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.]

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?

It's always worth noting when a reviewer says that a device, "sets a new standard for image quality in a compact camera." That's PopPhoto's conclusion after testing the Sigma DP1 with a DSLR-sized, FOVEON X3 CMOS sensor packing 14 megapixels. The image quality and color accuracy remained "stellar" right up to ISO 800 where other compacts shackled with tiny sensors begin to lose control of the noise. The biggest nits are with the sluggish 9-zone AF system, an unsophisticated flash, lack of image stabilization, and delays between shots. Fix those while whittling-back the $800 street price a bit and PopPhoto believes the DP1 could go mainstream.

[Via Photography Blog]

Looks like the Sigma DP1 has a date and price: according to their site, it'll be out tomorrow for ¥89820, or about $850 US. Those that just can't wait to find out more about this sucker should check out Pop Photo's very early first impressions. Although they don't have a lot of conclusions to make about it in their first 24 hours of testing, there's certainly a sense of excitement in the air about a smallish point and shoot equipped with an over the top 14 megapixel FOVEON X2 CMOS pulled right out of Sigma's SD14 DSLR.

[Thanks, Tano]

Read - Sigma's price n' date
Read - Checking out the DP1

Hey, remember that hot looking Sigma DP1 we've been yapping about for ages? Well if you can't another second to put your buyin' hat on, the handsome 10-megapixel shooter is available for pre-ordering on Amazon right this second. For just $799.99 ($200 less than the list price), you can finally achieve the satisfied sleep of a Sigma DP1 almost-owner. Sure, you'll still have to wait till March 25th for the goods to drop, but you can probably entertain yourself by pre-ordering a bunch of accessories and booking all the models you're going to shoot when the camera arrives.

[Via Wired]

We spent some quality time around Sigma's monstrous APO 200-500 F2.8 lens this afternoon, and what can we say? It's gigantic. If you've ever wanted to the look of a portable rocket launcher without all the hassle at the airport, this is definitely the way to go. A feast for your eyes awaits in the gallery below.

Sigma was showing off their digicam slab of tech, the DP1. To the untrained eye, it doesn't look like much. But Sigma's put the same 14.1-megapixel APS-C sized Foveon CMOS sensor used in its SD14 DSLR into this tiny package. There's a f/4, 28-mm (in 35-mm equivalent terms) lens, but what really impressed us was the build quality on this unit -- not a creak or bit of flex to be had on the camera. It's definitely a high-end piece of photo jewelry.

Hello daddy! Meet Sigma's new APO 200-500 f2.8 ultra telephoto zoom lens. Weighing 16kg (35-pounds), it's the world's first to offer a F2.8 aperture at 500mm focal length. A dedicated F5.6 attachment ensures autofocusing at 1000mm while an internal Li-ion battery powers the zooming and AF mechanics. Available for Sigma and Nikon mounts in June or Canons in April for ¥2,500,000 or nearly $25,000. So ask yourself, just how deep does your love for the bird go?

[Via Impress]

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.

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]

More than a year since its announcement, Sigma has released an official update on the progress of their DP1 anomaly. According to Sigma, the delay is the result of poor image quality delivered during testing necessitating a "change to the entire image processing pipeline." Alpha tests of the redesign began in early November with no date given for production. Remember, this is slated to be the first compact to feature an APS-C sized image sensor found in DSLRs -- no easy task. In this case, we're talking the 14 megapixel FOVEON X3 found in their SD14. At least that was the plan. Sigma now says that the specs will change from what was originally announced. Bottom line: Sigma will be rolling out a redesigned compact with unknown specs on an unspecified date. Clear?

We're beginning to wonder if someone isn't adding a little something to the water over in England, as a recent heist of Sigma Imaging's UK offices makes the country home to the second high-stakes consumer electronics robbery this month. The crooks, which were affectionately dubbed a "professional gang," reportedly broke into the offices and warehouse of Sigma UK in order to lift "a large quantity" of wares. So much so, in fact, that Sigma has warned that the incident could "temporarily disrupt supply to customers," but it failed to mention exactly what was stolen. Notably, the culprits must have momentarily forgotten that they were in the surveillance capital of the world, and now police are breaking down CCTV footage in order to garner more details.

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 review
Read - Foveon X3 sensor review

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]