Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/11/27
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]The RD-1 sounds like a hero from Greek tragedy: wonderful in every way, except for a fatal flaw. The RF problems are odd, though. After all, the RF is, as far as we know, a standard issue Bessa RF with a higher magnification. The Bessas have been out there for several years, and have been performing well. They are evidently easier to knock out of alignment than a Leica, but that's easily remedied. Howard's having to choose between correct close focus and infinity focus sounds ominously like the problem of Russian lenses on Leicas. Could this be a problem with some focus cams that were machined with the wrong pitch? Now, the new Bessa R3A also has a 1:1 viewfinder. This could give us a clue. If we start hearing about R3A cameras having the same focus problems as the RD-1, then there may be a design or manufacturing flaw with the 1:1 viewfinder. If it's only the RD-1 that has this issue, then maybe the RD-1 viewfinder has something different about it. Or maybe, as Mark suggested, somebody dropped a pallet off a truck somewhere. All this is a pity. Once the RD-1 samples got into the hands of people who knew how to use a rangefinder, we've seen beautiful image quality. Michael Reichmann's review shows that if you get a good one, the RD-1 is a very nice camera. And that cathedral dome picture from a couple of days ago is just plain wonderful. I want a digital RF on which I can use my Leica and V/C lenses. Someday I'll get one. It looks like I'll have to wait a little longer. So for digital capture, it's the E-1. Meanwhile, I shot a roll of Tri-X in the M6 yesterday, so I'm still "in the family." --Peter At 09:17 PM 11/26/04 -0800, Howard Cummer wrote: >In summary, I still think Epson got much of its first digital >rangefinder effort right. The electronics are great, the controls well >thought out (for me anyway) the control of ISO speed, white balance and >B&W filtering indicates that photographers were consulted in the design >of the camera but - the rangefinder (or quality control) is clearly >compromised and that is too bad - because with a better performing >rangefinder the camera would be near to perfect as a first effort and >that would have been wonderful. Now I guess we will have to wait for >the RD2 model or see what the competition serves up from Zeiss and >Leica.