Sigma DP1
Last updated: Review & Sample Photos @ ImagingResource (03 May’07)
Sigma DP1 is a point-and-shoot digital camera with equipped with 14 megapixel FOVEON X3 direct image sensor. The DP1 features A 16.6mm F4 Sigma lens, RAW and JPEG recording format and a large 2.5” TFT LCD monitor. (Download Sigma DP1 Brochure)
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Sigma DP1 Reviews
ImagingResource reviews the Sigma DP1 and writes;
“It’s hard to discount the smooth beauty of the DP1’s output, thanks to both the well-designed Sigma lens and the refined output of the Foveon X3 sensor. But the slow autofocus, difficult interface, and slow post-processing required to achieve that excellence is hard to ignore.”
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OutbackPhoto reviews the Sigma DP1 and writes;
“Photos at ISO 100-200 are just fine. At ISO 400 it gets more grainy and also the Photo Pro software desaturates the images (result of color noise removal we guess). ISO 800 may still produce nice B&W images.”
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LuminousLandscape reviews the Sigma DP1 and writes;
“The raw image quality of the Sigma DP1 is excellent – truly far and away superior to that of any digicam that i have yet seen or used. Given that the camera uses an almost APS-C sized sensor this should not be all that surprising.”
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PhotoReview.au reviews the Sigma DP1 and writes;
“..if you are prepared to shoot raw files, convert them into 16-bit TIFF with the slightly quirky Sigma Photo Pro software and then work on them in a sophisticated image editor, the rewards are there in the form of images with an excellent dynamic range and rich, natural-looking colours.”
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Sigma DP1 Video Preview @ PMA 2007
PopPhotoMag has a preview of Sigma DP1;
“How does Sigma stuff 14 megapixels into its light, compact DP1 digital compact? By using the same Foveon sensor it put into its new SD14 DSLR. Foveon’s chip stacks three imaging sites (red, green, blue) at each pixel, which allows Sigma to multiply out the 2652×1768 sensor layout to arrive at 14 active megapixels. However, due to that design, the camera will probably deliver closer to 9MP effective resolution.”
LetsGoDigital has a preview of Sigma DP1;
“The sensor in the Sigma DP1 is large, much larger than other digital compact cameras. To guarantee an outstanding quality the lenses must be designed so that the light rays are falling straight on the sensor. With smaller lenses, the rays are hitting the sensor in an angle. If we want the rays straight in the sensor, the lens must be very big. In the end this would make the Sigma DP1 too large. Therefore the zoom function of the buttons will refer to a digital zoom. According to Kazuto Yamaki this is a surprisingly good alternative due to the characteristics of the Foveon X3 image sensor.”
Sigma DP1 Samples
- Sigma DP1 Sample Photos @ ImagingResource
- Sigma DP1 Sample Photos @ Flickr
- Sigma DP1 Sample Photos @ PopPhoto
- Sigma DP1 Sample Photos @ ImagingResource
Sigma DP1 User Manual (PDF)
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Sigma DP1 Press Release
Featuring a large size direct image sensor as used in the digital SLR camera.
Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the launch of the new, groundbreaking Sigma DP1 compact digital camera using three silicon embedded layers of photo sensors stacked to take advantage of silicon’s ability to absorb red, green and blue light at different respective depths. The size of image sensor used in DP1 camera is approximately 10 times larger than those used in an ordinary point and shoot digital camera.
Large size image sensor takes advantage of larger pixels. So far point and shoot digital cameras incorporated small size image sensors, and researches for increasing the number of pixels by keeping the image sensor small is still continuing. However, there are limitations in these researches, because keeping image sensor size small will result poor capture of the light poorly. In this respect, enlarging the image sensor will result in better capturing color signals.
* The Sigma DP1’s image sensor is approximately 8 times larger than 1/1.8inch image sensor, approximately 12 times larger than 1/2.5 ordinary point and shoot camera
RAW Image Recording Format
The direct image sensor featured in the SIGMA DP1 ensures the capture of full and complete color. This camera incorporates both RAW and JPEG image recording formats enabling photographers to capture the highest possible picture definition and smaller file sizes.
Newly developed unique and powerful “TRUE” image processing engine
“TRUE” (Three-layer Responsive Ultimate Engine) *1 DSP (Digital Signal Processor) suited for Foveon*2 three silicon embedded layers direct image sensor is newly developed (joint development with Fujitsu Limited*3) and incorporated into DP1 first time.
The unique image processing algorithm developed throughout the development of SD9, SD10 and SD14 cameras is incorporated into “TRUE” and enables high-speed image processing.
*1. “TRUE” is trademark of SIGMA Corporation
*2. Foveon: Chairman and Founder Dr. Carver Mead, CEO D. Federico Faggin
*3. Fujitsu Limited: President, Mr. Hiroaki Kurokawa
Exclusive lens for APS-C size image sensor
The accumulated lens design technology and SD series are used for DP1 development. A 16.6mm F4 lens, with a wide angle field of view equivalent to 28mm on a 35mm film camera, has been specially developed to maximize the image quality in conjunction with the full color capture image sensor.
Glass mold aspherical lens provide correction for all types of aberrations and capture accurate, full color image information.
Compact and lightweight body
It has compact dimensions of 113.3mm / 4.5in. (W) × 59.5mm / 2.34in. (H) × 50.3mm / 2.0in. (D) and lightweight of 240g/8.5ounces. Its compact body and lightweight design makes it easy to carry everywhere.
Large 2.5” LCD monitor
The Sigma DP1 camera features a new, large 2.5inch, 230,000-pixel resolution LCD monitor. The LCD monitor displays 100% of the image, allowing the photographer to easily and accurately confirm the image composition.
Hot shoe and external viewfinder
DP1 camera is equipped with a hot-shoe thus allowing the attachment of dedicated external flash and high performance external viewfinder (VF11).
Lens Hood (optional accessory)
For assuring maximum performance from the lens and image sensor, it is equipped with exclusive lens hood.
See also: Digital Camera | Sigma
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It’s a shame with limited zoom and price is way too much for a student. Canon, Fuji, sony or Pentax will eventually catching up.