[Leica] Re: [CVUG] Epson R-D1 review

[mark at rabinergroup.com (Mark Rabiner)]

On 6/21/04 3:28 PM, "Karen Nakamura" <mail@gpsy.com> wrote:

>> 
> http://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/2004/0621/dcr016.htm
> 
> 
> I'm in Shanghai right now, so this is just a quick and dirty summary:
> 
> *  Seiko Epson is famous for its printers but the larger Epson group
> has also been making computers as well as being an early participant
> in digital cameras.
> * They produced models such as the CP-200/500 but then had apparently
> retreated from the digital camera market.
> * But together with Cosina, they have re-entered the high-end digital
> camera market
> * It looks like the Bessa R2, but is actually entirely new in the inside.
> * The "EM" mount is compatible with the Leica M mount and the Leica S
> mount with an adapter
> * The lenses I used for this test were the Color Skopar 21f/4, 28
> f/3.,5 35 f/2.5 PII, 50 f/2.,5 , and 75 f/2.5. Also the C-V Nokton 50
> f/1.5, and Ricoh GR 21 f/3.,5 and 28 f/2.8.
> 
> * I was not permitted to shoot in  JPEG mode, only the RAW mode by Epson
> * I used the included Photolier v.1.0.1 software to convert to JPEG
> * I did not modify the white balance or other settings
> 
> * [skip all the camera feature description since we know that]
> 
> * WIth the 21mm f/4, I should note that many digital cameras suffer
> from "front focusing error" (where the AF focuses slightly to the
> front of the image plane.  The R-D1 focused accurately at full
> aperture, using its full baselength of 38.2mm.  The 1.0x
> magnification finder was nice.
> 
> [see  photos 1a and 2a of two buildings with cloudy sky; 21mm f/4, ISO 200]
> 
> * The image on the left is full aperture. The image improved
> stopping down to f/5.6 (right side).  However, you may note that the
> window blinds on the edges of the frame exhibit some color fringing.
> This appears to be worse than other digital cameras. There is also
> some light falloff, but that is caused by the lens.
> 
> * [photos 2a 2b : 28mm f/3.5 full aperture and then stopped down to
> f/5.6] There is still color fringing on the f/5.6 photo
> 
> * [ 3a/3b: 35mm f/2.5  full aperture and stopped down to f/5.6]
> 
> * [4a/4b: 50mm f/2.5 full aperture and stopped down to f/5.6]
> 
> 
> * I did not increase the sharpness in the RAW images or otherwise
> manipulate them. The color fringing was the only objectionable issue
> that I could find.
> 
> * This uses the SONY imaging CCD found in other cameras, but the
> image "flavor" produced by the chip appears different.
> 
> * 5a/5b:  75mm f/2.5 full and f/5.6
> 
> * 6a/6b: Noise reduction ON (left) and OFF (right)
> 
> * Using the 75mm lens, you have to be very careful or it is easy to
> misfocus (photo 7; AE+1)
> 
> * AWB seems excellent (8a = AWB, 8b = Daylight)
> 
> * 9a = AWB, 9b = tungsten
> 
> * 10a = AWB, 10b = florescent
> 
> *11a = ISO 200; 11b = ISO 400, 11c = ISO 800
> * 12 = ISO 1600
> 
> 
> * This is not just a simple point and shoot camera, but one where the
> photographer must pay attention to it.  In one sense ,its more
> complicated than a digital SLR.  But those photographers who have
> confidence in themselves should give it a shot.
> 
> 
> 
Having read my babble fish readout of this it is quite enlightening!
I get great enjoyment thought trying to figure out what they are talking
about and did not quite get all of it.  But now it is fully idiomatically
corrected I have a full retention rate.





Mark Rabiner
Photography
Portland Oregon
http://rabinergroup.com/