Epson R-D1: The First Digital Rangefinder Gets a Retrospective Review

Gordon Laing of Cameralabs has published a retrospective review of the Epson R-D1, the world's first digital rangefinder camera, released in 2004. The camera was a collaboration between Epson and Voigtländer (owned by Cosina), essentially a customized version of the Voigtländer Bessa R2. It featured a 6-megapixel APS-C CCD sensor (similar to the one in Nikon's D100 DSLR), a Leica M-Mount, and unique analog-style controls including watch-style gauges from Seiko and a mechanical film advance lever. The R-D1 beat Leica's M8 to market by two years (the M8 launched in September 2006) and is also considered the first mirrorless interchangeable-lens digital camera, predating the Panasonic Lumix G1 (November 2008). Despite its cult status and high praise from photographers, the R-D1 was not a commercial success. Laing borrowed the camera from an Epson employee for the review and concluded it is "one of the most enjoyable" cameras he has used. The camera originally cost about $3,000 in 2004; used copies now sell for $2,000 or more due to scarcity.