sigma - Gizmodo

posts about #sigma more →
Sigma DP1s Brings Back the Classic Huge Sensor in a Little Camera
Sigma DP2 Camera Review: It's Complicated
The Photographer King Needs No Tripod
Sigma's New SD15 DSLR and DP2 Compact Cameras Hit, Improved Imaging Engines Aboard
Monster Digital Express HD System: Their First Wireless HDMI Kit
Sigma DP1 First Grope
Monster Intern-Eating Sigma Lens Up for Order
Sigma DP1 Compact Up for Pre-Order on Amazon
The Most Massive Lens at PMA 2008
PopPhoto Pops Sigma SD14's Cherry (Verdict: Great RAW, Cooked Price)

Your version of Internet Explorer is not supported. Please upgrade to the most recent version in order to view comments.

Dsmvwl Admin Promote to frontpage Approve user Ban user ×

Noobs-R-Us
10/02/09

In reply to Sigma DP1s Brings Back the Classic Huge Sensor in a Little Camera
What a piece of crap. I had the DP1 and it was one of the slowest focusing cameras in the world.

Now I have the Panasonic GF1. Now THAT'S a real camera. Sigma had the market to themselves and could have corner it but they really screwed the pooch by releasing a camera that performed like it was from 1999!
Reply

Edited by Noobs-R-Us at 10/02/09 3:26 PM Noobs-R-Us was starred Noobs-R-Us was unstarred

junyo
10/02/09

@Noobs-R-Us: How are you liking the GF1? I'm debating that or waiting for the EP2.

And yeah, the Sigma DPs are teh suck. Good idea, crappy execution.
Reply

Noobs-R-Us promoted this comment junyo was starred junyo was unstarred

Noobs-R-Us
10/04/09

@junyo: The GF1 is awesome. It's night and day between the DP series. The GF1 is super fast and super high tech. The autofocus tracking is like something out of star wars. You can just lock onto a target and it will track it in your screen even if you move the camera around or the target moves (within your screen of course).

The PQ is nice too.The colors are not as saturated as the Foveon chip but everything else is head and shoulders better.
Reply

Noobs-R-Us was starred Noobs-R-Us was unstarred

DoubleException
06/02/09

In reply to Sigma DP2 Camera Review: It's Complicated
I have DP1. DP2 is pretty much same camera with different lens.

So speaking from my experience with DP1:

- the sensor is crap at ISO 800 and higher

- the camera is slow

- the AF is slow and unreliable

- the LCD is abysmal

- the camera is very fragile

- color accuracy is a joke

- green and red color blotching at high ISO

- funky flare from IR filter when shooting against the sun

And I love the camera.

Why?

- The picture quality.

- No Bayer pattern artifacts.

- Sharp and distortion free lens.

- Incredible sharpness of images.

- Edge and line quality.

- Dynamic range, X3 fill light effect and highlight recover

- I can put it into my pocket which I cant do with my K20D, and it often takes better pictures than K20D.
Reply

DoubleException was starred DoubleException was unstarred

itchytooth
06/02/09

@DoubleException: Good to hear the K20D comparison. I'm thinking of "downgrading" from K10D to DP2.

Against my will, though, I've gotten kind of excited about the K-7 :(
Reply

itchytooth was starred itchytooth was unstarred

OMG! Ponies!
06/02/09

In reply to Sigma DP2 Camera Review: It's Complicated
At that price, save $250 and buy the G10. My G10 is my go-to camera for when I'm just out-and-about. The sensor is decent and the functionality is all there and better implemented.
Reply

OMG! Ponies! was starred OMG! Ponies! was unstarred

itchytooth
06/02/09

@OMG! Ponies!: You're completely right, for at least 95% of prospective buyers, the G10 (or LX3) is a much better choice. There are a few people though, me included, who find the DP2 a worthy consideration. You really have to start looking at full size images and doing side-by-side comparisons of the same scenes taken with other cameras to appreciate why this one is special. If this sounds like too much effort required to convince yourself to buy an quirky, expensive, limited hunk of circuitry, then I'd say you are probably sane.
Reply

itchytooth was starred itchytooth was unstarred

andyo
06/02/09

@itchytooth:
You really have to start looking at full size images and doing side-by-side comparisons
This is a common mistake almost everyone makes. You don't need to look at "full size" images, you need to look at the full image at the same size. If that means downsampling the higher-pixel-dimensions one, then so be it.

Think about what you're comparing. For any set size of display, the higher-pixel image has less potential for noise. That can be offset by sensor size. Since this Foveon sensor seems to be very inefficient, I think cameras with more efficient Bayer sensors that are smaller can probably get as-good results.

Only thing that this camera would give you as a significant advantage over say a G10 is DOF control.
Reply

andyo was starred andyo was unstarred

itchytooth
06/02/09

@andyo: I understand - I was speaking loosely. In fact, I've seen it done the other way - where a DP2 image was upsampled to match a higher MP DSLR output (can't remember which one) and it still held up pretty well in the comparison.

I guess it's possible I've just been affected by the hype. Since I'll probably wait for the price to come down to DP1 level anyway, maybe there will be an interesting micro four thirds camera around to put the choice in better perspective..
Reply

itchytooth was starred itchytooth was unstarred

thinkmore
06/02/09

In reply to Sigma DP2 Camera Review: It's Complicated
Comparing this to a DSLR is missing the point completely - as has been pointed out, a DSLR is not pocketable - as such, the opportunities for use are severely curtailed. This review is good and to the point - the Sigma is definitely a contender for a high quality street shooter [it would be great if the focussing was faster].

That being said, there's no excuse for shoddy battery life - especially for this category of camera. I've been looking for a good street shooter for ages now, and continue to use my film cameras for that purpose - the Ricoh GR1s and the GR21.

[thinkmoreinc.wordpress.com]

I've shortlisted some digital alternatives here :

[thinkmoreinc.wordpress.com]

As for sensor size and quality, nothing beats what the Sigma has - for serious photography with accurate colors, no BS purple fringing and high [natural] dymanic range, this is tops.
Reply

thinkmore was starred thinkmore was unstarred

OMG! Ponies!
06/02/09

@thinkmore: Please stop flogging your blog. There is a place in the profile page for you to put a link to your site.
Reply

OMG! Ponies! was starred OMG! Ponies! was unstarred

P3nnst8r
04/18/09

In reply to The Photographer King Needs No Tripod
BFL 9000?
Reply

P3nnst8r was starred P3nnst8r was unstarred

Chris Her
04/18/09

In reply to The Photographer King Needs No Tripod
he's taking a pic of my penis to make it look ALOT bigger than it already is
Reply

Chris Her was starred Chris Her was unstarred

Con Seannery
04/19/09

@Chris Her: Looking at your place of origin and your previous comments, I would expect nothing but this type or worthless, non-contributing, and patently false comment. Already, heh, I find THAT hard to believe. Also, your previous comments show an unhealthy fixation with the male genitalia. Hiding some fact, perhaps?
Reply

Con Seannery was starred Con Seannery was unstarred

IN THE FACE!
04/20/09

@Con Seannery '09: Illegal in 1 Giz: Whose going to out him?
Reply

IN THE FACE! was starred IN THE FACE! was unstarred

larrybags
04/18/09

In reply to The Photographer King Needs No Tripod
I wonder what kind of shape his other arm is in...he probably only gets to work out his left!
Reply

larrybags was starred larrybags was unstarred

bosskev
04/18/09

@larrybags: I can think of at least one way he probably gives his right arm a workout. Daily.
Reply

bosskev was starred bosskev was unstarred

ACDlite
04/18/09

In reply to The Photographer King Needs No Tripod
What do you think he is taking a picture of?
Reply

ACDlite was starred ACDlite was unstarred

badhatharry
04/18/09

@ACDlite: The back of his head.
Reply

badhatharry was starred badhatharry was unstarred

Earlier discussions Other discussions Show all discussions Show featured discussions only Start a new discussion

Gizmodo Team

SUBSCRIBE TO Gizmodo

Login

Reset Password

Register

Submit Your Comment