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More on the RD1 and a question


cd thacker

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A selection of pictures of the RD1. (Not sure if these have been

seen here before.)<p>

 

<center><img

src="http://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/2004/0311/epson205.gif"

width="240" height="180"><p>Back view, w/ tilt/swivel 2.0" LCD<p>

 

<img src="http://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/2004/0311/epson214.gif"

width="240" height="180"><p>Top right, w/ analog-type readout<p>

 

<img src="http://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/2004/0311/epson222.gif"

width="240" height="180"><p>Comparison w/ Bessa R2<p>

 

Many more can be found at <a

href="http://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/2004/0311/epson2.htm">PC

Watch</a></center><p>

 

The deeper I get into my search for a smallish rangefinder-like

digicam, the more discouraged I become. What seems to be the best of

the breed, the Canon G5, is too clunky and inelegant for my tastes.

Looks like the best way to use it is the way Jeff Spirer does

(according to his G5 Photo.net review): crank the lens back to 35mm,

set it on full-manual, stick an equivilent length accessory finder in

the hotshoe, and have at it. The poor man's digital rangefinder.<p>

 

Maybe I'll go that way if there's no other option. But this RD1

looks like it might offer everything I'm looking for. (Let's hope

the price isn't obscene.) Anybody know if it's going to have a RAW

buffer? And, one more time (I wasn't paying attention), when is it

supposed to be available?

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I think there's an altimeter on there, too. Well, if it <i>is</i> $1700, I'll buy it.<p>

 

I noticed earlier that the Cameraquest info had been taken down. (Wonder why?) But can you ever really remove anything from the internet? Google's cache of (some of?) the missing pages is <a href="http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:jN_r8PgTU7oJ:www.cameraquest.com/voigtbessadigital.htm+%22epson%22++site:cameraquest.com&hl=en&ie=UTF-8">here</a>.

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Two things I can't get my head around with the RD1. First, what do we do for a wide angle lens, say a 28? The Leica 28mm with 1.5 "crop factor" becomes a 42mm lens. Even a 21 becomes a 30. Guess they were thinking about wide angle Voightlander lenses. Second, I wonder what the frame lines will show when you hook up say a Leica M 28mm lens. Will it show the 28 "false" framelines or it will show the equivalent 42mm frameline?

 

I'm sorry to say that from what I've seen there isn't a good digital solution short of the DSLRs at the moment, with the Leica/Panasonic D2 one of the most interesting for coming close.

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I had the same question as you, Eric. My guess is that either A) the framelines selector refers to the actual focal length of the lens used, but calls up framelines for the focal length times the multiplier (eg., "50" calls up 75mm framelines); or, B) the framelines won't correspond to what's seen on the LCD (and shot); or, C) Cosina will develop new lenses that call up 28, 35, and 50mm framelines in the camera. <p>

 

This latter possibility seems like the most reasonable one. And I'll be happy to put Cosina-Voigtlander lenses on the camera.

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the real question is why stephen took the info down. does this mean he will not be permitted to direct import RD-1s?? the info inaccurate?? he should be the best source of info on this product, but so far it seems like he has been out of the loop.

 

by the way, most of the projected prices i have seen are much higher than 1700, more like 2700 (i.e. M7 price). as i have said before, i think that would sell the same number at 1700 as at 2700. but if they broke 1000 . . . .

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Yes! If they could get them out the door at the same price as the EOS-300D and Nikon D70, they'd sell hundreds of thousands. Starting with the two I'd buy. I'm not holding my breath for that possibility, however. And if they go for anything like $2700, I'm back to the G5 (or something better hopefully).
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I think it ia a virtual LOCK that:

 

A: The framelines will be set so that 75mm framelines would pop up when a 50mm

lens is mounted.

 

&

 

B: Voigtlander/Cosina will release a few wide/fast lenses specifically for this camera.

Probably a 25/2 and a 18/2.8 or something like that. These lenses would not cover the 35mm frame. This would keep cost/size down.

 

This is Cosina we're talking about. Mr Kobiyashi is a RF nut, not just some suit in a PR

department. He (mostly) releases useful products in the Voigtlander line. I have a lot

of faith in his end of the Epson/Cosina deal.

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The R-D1, like the Bessa cameras, doesn't have auto-frameline capability. You must set the correct framelines via a switch. When you bring up, for example, the 50mm frame it'll be the correct size for the field-of-view of a 50mm lens on this particular camera. That is, the frame will be smaller than on a 35mm camera.

 

Not sure why Stephen took down the R-D1 info. Even if he won't be selling the camera (Epson will use its own distribution network) it's still CameraQuest material...and he does sell the Voigtländer lenses & accessories. ???

 

-Dave-

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