Working myself up to and RD-1s

[Dralowid]

Hi all,

I'm till an M6 user but about to go over to the dark side. Lenses used 35 50 90 135 plus Viso stuff occasionally.

One or two questions, the answers to which will help me get to a decision. maybe.

Does the Visoflex III fit on an RD-1? If it did I could convince myself that I could still use some longer lenses (but this is a bit 'hobby').

When one retracts the current 50mm Elmar M into an RD-1 does it smash anything up?

Can I find viewfinders that will represent a 90mm and a 135mm lens? Or is the rangefinder not up to these longer lenses (max aperture 2.8 and 4.)?

Is there anyone out there in the UK about to sell their RD-1 in order to build up funds for an M8?

And finally, is anyone sufficiently 'in touch' with Epson to know if there is a newer model just round the corner?

Thanks

Michael

 

[Terao]

Visoflex: no idea
Collapsible lenses: not recommend for the RD1
90mm - use a 135 finder (e.g. Russian turret or dedicated)
135mm - maybe a Tewe - thats a 200mm field of view on an R-D1!

I can accurately focus a Jupiter 9 (85mm) and a 75mm Heliar stopped down - wide open is trickier. RF is very inferior to a Leica baselength though...

Wouldn't sell mine in a million years!

Can't see Epson arriving with a new model

As you're used to rangefinders I wouldn't hesitate to recommend a good used one if you can't justify an M8 (at the moment with the colour issues the R-D1 is the better camera regardless of price...)

 

[Terao]

Oh and consider adding a 21mm (e.g. the Voigtlander Color Skopar) to your arsenal, remember the crop factor makes your 35 effectively a 50...

BTW, the Super-Angulon doesn't fit...

 

[RichC]

Does the Visoflex III fit on an RD-1?

Yes, with a bit of fudging:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13361&highlight=visoflex

When one retracts the current 50mm Elmar M into an RD-1 does it smash anything up?

Collapsable lenses can be collapsed so long as they don't enter more than 20.5 mm into the camera. I regularly use my 1950s Elmar 50/2.8, and it does not hit anything when collapsed - I don't think the new Elmar's any longer. Anyway, there's a shelf protecting the shutter, so if a lens collapsed too far, all you'd lose would be a bit of paint. When collapsed, the Elmar's lens body is close to the focusing cam, and can touch if pulled out awkwardly at an angle - pulled out straight, no problem.

Can I find viewfinders that will represent a 90mm and a 135mm lens?

I use Tewe 35-200 mm zoom finder (= 24-135 mm, considering the crop factor). You 're probably pushing it too far for close focus at the max. apertures you mention!

Is there anyone out there in the UK about to sell their RD-1...?

No chance - you'll have to pry it from my cold hands!

anyone sufficiently 'in touch' with Epson to know if there is a newer model just round the corner?

Very unlikely...

 

[Dralowid]

I spoke yesterday to a very helpful chap at Robert White. Yes, they have them in stock. They seem now to be the main dealer for the RD-1s in the UK, much of Europe, and have recently had the Epson people down to go over QC matters. Apparently a recent batch did not have Locktite applied the rangefinder adjustment screws at the factory...

Anyway they are more than happy to adjust the rangefinder before delivery and give the thing a good going over.

He tells me that they have no way of knowing what Epson will do next so I'm inclined to think this camera will always be a bit of a one off.

As to my other questions, no second hand (hardly surprising), Visoflex, why bother? (hardly surprising) and I forgot to ask the question about the Elmar collapsing into the body.

As an M user luckily used to 100% reliability and virtual indestructability, I am finding it tough working myself up to spending the best part of £1500 on a camera whose mechanical assembly is admitted by many to be a mite iffy even though it is half the price of a yet to be sorted M8.

It would also seem that my fallback, the Ricoh GR has not really survived the transition to digital, so for me, the sensible answer to the digital rangefinder has simply to be to wait and see what happens.

Michael

 

[iml]

Michael, I was in the same position as you a couple of months ago. I spoke to the people at Robert White and they put my mind at rest, giving me the feeling that they, at least, would make sure I got a good camera and would offer some decent level of support in the future if necessary. I made the leap and bought an R-D1s and I'm really glad I did, no regrets at all. And they also made sure the RF was in perfect alignment before sending it out.

The camera isn't built like a Leica, but it is very solidly made, great to use, and tremendous fun. Go for it 🙂

Ian