Source: PZ Direct

A few years back I set about to find a way to present my portfolio that was… well, different. Yet not so different it detract from the work it contained. I found the perfect solution in an elegant brushed aluminum portfolio cover from a company called Pina Zangaro. Not only was the styling and finish contemporary and stylish, it was extremely functional. The clear protective pages where held in place with an expandable screw post system allowing the me to add or subtract pages from the book as need. It was the perfect solution. A quintessential design with the perfect balance of good looks, quality construction and excellent functionality.

Since then, I’ve used Pina Zangaro products for presentations and more recently, my American Le Mans Series “2005 Collection” boxed set.

Pina Zangaro started back in 1989. Graphic designers were still using Linotronic machines to set type. Presentation-quality artwork took a lot of time and money to produce. And the portfolios this artwork was presented in were all black and mostly made of plastic.

Advances in personal computing and printing have changed all of this. Commercial artwork can now be created quickly and inexpensively using simple tools. This artwork is markedly different from the artwork of 15 years ago, and the products we put this artwork into have also changed.

The Epson R-D1s, shown here with a lens by Carl Zeiss, Biogon 35mm. Outstanding focus, freedom from distortion, and intensity of light make this lens so exceptional.(Editor's Note: This report is from Epson. I find this camera very intriquing and thought the information was worth passing along. If anyone owns this camera, we'd love to get a user's impressions.)

Top-of-the-line digital technology, traditional handling
With the R-D1s rangefinder camera, Epson presents a precision digital camera unique in the world of photography, which prompted furor even long before its market introduction. The combination of traditional handling, top-notch processing quality, and all the advantages of digital photography makes the R-D1s go both against and with the stream of the digital age.

Two different companies were involved in the development of the R-D1s product. Cosina was responsible for the classical body, well-known to connoiseurs and based on the famous Bessa R2 housing, along with all mechanical elements and the photometric components of the camera for control of exposure and focus. Epson provided all components involved with the recording and electronic processing of image data - from the specially developed and fabricated CCD sensor, through the analog/digital conversion and processor units for image processing, to the wide selection of software for PCs which "develop" the RAW images files from the camera, then refine them and prepare them for use in target media. And naturally, at the end of the photo processing chain is the variety of photo printers by Epson. In the hobby and professional arenas alike, they guarantee optimum results - whether you need fast prints at postcard size, or costly Fine Art prints in poster formats.

The short review..... I LOVE this little camera. I never imagined anything so small performing so well. Though, small can be an issue if  your an oger and used to balancing an SLR with a 70-200mm lens on the end of your nose. I mean... it's small.

The settings are pretty straight forward, though there are some pre-programmed settings that are pretty impressive. How about a pre-set for food? Or night scenery... or even Self Portratit. And guess what? They work. It's Pictbridge compatible, has expanded ISO settings up to 1600 and shutter speeds from 8 to 1/2000 sec. 

I was a little put off by the lack of a viewfinder... though, I quickly got over it. The LCD screen is huge... and it has two brightness settings and an unusal setting that helps view it when you are shooting with the camera overhead. The screen is very clear and exceptionally birght. And the optional grid feature you can deploy is great for keeping horizons straight or employing the rule of thirds.

The camera is feature packed. I'm sure there are folks who'd like more zoom... and maybe manual overides etc. etc. But, hey.... it's a point n' shoot. And that's what I wanted. I wanted a small camera that takes great pictures that can stay in my pocket or carry-on. More importantly, I wanted a small camera that would provide image quality that would live up to pro-standards if the need arises. To me, there's nothing worse than having a great shot only to find out, the image quality want support a large print or other channel of publsihing. This camera passes that test with flying colors.