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Sigma makes a super wide-angle version of its super wide camera
Don't think Sigma's extremely wide dp Quattro cameras are outrageous enough? Don't worry, the company has you covered. The new dp0 Quattro mates a new version of Sigma's high-detail Foveon X3 sensor (billed here as equal to a 39-megapixel conventional sensor) with a fixed 14mm f/4 ultra wide-angle lens. Yes, you read that correctly -- buy a dp0 and your only choice is to capture all-encompassing shots. While the glass corrects for the chromatic aberrations and distortions you sometimes see in wide-angle imagery, you'll need a penchant for shooting landscapes or real estate ads if this is going to make much sense. Sigma isn't talking about prices or ship dates for the dp0 just yet, but the $999 price of both the dp1 and dp2 suggests that you'll be paying a hefty sum to own a compact cam with freaky optics.
Sigma's dp Quattro cameras boast higher-resolution sensors and an extra-wide design
No, you're not looking at a projector -- it's the dp2 Quattro, the first of three cameras in Sigma's new dp Quattro lineup. That unusually wide, almost cinematic body is meant to provide a more balanced feel in the hand than the compact design of its predecessors. However, the real centerpiece is underneath: every camera has a new version of the three-layer, color-rich Foveon X3 sensor that takes higher resolution photos (20 megapixels versus 15.3) while improving both performance and battery life. Sigma has also made a leap to a faster TRUE III image processor. Unusually, there's also an optical viewfinder available for purists, which should work well with the fixed lenses. The dp2 Quattro will come with a 30mm f/2.8 general purpose lens, while the dp1 and dp3 will respectively carry 19mm wide-angle and 50mm telephoto optics. The company hasn't said just when the Quattro cameras will ship, but history suggests that they won't be cheap.
Sigma DP3 Merrill to ship in March, deliver distance macros for $999
Sigma may have left us waiting on details for the DP3 Merrill's launch, but not for long. It just confirmed that its next crack at a small Foveon X3 camera will reach US shops in March, when it should cost the same $999 on the street as its Merrill siblings. You're mostly getting a change in optics with the DP3 variant: it brings in a 50mm (75mm with crop factor) f/2.8 lens that allows bright macro and telephoto shots without cozying up to the subject. As long as you can live with quirks like VGA-only video, the DP3 Merrill is ready to pre-order at the source link.
Sigma launches DP2x compact digital camera, complete with Foveon X3 sensor
We had a feeling that a new segment of cameras was being introduced back at Photokina, and it sure looks as if Sigma's in for the ride. Following Fujifilm's fixed-zoom Finepix X100 and Olympus' Zuiko-equipped compact prototype, Sigma is introducing a high-end compact of its own in the DP2x. This handheld shooter has a gargantuan sensor within -- in fact, the 14 megapixel Foveon X3 is similar to those found in the company's (entirely more massive) SD15 and SD1 DSLRs. Sigma claims the sensor here is around 12x larger than what's generally found in a camera of this size, enabling it to capture far richer colors and oodles of light. The fixed 24.2mm F2.8 lens won't be doing any zooming, but those who love to tinker can take advantage of the built-in manual mode and its ability to capture photos in JPEG or RAW. It's pretty clear that the movie mode was an afterthought -- it'll log clips at 320 x 240, which is just enough to make you weep when thinking of what could've been. There's no image stabilization to speak of, a nine-point autofocus system and an ISO range of 100 to 3200, with 1600 and 3200 only available when shooting in RAW. You'll need to provide your own SD / SDHC / SDXC card, and your guess is as good as ours when it comes to price / release.
Sigma SD1 has a 15.3MP sensor, weather-sealed magnesium alloy body, and no video mode at all (update: eyes-on!)
It'd be too easy to describe this as "one for the purists," but it really rather is. The Sigma SD1 eschews any pretenses of being a video camera and gets right on with the business of taking gorgeous stills instead. Employing a 24mm x 16mm X3 CMOS sensor -- you know, the one with three stacked layers, one each for absorbing red, green and blue light -- dual TRUE II image processors, and an 11-point autofocusing system, the SD1 is eager to sweep up enthusiast photographers into its magnesium alloy embrace. 98 percent viewfinder coverage, a 3-inch, 460k-dot LCD and CompactFlash compatibility fill out the spec sheet, while price is indicated as somewhere in the neighborhood of the Canon EOS 7D. Without any live view or video options, Sigma had better have some truly spectacular image quality to show us when this thing ships in February of next year. Update: Our hopes and dreams of caressing this rugged beast were dashed upon learning that the only SD1 at Photokina was held behind a glass box of emotion, but that didn't stop us from pointing our own camera at it and firing off a few shots. Trust us, it looks just as beastly in person as it does in the press shots. Have a gander below, won't you? %Gallery-102882%
Sigma SD15 DSLR gets reviewed: unique, but not for everybody
Sigma's certainly managed to get plenty of photographers' attention with its line of Foveon sensor-equipped digital cameras, but it hasn't exactly always managed to meet expectations. According to Photography Blog, it looks like that's also the case for the company's latest: the SD15. While the camera is described as 'less of an obvious odd fish than its forebears," the site says that it's still best suited for photographers looking for a "challenge," and that you likely won't want to have it as your only DSLR. In particularly, Photography Blog found that while images exhibited less of the odd color casts and white balance issues of previous models, they still left quite a bit to be desired, especially at higher ISOs. On the upside, that Foveon sensor does still offer some capabilities that can't be found elsewhere, and the site says that the camera is unique enough that it can't bring itself to actively dislike it.
Sigma's mysterious SD15 DSLR finally ships to US, gets unboxed enthusiastically
We've all waited close to two years for this day to come, and now that it has, just a single question remains: "Does your credit card have the space?" Sigma's SD15 -- which is outfitted with a 14 megapixel Foveon X3 sensor, 3-inch LCD, True II processor, an ISO range from 50 to 3,200 extended) and support for SD / SDHC cards -- is now available to order on American soil. Better still, both B&H Photo and Adorama show the beast as "in stock" for just under a grand ($989, if we're counting), and the fine folks over at Akihabara News have managed to wrangle one for a glorious unboxing. Dig into those links below if you're hungry for more, but don't blame us if you come away a fair bit poorer.
Sigma SD15 nabs a lofty price and near-term release date, at long last
All together now: "Finally!" Believe it or not, we first saw the SD15 glimmer back in September of 2008 -- practically an era ago based on what has transpired on our little planet since -- and we found out this February that Sigma was keeping the dream alive for the time being. According to a report straight out of Japan, it looks as if the long wait for a DSLR that's possibly past its prime by now is just about over. As the story goes, the SD15 (along with its famed Foveon X3 image sensor) will be shipping in at least some portions of the world by the month's end, with a body-only price of ¥120,000 / €1,199 (around $1,310 on a good day) and a kit price of ¥140,000 ($1,528). 'Course, we're still planning to wait for the first legitimate consumer unboxing before we commence celebrating, but at least the end of the tunnel is clearly marked.
Sigma acquires Feveon, maker of the X3 image sensor
Foveon (developer of the X3 image sensor for digital cameras) has just announced that they have been acquired by Sigma, the Tokyo-based camera and lens company. According to the press release, Foveon -- whose image sensors are already being used in Sigma's entire digital camera line -- will remain in San Jose, continuing to "evolve and improve the X3 sensor technology." Congratulations, you crazy kids! And best of luck to you. We mean it.
Sigma's DP2 compact with DSLR-sized sensor gets even better
While the update from the SD14 to the SD15 was rather sad, just about any tweak to the bar-raising DP1 compact with 13.8- x 20.7-mm Foveon X3 sensor is reason to get excited. So listen up, Sigma just announced the DP2 -- same 14 megapixel X3 CMOS sensor only now coupled with Sigma's improved True II image processor and 24.2-mm F2.8 glass equivalent to 41-mm on a 35-mm SLR. No pricing or ship date announced.[Thanks, David Z.]
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?
Sigma's DP1: a DSLR in a compact's body (almost) shipping this Spring
Why hello darlin.' As we had hoped, Sigma's DP1 just got a release date. Come Spring, we'll finally see what that 14 megapixel FOVEON X3 sensor found in Sigma's SD14 DSLR can do in a compact's body. That's about 7 to 12 times larger than the sensor found in ordinary compacts. The biggest compromise you'll be making though, is with the lens. A fixed, 16.6-mm F4 lens designed exclusively for the DP1 illuminates each 7.8μm pixel on that 20.7 x 13.8-mm sensor. If you're still game then rounding things out are Sigma's new "TRUE" image processing engine, a 2.5-inch LCD, pop-up manual flash, hot shoe, manual or 9-point autofocus modes, and QVGA movie recording to SDHC cards. All this in a 4.5 x 2.3 x 2-inch body weighing 8.5-ounces. We remain intrigued.%Gallery-14980%
Sigma SD14 reviewed: promising, but not quite there
We've been hearing about Sigma's SD14 14.1-megapixel DSLR with that nifty Foveon 3-layer image sensor since last year, but it looks like all the hype was just that: Popular Photography got their hands on a review unit and wasn't too impressed. Although the cam earned high marks for color accuracy and image quality, the reviewers didn't see the full potential of the novel image sensor -- JPEG shots were rated on par with the 8-megapixel Canon Digital Rebel XT, while RAW images actually had less detail in them than shots taken by the 10-megapixel Nikon D80. The reviewers also knocked the slow image processor, which they found produced blocky JPEG images at higher ISOs and took 8-10 seconds to clear its buffer after shooting just six pictures in burst mode. Although the Foveon sensor is promising, the review concludes that you're probably better off spending your $1,600 elsewhere -- not exactly a ringing endorsement of the "fundamentally better technology" Sigma and Foveon promised.Read - Sigma SD14 reviewRead - Foveon X3 sensor review
More on Sigma's DP1, the "world's first full-spec compact"
Some additional details and stylings have emerged on Sigma's DP1. In addition to sporting a cleaner design than the early prototype peeped back in September, the DP1 also receives a a new hot-shoe up top for attaching a dedicated external flash and new external viewfinder. Otherwise, it still packs the same 14 megapixel FOVEON X3, APS-C sized image sensor good enough for their SD14 DSLR; a 2.5-inch, 230k pixel resolution LCD monitor; and CF slot making this , according the Sigma, the "world's first full-spec compact." We'll just have to wait and see how it performs (and costs) when released in Spring 2007. A few more pics after the break. [Via dpreview]
