Epson updates digital rangefinder By
Michael R. Tomkins, The Imaging Resource
(Wednesday, March 15, 2006 - 14:47 EST)Seiko Epson Corp. in Japan has today announced an update to its R-D1 digital rangefinder, developed in cooperation with Cosina Corp. and first unveiled at the 2004 PMA show in Las Vegas.
The Epson R-D1s is a relatively minor update, with the changes mostly confined to firmware (although specs provided by the company list the new model as 30 grams lighter than its elder sibling). Both models feature a 6.1 megapixel APS-C sized CCD image sensor, store images on SD memory cards, and accept most - but not all - Leica M (or, with an adapter, Leica L)-mount lenses.
Changes in the R-D1s include a new RAW+JPEG shooting mode (which captures both Raw and maximum-quality JPEG images in the same shot), a new AdobeRGB color space option in addition to the existing sRGB (color space of images is indicated in Playback mode). There's also a new long-exposure noise removal function (although it isn't clear at what shutter speed this kicks in), and a Quick View function that displays the just-captured image on the LCD for 3 or 10 seconds, but can be disabled altogether.
The playback zoom function now works for Raw files (not just JPEG images as was the case in the R-D1), and has been extended from the original 9.4x maximum zoom to a new high of 16x. The camera's Film1, Film2 and Film3 user settings groups have also been altered so that they now default to three specific situations - Portrait, Landscape or Night Scene (although they can still be changed by the user, to adjust contrast, saturation, etc. to your preferred settings).
The Epson Photolier software bundled with the camera has been altered to offer a new 13.54 megapixel interpolated resolution when working with Raw files. Adobe Photoshop Elements has been dropped from the camera bundle, and a new leather case (part number RD1SC1) is being offered as an optional accessory.
Externally, the R-D1s looks identical to the existing R-D1, whose announcement we covered in a March 2004 news item. Product specifications follow below:
Epson R-D1s
General
Camera Type
Other
Manufacturer
Epson
Model Number
R-D1s
Dimensions
5.6 x 3.5 x 1.6" 142.0 x 88.5 x 39.5mm
Weight
560.0 g 19.6 oz
Image Capture
Sensor Type
APS-C 6.10 megapixels (total)
Filter Type
RGBG
Focal Length Multiplier
1.53
Aspect Ratio
3:2
Image Dimensions
3008 x 2000 (6.0 megapixels) 2240 x 1488 (3.3 megapixels)
Image Quality
3 levels
Image Preview / Review
Viewfinder
Yes, Rangefinder (1x field of view)
LCD
2.0", 235,000 pixels 100% field of view
Playback Zoom
16.0x max
Lens
Lens Type
Varies with lens used, thread size unknown
Lens Mount
EM mount (Leica M compatible)
Image Stabilization
No
Aperture Range
Varies with lens used
Focusing System
Fixed Focus Manual Focus possible (0) steps
Exposure
ISO Sensitivity
200, 400, 800,1600
Shutter Speed
1 - 1/2000 second
Exposure Modes
Aperture, Manual
Metering Modes
Center Weighted
Exposure Compensation
+/- 2.0EV in 1/3EV increments
White Balance
Image Sensor - Auto / fine / shady / cloudy / incandescent / fluorescent
Creative
Scene Modes
None
Self Timer
Yes, None seconds
Time Lapse
No
Movie Format
None without audio Max. frame-rate: 0 frames per second
Storage
Recording Medium
SD/MMC, None
File System
FAT16, complies with Design Rule for Camera File System (DCF)
File Format
CCD-RAW, RAW (.ERF), JPEG (EXIF v2.21)
Connectivity
Video
No
Other
None
Power
Battery Type
Lithium Ion Rechargeable
Battery Form Factor
Proprietary EPALB1
Product Bundle
Software
Epson Photolier, Epson RAW plugin
Battery / Charger
Proprietary EPALB1 Lithium Ion Rechargeable battery and charger
Epson updates digital rangefinder
