Scrambler
Well-known
The age of that sensor defies what it produces for colour shots.
I'm pretty sure it's fairy dust.
I have a Pentax with the same sensor and it just isn't close (though of course everything else including programming is different).
Out to Lunch
Ventor
A great lens with the R-D1. Another CV that works well with the R-D1 is the 4.5/15 super wide heliar, especially version II.Nokton 35 mm f1.2 first version ... ideal with it being a very fast 50mm equivalent on the RD1.
back alley
IMAGES
i think my favourite lens on the rd1 was the rollei 40 sonnar.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/back_alley/albums/72157624284221829/with/7713341982/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/back_alley/albums/72157624284221829/with/7713341982/
AJShepherd
Well-known
I love the idea of the R-D1 and really wish Cosina had dusted it off and fitted a new sensor - but kept the dials and the 'winding on' lever, of course!
Just had a look at the kind of prices they're going for on the 'bay. Eek!
Just had a look at the kind of prices they're going for on the 'bay. Eek!
shadeofpale
Established
Still was to be submitted ...
shot with Color Skopar 28/ 3,5

shot with Color Skopar 28/ 3,5
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
Another pic taken this morning with the RD1 and 35mm f1.2 Nokton combination. I haven't used that lens for a while and had forgotten just how good it is!

Larry H-L
Well-known
Nice color palette, and great DOF fall off. That lens has a very distinct look.
Johnmcd
Well-known
My favourite all time images I took with the RD1 and VC 40/1.4 which lived on it. I sold it as I shoot 99% film. Couldn't bear to see it not being used.
Cheers - John



Cheers - John
shadeofpale
Established
Late autumn in Venice
shot with Color Skopar 28/ 3,5

shot with Color Skopar 28/ 3,5
back alley
IMAGES
what delicate colours...
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
what delicate colours...
That was my first thought.
Now that the RD1 has been resurrected I'm finding myself using it quite a lot ... it's a very nice camera to shoot with and those six meg files are amazing. I think back to my old D70 which supposedly had the same sensor? Not a patch on the Epson.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
One thing I'll mention with my RD1 is because I've suddenly discovered how much I like it I'm not using the LCD at all now because I worry about that cable. The settings in the camera are what I need and everything else can be done externally of course. Ignoring the LCD totally (reversed) and because of the manual re-cocking it effectively becomes a superior camera for shooting in a film style than what Leica offers with their MD which is expensive for what it is.
I think I now like my RD1s a lot more than I did when I bought it some time ago as a classified bargain here for about six or eight hundred dollars from memory.
I think I now like my RD1s a lot more than I did when I bought it some time ago as a classified bargain here for about six or eight hundred dollars from memory.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
For the first time ever I tried my 35mm Biogon on the RD1 today ... such a nice lens and definitely has the edge over the 35mm Nokton for me and f2 is plenty fast enough.

krötenblender
Well-known
R-D1 - The never ending Love-Story...
R-D1 - The never ending Love-Story...
After this thread made some appearances in the last few weeks on the forum's front page, I bought the camera for the fourth time now. I sold the other ones because I did not use them enough anymore to keep them, besides my much more modern and capable Leicas and other non-RF-cameras.
However, I never stopped missing it and had the idea that if I find one for a reasonable price and if I just had the money available, I would buy another one just for the fun of it. As my one and only collector-item, so to say - well, okay, one of two... Usually, I'm really only a camera user, not a collector. But this is one of the two cameras, I have seen and owned, that I just want to have.
I will sometimes use it, just for the fun and pleasure of using this lovely piece of camera-technology. Well, I found one, and I'm already back in love with it, although I haven't really used it so far, except for some test-shots.
The viewfinder has a strong yellow tint and is not very contrasty anymore, as the other copies that I owned. Also it is vertically out of alignment. Maybe, I will try to either have it serviced or do it on my own, if I find some good documentation about how to do it.
So, yes, I somehow still use mine...
One from my previous ones:
R-D1 - The never ending Love-Story...
After this thread made some appearances in the last few weeks on the forum's front page, I bought the camera for the fourth time now. I sold the other ones because I did not use them enough anymore to keep them, besides my much more modern and capable Leicas and other non-RF-cameras.
However, I never stopped missing it and had the idea that if I find one for a reasonable price and if I just had the money available, I would buy another one just for the fun of it. As my one and only collector-item, so to say - well, okay, one of two... Usually, I'm really only a camera user, not a collector. But this is one of the two cameras, I have seen and owned, that I just want to have.
I will sometimes use it, just for the fun and pleasure of using this lovely piece of camera-technology. Well, I found one, and I'm already back in love with it, although I haven't really used it so far, except for some test-shots.
The viewfinder has a strong yellow tint and is not very contrasty anymore, as the other copies that I owned. Also it is vertically out of alignment. Maybe, I will try to either have it serviced or do it on my own, if I find some good documentation about how to do it.
So, yes, I somehow still use mine...
One from my previous ones:

Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
After this thread made some appearances in the last few weeks on the forum's front page, I bought the camera for the fourth time now. I sold the other ones because I did not use them enough anymore to keep them, besides my much more modern and capable Leicas and other non-RF-cameras.
However, I never stopped missing it and had the idea that if I find one for a reasonable price and if I just had the money available, I would buy another one just for the fun of it. As my one and only collector-item, so to say - well, okay, one of two... Usually, I'm really only a camera user, not a collector. But this is one of the two cameras, I have seen and owned, that I just want to have.
I will sometimes use it, just for the fun and pleasure of using this lovely piece of camera-technology. Well, I found one, and I'm already back in love with it, although I haven't really used it so far, except for some test-shots.
The viewfinder has a strong yellow tint and is not very contrasty anymore, as the other copies that I owned. Also it is vertically out of alignment. Maybe, I will try to either have it serviced or do it on my own, if I find some good documentation about how to do it.
So, yes, I somehow still use mine...
Thanks for contributing to the thread and an interesting story of your ongoing love for the camera. I suspect that as time goes on working examples of this remarkable camera are going to get harder and harder to find. With this in mind I am now treating mine with kid gloves.
fotomeow
name under my name
Gary, "Cult Camera" is the best description that I've found. There is a facebook group for the camera if you do that. The only way I know to post here is to upload the picture and then in Gallery you can copy the url and paste it to the message window. There are other ways but I haven't bothered to learn them. If you are on flickr, there is a way to link to the pix there. I pm'd you with a lengthy howdeedo. S
Thanks Steve, but that is what I mean by “prehistoric”.
So after you post the url here, then in the future reorganize your albums in Flickr, SmuMug, etc, the pic in the RFF thread is erased. So what is the use?
Sorry, but this is supposed to be a PHOTO WEBSITE ....
In other news, the only lens I’ve had trouble with for the RD1s is the CV Norton SC 35/1.4 —- backfocussing. O/w the modern Zeiss lenses fared the best for color, excellent match with the 6mp sensor.
OskaarF
Newbie
I bought one in April this year as my main camera.
Got a CV 21/4 and a Jupiter 3, which I both enjoy very
much. I want to show you some of my pictures here:
All of the images were taken during a two week
journey through the cities and landscapes of northern
Spain this year.
Couldn't think of a more enjoyable camera
to have by my side. I love the way it looks, the way it
feels, the way it works and the images it produces.
Kevin
Edit: Hope I didn't hijack this thread, just wanted to show what beautiful output this ancient camera is able to produce!
Got a CV 21/4 and a Jupiter 3, which I both enjoy very
much. I want to show you some of my pictures here:















All of the images were taken during a two week
journey through the cities and landscapes of northern
Spain this year.
Couldn't think of a more enjoyable camera
to have by my side. I love the way it looks, the way it
feels, the way it works and the images it produces.
Kevin
Edit: Hope I didn't hijack this thread, just wanted to show what beautiful output this ancient camera is able to produce!
Last edited:
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
I bought one in April this year as my main camera.
Got a CV 21/4 and a Jupiter 3, which I both enjoy very
much. I want to show you some of my pictures here:
All of the images were taken during a two week
journey through the cities and landscapes of northern
Spain this year.
Couldn't think of a more enjoyable camera
to have by my side. I love the way it looks, the way it
feels, the way it works and the images it produces.
Kevin
Edit: Hope I didn't hijack this thread, just wanted to show what beautiful output this ancient camera is able to produce!
Not hijacked at all
shadeofpale
Established
Via San Giacomo, Bergamo, Italy, from November 2017
shot with VC Color Skopar 28/ 3,5

shot with VC Color Skopar 28/ 3,5
SteveM_NJ
Well-known
I still dig mine out now and then and use it, great results and I enjoy it.
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