The Epson RD1 camera - history

The Epson RD1 was the world's first professional level digital rangefinder camera launched at PMA (Photo Marketing Association) in 2004 with an APS-C format CCD sensor producing a 6.1 mp image measuring 3008 X 2000 pixels; image quality was high enough for A3 sized machine print reproduction, ink-jet or digital photographic printing. The camera was an immediate hit, embraced by rangefinder users world wide.

The design of the RD1 is modelled on the Cosina Co. Ltd., Voigtlander branded Bessa 35mm rangefinder film cameras with a Epson-M lens mount. The choice of mount offered opportunities for photography enthusiasts to employ a wide range of objectives supplied by Voigtlander, Zeiss and Epson Camera AG as well as many older L39 screw mount lenses using a special adapter.

The RD1 r&d team at Epson, a company famous for its ink-jet printer technology, produced its own analogue to digital firmware for the camera using an Epson EdiART cpu and modified the sRGB recording colour space to give a particular colour palette. The camera is the same size as a standard 35mm rangefinder body. It uses a small drop-in lithium-ion rechargeable battery half the size of a fat cigar and images are stored to SD (Secure Digital) flash memory card.

The top-plate of the camera features an ingenious analogue function display based on the design of a Seiko watch. Other traditional film camera controls such as a film lever and rewind knob are used to arm the vertical travel focal plane shutter and review captured images. A standard shutter speed dial with central shutter release is also fitted. On the back, a fold out swivelling TFT monitor facilitates image viewing. The camera has manual and automatic aperture priority ttl exposure modes.

A firmware and optical viewfinder modification produced the Mk II version called RD1s in 2006 and in 2009, an updated RD1X version with a special handgrip and other modifications was released by Epson.