Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/11/29
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hi Vick, I was an early adopter of the RD 1 - played with a prototype in July 2004 - and wanted one so badly that I was the first buyer in Hong Kong in September that year. See <http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg? msg_id=009ezS&tag=> for my 2 Oct 2004 review on Photo Net and subsequent discussions. The prototype had a rangefinder problem - the image not being coincident vertically or horizontally at infinity and I was surprised when my purchase had the same problem. I took it back and exchanged it for another which was more in alignment but not perfect and that specimen had clumps of dead pixels. I took it back and exchanged for a third body. The third one also had a vertical rangefinder problem - a slight vertical misalignment - but by then I knew how to fix it and took the camera and corrected the alignment and used the camera until this Fall. I sold it in anticipation of the M8. It was wonderful to have a platform for my Leica M lenses, and those who got a good example fresh out of the box are no doubt happy - as indeed I was after three tries. But, having handled maybe thirty units in the last two years, maybe 10 had no problems with the rangefinder, and I can't speak about any other problems, failing dials, dead pixels etc. Over on the Rangefinder forum there is a survey which has been running for about two years which indicates that about 30-40% of cameras had some problem. Please see: <http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?forumid=48> the first two entries are the poll results. The quality control problems did not go away - it seems - with higher serial numbers either. Epson just couldn't seem to get it right - but the company, at least in my experience, was really good about exchanging problem cameras. On the Rangefinder list some have gone through as many as four or five exchanges! Still, in the history of cameras the RD 1 is note worthy as the first digital M and for forcing Leica to go ahead and develop the M8. The RD1 was (is) in my view a lovable dog. Cheers Howard (in HK) > Message: 29 > Date: Wed, 29 Nov 2006 17:31:31 -0500 > From: "Vick Ko" <vick.ko@sympatico.ca> > Subject: [Leica] So is the Epson RD1 a dog? > To: "'Leica Users Group'" <lug@leica-users.org> > So is the RD1 a dog? > As far as I can tell, if one buys one, it most likely will have an RF > problem. > Is that so? > Or are the "happy owners" a silent majority? > ...Vick >