[Leica] Playing with the RD 1 in Hong Kong

[cummer at netvigator.com (Howard Cummer)]

Hello Luggers,
Today Joseph Yao arranged with Epson Hong Kong, to test drive 
pre-launch sample serial
number 0211 of the RD 1.  Local Professional Photog Bobby Lee and his 
Leica
M using friend YW Li joined us with everyone contributing lenses to 
try. I
brought my 40mm Summicron, 50mm Summarit, 50mm Summilux, a 90 Elmarit 
(new
style) a 35 Pre-Asph Summilux, and just for fun, a 135 Elmar. I also 
threw
in the 2nd edition Tri  Elmar as it  was my favourite travel lens (when 
I
was shooting film). Bobby contributed a 15mm CV and over lunch YW pulled
out his Noctilux for some focusing fun. Joseph threw a new 50mm Summilux
Asph into the mix.
We shot with all the above lenses  with the camera set in auto exposure 
and
auto white balance  at various apertures  and varying the ISO between 
200
and 1600. We took pictures both indoors and outdoors,  still objects,
scenery and portraits. We shot in RAW mode and then downloaded, using 
the
Epson programming to an Apple G4 powerbook. Later, if I have time, I 
will try to
post some images but in the meantime here are my impressions.
1.) the camera feels very solid. It is heavier than a Bessa R2 and has a
solidity to it a bit like the Leica Digilux 2 / Panasonic LC 1.  
Controls are
tight and precise.
2.) The viewfinder is less bright than the Bessa R2 but fully functional
with a clearly delineated focusing patch. Given the limited rangefinder
base of the viewfinder, precise focusing is difficult with the fastest
lenses but still pretty good. We were all rangefinder users and didn't 
have
that much problem getting accurately focused pictures  except perhaps 
with
the Noctilux.
3.) The shutter noise is more muffled than the sharp sound of the Bessa 
R2
but noisier than an M shutter. Because the timbre of the shutter is 
lower
than the R2 it seems less intrusive.
4.) There is no auto play-back. After you take a picture  you have to 
punch
a play button  and then toggle what would be the rewind lever to magnify
the playback. This can slow you down if you want to check every 
picture. We
couldn't figure out how to scroll around in the enlarged image;  we 
assume
it can be done.
5.) Metering is centre weighted and there is an exposure lock button. 
This
helps compensate for the lack of spot metering. In the Epson down load
software the details of each picture includes that it was taken in 
centre
weighted mode  which made us think that perhaps the camera had a spot 
mode
but if it does, we couldn't access it.
6.) So how are the pictures? Well, the output of a 50 plus year old
Summarit and a 45 plus year old Elmar never looked better. On the 17" 
power
book screen, with just a minimum of auto balancing the colours really
glowed on the screen. When we progressed to the latest and, some say, 
the
best - the Summilux 50 Asph  the impact of quality lenses on a digital
image was immediately clear to all of us.
7.) With Bobby's 15mm CV and a 200% blowup there was some colour 
fringing
in the corners of the picture  a bit like you might see with a Canon G5.
You can see why there had to be a compromise in the size of the imaging
chip given the close distance of the rear elements of wide angle lenses 
to
the chip surface. With longer lenses there was no color fringing in the
corners.
8.)We turned the ISO up to 1600 and shot some lower light pictures
to check for digital noise. The chip used in the RD 1 is the same one 
used
in the Nikon D70 and high ISO performance is very similar  which is to 
say
very acceptable. ISO 1600 noise is pretty much like the grain in modern 
ISO
400 film and Bobby said grain reduction programs could smooth more of 
the
noise if anyone felt it was objectionable.
9.) Will anyone who loves Leicas actually buy one of these? Well, the
viewfinder could be better, the handling of the camera is a queer
combination of the latest technology and last century's. I forgot to 
wind
the advance lever time after time to cock the shutter and kept waiting 
for
the playback to show up after the picture was taken. Yet, when we had
examined the magnified images on the screen, three of the four of us 
said
then and there we would be buying the RD 1 when it becomes available and
made Sam, the Epson rep, promise to hold units for us. So that is 
certainly a case of
putting our money where our mouths are!
10.) We didn't get into local pricing but availability in Hong Kong 
will be
late September, early October, in limited numbers. It seems Epson is
planning to make only 10,000 of the cameras  this limitation is set by
Cosina about the number of bodies that can be supplied. Of course, if 
the
market is there I am certain they will find a way to build more.
Cheers
Howard