Advice before buying RD1 please

[Dan1984]

Hi Everyone,

I'm new to this form and have never owned a rangefinder. I have a Canon 450D SLR at the moment but I really want an RD1 I just have a few questions before taking the plunge.

1) RD1, RD1S, RD1X - am I right in saying the difference between all 3 is minimal? does the RDX have a quicker buffer time so you can shot more continuous images in RAW or is it still just 2-3?

2) I know the sensor is not as big as in some SLR's, how good is the image quality? I assume it’s going to be superior to my 450D?

3) I like to shoot at around 35-50mm, I understand that if I use wide lenses I need some sort of adapter or separate view finder, how much of a pain in the ass is this?

Lastly where would you recommend I look for one and what lenses would people recommend at reasonable money??

I hope there are a few people on here who are able to help me out

Cheers Guys

Danny

[RobVinc]

The differences between the R-D1 and the R-D1s are minimal, with the same firmware almost nothing.
The R-D1x lacks the flippable screen but offers SDHC support (and a longer service life)

The sensor is of APS-C size with 6MPx. So the Crop-factor is 1.5 ( probably very similiar to you 450D)

I have at the moment a 28mm/35mm/50mm lens-setup, but mainly only use the 28mm on the R-D1 which works very good with the effective focal length of ca.43mm.

With the lenses the price is also an issue but if you could live with a 2.8 or 3.5 aprerture wide open there are some cheap possibilies, esp with the M-Mount and the LTM to M adapters.

I started my RF-Life with an Zorki 4 with an Jupiter 8 (50mm(2.0)) which can be a good lens iof you find a good one.

You could try to find a resonable priced Canon 35mm/2.8 in LTM with an adapter for starters.

The Voigtländer Lenses are also worth a try, esp. the slower ones are sometimes easy to get in the classifieds for 2-400Euro.

Welcome to the RF-World and many fun with the R-D1,
Rob

PS: aftermarket batteries for the R-D1 are easily to get via e-bay or amazon.

[Johnmcd]

The R-D1 is a great camera. I believe the sensor is from the Nikon D100 and therefore is somewhat older than the one in the 450D. If anything it is a little bigger than the Canon sensor. What seems to be special from my point of view is what Epson did with the Nikon sensor to get a very characteristic look that later cameras have not been able to replicate.

It is also very capable up to 1600 iso but I believe that 800 is the sweet spot. This is easily achievable in low light with some fast glass like the 40/1.4 vc.

Lastly, it's just fun to use. Mine is the early model where I can flip the screen closed and just shoot like it's a 'film' camera.

Go for it!

John

[Viktor Sebastian]

I had an RD1. Then I bought an M8 and was much happier. The colors are a lot better in my opinion.

[fireblade]

.....buy a new one
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/EPSON-R-D...item2571350557

[angeloks]

I recently got one (3 weeks ago - R-D1s), I've been very happy with the results. The form factor of the Epson is perfect for me. I use it a lot with my 12mm and 50mm Millenium Nikkor. The colors are good, high-iso are really film-like.

[Viktor Sebastian]

They look nice. Good processing.

[angeloks]

JSU, I did nothing to correct it... I guess that the crop factor helps a lot. The results are much nicer than on my old NEX5. I think the vignetting is part of the lens' signature. OTOH, I guess Cornerfix could fix the corners if you really wanted to get rid of the vignetting !

[raytoei@gmail.com]

i use the CV 35/f1.4 on this baby...but i also use the Elmarit 90/f2.8 with the TEWE Viewfinder (35 - 200mm, with 3-6ft-Inf distance) to good effect.


captured on the rd1 at iso 200 and elmarit 90/f2.8 (becomes 135mm)
pp with grains added ...

[kkdanamatt]

I had an RD1 (upgraded with the new RD-1S firmware) for about two years. The maximum size SD card that I could use was 2GB, which is just minimal, IMHO. The RD1 and RD1S won't accept the newer HC SD cards. The Epson battery doesn't last as long as some of the more modern DSLRs, so I always had to carry two extras when I went out to shoot. The LCD is not as big, bright or sharp as your Canon's, but being able to reverse it and make believe that you're shooting film was cool. The user interface for menus, playback and viewer magnification is very clunky. The sensor is the same sensor that Nikon used in the D50, which is pretty decent. Because the sensor is APC-C with a 1.5X magnification, wide-angle lenses are required and they can be pretty pricey, so be prepared. Remember, there are no cheap 18-55mm kit zoom lenses for rangefinder cameras. For best results I always shot RAW, which is a bit slow in recording and requires post processing with either the Epson software or a third party solution. The focus patch is not always centered because the VF frames don't expand or collapse evenly when focal lengths are changed. It's not like a Leica M camera. The focus patch in the Leica M cameras is always centered. That was the main reason why I sold it. The images are superb, and the slower shooting style was something that I got used to. But I never was happy with the off-centered focus patch, which is something that very few users ever mention in their online reviews. Bottom line...the Epson is unique and might be just the right camera for you. If you buy it from someone trustworthy on RFF or a reputable dealer who will stand behind the camera, then your downside is minimal because if you don't like it, you'll be able to sell it to someone else at either the same price or with very little downside. That's what I did. I used it for two years and sold it for exactly what I paid for it.

[macgeorge]

Hi, I just got myself a CV21/4.

Test shot by RD1s + CV21:

[Dan1984]

Thanks for the advice guys, I am hoping to pick one up and was looking to start with a Nokton 40, 1.4 and pick up a couple of wider lenses as I go. I do a little bit of band photography, do you guys think this would be ok without any off camera flash in low light??

I was originally looking at the bessa R3 because I'm desperate for a rangefinder and liked the idea of shooting film but I don't know how to process and develop my own film and I'm concerned I will be spending half my wages on rolls of film.

Do any of you guys shoot film on rangefinders too????

[porktaco]

you'll be fine doing band photography. you'll have to set exposure manually and check for overexposure on LCD. the spot meter is good but it will probably pick up more shadow than light in that kind of environment.

[Snapper_uk]

As opposed to spending all your wages on an ageing digital camera?

Yes, there are plenty here who shoot film on rangefinders. Processing black and white film is not complicated or expensive, once you get used to it, however scanning is, uinless you plan to get into darkroom printing.

A second hand R3a will cost you about half the price of a s/h R1d, but I would think you would still be shooting with it in 5-10 years time. Not sure I could say the same for the digital.

But then there are plenty of R1d fans who might disagree.

[raid]

So you guys are not scared of buying an old digital camera?
What if things fail, as you expect them to fail with time? Are "spare parts" vailable, and is repair service still straightforward to get?

[raid]

I feel that the M8 is "old", so I don't even think of getting an M8.
One approach may be to simply get an old digital camera and hope for the best.
In the end, all enjoyable things must terminate one day.

[raytoei@gmail.com]

yeah....i use JPG option all the time, and iso 1600 works quite well with the RD1, in addition, you have the option to choose or customize "film" settings, ie. contrasts, saturation, edge sharpness etc.

for a while, i shot mainly in b&w, iso 1600 and film setting set to high contrast.

[RFH]

The RD1 is a great tool. Epson did a very, very good job at writing algorithms for that old sensor. MP count is not all there is to image quality, so don't worry too much about the low pixel count. I have successfully printed up to 50x60 cm from it. The Epson RAW software is a bit on the slow and primitive side, but the results are nice.

The RD1 only has VF frames for 28,35 and 50mm, so if you have a wide lens like 15mm you need an external finder, which usually comes with such a lens.

Yes, the high-ISO is fine, but newer sensors are far superior in that regard.

A few examples:

[astro8]

Originally Posted by raid

So you guys are not scared of buying an old digital camera?
What if things fail, as you expect them to fail with time? Are "spare parts" vailable, and is repair service still straightforward to get?

I don't think like this. If mine breaks, I'll get it fixed. If it can't be fixed, I'll buy another. As far as digital RF's go, they are as cheap as chips!

Raid, you would love this camera...I know it piques your interest.

[raid]

Originally Posted by astro8

I don't think like this. If mine breaks, I'll get it fixed. If it can't be fixed, I'll buy another. As far as digital RF's go, they are as cheap as chips!

Raid, you would love this camera...I know it piques your interest.

I got an EP-2 that broke after one year, so I bought a new one. It cost me $250. The RD1 costs more than $250. This is my only concern. Still, I would not be in this thread unless I had some interest. It sure beats buying an M9 or M8.

[umcelinho]

Hi Dan

1) R-D1 and R-D1s are the same camera, the only difference is the firmware. once you upgrade it, they're equal. The R-D1x has a fixed and slightly bigger back screen and reads SD cards up to 32gb. I have an R-D1 with R-D1s firmware and do not miss neither of the R-D1x features.

2) sensor is bigger than the 450D's and image quality is better, even though it has a lower mp count. I used to have a 450D and prefer the images that I get with the R-D1. all iso values are pretty good, except for 1600, which is just good enough. In low light I usually shoot at iso 800, but when i shoot at 1600 I don't feel there is a significant loss of quality.

3) to get a 35mm field of view in the R-D1 you gotta use a 21mm, which will have a 32mm field of view. you can use an external viewfinder but it's not very practical, at least not for me. what I do instead is to select the 50mm framelines on the viewfinder, then shoot with both eyes open and imagine the 50mm framelines as the center rectangle of a bigger rectangle made out of 9 50mm framelines. this way you get the approximate field of view of thelens and it's rather easy to estimate and get used to. If you're shooting a faster 21, like the 21/2.8 Biogon from Zeiss, which I have and recommend using, you need to pin focus using the viewfinder, so this method makes it easier to do so. if you're shooting a slower 21, like the 21/4.5 Biogon from Zeiss or the 21/4 Color Skopar from Voigtlander, you can get away with hyperfocal focusing, so an external viewfinder would be less of a hassle. for low light shooting, get a 35/1.4 or 40/1.4, they're both pretty good. if you really want a fast lens and are willing to spend a bit more, get the 35/1.2 Nokton from Voigtlander. superb lens.

regarding shooting bands in concerts, the R-D1 does pretty well.

Two with the 35/1.4:


grillo the cricket by Marcelo Colmenero, on Flickr


lit by Marcelo Colmenero, on Flickr

And two with the 35/1.2:


Les Plastiscines by Marcelo Colmenero, on Flickr


Les Plastiscines by Marcelo Colmenero, on Flickr

[Snapper_uk]

If only they were cheap as chips - the going price in UK seems to be about £800, which is a £100 more than a new X100 or an R3a.

I love the idea of having one of these, it's a nice camera despite its age, but I'm not filled with confidence with buying s/h digital.

[back alley]

Originally Posted by Snapper_uk

If only they were cheap as chips - the going price in UK seems to be about £800, which is a £100 more than a new X100 or an R3a.

I love the idea of having one of these, it's a nice camera despite its age, but I'm not filled with confidence with buying s/h digital.

i wondered the same things before i got my first rd1...now i could care less. i have a camera that produces unique and lovely images. i use 2 of them in tandem and have not looked back.
i sent my first one off to epson for their tune up service and it runs like the proverbial clock!
we either use the tools that help us create our art or we are bean counters, worrying about our investments.
it's our choice...

[raid]

Since Epson is still servicing the RD-1, it could be a good deal to get one for its qualities.

There is one on ebay for $1,374.54 +$34.50 shipping. Is this a good price? Seller has 100% positive.

[porktaco]

if it's NIB, that's not a bad price