The R-D1 as a talking point

[Terao]

Used the R-D1 plus 40mm Nokton at my cousin's wedding last weekend. It really seemed to stand out amongst the hordes of compacts, phonecams(!), a couple of DSLRs, and the pro's completely gigantic Canon 1-DS (or whatever its called - the mega-expensive full frame thing) plus f/2.8 widetelezoom thingy. Comments ranged from:

"What is is it?"
"Why?"
"Wow, you're shooting film!"
"Why aren't you using flash?"
"How old is that camera?"
"How do I focus it"
"That flash is really dinky" (referring to my 21mm finder 🙂 )

If you need proof that anyone can use a rangefinder I think this shot does it. First shot from someone who is just getting to grips with a DSLR, never used a manual in his life. Somehow managed to focus it, nail the exposure, and hand-hold it in very subdued light wide open. Envious, me? 🙄

Getting back to my experience with it I have to say it was a joy to use. Really, really easy to get nice candids, ended up scale-focussing quite a bit, nearly always had to shoot at f/1.4 to control grain and be able to hand-hold. The Nokton does very, very nice things. In my opinion its reputation for harsh bokeh isn't warranted but then of course these things are subjective. The single biggest boon was being able to notch it up to ISO1600 and still get nice filmic shots. This was taken a good 45 minutes after sunset I would think - handheld, wide open, ISO1600, 1/30th 😱 .

All in all great fun. The shots have soul 😎

Of course there is always a downside - managed to bounce the R-D1 at the end of the evening. Seems to have stood up well to the abuse based on some paranoid test shots I took immediately afterwards. Certainly sobered me up a little.. 😱

 

[d_e]

Wow nice! Yes people say the same lines upon seeing the Epson. Now im having second thoughts of getting the 40 instead of the 50 Nokton. hehe

 

[jlw]

The two "talking points" I get most often are:

-- "Gosh, that must be an old camera!" [Reply: "I guess so."]
-- "Is that a Leica?" [Reply: "Same kind of camera, just a different brand."]

Got a new one last week, when I was shooting a big-dollar fundraiser at a museum, using my usual outfit of the R-D 1 plus 28/1.9 and 50/1.5 lenses in a little Tamrac belt bag. This was a big enough event that the newspaper had sent one of their staff shooters, who had been trudging around all evening lugging two Canon EOS digital bodies with flash units on cords, huge zoom lenses mounted on both, plus a bag about the size of an original VW Beetle (no idea what he had in there; looked as if he already had all the camera equipment in the world hanging off his body!)

At one point we happened to be in the same spot and he looked down at what I was carrying and said wistfully, "Wow, an R-D 1! I really miss mine!"

And I thought, there but for the grace of Epson go I. Makes me glad I got out of the newspaper business...

 

[Terao]

d_e: I find that the 40 gives you just enough room to not have to consider switching to a wide. Its a great shoot from 6 feet lens - the 50 is a little tight on framing from that range. For a general purpose walkaround lens its very handy - even with the hood on it feels smaller than the 50. In my case its less conspicuous as well - my 50 is silver so stands out against the R-D1 body a lot more.
When I got my 50 I though the 40 would be redundant but this weekend made me fall back in love with it. Shame I've picked up a speck of dust on one of the internal elements 🙁

 

[Terao]

@jlw:

The pro photog had two bodies, an assistant, a really big flash, portable reflectors, and some portable lighting. Three big bags in total, of course all carried by his assistant 🙂
I think he exclusively used the big Canon mid-range L-series zoom. Had I had a compact with me I'd have take a shot of his kit alongside the R-D1. Made me chuckle that I had a faster sharper lens available than he did...
But he did seem to be a good photog - got people organised, gave people plenty of time to shoot their own shots on each setup, etc. Proof of the pudding will be in the proofs 🙂

His assistant looked longingly at my R-D1 🙂

 

[Joe Mondello]

Those are great shots.

I picked up the 40 Nokton when B&H didn't have a 35 1.7 Ultron in the store and I am very happy with it so far! I see no reason to switch to the 35 at this point.

 

[AusDLK]

Since all my M8 mania/angst/regret has past, I am rejoicing in the use of my two R-D1 cameras. What wonderful objects they are.

 

[ampguy]

Nice photos

Nice photos

I'm very new with the rd1, but so far love the rokkor 40/2 on it. The Ulton 35/1.7 is also great on it, possibly better in several ways, but is so much larger than a small 40. I think the 40/2 will end up as my walk around single lens.

d_e: I find that the 40 gives you just enough room to not have to consider switching to a wide. Its a great shoot from 6 feet lens - the 50 is a little tight on framing from that range. For a general purpose walkaround lens its very handy - even with the hood on it feels smaller than the 50. In my case its less conspicuous as well - my 50 is silver so stands out against the R-D1 body a lot more.
When I got my 50 I though the 40 would be redundant but this weekend made me fall back in love with it. Shame I've picked up a speck of dust on one of the internal elements 🙁

 

[rvaubel]

Since all my M8 mania/angst/regret has past, I am rejoicing in the use of my two R-D1 cameras. What wonderful objects they are.

Until they break 😡 That is the only downside to the RD1 as far as I am concerned. Unfortunanely, the possiblity of any of us who put 10,000 + shots thru a camera per year having a functioning camera in 2010 is debatable. The parts are all pretty standard stuff, nothing really unique to Epson except the cool analog gauge. Somebody (DAG?) has got to figure out how to do all the sevicing or we are screwed. The chances of Epson coming to the plate are just about nil.

Rex

 

[ampguy]

well

well

In 2010, 6MP will be like a JamCam (~ 1 or so very bad MP). So don't sweat it, and if you're a pro, you should have 2 of anything you use anyways. Keep the lenses.

Until they break 😡 That is the only downside to the RD1 as far as I am concerned. Unfortunanely, the possiblity of any of us who put 10,000 + shots thru a camera per year having a functioning camera in 2010 is debatable. The parts are all pretty standard stuff, nothing really unique to Epson except the cool analog gauge. Somebody (DAG?) has got to figure out how to do all the sevicing or we are screwed. The chances of Epson coming to the plate are just about nil.

Rex

 

[rvaubel]

In 2010, 6MP will be like a JamCam (~ 1 or so very bad MP). So don't sweat it, and if you're a pro, you should have 2 of anything you use anyways. Keep the lenses.

Wrong. 6MP will still be 6MP and produce the same pictures it does today. As for having two of everything, your right. But should my second digital rangefinder be another RD1 or an M8? mmmmmmm....

Rex

 

[Topdog1]

M8. No question about it. But wait for them to work out the bugs. There's no rush if you have a R-D1 to tide you over.

/Ira

 

[ampguy]

well

well

It ain't gonna take the same pictures as today if it's busted in 4 years 🙄

It's generally a good idea to have backs that will give you the same focal length IMHO. One author of a stock photography book carries 2 of the same bodies, but alternates bodies daily labeling his film canisters, so if anything quirky comes up and only shows on one body he'll know asap which body to have checked up on or replaced.

Wrong. 6MP will still be 6MP and produce the same pictures it does today. As for having two of everything, your right. But should my second digital rangefinder be another RD1 or an M8? mmmmmmm....

Rex

 

[Terao]

6mp is 6mp to me. Its enough for the size of prints I want to do, particularly as I try to avoid cropping.
So the camera will be good enough for years (or probably as long as it survives)
I certainly don't want an M8, perhaps in a few years we'll have a Zeiss or a Voigtlander D...

 

[Topdog1]

I have to wonder at people who say Leicas/old rangefinders are inconspicuous. Maybe in the past era of film cameras but now with digital cameras being the norm, they stick out like a sore thumb.

I took my Leica iiif to a wedding a few weekends ago, and everywhere I went people had to ask about it - what is it? how old? is it an antique? did I get it at a museum? how much is it worth? yadayadayada....Obscure? Give me a break. 🙄

/Ira

 

[mwooten]

Terao,
I'm glad the wedding shoot went well. The shot of the Groom and Bride is very sweet. Did your dad shoot it? Post more images if you can.

Michael

 

[Trius]

I have no idea what things will be like 4 years from now; hell, I can barely remember yesterday. But I do know that that's a great photo and the RD-1 enables good photos today, using lenses that won't be outmoded tomorrow.

Good stuff, Terao.

 

[Terao]

Terao,
I'm glad the wedding shoot went well. I shot of the Groom and Bride is very sweet. Did your dad shoot it? Post more images if you can.

Michael

Thanks Michael - no it was my cousin (the best man). The full gallery is up on Flickr now (see my sig for a link). He's only just bought a Samsung (Pentax) DSLR, never touched a manual camera in his life before!

 

[Terao]

Thanks all for your kind comments - I tend to lack confidence about my photography but I've had so many positive comments recently its a big boost 🙂

Have to say moving to rangefinders has improved my shooting. Can't quite put my finger on why, but I don't really care to be honest 🙂

 

[rvaubel]

I have to wonder at people who say Leicas/old rangefinders are inconspicuous. Maybe in the past era of film cameras but now with digital cameras being the norm, they stick out like a sore thumb.

I took my Leica iiif to a wedding a few weekends ago, and everywhere I went people had to ask about it - what is it? how old? is it an antique? did I get it at a museum? how much is it worth? yadayadayada....Obscure? Give me a break. 🙄

/Ira

Your right but for some reason I find it easier to get street pictures with a rangefinder. After all it is a lot smaller. But at an event, people really like to look at it, especially pros and semi-pros.

Rex