Sigma teases again with its full-spec DP1 compact camera

We understand that many of you have relinquished hope of seeing Sigma's compact DP1 with DSLR-sized (APS-C not full-frame) sensor. For the rest of you, take note, Sigma just sprouted a new teaser page promising, "The worldwide debut, soon." For all of Sigma's claims that the DP1 is "a camera that belongs to no known category," we'll be sure to toss it under the "vaporware" tag if we don't see it say, PMA-soon as in tomorrow.

[Thanks, Daniel]

[André @ Jan 30th 2008 4:49AM]

This is getting ridiculous, if they don't show it at the PMA they might as well kill the project.

André

[Daniel @ Jan 30th 2008 4:52AM]

I'm hoping too! I heard they're planning a late spring release so PMA would be the perfect place to announce it. If it comes out this year, I'm getting myself a birthday present! :)

[Ryan Trevisol @ Jan 30th 2008 8:34AM]

"we'll be sure to toss it under the "vaporware" tag if we don't see it say, PMA-soon as in tomorrow."

That needs a green squiggly underline.

[wslcrew @ Jan 30th 2008 5:00AM]

There's Photokina 08 later this year, so they can annouce it there. Anyway, I think they'll probably announce it during PMA.

I wonder how much this will cost though... Looks great in theory (APS size sensor in compact design), but if it costs more than $500, I'd rather get an entry-level dSLR.

[Daniel @ Jan 30th 2008 5:03AM]

there was a price of $799 bandied around on dpreview... mind that was a year ago...

[Temple @ Jan 30th 2008 9:16AM]

There have always been a market for the professional range-finder camera. Many photographers used to carry around a Leica M-series camera everywhere they went so they could take high-quality pictures whenever they wanted. Its not always practical to carry around a SLR wherever you go, and the range finder was always a complement to the SLR, not a replacement.

Nikon did a similar concept with the spectacular 35Ti, Contax with their G1/G2, etc. This Sigma DP1 isn't the first in the digital era, the Epson R-D1 was first (it even took Leica M-mount lenses). Leica currently has their M8 on the market. But the R-D1 cost around $3k when it first came out, and the Leica M8 currently cost $5,500. If the DP1 can come out below a grand, it'll find a very unique niche in the market.

[Superprime @ Jan 30th 2008 5:17AM]

So what exactly is it? It's like the panasonic FZ-50?

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicfz50/

[Daniel @ Jan 30th 2008 5:23AM]

It's kind of a digital rangefinder I guess.

Compact camera with no zoom and a huge sensor for dslr quality pics, less noise, better lowlight pics, sharper etc...

Bit more like ricoh GRD with a bigger sensor I guess.

[Liam @ Jan 30th 2008 5:51AM]

I'm guessing this thing has way more manual features than the Ricoh. A camera's no fun if you can't play with it...

[Peter @ Jan 30th 2008 6:01AM]

No, it's exactly NOT a Panasonic FZ50.
The sensor of a DP1 is more than 4 times larger, with much higher light sensitivity. This means much less noise, avoiding the cruel noise suppression logic that has made many current cameras untouchable to enthusiasts.
(I was learning this lession on a Lumix TZ3, the 4 year old Olympus it was meant to replace produced much better photos and so that old one will have to last some more years now)

Thanks to the Foveon sensor the DP1 should also have a higher color resolution and generally gives a somewhat more film-like impression than most digital pictures.

Also you won't find a zoom lens, which in return should reduce optical errors.

The DP1 clearly is a niche camera - it's a basic point&shoot for those who don't want to compromise on image quality. I think this concept is a very good idea.

[Daniel @ Jan 30th 2008 6:06AM]

I was under the impression that the ricoh had a lot of manual features, but I've been known to be wrong! Currently I'm using a Panasonic lx2 and would gladly sacrifice the zoom for better IQ. Oh, and an optical viewfinder!

[Yem @ Jan 30th 2008 5:42AM]

Shame about the f/4 lens - f/2.8 would have been the sweet spot. Pentax have pancake lenses that size that range from f/2.4 to f/3.2.

[Liam @ Jan 30th 2008 5:49AM]

I'm guessing it'll be like a canon powershot, but more fancy. Why do all compacts have manual features disabled, anyway? Is there some reason why that would cost more?

[Mr. Frank Negroponte @ Jan 30th 2008 6:48AM]

The Lens says 15.5mm with f4. I want to doubt that it's ASPC even, as a 15.5 on an ASPC isn't too much of a zoom. Also, why fixed?

If that's the case, it certainly is gonna be a camera that no one has seen before, as in WTF??? is up with the fixed focal length 15.5 on an ASP-c???

[hitsuji doshi @ Jan 30th 2008 8:02AM]

the Foveon sensor is 1.7x, I think

[Mr. Frank Negroponte @ Jan 30th 2008 6:50AM]

I mean, APS-c. That's what happens when you have dyslexia:)

[daevh @ Jan 30th 2008 7:00AM]

It's rather like the Leica M8 but with a 1.6x crop factor rather than 1.33x of the Leica and a price of around $5000 less..

[hitsuji doshi @ Jan 30th 2008 8:17AM]

well maybe only in form factor. The Leica takes exchangeable lenses,
while the DP-1's will be non-exchangeable and fixed focal length.
Someone above probably had the best analogy, a Ricoh GRII with an
APS-C sensor bolted on. I was pretty excited about this camera a year
ago, but looking at the lens specs, my ardor has cooled a bit. It
looks like a lot of compromises were made to stuff a full-sized
sensor into a compact body.

We'll see, it may still be a dynamite camera for certain situations.

[Alex @ Jan 30th 2008 12:38PM]

Yea I gave up hope when I read about the lens being f/4.0. Personally, I was hoping for a 1.8, but would have settled for a 2.0. There's no reason for f/4.0. But its ok, ended up ordering the M8 this week anyways!!! :-D

[trumpton @ Jan 30th 2008 7:40AM]

I gave up waiting and bought the excellent Ricoh GX100 digicam a while ago. It's got the best pro control system of any compact I've ever used and so long as you don't let the ISO creep up too high, it produces excellent results.

'Tis a great camera.

[senorbelly @ Jan 30th 2008 11:44AM]

Yay, another GX100 user! I agree, 'tis indeed a great camera.

I do miss being able to take the occasional shallow depth-of-field portrait, though, and I was hoping the DP1 could enable that in a small package. But at this wide an angle (and at f/4.0?!) I just don't know.

I don't know, I don't know, I don't know.

[John @ Jan 30th 2008 8:18AM]

Putting "DP" with a giant phallic "1" next to it is quite the eyebrow raiser.

[efm-7 @ Jan 30th 2008 10:08AM]

this would be great for the many times i don't feel like lugging around my DSLR!

[rcappo @ Jan 30th 2008 11:04AM]

This might be the camera I am looking for. I would rather not be an obvious tourist when I take pictures on vacation (you know the guy who has to decide to take his DSLR camera around his neck or not), but I also would like to take high quality photos as well.

I need a new camera pretty soon anyway. My old one has taken 9,000+ pictures so far in the past 3 years.

[efm-7 @ Jan 30th 2008 12:40PM]

DSLR at a social event = people nagging you afterwards to upload it, and with very high expectations in terms of photography.

Cant wait to try the DP1 so sometimes i could just have fun and STILL have a camera with usable ISO1600