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is an Epson RD-1 still a viable option?

cam

Active member
here's the basics. i tend to prefer shooting interesting people on the streets, usually strangers. i am getting more and more into reflections, shooting through glass, light and shadows, etc. i only have small sensors and the DP1 in my arsenal. when asking on a thread about the D300, everyone decided a Rangefinder would be more suited to my style and recommended the M8.

i can't afford the M8 right now... i was at my camera store yesterday and he's got a mint condition RD-1 for €1350 with the newest software. i can't really afford that either right now, but :D i loved the look and feel of it very much. completely different than my compacts (and i suspect i would shoot very differently with it as well), but very satisfying.

i know Photokina is around the corner and i was really waiting until after to see what may be offered up. it does not seem that anyone's really running to produce a new Rangefinder within my price range, however. (i think i have to concur that a Rangefinder is perfect for me.)

is the 6mp resolution going to be limiting? or does that make the grain/noise even more pleasing? will Epson still support it if something goes wrong? do people still use and love this camera? (btw, i will shoot RAW and tend to be more into b/w.) where does it shine in your opinion?

i have a ton more questions, but really want user opinions, experiences, samples, and the like.

thank you in advance!
 

LCT

Member
...is the 6mp resolution going to be limiting?...
No if you don't print larger than A4.

...does that make the grain/noise even more pleasing?...
Yes, the R-D1 grain is very film like.

...will Epson still support it if something goes wrong?...
Yes if you live in France AFAIK. I would ask Photo Suffren in Paris if i were you.
Photo Suffren / 45 Avenue de Suffren - 75007 Paris / tel : 01 45 67 24 25 / fax : 01 47 83 78 68
Métro La Motte Picquet Grenelle or Dupleix
http://www.photosuffren.com/

...do people still use and love this camera?...
It is my favourite camera ever at the exception of the Leica M3. But i'm just an old Leicaphile who "sees" in 50mm.
 

cam

Active member
thank you for your answers! i'm trying to read everything i can find on this, but personal experience from people on this forum means a lot. i'm ashamed to admit that that store is within walking distance of where i live and didn't know it :eek: i really do love my camera shop, but it's wonderful to know that there is somewhere close to look for lens, etc. if i go this route.

i love 28mm myself, but see this as a very different type of camera that would lend it self 50mm and allow me to grow as a photographer. i am still at the point where every day is an adventure and i grow fascinated with all the possibilities!

your equating it with the M3 is high praise indeed. which lens(es) are you using with your RD-1?
 

johnastovall

Deceased, but remembered fondly here...
I love my RD-! and did not get rid of it when it got the M8. Very nice camera but the RF is a little flaky but like mine and it has done great work.

I've done 13x19 prints using the CV 15mm and sold one. I used same lenses I use on my 8 but started with the CV 35/1.2, 28/1.9, 15/4.5, 75/2.8 and 50/1.5.
 

cam

Active member
thank you, John. that says a lot as well! do you have any photographs you care to share? i know i can look on flickr and the like, but it's much more fun seeing images from people i've come to know and respect.

thank you for the links, Maggie. i reread those this morning (the first read was what put me on the lookout). i value Sean's opinion, but i'd like others as well -- though Sean is free to chime in here on a personal basis. btw, have you ever played with one, Maggie?
 

johnastovall

Deceased, but remembered fondly here...
thank you, John. that says a lot as well! do you have any photographs you care to share? i know i can look on flickr and the like, but it's much more fun seeing images from people i've come to know and respect.

thank you for the links, Maggie. i reread those this morning (the first read was what put me on the lookout). i value Sean's opinion, but i'd like others as well -- though Sean is free to chime in here on a personal basis. btw, have you ever played with one, Maggie?

Texas Cafe Life.


Life in a Texas Catholic Parish


Heart of the Canan...
 

helenhill

Senior Member
DON'T Buy it....
BUY it for me !!
I have been looking for the Rd1 for about a year
but have not had the courage to buy on EBAY from camera stores in JAPAN /Brand New about $2000.00 to $2500.00

I think YOU would Love it (we Ricoh Girls have similar Taste)
The option of lenses, not too big in size, 23.7 x15.6 Sensor. Not too many bells & whistles (over hype on cameras today) Just Two exposure Modes :Aperture Priority & Manual....... and YES more affordable until one can buy the M8

Personally i would rather go that route than the Oytmpus 420 which I believe you were musing about.
Can you buy it with the option of taking back with store credit
OR
when you come to NY in May
I will buy it from you if your'e unhappy.

Best, Helen
 
Last edited:

cam

Active member
John -- thank you! the picture gallery you pointed me to is exactly what i'm looking for. the feel is seriously the most film-like of any digital images i've seen. but, are they all from the RD-1? i thought the VetaVitaVegamin shot was with the M8? and how about those candle images in church? (your work is marvelous btw!)

if you tell me all of those are from the RD-1, i am so sold.... Marcel, here i come!

****************************************************************

Helen -- :ROTFL: i'd always wondered about them but they were too much money. i was browsing the window, waiting for the shop to open, and there it was fairly hidden in the lower left hand corner. it was the first time i saw one in person, let alone got my paws on one. to be honest, i really tried NOT to fall in love with it and gave it short shrift despite my guy allowing me to play with it and read the manual over a glass of wine. i spent too much money last month between surgery, rehab, and the DP1... but still the feel of the camera in my hands haunts me. and i truly got a hoot out of cocking the shutter (but damn, it is loud!)

never really considered the E-420, btw. only if i was given it as a hand me down...

****************************************************************

Maggie -- i wish you had. i value your opinion.
 

LCT

Member
....i love 28mm myself, but see this as a very different type of camera that would lend it self 50mm and allow me to grow as a photographer.... which lens(es) are you using with your RD-1?
I use mainly Leica and CV 21, 28, 35, 40 & 50mm lenses.
If you like the 28mmm field of view, the best affordable choice would probably be the CV 21/4 P. It is so small and light that i use it more often than my Elmarit 21/2.8 asph.
To avoid vignetting, i'd suggest that you try the Silkypix raw converter which makes forget this issue (pic below, FF & 100% crops).
The only problem with 21mm lenses is there are no 21mm frame lines in the 1:1 viewfinder of the R-D1.
Given the wide DoF at 21mm, you might wish to use an external viewfinder but with a bit of habit, guessing the 21mm FoV around the R-D1 finder is not difficult at all if you shoot both eyes open.





 

ampguy

Member
I'm on my 3rd one. They're not the highest build quality, but I believe there will be some kind of long going independent serviceability of these, at least I hope so.
 
S

Sean_Reid

Guest
It's absolutely still a viable choice though you must remember that it may not be supported by Epson long-term. You know the pros and cons from my long-term review but don't worry about 6 Mp because the R-D1's 6-MP are worth printing. I kept mine and I would use it a lot if the M8 didn't exist.

Lower cost alternative to the M8 - absolutely.

Cheers,

Sean
 

johnastovall

Deceased, but remembered fondly here...
John -- thank you! the picture gallery you pointed me to is exactly what i'm looking for. the feel is seriously the most film-like of any digital images i've seen. but, are they all from the RD-1? i thought the VetaVitaVegamin shot was with the M8? and how about those candle images in church? (your work is marvelous btw!)

if you tell me all of those are from the RD-1, i am so sold.... Marcel, here i come!

<Snipped>
You'll need to check the Details camera and lense. Not all are RD-1, the M8 and 5D are mixed in there. The candle light church is Canon 5D ISO3600 with the Canon 50mm f1.0. All the close altar work is the RD-1 as it's so quite. Here are my Picks from the RD-1.

http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=5784102

http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=5911873

http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=6115392

http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=6027404

http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=5798883

http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=5798877

http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=5741240

http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=5881491

http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=5818527

http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=5818497

http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=5815592

http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=5764896

http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=5764888

http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=5764890

http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=6071674

These are are RD-1's
 

cam

Active member
thank you for the images, LCT!

ampguy, you're on your 3rd one -- why???

John, apologies. i was watching the slideshows on my laptop so i could see all of them without using my right hand to advance them :eek: i will look closer at the data. i figured some were with the M8 (damn!) but i must say that i'm more impressed with the Canon than i had been, wow!

i think i'm going to go play with it a little more seriously on Tuesday morning... i was teased last night by my BF when i demonstrated how i held it on a Nikon FG-20, how comfortable it was. he screeched with laughter as i was doing the heavy stuff southpaw. if i get this now, it will be the way i learn to shoot it. period. like my completely unorthodox was of using chopsticks which my then Japanese brother-in-law tried in vain to re-teach me. i get stubborn sometimes...
 

ampguy

Member
This was over about 3 years, they all worked fine, my current third one is the "s" model. My 3rd one also needed a VF alignment even though purchased new.

The cameras for me have been reliable, but there was a time when I just wanted to go back to film, but I missed the convenience of the RD1, so we are back together.

Between the three, I have taken about 12,000 images.

thank you for the images, LCT!

ampguy, you're on your 3rd one -- why???

John, apologies. i was watching the slideshows on my laptop so i could see all of them without using my right hand to advance them :eek: i will look closer at the data. i figured some were with the M8 (damn!) but i must say that i'm more impressed with the Canon than i had been, wow!

i think i'm going to go play with it a little more seriously on Tuesday morning... i was teased last night by my BF when i demonstrated how i held it on a Nikon FG-20, how comfortable it was. he screeched with laughter as i was doing the heavy stuff southpaw. if i get this now, it will be the way i learn to shoot it. period. like my completely unorthodox was of using chopsticks which my then Japanese brother-in-law tried in vain to re-teach me. i get stubborn sometimes...
 

cam

Active member
This was over about 3 years, they all worked fine, my current third one is the "s" model. My 3rd one also needed a VF alignment even though purchased new.

The cameras for me have been reliable, but there was a time when I just wanted to go back to film, but I missed the convenience of the RD1, so we are back together.

Between the three, I have taken about 12,000 images.
ah, thank you! i was nervous but now i understand :D the one i'm looking at is an "s" model as well. how much does it cost (approximately) to get the VF alignment fixed or is it simple to tweak yourself?

also, is anybody using this on a mac?

and what is the largest card you can use?

does anybody have real low light photos with it?

so many questions as the more i seriously look at this camera, the more i think i'm falling in love. it is so different from my compact 28mm's and yet a perfect complement...

i won't really be able to afford lens for this unless i luck out and find good used ones. but still, i probably won't deserve that until i really learn the camera so that's okay.

on a totally girly side-note, all the wonderful analogue dials on the top look quite nice with my Montblanc watch's Reserve De Marche. (sigh, i used to make money.)
 

jonoslack

Active member
I want one too
I used to have one, here is the proof:
First Set of R-D1 pictures


Second set of R-D1 pictures

There are more, but I can't find them right now!

I sold mine just after getting the M8 (for a healthy profit I might say), but I've regretted it ever since. I've found a secondhand one over here, but it's really more than I'd like to pay - seen 'em on the net, but they're very expensive.

What a delicious thing though - all those dials - mmmmm
 

ampguy

Member
There is a DIY thread over on RFF, but I had DAG do my alignment fix which was very reasonable.

I have quite a lot of photos of low light situations, any preferred lens choice? I've mainly used a cron 35/2 asph with mine, but also most of the CV lenses, and a Summilux 75/1.4 (no framelines!) with great success. Currently for lower light than f2, I use a 50/1.5 CV Nokton, but the 35/2 asph is still my main lens with this camera.

ah, thank you! i was nervous but now i understand :D the one i'm looking at is an "s" model as well. how much does it cost (approximately) to get the VF alignment fixed or is it simple to tweak yourself?

also, is anybody using this on a mac?

and what is the largest card you can use?

does anybody have real low light photos with it?

so many questions as the more i seriously look at this camera, the more i think i'm falling in love. it is so different from my compact 28mm's and yet a perfect complement...

i won't really be able to afford lens for this unless i luck out and find good used ones. but still, i probably won't deserve that until i really learn the camera so that's okay.

on a totally girly side-note, all the wonderful analogue dials on the top look quite nice with my Montblanc watch's Reserve De Marche. (sigh, i used to make money.)
 
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