Jump to content

Epson RD1 with Leica Lenses (Should I be in a Rush for M8)


Bill Sievers

Recommended Posts

Obviously you're getting great results from your R-D 1. So do you need to be in a hurry to get an M8? Not being in a rush to get an M8 yet myself, I'd say no -- unless you often make very large prints that would benefit from having 10 megapixels instead of 6. Or unless you would really benefit from other M8 features such as motorized shutter wind, wider range of finder frames, or higher top ISO sensitivity. Or unless you really like that cool eggplant color that some people get in black areas...

Link to post
Share on other sites

Bill, I just bought mine this morning, with the same feelings as you. I also have the RD-1.

 

Go here to see my first story.

http://www.leica-camera-user.com/digital-forum/9829-m8-has-baptism-fire.html

 

If your NOT in it you definitatey won't win. If your in it you MAY win. Hence my result.

 

Yes problems are there. THey are much worse with the RD-1 which srill does a fine job, but I hold my breath when shooting an assignment with it.

 

Cheers,

Erl

Link to post
Share on other sites

Advertisement (gone after registration)

If I see one in a store, I know what is going to happen ;-) Heading to NY this week.

 

Here is my Flickr stream which is full of images shot with RD1, M7, M6, Ricoh GRD and D200 among others.

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/captainvideo/

 

I am sure I can squeeze a keeper out of the M8 as is ;-)

Link to post
Share on other sites

Bill- here's my version of your dilemma. I pre-ordered an M8, happily awaiting a chance to partake of RF photography and Leica, (and other) superb lenses both for the first time. My favorite dealer who I always like to give business, did not expect my M8 till January. I got several lenses, (35/1.4 ASPH used, 50 Noctilux used, and a rigid 50 2.8) and started the vigil. I was so new to the RF world, I hadn't read anything about the RD-1, but now I was reading the relevant forums and seeing images and thinking that the RD-1 would be worth a look. I then luckily found a "refurbed" (seemed brand new) sample from Epson's web site for only $1395 and got it. I immediately fell in love with it, finding the colors to be superb right out of camera, even JPG though I prefer RAW using SilkyPix, and even more I fell for RF shooting.

 

Then....my dealer called and he had an M8 for me which arrived the next day!!. I actually managed to leave it unopened for 5 days!! I followed the threads, I myself shot a few images at PhotoPlus the weekend before and immediately found the streaking problem and posted it, and I kept looking, and images posted here by many excellent photographers simply looked too good. So I opened mine and found that the basic file provided by the M8, even with IR contamination which can be fixed in post, is the best I've ever seen in any DSLR, and better than the RD-1, as it's resolution, micro-contrast, tonal gradations are absolutely superb. The B&W JPGs are terrific, even better is converting to B&W in post, and I am quite willing to use IR filters. BTW, slightly off topic, I have an extensive Nikon lens kit for shooting everything from wide to 400mm. So when the D2H had the same IR problem, also correctable with filters, it was not an option as there were too many sizes, including drop filter for the tele's, to use this solution. For the M8 and the much more limited # of lenses I'll use, filters will work for me.

Also, I got a new 28/2.8 ASPH from my dealer with the M8, highly recommended for both cameras.

 

So my recommendation, really my own thought process in keeping both is

1. the M8 will definitely be the one for wide, such as the CV 15 lens

2. the M8 will be the one for images that require critical sharpness and resolution.

3. The M8 will be the one for B&W and IR!

4. The RD-1 will provide lovely color images and allow me to carry two cameras with different FL to cover my shoots. The 1.5 crop on the RD-1 will help cover more normal and short tele fields of view, while the M8 the wider.

Best....Peter

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...