Time for an Epson R-D1 forum?

[jlw]

I got my R-D1 today. The battery is still charging, so I haven't been able to use it yet, but I just had to say something beyond, "Oh, cripes, I'm going to be in hock to Visa for months!"

In fact, since this is the most expensive thing I've ever bought that didn't require license plates, you may have to put up with a lot of posts from me in the near future as I try to rationalize it to myself.

Two immediate thoughts:

1) For those who might have wondered -- NO, you can't see the 28mm frameline if you wear glasses! Not at all. It's perfectly visible if you don't wear glasses.

I do wear glasses, but this doesn't bother me since I don't do a lot of wide-angle shooting; in fact, I'm glad I have an excuse not to trade in my 35/1.7 Ultron for the 28/1.9.

2) Is it time for RFF to add an R-D1 forum? I've seen posts from a couple of other people who have them.

[MP Guy]

Ah.. looks like a good topic for dslrexchange.com

Keep your eyes open on the forum.

[rover]

Cross over product, different than a dslr in my mind.

[sfaust]

Isn't it a rangefinder? It appears to fit perfectly on both forums! Why not put one here, and one on dslrexchange.com also.

At least having a separate forum here will help keep the digital aspects in one area for those that aren't that interested in it. Otherwise, it will spill over into all the other forums and threads. Just a thought.

[Gordon Coale]

The RD-1 is a rangefinder - *not* an SLR. It takes those crazy Leica M mount and screw mount lenses (rangefinder lenses, one and all.)

[jlw]

Originally posted by Jorge Torralba
Ah.. looks like a good topic for dslrexchange.com

Keep your eyes open on the forum.

Thanks for the quick action! But I agree with those who say the R-D1 belongs here, not on the digital SLR site.

If there's one thing I've learned about the R-D1 already in my few hours of ownership, it is that this is a rangefinder camera first, foremost, far and away; it's only a digital camera very, very incidentally, and of course it's nothing like an SLR at all.

Other than the back-panel LCD -- which you really only need for initial setup and can keep folded out of view the rest of the time -- its user interface shows you nothing digital, and barely anything even "electronic" (just the shutter-speed readouts in the finder and a data-write LED on one end.)

In fact, if you could convince yourself that 35mm film now comes in small, rectangular packets that you load into a slot at one end of the camera body, using the R-D1 would be almost exactly like using a C/V Bessa -- except that the film advance lever throw is shorter.

Still haven't had time to size up the images, but so far I'm really liking the way the camera handles.

[GallenWolf]

That's way cool! From what I hear, this product will NOT be available in my country. That sucks. I am wondering though, if it's still possible to get good slides out of a film recorder in combination with the rd1...

Alvin

[jlw]

Originally posted by GallenWolf
That's way cool! From what I hear, this product will NOT be available in my country. That sucks.

I'll bet B&H or Calumet would sell you one anyway... ;-)

I am wondering though, if it's still possible to get good slides out of a film recorder in combination with the rd1...

I dunno -- we got rid of our film recorder at work a couple of years ago, so I wouldn't have any way to test it. There's no reason the images wouldn't be as good as what you'd get from the same process via a DSLR.

But, I can't help wondering what's the point -- from what I remember, there's already a well-proven technology for making slides that does NOT require the use of a film recorder... ;-)

[GallenWolf]

I can think of a reason! B&W slides! There is no place in singapore that can process Agfa Scala! I would sure love to get B&W slides that don't need a trip across the oceans just for processing

But seriously, what I really enjoy from my shots is viewing them on a lightbox with a loupe, not on screen. So... if I had a digital RF, I would love to burn 'em to slides

Alvin

[RML]

You could always print them on those plastic presentation sheets! That'll give A4-sized "slides"....

[Designer]

Congratulations! Jlw.

[Designer]

Originally posted by RML
You could always print them on those plastic presentation sheets! That'll give A4-sized "slides"....

Interesting idea! And we could duplicate more by photo copier.

[RML]

Did I just find out we have a new forum here on RFF?

We have a RD-1 forum!

I'm just wondering how many of us will actually end up with one. Availability and price seem to be limiting the spread of this camera.

[sreidvt]

In case anyone is interested and hasn't seen it yet, my review of the R-D1 is at <http://luminous-landscape.com/review...pson-rd1.shtml>

Part 2 will be a test of ten lenses on the R-D1.

Cheers,

Sean Reid

[jlw]

Originally posted by sreidvt
In case anyone is interested and hasn't seen it yet, my review of the R-D1 is at <http://luminous-landscape.com/review...pson-rd1.shtml>

Part 2 will be a test of ten lenses on the R-D1.

Cheers,

Sean Reid

This is an excellent review, all. Among other things, it's where I picked up the trick about b&w raw images still having the color data in them.

Also, you can download a PDF version of the full R-D 1 instruction manual (same one that comes with the camera) from Epson UK's support website, by going to the link above and making the appropriate choices (choose "Digital Photo Device" -- ?!?-- as the product range) from the pop-up menus. (I couldn't find the manual on the Epson USA site.)

Between reading the Luminous Landscape review and the manual, you'll know about as much as there is to know about the R-D 1 without actually having to buy one...

[jlw]

Originally posted by RML
I'm just wondering how many of us will actually end up with one. Availability and price seem to be limiting the spread of this camera.

The price was quite a hurdle for me... but it's about the same size chunk o' money as a current Leica M, and people still seem to end up with those.

I think that in the long run, the things that limit its spread will be more in the area of finder coverage (c'mon, Epson, only three framelines?) and lens use (lots of people who prefer an RF for wide-angle shooting won't like the 1.53x crop factor of the APS-size sensor.)

It will be interesting to see what the second interchangeable-lens digital RF will be like... assuming there actually IS one! Meanwhile, Epson (and Cosina) deserve to get some props both for doing it first, and for doing it well first...

[back alley]

first off, i wonder what ever happened to jim (jlw)?

and for now, who knew then that there would be no rd2 in the works, that leica would make an even more expensive drf and that i would have 2 of my own??

i love the rd1!!!

[sooner]

Just curious where you bought yours, and what you paid. I'm getting an itchy trigger finger on one, but wondering where best to look for a good condition one from a trustworthy source. Thanks.

[back alley]

i got one from tony rose, it was a consignment camera so i paid more for it.
and i got one from a former rff member but on another photo site.
if i average them out i paid 1450 each.

[mgd711]

Its hard to believe it was 5 years ago..... I was still young then, now I'm an old fat man!!

This has to be the only digital camera that has aged well and is still in demand.

[Frankie]

Originally Posted by back alley

and for now, who knew then that there would be no rd2 in the works, that leica would make an even more expensive drf and that i would have 2 of my own??

Leica is setting themselves up to be busted, just as someone burst their bubble in photogrammetry/orthophoto some 18 years ago...via an all digital system that made their optical/mechanical wonder an open joke.

[That was Wild-Heerbrugg, whose owner also owned Leitz-Wetzler and renamed itself Leica...later renamed again as Leica Geosystem, then ERDAS...]

All Zeiss or CV had to do is to make a full-frame RF body at half the price. The Leica glass myth will bust itself.

[BearCatCow]

Originally Posted by Frankie

All Zeiss or CV had to do is to make a full-frame RF body at half the price. The Leica glass myth will bust itself.

I don't think the technology is quite there yet but when it is... *salivates*

The rumors about the digital Zeiss Ikon ZM has me pretty excited too!

But meanwhile I still love my R-D1 as much as the day I got it. In fact it's so great that I'm really not sure why I am excited about full frame digital RF's at all.

[Wallo]

Originally Posted by BearCatCow

The rumors about the digital Zeiss Ikon ZM has me pretty excited too!

I'm very excited, too, and anticipating the used Ikon market 5 years from the release.

But meanwhile I still love my R-D1 as much as the day I got it. In fact it's so great that I'm really not sure why I am excited about full frame digital RF's at all.

I can only second that. The day I got mine is not that far back, but I'm falling in love with the camera over and over again each day. The big difference to any other digital I've owned or used is that I like the camera even when I'm not using it. The day that I will get a film Bessa as a back-up is certainly approaching.

[mabelsound]

Yep, I've had mine for a year now and am still amazed every time I use it. It is a great camera, and unique.

[Frankie]

I have been planning a wander-around-the-world trip celebrating my early retirement...soon.

When that day comes, and if nothing else is in sight, I'd simply buy an RD-1 and likely the Elmarit 28mm/2.8 asph...the closest equivalent to my ZM+CV 40mm/1.4 one camera/lens outfit.

Sourcing RD-1 from Japan is not a problem...I bought my ZM that way. AND, if Japan is my first or early stop, simply buy it there...plenty of stock new or used [experience speaking here].

Imagine reviewing picture in an Internet Cafe, e-mailing good pictures home...free at last. And, if no Internet Cafe is handy, buy more SD chips...

I tend to use my plasma TV as my changing gallery. 1920 x 1080 is full screen...a mere 2 Mpixel; and I've got 6 Mp in each shot. My plasma takes an SD chip direct and could even rotate images.