[Leica] Dodgy RD-1 focus (was Nikon's profits tripled)

[Frank.Dernie at btinternet.com (Frank Dernie)]

Hii Ian,
I suppose it could well be a duff example. Joseph Yao said there have 
been delays in supply and Howard's R-D1 which I saw in Hong Kong had a 
rangefinder which was off at infinity, and I believe he had a long wait 
for a replacement, but the pictures from it seemed great to me.
Normally manufacturers check that their review items are at the highest 
possible standard before submitting them.
The reviewer was really enthusiastic about the camera up to the point 
at which he was unable to reliably focus wide open.
Perhaps I should take the plunge but haven't really got the heart for a 
return saga if I am unlucky.
Frank

On 25 Nov, 2004, at 16:45, Ian Watts wrote:

> Frank Dernie wrote:
>>
>> The problem with the apparent lens performance was the impossibility 
>> of
>> focus. The measuring system they use for cameras includes the 
>> focussing
>> system. IMHE the Chasseur d'Image camera reviews are the most
>> comprehensive and accurate I have seen published. FWIW the guy liked
>> the camera a lot in the first installment and still liked it, it just
>> did not have an accurate enough rangefinder to focus the 50 and 35
>> lenses within their depth of field whilst wide open. I shall probably
>> not buy one now despite wanting one very much!
>> Frank
>>
>
> I'm surprised at this. Is it not possible that they had a duff example 
> of
> the RD-1 at Chasseur d'Image? I don't shoot test targets or anything 
> like
> that but I usually quickly get a feel for when a camera/lens 
> combination I
> have isn't focussing as intended. I had a Canon 10D which couldn't 
> focus for
> toffees despite my best efforts. I'm not convinced either that my 
> Noctilux
> is quite in tune with one of M6's (though I haven't done enough tests 
> to
> prove either way - I just use the lens on a different body). Getting 
> to the
> point, I simply haven't had this feeling at all with my RD-1 and any 
> of the
> lenses I have used with it so far (mainly a 35/F2 ASPH, but also a 50 
> Cron
> and 24 Elmarit). I've even used the Noctilux virtually wide open on 
> the RD-1
> and been as much satisfied with the focus as have been with this lens 
> on any
> M body to date.
>
> Ian Watts.
>
> -- 
> mailto:i.watts@virgin.net
>
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