[Leica] Epson RD-1 and love

[rangefinder at screengang.com (Didier Ludwig)]

Gerry

Something similar happened to me, when I had a M6 in my hands for the first 
time. I just knew, that's the camera I want; and a few months later I had 
one.

But the R-D1 - I don't know. I believe it feels solid and handy when you 
come from a D1X (which has a lot of plastic parts, afaik?); but not if you 
are used to carry a M body. I had a R-D1 in my hands a few weeks ago, at a 
local camera shop, and was very disappointed. The bumpy painting on the top 
plate looks cheapish to me (looks like hammertone without hammertone), the 
built quality is noticeable below Leica level, the menu handling with the 
"rewind knob" is awkward, and the manual handling of the framelines is ok 
for a low priced Bessa, but not for a $3k body (here in Switzerland it 
costs even more, close to $4k). Seen this way, it's price is too high, at 
least for me.

I'm giving up the idea of using my M and LTM lenses on a digital system, as 
it's too expensive for an amateur like me, and the crop factor drives me 
nuts (and would cause me to buy a lot of new and expensive viewfinders). If 
digital, then I think I'll go for a completely new system, a 4/3 Oly e-300 
for instance. The Zuiko lenses are sharp, too.

Didier


>I know this has probably been said a thousand times, but today I had 
>chance to play with the Epson/Voigtlaender RD-1 and all I can say is that 
>I am in love and want one as soon as possible. For me, it was so like an 
>M6 that it was unbelievable and I know I could WORK with this camera. My 
>Nikon D1X is a fantastic camera, and I have had great success with it, but 
>I cannot work on the streets like I did with the Leica - but the RD-1, now 
>that would be a different story!
>
>Gerry