Epson Photo - Technology

R-D1s Rangefinder camera

The Epson R-D1s is an outstanding precision digital camera. The combination of traditional handling, top-notch processing quality and all the advantages of digital photography makes it a camera at home in both the digital and analogue eras.

How does the R-D1s differ to traditional digital cameras?

The R-D1s from above: classical control elements for the technology of the future.

As a modern example of the rangefinder camera, the R-D1s offers the visually attractive retro appeal of the analogue photographic age. But it gives you back some of the flexibility and hands-on control that makes photography an active experience again.

You can take full control of every aspect of the process of image creation, so regaining (among other things) the traditional mechanical and precise tools of the classical rangefinder method.

Focussing

Two partial images from different angles are made to overlap in the viewfinder using the focus ring on the lens, resulting in a focus setting of the subject viewed.

Rangefinder

As well as being the use of the rangefinder system in a digital camera, the R-D1s has another global first - the rangefinder image is neither magnified nor shrunk. The photographer sees therefore in the rangefinder exactly what the naked eye sees, enabling precise composition and picture segments.

Traditional handling

The way you use the camera has strong echoes of analogue handling. The quick-change lever for film transport still sets up the shutter and provides the feeling of a classical camera. The knob which used to be used to rewind the film now fulfils the logical function of paging through the software menus and images. And the filigreed round instrument with the indicators on the right next to the flash shoe gives the user information about the number of pictures remaining, the settings of the white balance, the battery charge state, and the image resolution selected.

The moveable Liquid Crystal TFT display of the R-D1s can be turned to protect it from scratches.

LCD

The only clear feature which reveals that the R-D1s has a digital heart is the particularly large and brilliant LCD display. At 235,000 pixels and two inches diagonal it makes viewing of photos and changing the camera settings easy. And the display is only apparent when the folding rear plate of the camera is opened up.

Hand in hand: optics and electronics

Just a small sample of the lenses available

The most impressive advantage of the R-D1s, however, is the possibility of using nearly any lens with a Leica M or L bayonet (or M39 mounts, using an adapter). Over 200 models in every price range represent a wide selection for any application - from the Leica fine lenses, uncompromising in their commitment to precision and long life via Zeiss, to the price/performance combination of the wide-angle Helion and the super zoom-oriented Nokton series from Voigtlaender or Cosina. By using a large CCD sensor in the APS-C format, with a surface of 23.7 by 15.6mm, the focal length extension (compared to 36 by 24mm for small-format film) is around a factor of 1.5. That means, for instance, that a lens with a small-image focal length of 50mm works at a comparable 75mm focal length in the R-D1s. This factor is much smaller than that for many other digital cameras, guaranteeing that the lens can be used for a similar purpose as its design application for cameras with 35mm film.

CCD sensor

The CCD sensor offers a native resolution of around six mega pixels, providing pictures at 3008 x 2000 pixels in a format which matches classical photo papers. With this many pixels, it's no problem to print photos using an Epson A3 printer with all possible quality, resolution and colour brilliance. It also helps that pictures can be taken from the sensor directly without compression and saved in the RAW format - at 12 bits per colour channel. Traditional digital cameras only offer 8 bits per channel. This gives the photographer the option of preparing the pure, pristine image material on a computer for the final print.

Complete package of software and accessories

One of the most popular advantages of digital photography is the significantly higher capacity compared to physical film, with respect to the number of images per storage medium. The SecureDigital cards used in the R-D1s are available today in sizes up to 2 GB, and even larger capacities and faster variants with higher data transmission rates are planned in the future.

The compact high-power battery takes care of the power supply needs, using lithium ion technology, and can manage up to 500 shots if the display is used sparingly. A matching battery charger is included and replacement batteries are available, significantly extending the time of use of the R-D1s.

A diverse software package ensures smooth photographic work with the camera, including both Adobe Photoshop Elements 3.0, oriented towards professional needs, and also the PhotoRAW software CD, which can convert the RAW files from the camera into other image formats like TIFF or JPEG. For Adobe Photoshop version 7.0 or higher, there are also plug-ins available which extend the possibilities for manipulation of the RAW files.