No, I just can't justify spending an obscene (to me) amount of money for Leica's new M8.As luck would have it, I came upon a very lightly used Epson R-D1 from an RFF member who was "upgrading" to the M8. Even the R-D1 was much more than I wanted to spend back when it was introduced a couple of years ago. Well, not anymore. Yes, refurbs of the R-D1 go on sale from time to time online at the Epson store (and they sell like hotcakes). However, the R-D1 had a known QC problem, and I had always been wary that refurbs were the once defective units sent back to Epson for one reason or another. In Darwins view, not the fittest.
Well, anyway, thanks to the R-D1S and now, the M8, very good used samples of the older RD-1 can be had at moderate prices. And since these have been "tried and tested," this may be a way to obtain one with less risk of getting a lemon. And if you are lucky, you may just get one that is almost new. Plus some goodies like extra ($$$) batteries and memory cards. Of course, if you are not the type who has to have the latest toy on the block, then it is always nice to have someone else eat the initial depreciation. As Gene Wilburn so eloquently put it, ahh... "the joys of bottomfeeding."
The difference between the R-D1 and the newer R-D1S? Mainly an updated software... a free download from Epson UK (mine came with the updated v2 software). The older R-D1 also had the advantage of having the RF adjustment screws easily accessibly simply by removing the hotshoe. With the R-D1S, the top plate has to come off. A daunting affair.
Back on topic, my R-D1 came this week. Cosmetically, it looks brand new. Funtioning perfectly, with no misalignment of the finder. Initial tests showed a few dead pixels, but after running the dead pixel mapping function in the new software, these were history.
I have been very, very impressed so far. It feels well-built, with a substantial magnesium alloy body. The rubber surfaces grip well. The funky analog guages actually work very simply, and with one glance, you have all the important information (WB, Image Quality, exposure left on card, and battery charge) on hand. ISO is adjusted like film speed on the Bessa, by lifting an outer ring on the traditional shutter speed dial. The dial also incorporates exposure compensation settings for when you are shooting in AE mode.
Here are the things that make the R-D1 unique, and appealing to me:
1. You can go about shooting all day without ever having to go into a single menu.
2. The thing I hate most about using digital is the small viewfinders and godawful tunnel vision that plague DSLR's other than the fullframe Canons. With the Epson, it is no different than shooting with a Bessa R3a - a bright, lifesize 1:1 finder.
Only the area of the framelines have changed to accomodate the 1.5x crop. My 35mm Summicron is now an effective 50mm. My 50mm is a portrait lens. I don't use the 28mm focal length much aside from the excellent ones built into my Ricoh GR-1 (and GRD), but that would give, roughly, a 40mm.
This is what I miss most, since 35mm is my favorite focal length. To get it, I would need a 24 or 25mm lens, and an accessory viewfinder. I have not tried this combination yet.
3. The R-D1 feels and handles like a rangefinder film camera. That means I can reliably shoot it handheld at 1/15 sec, I can use my M- and LTM- lenses, I can carry it all day without being bulky, obtrusive, or intimidating. In short, I have the same pleasurable rangefinder experience, with the "advantages" of digital.
4. All would be for naought without the results. True, the R-D1 has only 6 megapixels (funny, most people thought that was enough last year), but the results are very nice. Black and white shots have a smooth range of tones. Not too contrasty or oversharpened. Not "plasticky" or unnatural. To my taste, it gives results similar to newer, less grainy film emulsions like TCN or Neopan.
These past few days, I have been using the R-D1 almost exclusively with the LCD flipped closed, and in a leather halfcase (in case I get the urge to chimp) borrowed from my Hexar RF. I can also do away with the case, and attach a Photoequip Unigrip with no need of modifications.
It was not long before I forgot that I was shooting with digital. Until I had to crank up the ISO from 200 to 1600 between shots. Nice.
4 comments:
Hope you’re enjoying the R-D1. I’m currently trying to find one. I’m keeping my eye out on RFF and ebay, as well as the Epson site. I’d love to get a refurbished one from the site, but I just began this quest.
I’m really looking forward to advancing my experience/skill with an RF—as almost all of my previous use has been of an SLR. I look forward to downsizing and having a great viewfinder, etc., much of which you note. 35mm Summicron: you have a great lens! I’d want my first lens to be a 28mm or 35mm. Also, I have heard that you can use 24mm or 25mm, without the add-on viewfinder. It seems you’d only be missing a bit of the view.
I owned an RD-1 for a year on sold it in late 2007. I really miss it and now in late 2009 am looking at demo m8 or a used RD-1 that 1:1 finder is what I really miss and the M8 doesn't have the 1:1
It has been two and half years since this blog post, and I still love the RD-1 as much as I did back then, maybe even more. Technology has advanced since, but just like my old mechanical M's, it does what I ask. And does it well.
I've had my R-D1 for just the one week, and I'm in love. I can imagine moments where my D2x would be a better option (action, macro, bracketing for HDR), but find myself wanting to overcome these adversities with the Epson in hand, rather than delving into the bag for the cumbersome but competent Nikon. I new the moment I postprocessed the first image that this is a special. The film-like quality of the images, the colours (or even the blacks and whites) are special. My friend, from whom I bought it, is experiencing serious withdrawel symptoms
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