Jack,
I did get a chance to inspect and handle the Rm3d at PhotoPlus last week and was favorably impressed by what I was able to see in the brief time that I had with it. I had intended to go back for another look when I had more time but was unable to.
As indicated above, they showed two versions, the Rm3d intended for digital backs or 6X9 film and the larger RL3d for up to 4X5 (don’t quote me on the current model names as they had no literature hand outs). Both cameras are very compact for their respective format and solidly constructed with what appear to be precise movements.
The Rm3d shown looked just like the one in this dealers listing:
http://www.robertwhite.co.uk/ArcaSwiss.htm#LabelRlineThe large helical focus unit incorporated into the camera is quite nice and operated smoothly with no noticeable backlash.
The single axis tilt mechansim is operated with the bright finished wheel below and to the right of the finder (viewed from the front) and seemed precise as well. One concern with any of the digital back cameras with tilt movement is the ability of the adjustment center detent to accurately return the lens standard to null posisiton when desired. This would be a concern of mine with this camera (as well as all the others I have seen) and would need to be evaluated with hands on testing.
The viewfinder was really quite nice and an improvement over others that I have seen recently (Alpa, Horseman, etc). It incorporates some (fixed?) lenses and a telescoping front housing that is set for the focal length in use. The front housing has a magnetically attached framing mask for different formats. The framing mask can be shifted to model the shifts applied to the lens or back standards. The mask shifting on the demo unit was uncalibrated but I suspect calibration marks could be incorporated easily.
The viewfinder has a multitude of scales related to the built in depth of field indicator which is a removable cylinder for different lenses that is rotated depending on the user set subject distance. This clever little device will be a nice feature if it proves accurate.
I was told the E-module was not available for PhotoPlus but it was explained as an electronic distance measuring unit that attaches to the side of the R series camera and couples to electronic sensors inside the camera. I was shown one of the electronic displacement sensors inside the camera that measures the actual distance that the lens in use is shifted when the focus helical is operated. The E-module can then be calibrated to infinity focus for each lens in use and then presumably indicate actual focussed distance. It was my understanding that the E-module will also be capable of measuring camera to subject distance via some type of rangefinder – somehow – it was not clear the method of distance measuring.
Availability of the R camera in the US was described as not yet but “soon”.
The R cameras seem to have some innovative design features in a compact rigid camera.
If you have any specific questions I will try to answer them. Hope this helps.
Steve
