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Epson RD-1 Digital Rangefinder Review
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Review Summary
Reader Score: 8.00 (out of 10)
Touted as the first digital rangefinder camera, the 6.1-megapixel Epson R-D1 is a solid, compact, wonderfully designed camera with an EM mount for more than 200 L- (via an included adapter) and M-mount Leica-type lenses, as well as the Voigtlander 35-mm f/1.7 lens we used for this review.
SLIDESHOW (5)
Slideshow | All Shots
As a rangefinder camera, the R-D1 lacks an autofocus system. Instead you look through the view finder, which presents a double image. Rotating a collar around the lens back and forth moves the two images farther apart and closer together. The image is in focus when the two images become one.
As a rangefinder camera, the R-D1 lacks an autofocus system. Instead you look through the view finder, which presents a double image. Rotating a collar around the lens back and forth moves the two images farther apart and closer together. The image is in focus when the two images become one.
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Other Reviews For This Model
| Review Site |
Review Score |
Date |
Link |
| Luminous-Landscape |
10.00 |
12-29-04 |
Read Full Review
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| Lens Report - It has often been remarked that one of the prime markets for Epson's R-D1 digital rangefinder camera is the group of photographers throughout the world who already own many rangefinder lenses in Leica M and thread mounts. In addition to these potential owners, there are also people buying the R-D1 who do not currently own rangefinder cameras or lenses. That latter group needs to choose lenses for the camera and many in the former group will need to expand their lens kits to include some new wider lenses. Due to the 1.53X magnification (compared to 35mm film) effect of the R-D1's APS-C sized, sensor, all lenses have a narrower effective field of view on the Epson than they would have on full-frame 35mm cameras. So, while a 28mm lens is a moderate wide-angle on film, it's really more like a short normal (42mm effective FOV) lens on the R-D1. Photographers using most of the current digital SLRs are used to this effect.
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| Review Site |
Review Score |
Date |
Link |
| Trusted Reviews |
10.00 |
11-07-05 |
Read Full Review
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| The Epson R-D1 is an exercise in nostalgia for people with more money than sense. Brick-like handling, poor results and a major inherent design flaw make it an expensive and pointless novelty item. The only analogy I can think of would be stuffing a turbocharger into a wood-framed Morris Traveller and then asking the same price for it as a brand new Mercedes. Who's going to buy it? |
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| Review Site |
Review Score |
Date |
Link |
| Digital Camera |
9.00 |
10-01-05 |
Read Full Review
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| Overall the Epson R-D1 is a somewhat chunky, all-metal camera that feels very solid in your hand and has good overall ergonomics. I felt like I was using a real camera when I picked this one up. I love the LCD monitor on the back which is big, bright, and can be hinged out and flipped over. You can flip it over and fold it against the camera back when shooting which protects it and conceals the fact that this is an expensive digital camera from prying eyes. |
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| Review Site |
Review Score |
Date |
Link |
| Luminous-Landscape |
7.58 |
11-26-04 |
Read Full Review
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| The Epson R-D1 is the first digital rangefinder camera ever made and it accepts Leica M (bayonet mount) and L (screw mount) lenses, the latter via an adapter, with rangefinder coupling. Epson’s decision to use this mount allows the photographer to choose from a staggering variety of lenses made throughout the 20th century and into the present, each with its own distinctive characteristics. The camera body is about the weight and size of a Leica M2 (a bit taller and thicker) and it feels well balanced in the hand. I carried it in my right hand all day without my hand or arm tiring. In an unusual design move, the camera’s shutter is cocked by a manual lever that feels much like a short-throw film advance. |
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| Review Site |
Review Score |
Date |
Link |
| Photo.net |
6.96 |
12-10-04 |
Read Full Review
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| Recently I had the pleasure of spending the afternoon in Vancouver, BC with Rapidwinder (www.rapidwinder.com) creator Tom Abrahamsson and his wonderful wife Tuulikki. As usual, they were kind hosts, great conversationalists, and I had a very nice time. But I have a confession, I made the 90 minute drive up to Vancouver for more than just our typical sharing of stories and photos. I knew that Tom had an Epson RD-1 on loan from Epson Japan. And ever since it's announcement last spring, I have been itching to try one out. RD-1 review models are hard to come by, so when Tom told me I should come up and bring an SD card so I could take my images back home, I jumped at the chance. |
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| Review Site |
Review Score |
Date |
Link |
| Luminous-Landscape |
3.33 |
04-11-05 |
Read Full Review
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| When I read the reports from Photokina '04 about Epson's R-D1 digital rangefinder camera with a Leica M lens mount, I was at once fascinated, annoyed, curious, and apprehensive. How had Cosina and Epson managed to pull off what the legendary optical gurus at Leica had declared impossible? Was this a sham? Would it really come to market? And, what was with the fact that the R-D1 had a wind lever? Was this just a retro nostalgia conceit? Over the ensuing months the R-D1 dropped below my radar, until I published Sean Reid's review and follow-up wide-angle lens report. Maybe there was something here after all. But with a price of US $3,000, and no local dealer carrying one for me to casually inspect, I managed to suppress any nascent desire in the bud. |
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| Review Site |
Review Score |
Date |
Link |
| Pocket-Lint |
----- |
06-20-05 |
Read Full Review
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| Nothing can quite prepare you for the experience of using the R-D1, a digital camera with a distinctly 'film' feel. The R-D1 uses a combination of full manual controls gleaned from the camera's adapted and jointly-developed-with-Epson Cosina/Voigtlander 'Bessa' film rangefinder body. And this is all spiced with core-to-the-camera digital elements that create a pretty unique camera indeed. |
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