Epson RD-1 Images to share?

[Terence]

Naughty, naughty. I actually have a borrowed M7 and 35 Lux Asph in my possession now. It's beginning to make my R2 seem wholly inadequate, I have a case of Leica envy. The cure? A Leica, what else?

you're right about the scanning. I think it's been a couple of years since my last scan. No matter. I'd give the flatbed a try, I always enjoy the satisfaction of achieving something on my own.

How are you enjoying your new M7 eh?

I gave up the idea of the R-D1 after a lot of sound advice came my way. Most were against the cam, it's mostly got to do with the current state of quality control.

 

[szekiat]

Haha, i gave up with the 35mm 50mm problem by selling both off to get a 40mm 'cron. Best lens i've used. I do my own printing these days in the darkroom! The M7 was great but i sold it off a while back in UK cos of a good offer! Now looking at a Hexar RF but using a M2. U can't beat the shutter of the M2 M3 series for noise control. The MP new probably is as good, but way too ex. In the end i miss AE though! 2 words of advice, don't bother with the R3A and R2A. The shutter is so loud i can feel the vibration against my cheek! I'm contemplating a Hexar for wideangles and keeping my M2 for 90mm shots, might even get a M3 for that. I need 2 bodies anyway! hehe...oh well.
I know this sounds blasphemous but you should also consider the contax G series. Can get an entire kit at under the price of an M6 used. And the lenses are sweet! Too contrasty for me, but how many of us shoot tri-x at iso12800???

 

[canturn]

Haha, i gave up with the 35mm 50mm problem by selling both off to get a 40mm 'cron. Best lens i've used. I do my own printing these days in the darkroom! The M7 was great but i sold it off a while back in UK cos of a good offer! Now looking at a Hexar RF but using a M2. U can't beat the shutter of the M2 M3 series for noise control. The MP new probably is as good, but way too ex. In the end i miss AE though! 2 words of advice, don't bother with the R3A and R2A. The shutter is so loud i can feel the vibration against my cheek! I'm contemplating a Hexar for wideangles and keeping my M2 for 90mm shots, might even get a M3 for that. I need 2 bodies anyway! hehe...oh well.
I know this sounds blasphemous but you should also consider the contax G series. Can get an entire kit at under the price of an M6 used. And the lenses are sweet! Too contrasty for me, but how many of us shoot tri-x at iso12800???

Getting OT here. Having used the M6 for a while, you'll feel a big diff between the M3/ MP... The very soft feel when you trigger the shutter of the MP, plus the leicavit to advance the film, are very addictive experience.

So far, I've been using two M bodies for weddings and documentry (theatre, stage work). Have seen some of the images from the RD-1, has that film feel to it. Luigi from www.leicatime.com has some samples of images from the RD-1 taken with 4th version of the 35 summicron. check 'em out.

 

[szekiat]

Having played with an M2. M3 and MP, M7, M6, i beg to differ on the shutter bit. Of the lot, a CLAd M3 and the MP are probably the smoothest. The M6, TTL or otherwise seems rather loud to me.
The leicavit reminds me of the T-winder on my old bessa R2. Makes for a nicer grip i guess but serves no real purpose. I don't like the idea of taking my left hand off the lens. I find myself more at ease using the regular rewind.
As revealed earlier, i'm back onto an M7 in a few days time!

 

[Ansel]

.....

I gave up the idea of the R-D1 after a lot of sound advice came my way. Most were against the cam, it's mostly got to do with the current state of quality control.

I for one, am against its current retail price!

 

[canturn]

I don't like the idea of taking my left hand off the lens. I find myself more at ease using the regular rewind.
As revealed earlier, i'm back onto an M7 in a few days time!

The prob with the regular rewind is that I cannot "lock-on' to the shot. I love the leicavit coz it allows me to do like 2 fps. Well, I can still use my index finger to focus the lens while the middle finger pulls the trigger on the leicavit....takes a bit of getting use to tho.

Agree with Ansel, price wise is not attractive enough. You can be dead sure that once the Leica prototype is out, used RD-1 will be all over ebay. The main put off for me is the crop factor. Comeon, what's a range finder if you can't use 35mm focal length. Even if you use a 25mm to get a 35mm equivalent, you don't get the perspective...plus, you don't have that kind of f1.4 speed of the summilux

 

[hongsien]

Is about HK 40,000 for the body only.

Hi Sabahan,

Don't feel offended, but please don't post prices if they make no sense, thanks! I just don't understand how you could post this price here? You just sounds so ridiculous, do your research properly........

Hong Sien

 

[kahheng]

Agree with Ansel, price wise is not attractive enough. You can be dead sure that once the Leica prototype is out, used RD-1 will be all over ebay. The main put off for me is the crop factor. Come on, what's a range finder if you can't use 35mm focal length. Even if you use a 25mm to get a 35mm equivalent, you don't get the perspective...plus, you don't have that kind of f1.4 speed of the summilux

I have a feeling that Leica will go under before they even come up with a viable digital rangefinder/SLR camera (If you're a Leicaphile, please don't kill me for saying this but at the rate they're going, I really don't see Leica as a camera brand around for very long more), and then, at what prices do you think they'll sell it at given that it's a "Leica"? ;-) Probably too high to be a big enough commercial success.

I completely agree with you about the multiplier effect with the smaller sensor on the Epson. It's the lack of suitable lenses that's killing the Epson if you ask me. What Epson should have done is to collaborate with Cosina to make a special series of digital specific lenses with say three or four equivalent popular focal lengths. (28/50/75 would be a good trio to begin with) This doesn't sound far fetched really given Cosina's penchant for introducing rather quaint but charming lenses.

And then perhaps do a dual branding with one badged "Voigtlander" to make ownership more appealing. I don't know about you but "Epson" for me is about printer and scanners first. It's too goofy a brand to put on a rangefinder.

Frankly I'd like to see Olympus coming up with an affordable interchangeable lens rangefinder camera (say S$2-3k for the body). They've got the factories in place, the lens design and manufacturing expertise, and most of all, a very good brand image.