Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/09/29
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]> Howard Cummer wrote: > ... > In sum, I think the R D1 is a keeper ? with some minor teething > problems ? but in the end it is going to provide a very positive > experience for Leica M users who want to try digital and not give up > their Leica M lenses. It looks like it will be the only game in town > for M users for a year or two and in that time I expect Epson will sell > a train load of them. Howard, Thank you very much for your post. Your report and the few images you posted really show the potential of the Epson R D1. The low light shots in particular look very promising. (I attribute the noise in the HK skyline at night to backlit scattered pollution; the chair and the incense stick lighting shots look fairly noise free) For several years now, I have been wanting a digital M (whatever that means, but at least a digital camera with a M lens mount). I cannot wait for it to be available in the US with adequate technical support. It was not so long ago that talks of marrying digital with the M were shot down as pie-in-the-sky dreams, don't-waste-our-time impossibilities on the LUG, even from several vocal and prominent LUG members, as I recall. LUGer (former ?) Gregoire Vandenschrick must feel at least partially vindicated. As for Leica, well they may have been right about digital being unable to deliver the quality of the M lenses, maybe it was just PR talk to avoid investig in a risky digital production line, but the R D1 sure looks "good enough", and it is unclear how much better the future M will be. In the meantime, they sure are missing the boat. Oh well. At least, with R D1, some money will stay with M rangefinder photography, from people who could have abandonned it because they want to make photographs digitally. Again, thank you for your most informative posts, now and before. Cheers, - Phong