Epson R-D1x

[rgerraty]

<p>Updated Epson digital rangefinder discussed on Wired's site<br>

http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2009/02/epsons-beautifu.html</p>

[Alex_Es]

<p>This is a major surprise. After discontinuing the old RD-1s and what was pretty shoddy after-service Epson is bring back the RD-1 as the "x" with very minor changes. I note the same lousy rubber cover material that warps and comes off over time. But I am excited about the handgrip. </p>

[sitemistic]

<p>Smart move on Epson's part. Use the same sensor, etc. No R&D expense on this run.</p>

[sattler123]

<p>I am not sure this is not just a hoax? If it is true, then Epson is just trying to sell any remaining RD-1s they had left with very minor tweaks. I would bet that it has the same sensor.</p>

[Alex_Es]

<p>No hoax. There is an add for this camera in Japanese. Wonder if Epson will make their batteries readily available this time. Every camera shop I ever asked about batteries in Japan for my RD-1s told me that they did not have any and did not know how to get them. <br /> Well, maybe this time Epson will make a real commitment to their groundbreaking camera. One can always hope, I suppose.</p>

[sitemistic]

<p>A story on Adorama's site says it has the same sensor. This could only work in the RF world. It's the equivalent of Canon reintroducing the 10D with a bigger LCD on the back. They couldn't give them away. Epson will likely sell a lot of them.</p>

[Alex_Es]

<p>I hope the handgrip can be bought separately.</p>

[furcafe]

<p>You have a point, Jim, but it's not like there's a huge market for digital RFs to spur innovation, & nobody (as far as we know) has been able to make significant progress on the full-frame problem.</p>

[Sanford]

<p>Is 6mp enough? I have three Nikons, 6, 10, 12mp and the 6mp D50 seems to be the sweet spot as far as a compromise between all the various factors that effect the quality of a photo. Speed, great high ISO performance, more than adequate for an 8"x10" printed page, and LOTS of photos on an SD card. As the cost of a used M8 moves below 3K they can't sell the Epson too close to that price and the reliability will have to be MUCH better than their printers.</p>

[Robin Smith]

<p>6 MP sounds antediluvian to me as of 2009...</p>

[Brad_]

<p>>>> This could only work in the RF world. It's the equivalent of Canon reintroducing the 10D with a bigger LCD on the back.</p>

<p>Indeed...</p>

[Sanford]

<p>Robin - good word "antediluvian" - I'm glad this Mac has a dictionary feature!</p>

[Dave Luttmann]

<p>I'm hoping that the processing stream will be improved...maybe 14bit A/D?</p>

<p>Looks nice though!</p>

[jay_moynihan]

<p>I have seen the price quoted at $2000 USD.<br>

If so, i will not be getting one. Being an oldster, i would love a digital rangefinder. And this one can take excellent glass by Voightlander (Cosina, which also makes the RD1/RD1x for Epson), and Leica.<br>

Sigh.</p>

 

[jon_solomon]

<p>The preorder price on the Epson Japan website is 299,800 yen = US$3,065.</p>

[kelly_flanigan1]

<p>Alex; the battery is just a Fuji NP-80; Kodak KLIC-3000; Epson EU-85.<br>

<br /> The street price varies from 4 to 20 bucks for the non Epson ones.<br>

<br /> The battery is a common one; it is used in camcorders and other digitals too.<br>

<br /> The battery fits the Fuji FinePix camera line; some Ricoh and Kodaks.</p>

<p><br /> Here I have one that will recharge off the 12Volt automobile lighter socket.<br>

<br /> I use Epson; Kodak and Fuji batteries in my own Epson Rd-1 here with no issues at all.</p>

[phule]

<p>[[6 MP sounds antediluvian to me as of 2009...]]</p>

<p>So does that attitude.</p>

[funkag]

<p>A 6 or 8 mp sensor hooked up to the kind of processors we're seeing now in the dslrs would be incredible for low-light situations - imagine noiseless 1600 and acceptable 6400+. Too bad it looks like Epson is keeping the internals the same...</p>

[kelly_flanigan1]

<p>Here is a shot of Orion at an iso of 1600 with the Epson RD-1 with S upgrade; shot with a 50mm F1 Noctilux at F1; with sky fog too. This is fairly a low light situation.</p>

<p><img src="http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y148/ektar/EPSON%20R-D1/_EPS2428500widefull4secf1.jpg?t=1235786213" alt="" width="500" height="752" /></p>

<p><img src="http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y148/ektar/EPSON%20R-D1/_EPS2428OrionBelt4secF1.jpg?t=1235786148" alt="" width="542" height="748" /></p>

[t._zenjitsuman]

<p>If a 12mp camera on a 1.5x cropped apc camera is equal to FF 28mp then all you need is an 8-10mp camera.<br>

The problem is that once again we are overpaying for old obsolete technology to place behind very expensive glass.<br>

We should reject any product that disables the potential of Leica, Zeiss and all other high end glass that was meant to be used in a no compromises system.<br>

And what ever happened to "you get what you pay for". I feel that RF users would be better off with a Panasonic G! and adapters than this overpriced piece of yesterdays old technology.</p>

[oistrakh]

<p>Wow, $3,000 for an upgraded LCD? I really hope they added something else to this! Can anyone translate the Japanese press release?</p>

<p>http://www.epson.jp/osirase/2009/090227.htm</p>

<p>Babelfish does a really bad job on it ...</p>

[Alex_Es]

<p>Thanks, Kelly. Will look for those batteries. <br>

I love my RD-1s. I am looking forward to that grip, man.</p>

 

[don_e]

<p>"I hope the handgrip can be bought separately."</p>

<p>I hope so. According to dpreview, it is removable. Nothing about buying it separately, though.</p>

[don_e]

<p>The 10mp M8 filesize is 3936 x 2630 and has 2.1 MP/cm² pixel density</p>

<p>The 6mp RD fileseize is 3008 x 2000 and has 1.6 MP/cm² pixel density</p>

<p> </p>

[Sanford]

<p>Isn't this the same grip as the R2 grip sold by CameraQuest? </p>