And then there was one

Like some photographers, I could turn into a photographer/collector. I’ve seen a number of cameras that have piqued my interest, to be sure. I’ve already mentioned the Nikon D3 and now the D700. One that I haven’t mentioned was the, now discontinued it seems, Epson R-D1. This was the first digital rangefinder that went to market. Epson, it would seem, has discontinued the item after making an initial run of 10,000 cameras. I suppose that the market just wasn’t big enough so support such a camera.

I was really wanting one of these on my recent trip to West Virgina. Photographic opportunities abounded, but I wanted a smaller, more silent, less obtrusive camera. Something that I could keep at the ready at all times to, you know, capture that decisive moment.

A year or two ago, I don’t recall exactly when, Leica introduced a digital rangefinder, the Leica M8. This camera weighed in at a stunning $4999. While I was at my Next Step workshop last year, two gentlemen in our group had them. They looked pretty nice and I was intrigued, though not enough to drop 5 grand on a rangefinder!

Epson’s R-D1 was priced in a slightly more affordable range. You can still find one on eBay for about $2,100. Even a search on http://froogle.google.com, which is where I usually price shop, turns up nothing except batteries for the ill-fated machine. A similar search for the Leica M8 turns up a number of sellers hawking the camera from $4995 – $5495. Still, for me, way out of the ball park to satisfy a curiosity. A film rangefinder could be had for much less, but I think that my film days are over. I’ve given in too much to the instant gratification of it all.

Oh well, I guess that the market is only big enough for one, and only one, digital rangefinder. I guess that the Leica M8 is it. I’ll have to satisfy my curiosities some other way. I’ll have to keep using my little D40 for such outings, just like I did with this picture.