digital rangefinder

Epson RD-1, if they are still sold.

But seriously, if you have the chance go to the Leica store in Mayfair, London and try out the M9. There's no doubt that you will leave the store trying to figure out how to finance the £7k needed for the M9+Summicron 35mm f/2.
 
gnom said:
Epson RD-1, if they are still sold.

But seriously, if you have the chance go to the Leica store in Mayfair, London and try out the M9. There's no doubt that you will leave the store trying to figure out how to finance the £7k needed for the M9+Summicron 35mm f/2.
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Back in 2009 Epson showed a new rangefinder, the R-D1x (and a gripped version, the R-D1xG), not sure if it ever made it into production though....
 
Fuji is bringing out a range finder style digital camera. Don't know how much it will cost though... can't find the link I had either!

http://www.finepix-x100.com/ found a link to fuji's info about it.
 
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OP won't. But he's only got a grand so compromise has to come somewhere. It comes with a fixed prime lens.
 
srichards said:
OP won't. But he's only got a grand so compromise has to come somewhere. It comes with a fixed prime lens.
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The best compromise then would be an Epson R-D1s, I'm sure a bit of searching would dig one of those up for a grand. Alternatively the unloved Leica M8 is gradually slipping down towards that price bracket....
 
For that money may i suggest

Olympus E-P1
Olympus E-P2
Olympus E-PL2

Panasonic GF-1
Panasonic GF-2

These are all regarded as Digital rangefinders and can use old Rangefinder lenses with a suitable adapter.

I have had a GF-1 -stuning camera but uncomfy for me and not very retro. I now have an Olympus E-P1 (Very Retro!) and a new Olympus E-PL2 which is fairly retro and a nice looking camera. Image quality can be outstanding with the correct lenses.

If i had a grand i'd buy a used E-P1 and either 1x Carl Zeiss 25mm f/2.8 Biogon rangefinder lens (New) or a couple used Zeiss or voigtlander lenses. Voigtlander do a 12mm and a 15 mm lens for wide!. I am waiting for a Jupiter 8 (£20ish) and a Industar 61 (£10-£20) which are supposed to be very good!
 
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srichards said:
http://www.ffordes.com/product/10123109112931

RD1. £900!

If you can use the old rangefinder lenses on the Olympus and Panasonics above then I think that would get you much better bang for buck.
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I have seen RD-1 images using Zeiss glass and the images are outstanding.

Adapters for Leica-M and M39 are easily available on ebay for £25ish and as far as i can tell all Leica-M fit Leica, zeiss and voigtlander lenses fit on GF-1 and Olympus Micro 4/3 cameras with the adapter. There is a vid on You Tube where the guy from Digital review (i think) used Leica lenses on a GF-1 and E-PL1.
 
The problem is the going wide on with primes on the m4/3. The voigtlander lenses are the only option. The otherwise wide full frame lenses otherwise end up like a 50mm lens (using the CZ expample above). all we want is a decent rengefinder with interchangable lenses and a decent sized sensor without having to pay leica money. I would give you at least a grand for that kind of camera alone!
 
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As far as I am aware there have only ever been 4 digital RFs. The Epson RD1 and the Leicas. I was in the same dilemma. I really wanted to try an rf and you can't rent them in the UK and i didnt want to spend more than 1K. I'd read about the magenta issue an other problems with the M8 and they were still very expensive. I didn't want to spend a grand on a 6MP Epson. A guy at work let me borrow his M8 for an hour at lunchtime last Wednesday, I left work early on Friday to buy one and a lens (Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f1.4 Classic with IR filter) to go on it. I figured that if I didn't like it I'd be able to sell it on again without losing very much. All in all it has cost me about 2k, you could do it for less if you bought a used Voigtlander ( or old Russian M39) lens off fleabay.

I love it, it has put the fun back into photography for me. I am now trying to think of reasons not to sell all my Canon kit. I'd like an M9 but, the M8 is phenomenal and I enjoy it so much more than my 7D. I can wait until the M9.2 or M10 comes out before buying an M9.

Do it.
 
....if Canon made an APSC, APSH or FF range finder for about a grand I'd have bought it in an instant.
 
I think the reason that there aren't many traditional digital rangefinders is that they have been replaced by highend compacts such as; the Powershot G series, LX-series, and the Coolpix-P series. In addition to that we have camera's such as the NEX and other M4/3's. I believe these high end compacts have saturated what would have been the target market.
 
After having a play with an X100 the other day.....it has reminded me how much nicer cameras are to use with an optical viewfinder. The hybrid viewfinder is fantastic. Definitely worth a look....
 
Hi ped, are these cameras still a worthwhile proposition today? I've seen them go for around the £1k mark and that's still roughly £500 less than an M8 albeit with old technology.
Any thoughts as I like the retro style and am used to this operating system as opposed to the multi button monsters that abound today.
Any thoughts greatly appreciated.
 
Hi Steve. Yes, absolutely. I take mine everywhere and despite having had other cameras come and go its still the camera that feels like an extension of my body and is absolutely natural to use. I prefer it to the M8 because I don't like using sub menus to change ISO.

There's places who can service the camera (japancamerahunter do a whole handholding service to Epson in Japan and back) and most importantly it just produces stunning pictures. So it's only 6mp and that would have put me off some time ago but now I can see why that just doesn't matter, to me, at least.

I just re-covered mine as the rubber grips were a bit loose in places and I think it's just awesome to look at, too.

Cheers
 
Thanks for the response, I'm having another look and have contacted one potential seller-I want to try digital RF for myself after using the film versions.
 
Another R-D1s user here.

Don't hold back, take the plunge, you'll love it.

Mine replaced a 5Dmk1 and compliments an X100. I think I actually prefer it to the x100 though!
 
I believe I'm going to have an Epson winging its way towards me very soon, I did consider the M8 but for the extra 50% (at least) cost and having read about various issues I'd be a little concerned for such an outlay and I can still use Leitz glass which is a plus.
If I get spectacularly wealthier than I am now by quite a long way I'd look at buying the Leica once the M10 comes out and hopefully prices drop. It depends whether I feel I need it as a compliment to the Epson really.
My Lumix LC-1 is fantastic as it stands so as long as that's still going I doubt I 'need' anything else.............
Thanks for all the opinions people.

Steve
 
Laudrup said:
I'd save up a bit more cash and get a Leica M8.
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And then save up a bit more to get the sensor fixed, then a bit more for filters for all the lenses you want to use with it....

I was initially looking at getting a Fuji X-Pro then noticed that for the price of a new X-Pro I could get a used M8 which for a little while made me think about buying an M8, since I was kind of planning on spending that much money anyway.

Then I read about all the problems with the M8 and got put off it and the fact that the X-Pro was costing Leica money had put me off it.

My R-D1s was less than half the price of the cheapest used M8 I had seen and while I haven't used an M8 I don't see how the it could be twice the camera.
 
As an aside, despite the camera being bought from new here in the UK and then living overseas, it looks like I'll have to pay another round of duty on it or does anyone know if digital cameras are exempt as I hope?

Edit: 0% import duty but 20% vat. Money grubbing ******s, it's been paid once already.
 
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brianwar said:
And then save up a bit more to get the sensor fixed, then a bit more for filters for all the lenses you want to use with it....

I was initially looking at getting a Fuji X-Pro then noticed that for the price of a new X-Pro I could get a used M8 which for a little while made me think about buying an M8, since I was kind of planning on spending that much money anyway.

Then I read about all the problems with the M8 and got put off it and the fact that the X-Pro was costing Leica money had put me off it.

My R-D1s was less than half the price of the cheapest used M8 I had seen and while I haven't used an M8 I don't see how the it could be twice the camera.
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The M8 shouldn't need anything drastic like its sensor fixed, and the chances are you won't have a lot of lenses so wouldn't need many filters and even then you can shoot without them. Once you start buying Leica glass it starts to get expensive, but you can get good substitutes with Zeiss and CV etc. As for being twice the camera for twice the price life would be simpler if that was the rule, but it isn't unfortunately.

The Fuji isn't a rangefinder so can't really be compared to the M8/RD-1. If it was me the M8 + a Zeiss 28mm or 35mm would be my choice, even if you didn't like it you could sell it for what you bought it for.
 
The Leica store in mayfair used to do a day out with one of there photographers, they lend you an M8 or M9. So if you want to "try out" a rangefinder that's a pretty good way.

I went a few years ago and now I have an M8 :)
 
Further to my lst comment, it seems that the cheapest way of trying a rangefinder is to buy an M6 TTL 0.72 for around the £899 mark. Shoot a few rolls, then if you like it sell it... For £899. One of these days I'm going to finally shoot the big L, and stop all this pussyfooting around with other marques... But the M6 prices have bottomed and are staying put for the time being, no better time to give one a shout!

...Am I turning into ken Rockwell?
 
danbroad said:
One of these days I'm going to finally shoot the big L, and stop all this pussyfooting around with other marques...

...Am I turning into ken Rockwell?
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Yes. I do wish people would ignore badges (and badge snobbery) and buy based on what suits them and the possible results :D Buying a Leica or any other make because of it's badge and buying because it's the best kit for you are two very different things :D

Personally I'm done with rangefinders. The advantages of RF's are few and far between and matched and mostly bettered by other systems IMVHO. The only clear advantage that I can see left is that they allow the use of 35mm lenses at their intended FoV with a small form body, and this last advantage may disappear at some time in the near future.
 
You pays your money and you takes your choice. An R-D1 is never going to satisfy everyone. And there are way cheaper ways of trying a rangefinder than an M6. Look at my Braun Paxette collection for example. Anyway it's a moot point because it's not digital.
 
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