Review - The Epson R-D1 - A budget friendly Leica MD alternative
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- Опубликовано: 23 июн 2018
- This is the Epson RD1, the first digital range finder with a Leica-m mount. It was released back in 2004 but still cost a pretty penny on the used market. I decided to review it after you, my viewers, decided I should via one of my polls here on RUclips.
Want to buy me a coffee?
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The camera needs to be bought on for example eBay but the lens I used is available in stores:
7artisans 35mm f2, www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...
Gear used for the video:
Fuji X-E3,www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...
Manfrotto Befree,
www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...
Instagram: / mattiasburling
Music: ”Intentions”, Anno Domini Beats 
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To everyone complaining about not finding it cheap. Just saw one for $550 in mint condition. But passed since I’ve ordered something else :)
Hey Mattias I'm having the same experience. Where did you see the camera for 550?
find my for 500€ in very good condition 5500 clic
Lucky, Matthias.even on the Japanese auctions you got to pay the high price
550 where?
We need more cameras like this, or even at least more cameras with a manual shutter cock. If you can get over 1000 shots with a camera from 2004, then imagine how long a camera with the battery sipping processors and image sensors today would last
i just want it for the feel 😥
Voigtlander should do a kickstarter for a rangefinder. Price it under $2,000 and it would sell well and sell a lot of Voigtlander lenses.
Tin Jos absolutely. I've been thinking that maybe a youtuber could make like a campaign collecting signs other whatever way to make CV or Epson realize how many people are into an Rd-2
I would back it for sure.
Tin Jos I'm quite surprised they have not done it yet.
This has been discussed on RFF almost monthly for well over a decade. My conclusion is the market is simply too tiny to make a extremely R&D costly product commercially viable - and you want it under $2,000? How many a7s does Sony sell and what's the price tag they managed out of it? "But I would definitely buy it" - don't let the selection bias fool you. Each of us, you and me, have to buy not one but like 10 of them, just for a start, to persuade Mr. Kobayashi to commit a commercial suicide. And they are currently faring very well without doing so.
necro, but make it a full frame for $3.5k usd and it would sell. Anything to use m-glass without having to deal with leica digital reliability or the 'MADE IN GERMANY' tax. I am 3 sensors in on my M9 and honestly the Cmos successors have their own issues besides their godawful price.
The lever, dials and buttons are just genius! I really wish modern digital camera (especially mirrorless like Fuji) would still keep the lever..not just to save more battery, but the feeling of pulling it before taking a picture is what i really missed. Nice Review!
Well, it is an interesting camera to say the least. And I have another example to prove someone wrong if someone says megapixels are everything. Good video, as always! It was a pleasure watching it.
Thank you for finally getting around to my favorite camera. Have always wanted one since playing with it a few years ago.
Mattias has done more for my photography fun than anyone else. I started buying some older cameras which are now my cameras of choice, I really like shooting through old glass on my Sony cameras, Oh, and the dog always makes me smile,,
i think any photography machine in the hands of Mattias will turn out stunning images 😊
Takes a special person to make others see the beauty in something forgotten
I hadn't forgotten the Epson, I wanted one SO much when they were new, but they were SO expensive and quite hard to find.
Love your videos so much! I can't really afford a lot of the cameras, nor am I interested in buying them, but watching your videos just just gets me to love photography more and more. Every time I watch your video I want to go out and shoot. Thank you so much for the content.
Hey, Im glad you enjoy the channel.
I can't really afford them either. I always sell one before I buy one :)
CCDs are really something special. I bought a used Pentax K10D and ended up ditching my newer model. The dynamic range isn't amazing but the colors are excellent. But, a manual shutter lever on a digital camera? That is exciting!
I keep coming back to this review. Such an attractive camera. I feel the urge to give this video a thumbs up every time and get sad I can't do it multiple times.
Thanks for posting this! It’s a unique camera that belongs in its own silo.
Such a cool camera. Ran into someone at a conference recently who had one of these around his neck. Never thought I’d ever see one in person. Awesome gauges!
Your dog is always the star of your videos! It’s great 👍🏾
Brilliant, more proof that almost any camera can be wielded to produce amazing shots! It just takes a little heart and vision :)
Your approach of photography is really interesting. Thank You !
Another great video! The gauges! So cool!
I always enjoyed your review on the underrated cameras :)
Really cool camera Matthias, thanks for sharing!
Good review! I tried the R-D1s and I had high hopes. Well, the little camera lived up to its expectations. The viewer is not as bright as my M3 (what is?), but it is still a pure rangefinder. Thank you, Mattias, for this review. It is still a remarkable camera.
You describe exactly what I want - an M-D with a manual shutter advance lever.
Never clicked so fast, felt like an eternity
Thanks for the review, personally not something I’d get but really fun to hear your options opinion and see your shots on it.
Fascinating camera!
great review really want one now. pics look really nice. color is fantastic like you said.
Kia Ora Mattias! Finally getting one after a long time watching this review. Cheers from NZ
All the pictures make me miss living in Scandinavia such a beautiful place
I own one and it is the best camera i ever owned... not because of its sensor, the lens selection, colors or anything. It is the best for just being fun. It is by far the best designed camera in the world, it makes you forget that you shoot digital. If only the MD would have this "film rewind lever"
Can you upload the files on a smartphone did you find a gallery that reads them why can you only do it through a computer or tablet
I'm early! I've been waiting for this!!
I was waiting for your video 😍
Beautiful camera I have one too, love the pics I get with the voigtlander nokton classic 40mm 1.4 attached to this beauty
Great video, I had 2 of these bought new, and regret selling them. Now that i am using the M8 I don't think I would go back to one of these, but the R-D1 is one of the most beautiful cameras ever made. :)
0.0000001 sec into the video and I smashed the like button. Finally. I was waiting for this review for about a year now, since I discovered this Camera.
Awesome video! I visited Västerås during spring, what a great city!
This is really a camera that intreguise me! It is so special. I think it is one of the only digital cameras to have captured the soul of film photography. But then i havent tried it yet :p
I love me some Mattias Burling in the meorning with a fresh cuppa coffee ! Also subscribed ! I DIDNT REALIZE I never subscribed ! cause RUclips always shows me your new content straight on the homepage hahaha.
great vid Mattias... that articulating screen tho...🙏 amazing photos!
I had the Epson R-D1 I bought it before going with the Leica M240. I loved the R-D1, it's a great camera if they began making and updated design with a 24 mp sensor and a rear screen, I'd buy one immediately.
The first digital Leica wasn't even a Leica... The more you know.
Really great video!
so nice the camera and the pictures - thx
I wish this review would have been longer lol... Such an awesome Camera!
i have one of these, it is truly stunning
Oh man, I love the shutter winding lever. It's one of my favourite tactile things on my film cameras. I didn't even realise how badly I want that in a digital camera until now. Might have to take a broken film cam apart, order some parts, and build my own.
quality content as always.
My fav camera of all time. It just looks so vintage
I swear you have the most photogenic dog I have ever seen
George Gunn I agree :)
What a cool camera!
R-D1 is an amazing camera for sure.
The camera manufacturers should try to stop recreating the dageriotype and use these concepts that are really genius!
Amazing review!
Makes me want to get one!
Wow this camera is a beauty
Beautiful!
One of the best camera ever produced. Pixii is something similar, but these analog dials was so nice!
6MP Camera and i want it !! haha awesome video Mattias !
I wonder why Epson or other camera makers hasn't revamp this model with new sensors and screens, and keep all the cool features like the scroll lever. Many people out there would love that. Same thing for many other legendary cameras, such as lumix GX1..
Still use my lumix gx1 to this day. Great with vintage lenses or cheap cctv lenses
I just ordered one of these!!! Should be in my hands soon!
Hey T L, may I ask where you bought it? Ebay? Would really love one. Trying to find out how to get one.
Bloody cool camera! Just go into Film again, and I would love one of those Epson‘s.
Cheers from Switzerland
Mitch
I tracked one down through FM (Fred Miranda) Reviews, they have a sales area. I bought mine from a You-tuber that had just had it serviced. The ergo’s on these R-D1’s is where I wish Leica had ended up. Good luck in your search!
@@TL-vt8uk thx a lot for your quick reply, much appreciated indeed!
Take care and stay safe
Wow. The IQ and sharpness at 5:47 !
The gauge looks so cool.
I LOVE that analog meter display up top.
Its amazing for sure!
Dreaming of this camera .,,,,,oh one day. Come on someone make a modern version with the advance leaver.
Man I want this camera!!! 😍
That is a seriously cool camera!
I kept hoping that Cosina-Voigtlander would partner with someone to make an updated R-D1. The body is based on their Bessa R line of rangefinders, which were in production until fairly recently. Sadly it did not happen. I suppose there would've been some optical challenges with higher-resolution and full-frame sensors, like the ones Leica had to deal with.
Such a neat camera. If I could find one for less than $500 I would jump on it but at around $1000 that they are going for on eBay right now it's a little tough to swallow
Mike Anastasio Yeah I told myself it had to be cheaper than the cheapest M8 ive seen. So well bellow $1k. Still a lot of money imo.
Mattias Burling yeah it’s certainly too much money for what it is but as a person who shoots primarily film it is such a neat camera. Wish a modern manufacturer would make a camera like this that wasn’t leica. Give me a rangefinder with as little modern features as possible for as cheap as possible. I’d love a leica digital but that’s a bit out of the price range except for the m8
Mattias Burling found one on eBay and got in a bit of a bidding war and ended up losing because I didn’t want to go above $550 especially because the one I was bidding on had a temperamental screen. Watched some more videos and I do really wish someone would come out with a more modern camera like this though. I could see Cosina/Voigtlander even being the ones to do it. Guess I’ll just have to buy a film leica m like I was going to or try to find a deal on an m8 now haha
ebay - never bid until just before the end of the sale. Use a snipe and set it at the realistic price you are happy to pay and sometimes you win. Bid early, showing your hand tells other bidders you are interested. There is no benefit in doing that at all.
Mike Anastasio I simply use "best offer". Bidding takes forever :)
Brilliant. I want a digital rangefinder without a screen and working manual advance lever to recock the shutter. So good
Yeah a new version of this without the screen would be an instant buy.
You did it again. My “cameras wanted “ list just keeps getting longer - thanks to you!!! And I thought 8 mp was considered the min. At least for an 8x10 print. Can you explain why the CCD sensor is richer/better in future video? I’d love your views on sensors!!
Thanks for the review my friend. Appreciate your work.
Edit: also just a thought, a take charge entrepreneur could start a go-fund-me to modernize the Epson RD-1 - same body, upgraded sensor? :). Just a thought.
My favourite youtuber reviewing my favourite camera 😍 Thank you! I got my own RD1 a couple of months ago for the insanely lucky price of £250 (approx 285 EUR) and despite the 6MP sensor, I can see why these still sell for such crazy prices: the quality of experience in use. I simply can’t think of any digital camera that feels nicer or more fun to go out shooting with! It’s the camera equivalent of a classic car; no modern luxuries and relatively impractical, a rubbish ‘top speed’ (resolution) and every other spec, may require maintenance*, and of course… unnecessarily expensive. But it just puts a big smile on your face in a way that the modern stuff doesn’t. I worry that you may regret selling it, but what do I know 😅
*By the way, your gauges for battery life and memory capacity are slightly out of alignment (when the camera is off, the battery gauge should sit at 9 o’clock on that little triangle, and the memory card at 12 o’clock). Fortunately, you can calibrate them in a minute or two by diving into the menu system, if you have the patience to hold the screen! Main Menu - Settings - Basic Setup - Calibrate Needles (second page) 🙂
Cool, I will set it up. But they have been pretty accurate so far. I guess they need to be in the ballpark.
True, they are just ‘glancable’ information rather than a precise display anyway. But might be useful if you’re selling on. When I received my camera they were all slightly out of alignement and I worried a little until I read-up about the calibration. It’s a silly little thing but I feel somehow more satisfied when all the dials are precisely lined up and in vertical and horizontal places. I should probably get my head checked out… 🙈
Jon Day no I totally get it. It ads to the experience.
Hi Mattias ! I heard the color from it is amazing. Would you recommend this over Nikon DF ? I am thinking to buy this or the DF, thanks !
16 years later, still the sexiest digital camera on earth.
Your videos often make me - momentarily - want to buy the camera you review.
Maybe it's your hypnotic voice? The music?
Photos of Gunpowder?
:D
Great pics!
Looks exactly like my Voigtlander R (same body) i like this digital version
That is a thing of beauty
I haven't been using mine for many years now. Time to dig it out again (as well as my film Bessas). I made some lovely pictures with it back then....
The more I use it the more I love it
I want one sooo damn badly
Fantastic.
Thumb up for your ambient music choices! Is there a spotify playlist of the music you have used in your videos?
good video. Thanks.
I love how this is basically like a digital voigtlander rangefinder.. Which I really wished voigtlander would make since the discontinued their bessa r film rangefinders not all that long ago.
If they were to come back with a new digital rangefinder camera, they should make it pretty much just like this Epson, but perhaps a slightly improved sensor, maybe even full frame CCD? Oh well... One can only hope and dream right?
Wing Yip I know at least I would buy it.
me too
I do believe the r-d1 can be had between just above $1k to just shy of $2k currently.. it is pushing into M8 territory, but generally and significantly enough less expensive. Love the analog controls on top and that flim advance lever is so cool.. I really do think the best digital rangefinder that will give you the most film camera like experience.
Much like the Voigtlander Bessa R2M/R3Ms I was comparing it to, the base length is short which unfortunately makes it less accurate than a Leica.
However, comparatively, I'm not sure how many people will be able to service an R-D1 compared to an M8?.. which may make going the M8 route smarter in the end although it'll cost more.
Wing Yip I had a really hard time finding the RD1 cheaper than the M8 which is about $1k with some effort.
This. This is the proper way to make a digital camera with film camera experience, starting with a great film camera and implement a sensor that yields equally elegant results.
Not glorifying a smart phone camera module with faux controls just as decoration, nor trying to resurrect a fading brand with filters loaded in film-like cartridges.
Sometimes it's the bitter of technological limitation at certain times that leads to some of the sweetest fruits for later worlds to discover.
Can't agree more. Yashica messed up bad. I think Fujifilm is going the right way now, with most of their cameras having a solid feel in the hand and full access to manual controls.
But since the Fuji controls are for looks they might as well make them programmable.
@@gearreallydoesntmatter Yeah since it's mostly control-by-wire nowadays (at least on body), loving the position of Fuji dials while sometimes thinking there are simply too many of them to getting all tracked. Remotely reminds me of NEX-7 with all the hype on the customizability way back then. Well good thing we still have Olympus (2x2 lever/dials on E-P5, E-M5 line, E-M1 line), Panasonic (2x2 button/dials on a few, namely G7, GX8, G80/85), Pentax, Recoh as well as Sigma for more versatile options. Only if industry-leading big names can combine their whits yet agian as they way they created the RD1...
@@pratikmulchandani5189 The Yashica that created Electro 35 died when their production ceased back in 2005.
Y35 is created by a bunch of marketing people that know little about camera making that simply acquired Yashica's trademark rights recently around 2015.
At least it gives us a fresh hint on how important it is for us to keep supporting companies that produced our favorite companions, keeping their R&D up and running, and what could happen when that chain eventually fails.
Used one many years ago. The files are really amazing. Buy quickly as they are going up fast
Yup fast forward to 9 months later. They go for 1k to 2k, might as well get a leica lol.
More popular now than then
Awesome video and camera. Can you take a look/review the fuji s3 or s5?
What a cool camera. Your video made me instantly look at ebay. :)
ickeausberlin36 And then make me realise I’ll never be able to buy one😢
Epson is part of Seiko group.
That why the gauges movement is so smooth.
Wait... 6mp? Amazing quality.
Hiding the display and pulling up the shutter is a dope combination tho even with a fully articulated
Hey Mattias I was wondering how this camera handles in 2020? Looking to buy used but I'm not sure how durable this camera is shutter count wise.
Ooh. This is nice.
Basically they took a Voightlander Bessa...which I have in film..and made it digital..Since I love Bessa's it would be a great camera to have...Talk about ...like using a film camera...this would have been it..
The Bessas lack the R-D1's awesome dial. They had to be made as sophisticated as a Nikon 35Ti / 28Ti in order to be comparable. But they are, in natural, simplistic cameras with technologies from the early 1980s (not a bad thing though).
Do the frame lines adjust in the finder automatically for the crop factor, like they do in the M8.2?
The images that come out of the R-D1 have a soul to them
The cog lever is great.
On Friday I got 4 bags of old cameras and gear from my grandpa. It's all analog, but I want to give that a try in the summer holidays. One lens, a Carl Zeiss Tessar f2.8 50mm was broken, it split into two parts... I have so far examined it and took it apart further. But I am unable to reach some screws and a tiny spring fell out that I don't remember. I wanted to know if you happen to know any resources on repairing lenses and just generic common designs that might help me out.
I saw a listing for some Leicas from Bundeswehr (German army) stock on vebeg a few days ago, sadly I am not close enough to inspect them. But I think that could be something very special. You seem to be shopping for used cameras all day. What is your approach towards cameras that were used in service?
MrVipitis army cameras sometimes are more expensive due to extra collectible value.
Oh my God, I'm late for the RD1 review! Stupid sleep! WHY must I sleep!?
Love the manual advance on a digital camera 😉
Found one today with a voightlander lens for 250€
Instant buy :)
3:33 - The gage is retro-cool.