Even photographers with long memories may have to take a moment to remember the Epson R-D1, originally launched in 2004 and updated to the R-D1s in 2006 with JPEG+raw mode (gasp), Adobe RGB capture, long exposure noise reduction and a Quick view option.
Otherwise, the two cameras are the same, with a 6-megapixel APS-C CCD sensor, manual rangefinder focusing, a manual wind-on lever to cock the shutter (yes, really) and a Leica M lens mount – you could use Leica screw lenses with an adaptor.
Even then, Epson was best known for its printers, scanners and office equipment, so the release of an upmarket digital rangefinder camera was like a bolt from the blue. It was a high-quality camera made in conjunction with Cosina, a lesser-know Japanese brand, still active today, that championed classic rangefinder cameras and still makes Voigtländer lenses – which are actually enjoying something of a resurgence.
The Epson R-D1 didn’t last long, alas. It was big, heavy, expensive and slow to use (your author did actually use and review this camera way back in 2004) and photographers at the time were more concerned with technology and value than attempts to recapture a lost era.
How times have changed! In today’s market, the retro R-D1 might find a much more willing audience, especially with a modern full-frame sensor.
Epson made its announcement in a news story on its Japanese website (Google can translate it for you), where it goes into more detail about the cameras and the discovery.
Epson explains that it has decided to offer all 30 ‘lost’ R-D1s cameras in a free lottery. The cameras do need some cosmetic work to replace decayed grips, and they do not have batteries or chargers, but once that’s done the lucky lottery winners will get an as-new camera from another era – with, alas, digital imaging tech from another era.
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The bad news is that you have to be the owner of an original R-D1 to enter – and you have to supply evidence to show that – and you have to live in Japan.
Oh well. In the meantime, the rest of us will have to make do with a Leica M10R. We’ve not heard of Leica discovering any free ones of those, so best start saving now.
