At an event in Japan, related to the recently found thirty brand new Epson R-D1s digital rangefinder cameras with Leica M-mount (pictured above, see eBay listings), Epson revealed for the first time their original design for a camera that was supposed to replace the Epson R-D1s but was never officially announced (the rendering includes also a new zoom lens):
Here is the Google translation:
“The “R-D1” hasn’t come out as a successor. In 2008, the LCD panel of the “R-D1s” was exhausted, and the “R-D1x” with changed LCD specifications was released, which made us expect the appearance of a successor.
In fact, behind that, the development of a successor model to the “R-D1” was underway. It is said that the development was officially started in 2010. However, the digital camera market was shrinking rapidly, and sales of the “R-D1x” also fell sharply at the same time, so development was discontinued even though a prototype was made. The news was also featured in camera magazine.
The lens of the “phantom successor model” whose design picture was released has the characters “EPSON ZOOM LENS”. According to Mr. Shiobara, “Epson’s EVF (electronic viewfinder) is installed by applying Epson’s projector technology. We were also considering selling lenses.” It’s a camera with a design that doesn’t make you feel old even now.
It is said that he was developing an EVF with no display delay, partly because of the vertical misalignment of the viewfinder. When I asked a professional photographer to try it, the viewfinder was well received. Since I wanted to make it compact, I made the dial to the minimum necessary and integrated the operation system. The body was one size smaller than the “R-D1”. It seems that he was thinking of a dedicated lens mount.
“I was very disappointed that I was just a little closer,” said Mr. Shiobara. Mr. Saita also recalled, “I saw the image of the successor machine for the first time in a long time, but it may have been the best snap camera.” There were many comments from viewers who regret having become an illusion. (via Capa Camera)