. Of course I quickly found this forum, and also about the RD-1 in depth. Sean's review was great and very helpful of course.

I didn't expect my M8 for a few months based on my dealer's expectation. I luckily found a refurbished RD-1 and, as said already, love the IQ and handling. Unexpectedly, my M8 arrived the day after. Now, had I not stumbled into the RD-1 I certainly would have kept it and probably appreciated it greatly, but with a fair amount of testing, problem solving, and hassle. The Rd-1 has made it easy to send the M8 back (tomorrow, if I wilt don't laugh at me). even if I get the M8 when the dust settles the RD-1 will remain a favorite. And for now, it's my only way into Rf and these amazing lenses. OK, I got it out. Thanks for "being here" forum! best...Peter

 

[anaanda]

Well... keeping the R-D1 and getting rid of the M8 certaintly puts a nice chunk of change in your pocket! something to seriously ponder.....

 

[Innerimager]

Well... keeping the R-D1 and getting rid of the M8 certaintly puts a nice chunk of change in your pocket! something to seriously ponder.....

sure does. It's like getting the lenses for free!

 

[sevres_babylone]

I hope you enjoy your R-D1 as I have mine. And put your savings away, in case Leica resolves the problem and you want the M8 then.

 

[Innerimager]

I hope you enjoy your R-D1 as I have mine. And put your savings away, in case Leica resolves the problem and you want the M8 then.

Thank you, glad you are enjoying yours as well. Very fine camera. And yes- I have saved the money, and expect to add the M8 1.1 version down the road. I think they'll get along nicely...Peter

 

[Tsai]

congrats peter

the R-D1 sounds like an amazing camera.

i too have recently discouvered rangefinder photography here on RFF. Unfortunately it is near impossible to find any R D1/ R D1s anymore.

Hoping one day to join the ranks of the R D1 shooters 😀

 

[Innerimager]

thanks Eric- I'm sure you'll find one, and it will be worth the effort! best...Peter

 

[Terao]

All this can only be good for used prices 🙂
I was going to wait for the M8 to come out before buying my R-D1, expecting lots to be on the market and the prices to be low. Hasn't happened, simply because of the perceived issues and I think also the design choices Leica made. The non-flippable screen and absence of analogue dials put me off the M8 even before the sensor issues became known. As it is now the only advantage it has is the wider crop and more mpix and that's not an advantage big enough to offset its issues IMO...

Soo, group hug for the R-D1 😀

 

[J. Borger]

Even without the M8 issues there would be additional demand for the R-D1... because the M8 put the focus on rangefindershooting suddenly.

I will not talk anybody who does not feel happy with M8 into keeping it, nor do i want to talk anybody out of the R-D1

I own both and had / have issues with both ..... but both are terrific tools.
When this storm is over the M8 will proof it's capacities, which are enormous and far beyond the R-D1 capacities, even the way it is now.
The issues are blown way out of proportions .......

Nonetheless.......enjoy the R-D1 .. it is a great cam!

 

[RML]

I can still remember a time not long ago when the R-D1 was hailed as a poor man's digital Leica, much scoffed at, and mostly shunned by the "true"RF afficionados. Now it seems, with the appearance of the more-flawed-than-hoped-and-expected M8, that the R-D1 wasn't such a bad design and concept to begin with. 🙂

 

[garethc]

Unfortunately it is near impossible to find any R D1/ R D1s anymore.

Hoping one day to join the ranks of the R D1 shooters 😀

Robert White has them in stock and will ship internationally.

 

[iml]

They will also ensure you get one with a properly aligned RF if you ask them to check it out for you before shipping it.

Ian

 

[AusDLK]

>Now it seems, with the appearance of the more-flawed-than-hoped-and-
>expected M8, that the R-D1 wasn't such a bad design and concept to begin
>with.

Totally flawed. The R-D1 is the only game in town as far as I'm concerned.

So, yes, thank goodness for the brilliant design of the world's first digital rangefinder. The execution was not up to Leica standards -- but "Leica standards" doesn't mean what it used to any more.

 

[pfogle]

>Now it seems, with the appearance of the more-flawed-than-hoped-and-
>expected M8, that the R-D1 wasn't such a bad design and concept to begin
>with.

Totally flawed. The R-D1 is the only game in town as far as I'm concerned.

So, yes, thank goodness for the brilliant design of the world's first digital rangefinder. The execution was not up to Leica standards -- but "Leica standards" doesn't mean what it used to any more.

IMHO, the one thing Leica have always got right is the vewfinder/rangefinder module. I haven't seen the Zeiss, so maybe there are others out there....

I don't usually like to fantasize, but if only the Epson could be upgraded with a Leica standard VF/RF 😎

 

[fgianni]

So far we had:

1) Epson RD-1: brilliant design, crappy quality control.
2) M8: Leica quality control, not so good design.

Maybe the third one (Zeiss are you listening?) will get both right.

 

[Sparrow]

Zeiss; poor design, poor QC?
Then CV has a go gets it right AND at a very reasonable price!! Works for me anyway

🙂

 

[Adam-T]

I have to admit that when the R-D1 was introduced my first thought was "Wow a Digital RF, that`s a neat if rather screwy idea" .. this was followed with "D70 Sensor = 1.5X Crop = taking away the BIG advantage RFs offer over SLRs - REAL Wide angle without all the Pitfalls" ....

I couldn`t see the point in a DRF which didn`t allow usage of that famous CV 12mm to it`s full wideyness but after actually OWNING an R-D1 I can see benefits,
1:- no CA or PF even with cheapo Russian lenses which cost a Fiver on E-Bay (look at the High PF levels you get from the Canon ans Nikon supersharp 85mm F1.8 and 50mm F1.4 glass) ....
2:- no soft edges (unelss the lens is either cheap or Rubbish) - even Canon`s high end L WA lenses have horrible soft edges at wider apertures, Nikon`s are better but you still get CA and PF.
3:- Handholdability, I can hold the R-D1 at far lower shutter speeds than a C or N DSLR, even lower than the mirrorslapless Oly E1 !! ,
4:- lack of acoustic noise - YES my Zorki 4 makes as much noise as my Nikon F3 and more than a D50 or D80 but the R-D1 gives just a light metallic click ..
5:- Compactness - Rangefinders Aren`t Chubby - it`s like holding a big slim Digital compact so long as you don`t stick a big honking lens on like the CV 28 Ultron with Hood ;-) . the M8 looks far chubbier than the R-D1 but A;- is still less chubby than a DSLR and B:- the R-D1`s TOTAL lack of Chubbiness is an optical illusion..

The R-D1 has TWO issues .. 1:- (the major one) is has a Bessa RF unit which is very short baselength and rarely setup properly out of the box 2:- due to using a stock Sony sensor, there`s vigging on wide lenses of less than Leica quality . to be honest, this is easier to deal with than the M8 magenta issue but it`s there..... there are other niggles which are far less of an issue such as the use of weak Fuji NP80 type batteries (they`re cheap though and take up no room), it doesn`t take SD-HC cards (buy loadsa 2Gb ones instead - you get 200 RAW shots on one anyway).. it underexposes like a D100 on a bad day (OK, A D100 on a GOOD day ;-) - leave it at + 2/3 of a stop as a default, at least you don`t have to MENU DIVE to adjust it! .. Serious lack of framelines in the VF (Stupid CV !!)

I`ve been enjoying the R-D1 immensely, it`s one of those cameras which makes you want to shoot with it - I have a lot of respect for Leica`s M8 and have shot with one, it`s a lovely camera but as soon as you move away from Focus, Aperture and Shutter speed, (and towards, ISO, Whitebalance, EV Comp, Quality etc) the big leica has all the charm and handling of a Fuji F11 compact P&S - those Manual dials and the Chronograph window in the R-D1 account for a LOT !!

 

[Tsai]

Reading all this just makes me want to get an epson so much more.

GAS ATTACK!

haha, waiting for either the price or my budget becomes more reasonable.😛

 

[IGMeanwell]

I have been really eyeing that RD1 in the classifieds ... but then I think to myself; crap now I am going to have to invest in m mount lenses which takes away from my Nikkors

but then the thought of the rangefinder, the quiet shutter, the ability to shoot in even lower light than my DSLR....

I hate having GAS

 

[d_e]

Yes reading about this will really want you to buy the Epson!!! Thanks to this forum and this thread, I am now into rangefinders 🙂