Sigma's SD15 DSLR: an SD14 with improved image processing and little else

What's one better than a Sigma SD14? Why the SD15, of course. Sigma's SD15 DSLR starts with the same 14 megapixel Foveon X3 direct-image sensor found in the unimpressive SD14 (and compact DP1 for that matter) but ratchets-up the specs with a new True II image processor and 3-inch LCD. A worthwhile update to be sure but trivial by comparison to what Nikon and Canon have announced in recent weeks. Distracted by all the DP1 R&D were we Sigma?

[Ian @ Sep 23rd 2008 4:36AM]

No, not many updates, but it's really supposed to be a good camera though. However, despite not requiring interpolation between pixels, this 4.7 MP camera is still probably equivalent to a 7-8 MP camera.

[Plothole @ Sep 23rd 2008 4:50AM]

7-8MP is hardly bad though. In fact I'd for most photographers it's going to be more than adequate 99.9% of the time.

[Temple @ Sep 23rd 2008 8:24AM]

7-8MP may be enough, its just relative. In a market that is so cut-throat competitive as the dSLR market, its hard to justify the price when you would buy a Canon, Sony, Pentax, Nikon, Olympus, etc.

Sigma obviously makes most of their money from lenses, and they have made some very impressive lenses recently; like the 50mm f1.4.

[Jason Litka @ Sep 23rd 2008 11:09AM]

@Temple,

Yeah, and the 30mm f/1.4. Wait... Nevermind, most of those have to go in for calibration so they actually focus correctly (yes, I own one of these, and it's a nice lens, but it pissed me off to buy a lens that I KNEW would need work before it could be used).

[kb2zuz @ Sep 23rd 2008 10:55PM]

In some (very subjective) tests I did with the SD14 last year, it was as sharp and detailed as a 10MP camera. Interpolation really kills the resolution. I work with an H3D-II 39 with Multi Shot. Turning on the multi shot on a still life makes images sharper than you can imagine, without it interpolation kills the detail.

Anyone know if the hot mirror is still removable on the SD15?

[Ian @ Sep 23rd 2008 5:02AM]

It is enough for most people, but it really does seem like Foveon hasn't made much progress on this sensor this millennium. It's not going to have an AF comparable to Nikon, Sony, Olympus, or (some) Canon DSLRs.

Plus, Sigma's DP1 and new DP2 need to compete with u4/3 cameras from Panny and Olympus, and with the Samsung design when they start making their own version. They're a good lens manufacturer, but if they really wanted to compete, they should have designed a DP2 with changeable lenses. How hard could it be? The camera could have been kept approximately the same size, and they could have designed a number of prime lenses of different focal lengths. As long as they're pancake lenses, this camera would have been comparable in size to a 4/3rds camera. It's too late now. Maybe Sigma was taken by surprise when Olympus announced u4/3, and decided not to change their plans. I don't know.

[Plothole @ Sep 23rd 2008 5:36AM]

Samsung DSLRs are based on the Pentax mount, not 4/3.

[Geir E @ Sep 23rd 2008 5:45AM]

@plothole:

http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/01/samsungs-aps-c-hybrid-system-to-rival-micro-four-thirds/

This is what Ian ment. Samsung is going to make a micro fourthird competitor.

[Plothole @ Sep 23rd 2008 5:59AM]

Ah, I see. Thanks.

Actually the whole 2x crop sensor kinda puts me off on the micro4/3 system. However this "micro APS-C" if you will sounds a bit more tantalizing.

[Ian @ Sep 23rd 2008 6:55AM]

But Samsung's upcoming u4/3 competitor doesn't. ;)

[Jeebus @ Sep 23rd 2008 12:09PM]

The pixels are massive in the SD14 and 15, so why doesn't it get better light sensitivity? In this year 2008 they should be having ISO 25600 at least as a high setting. Why not?

[Plothole @ Sep 23rd 2008 4:22PM]

Unfortunately one flaw to the stacked sensor that they're using is that the whole tint of the image can change dramatically at higher ISO. Apparently there is a slight cross contamination of signals between the layers that causes this to happen.

[Jason Porter @ Sep 24th 2008 8:50AM]

It's not a Bayer pattern sensor. Your ISO expectations have no meaning when applied to a Foveon sensor. Complete apples and oranges. A Foveon (in practice) behaves very similarly to 100 ISO color slide film. It is fantastic at its intended purpose, but should not be considered a "do everything" camera in the Canon/Nikon sense... it is entirely oriented towards controlled artistic photography, and it is exceptional at that single task when used correctly.

[Caleb @ Sep 26th 2008 6:22AM]

I was one of those people who was thrilled by the image quality of the DP1, but the poor performance of the camera (slow speed, chroma noise, poor LCD, poor AF, poor manual focusing) turned me off. Now that M4/3 cameras are here with 12 MP sensors, why do I need a Sigma camera with an 8-9 MP equivalent sensor? If the M4/3 images are not quite as crisp, there are ways to sharpen them up.

Now, if the DP2 had a new Foveon sensor with a higher resolution, I would feel differently. I assume that the technology is very complicated; otherwise, Foveon would be developing it faster. Perhaps the problem is that Foveon and Sigma don't have the resources of the big manufacturers.

[Richard Bean @ Oct 6th 2008 7:40PM]

Jaso is right on the mark.

I own the SD-14. As long as I use it for its intended purpose, for which I purchased, it performs wonderfully. But as Jason mentioned; should not be considered a "do everything" camera. I have used it for other types of shots, then I intended. It fell way short of accomplishing that task. Over-all it has lived up to that as Jason described; controlled artistic photography. 400 ISO and below is the way to go with this camera. I prefer to shoot 50 ISO.

[Chuck Ezell @ Nov 15th 2008 9:07PM]

I recently tried the SD-14 and was very happy with the general usability of the camera. I loved the look and feel of the body but couldn't seem to get consistent color rendition from it. A friend of my and I did side by side 1:1 comparasion of my SD-14 vs the Nikon d90 and it was about the same. Suprisingly the color and shadows from the SD-14 were really nice but you could see the pixelation starting to occur at 1:1 where the d90 was still looking good.

I might try the SD-15 because I really wanted to like my 14. Eventually though, I sent it back. Foveon is amazingly cool but as Richard pointed out above it isn't a "do everything" camera. If you do a lot of outdoor shots in plenty of light you will love everything you get from it. However don't take it with you to an evening wedding, dinner party or anything indoors with low light. You'll be wishing you had a different camera or end up fiddling with the color balance from everything you get out of it later...

[Kevin Tobias @ Nov 27th 2008 11:35AM]

Comparing photos side by side from Sigma and Nikon

http://www.pbase.com/mjmorrison/sd10__d200_w80200_comparison_1

I pick the Sigma photo's over Nikon for Sharpness and Color rendition. I guess the problem with Sigma
is how capable the camera is. Sigma cameras generally don't have the feature list of Nikon or Canon.

It's also worth noting these photo's were shot with second generation SD10. I would like to see a comparison between
the SD14 or SD15 pitted against the Canon 40D and the Nikon 300. A good project for someone if they could get thier hands on all three.

Kev