Sigma DP1

Sigma Press Release

Sigma DP1 high end point and shoot digital camera equipped with 14 megapixel direct image sensor.

2006.9.26 - The Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the launch of the new, groundbreaking Sigma DP1 compact digital camera featuring a 14 megapixel FOVEON X3 direct image sensor (2652×1768×3 layers) as used in the Sigma SD14 digital SLR. 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. A 16.6mm F4 lens, with a wide angle field of view equivalent to 28mm on a 35mm film camera, has been developed to maximize the image quality in conjunction with the full color capture image sensor. The DP1 takes advantage of the image sensor’s superior technology to capture accurate, full color image information.

Photokina Update: We now have some product photos live from Photokina 2006 - just click the link below to view them.

Sigma’s unique and powerful “True” image processor is incorporated into the DP1, enabling it to handle the large image files produced by the 14 megapixel sensor and reproduce exceptional definition with image quality on a par with film. The Sigma DP1 is equipped with a large 2.5” TFT LCD monitor with 100% image preview, making confirmation of composition, focusing and exposure quick and easy. This point and shoot compact camera includes JPEG recording format for speed and convenience plus a RAW data (X3F) recording mode for retaining full image capture detail of the utmost quality.

* 14 megapixel direct image sensor as used in the Sigma SD14 digital SLR.
* Featuring Sigma’s new, unique “True” image processing engine.
* 16.6mm F4 lens (28mm equivalent).

Published: Friday, September 29, 2006

Reader Comments

1. No zoom? What are the W/T buttons on the back for then, just playback?
   
   If it is a fixed focal lenght, they _really_ fsked up by not making it a 1.4 or 1.8. What a waste of plastic.

   Johan at 02:30pm on Friday, September 29, 2006

2. Johan,
   
   A f/1.8 lens would have to be very large for the size of the sensor inside.

   phule at 03:38pm on Friday, September 29, 2006

3. True, but if I only get one focal length, it had better be some good glass. In any case, a 16 mm lens at f/2 just requires an 8mm apparent diameter. Not terribly large.
   
   Have you seen the canon 35 f/2 lens, or any of the pentax pankake lenses? Those give full 35mm frame coverage, while this sensor is 1/1.7th the size.

   johan at 06:07pm on Friday, September 29, 2006

4. pankake -> pancake.

   johan at 06:08pm on Friday, September 29, 2006

5. Finally - a real "compact" with a large sensor - exactly what the Ricoh GR-D failed to deliver. Not perfect - no OVF, so you have to run the LCD all the time - and no hot shoe which would at least have given an option for an external finder.
   But the name of the game is image quality and this should waste the GR-D and all the over-pixeled 10MP cameras now arriving.
   Good one Sigma !

   wolfie at 12:01am on Saturday, September 30, 2006

6. If Sigma delivers on its promise, DP1 could become this year's most significant achievement in digital photo! (Disclaimer: While I use Nikon SLRs and Canon P&S, I have no Sigma or Foveon products, neither a stake in these companies.)
   
   So far, however, DP1 looks like a semi-cooked teaser to test the market and acquire feedback. Most details are either missing or rather incongruent w/ DP1's target segment: hi-end P&S.
   
   I commend Sigma for daring to integrate a 21x14mm sensor in P&S body. Hopefully the rest of the system -lens, imager, bat- will match the Foveon core and deliver SLR-class PQ from a 250gr. camera.
   
   If properly executed, w/ decent ergonomy, DP1 could change the field and reset both markets: P&S and dSLR. If not, it may join GR-D in causing a big yawn...
   
   I hope for the former. Mitch.

   Mitch at 03:56pm on Thursday, October 05, 2006

7. It's actually far more complicated than imagining a 35mm full-fram lens on this. There's a reason why all consumer/compact point-n-shoot digicams use such small sensors. The smaller sensor is what normally allows such a small body. I'm not saying the camera is perfect, but given the large sensor, form factor, and price range, this represents a good compromise. Due to the large sensor, higher ISO's should give good image quality so that mitigates the f4 a bit.

   Steve Lang at 05:32pm on Thursday, October 05, 2006

8. What a waste of a perfectly good Foveon CMOS sensor!...

   Rob at 12:43am on Sunday, October 08, 2006

9. Sigma's CEO has stated in interviews that the DP1 is seen as a being a "stepping-stone" up to the SD14 - presuming that the DP1 delivers to its owners the superior image qulaity that is expected of it. So in a sense the DP1 could make or break the SD14 for people who otherwise wouldnot spend the money to experiment on a Foveon DSLR.
   It seems odd that Sigma deliberately refers to the DP1 as a "point& shoot" camera - a bit of a put-down almost considering it is unlikely to price in that range, nearer to an entry DSLR or a Canon G7 if anything.
   P&S shooters want big zooms and lots of megapixels - two things the DP1 lacks in great quantities!

   wolfie at 01:02am on Sunday, October 08, 2006

10. Sigma's marketing dept once more proved that they have their heads up their... assets (if you know what I mean). Adding to that, the fact that any normal kind of quality control does not exist at Sigma, makes them one of the most sucky photo companies in the world.

    Rob at 01:12am on Sunday, October 08, 2006

11. Rob - obviously you have some sort of problem in your head about Sigma, but this thread to discuss the camera not your personal problems. The camera is unique in being a true compact (unlike the Sony R1) with a DSLR sized sensor which is something a lot of photographers have been waiting for. I'm sorry Sigma has upset you by doing it first.

    wolfie at 01:52am on Sunday, October 08, 2006

12. Wolfie, thanks for telling me. Unfortunatelly, sensor alone does not make a camera. Using an advanced sensor as the ONLY attraction makes no sense at all to me. I'm sorry Sigma has an appeal to you.

    Rob at 02:53am on Sunday, October 08, 2006

13. Greetings Rob - the sensor is a major factor in a digital camera so why do you say it isn't? If the lens is matched correctly to the sensor then good results should follow - even if the company who makes it is called Sigma. Look at Panasonic and Ricoh to see what happens when you have some very good camera body & lenses but combine them with second rate sensors.
    I'd like the DP1 design even if it was made by Olympus or Nikon or Canon or Pentax because the big sensor is a critical part of the design. Any APS sized sensor will trash a 1/1.8 or smaller CCD.

    wolfie at 03:10am on Sunday, October 08, 2006

14. I just said, that the sensor in the DP-1 is what I like. It's the whole rest that I DO NOT like.
    
    You're right about Panasonic, though. They are the opposite of Sigma. I love their cameras but their sensors are way too noisy. However, when I balance all pros and cons in cases of Sigma and PanaLeica, I will take PanaLeica over Sigma any time. Mainly for their Leica-designed lenses.

    Rob at 03:32am on Sunday, October 08, 2006

15. Well here's hoping that the DP1 may provoke some reaction from the other players who have been noticebaly diverting all their energy into cheap DSLRs. Panasonic/Leica/Olympus have a wealth of good design between them and the 4/3 system in common, so that almost anything is possible if they were to give a 4/3 sensor-compact a serious thought.

    wolfie at 05:02am on Sunday, October 08, 2006

16. I'll be buying one. Are you kidding me! A tiny camera with a hell of a sensor and a fixed focal wide angle? It's a photojournalist's dream. The epitome of unobtrusive. Being able to get right in there with just a small piece of equipment that probably won't even be noticed while getting great image quality -- sign me up 10 years ago buddy. I can sneak that thing in anywhere and not even look like a steroid-lensed photojournalist.

    Schvauncey at 07:11pm on Monday, October 09, 2006

17. Hopefully the high ISO performance will enable low light shooting without need for flash - it's so indiscrete...

    wolfie at 07:15pm on Monday, October 09, 2006

18. @ 15 -
    
    I don't know why they're wasting their energies on 4:3 - I suppose if one likes that framing ratio, it's OK, and a lot of people are used to looking at that shape from watching their TVs all their lives.
    
    I like the fact that the DP1 is 3:2. At least having a 28mm on a 3/2 is much better than it would be if it was on a 4/3. I just wish they had just gone ahead and made it 16:9.

    Winker at 08:39pm on Monday, October 09, 2006

19. Schvauncey and Wolfie, shame there's no optical viewfinder.
    
    Winker, I agree about the 3:2. It's the most versatile because you can
    crop just a little bit off the top and bottom to get 16:9, or you can crop
    just a little bit off the sides to get 4:3. If you start with 16:9 you have to
    crop off twice as much to get to 4:3. Same with going from 4:3 to 16:9.
    In both cases, you would end up with less resolution than if you started
    with 3:2 and cropped from there.

    GARY POGODA at 09:52pm on Monday, October 09, 2006

20. I'm with Schvauncey. I like the incognito quality. I like the G6 for the f2.0 lense & not too big. Would buy in an instant if available in the next couple of months, but we'll see what's available when this comes out. Really disappointed with the G7 & no RAW.

    Robert Wilson at 02:53am on Tuesday, October 10, 2006

21. I think this is a great development and I hope other camera manufacturers will follow. I have a Fuji compact that is rated as one of the best compacts around, with outstanding high iso and sharpness but i hardly use it because it just doesn't compare to the quality of my dslr, even though they have the same amoung of pixels. What counts for me is quality of color and dynamic range and for that you need a big sensor. I want one.

    sander at 02:45pm on Sunday, October 15, 2006

22. FWIW, I took a measure of two things "pinky to second joint" and the diagonal visible LCD screen. With the following assumptions: the "psj" distance is the same as my hand, AND the screen measures 2.5" (63mm) diagonal.
    
    I come up with a camera size of 90mm W x 60mm H. Emminently portable. Did I say I liked it?

    Robert Wilson at 05:29pm on Sunday, October 15, 2006

23. The details and price will play a big role on whether I will purchase this or not. I do not like that there is not optical viewfinder, using the screen all the time will mean shorter battery life.
    
    Is there a shipping date? I do think some details will change when the actual camera is shown and shipped.
    
    Also, is there anywhere I can see some sample images from this camera?
    
    Thanks.
    
    Mark

    Mark Sablow at 11:28pm on Friday, October 20, 2006

24. Why is it that when people hear that the camera has 14mp sensor,they automatically assume its physacaly big.The DP1 uses 3 sensors of 4.7mp stacked.One each to record RGB.Sigma says they will be using digital zoom.That is why you see W and T buttons on back.

    ELMOLISE at 03:41pm on Saturday, November 04, 2006

25. Regardless of the pixel count, the DP1 still has a much larger sensor
    than any compact digicam, and even larger than any bridge camera,
    with the exception of the slightly larger Sony R1 sensor.
    
    Good point about the W/T buttons.

    GARY POGODA at 04:56pm on Saturday, November 04, 2006

26. 4.7mp is not large.There are p&s cameras that have 7,8,and even 10mp.

    ELMOLISE at 04:28pm on Sunday, November 05, 2006

27. right, but a 10mpixel regular sensor is made up of 2 greens, 1 red & 1 blue per complete colour registered. therefore a 10mpixel canon/sony etc... is only 2.5m actual unique complete "dots" for lack of a better word. this 2.5 is more equal to your 4.7 correlation.

    Robert Wilson at 05:25pm on Sunday, November 05, 2006

28. Elmo, the number of megapixels has nothing to do with the 'physical'
    size of a sensor. It's like saying a car with 4 people in it is bigger than
    a car with 2 people in it. You can cram 4 people into a small car, and
    have a big car with only 2 people in it.

    GARY POGODA at 06:15pm on Sunday, November 05, 2006

29. I hope to get a chance to try this camera. I
    believe the RBG concept is great. My doubts are wether or not the resolution is compatible to something like the Panasonic
    DMC-FZ cameras. Does anyone here own one of these Panasonic cameras?

    ELMOLISE at 07:51pm on Sunday, November 05, 2006

30. Indeed, a photojournalist's dream! Also any photographer's casual camera that they can carry around all the time!
    
    This camera *should* have Instant On switch, and, most importantly, No shutter lag. It's a fixed-lens, it doesn't need to extend when you turn on the camera. You can walk around with Nikon D80, for example, while it's powered on and it won't eat the battery life. It takes pictures as soon as you press the shutter button.
    
    It is very important for Sigma to realize this crucial point. Otherwise the fixed lens would turn into a disadvantage of not having a zoom for the majority of people. It's basic photographer's logic. Why do we buy fixed lenses for our cameras? Because they give us advantages over having one zoom lens.
    
    I would still buy this camera without a viewfinder, however, fast operation is a Must.

    Emmm at 07:40am on Saturday, November 25, 2006

31. #28... Yep, when we put 72 Vietnamese into that CH-46, it sure did seem bigger when they all got out! Performed better too!

    nick in japan at 07:55am on Saturday, November 25, 2006

32. Robert Wilson stated:
    -------------
    therefore a 10mpixel canon/sony etc... is only 2.5m actual unique complete "dots"
    ----------------
    
    Ummm...no. A 10MP Canon/Sony is truly a 10MP camera. Each pixel (or dot) is "converted" to its true color, thus resulting in a TRUE 10MP in the final image. Due to interpolation, the colors are not recorded as such and hence are built-up after the sensor captures the image.
    
    Completely different from the Foveon, where each pixel is EITHER a red or green or blue. When the R/G and B pixels are COMBINED, it functions like one pixel of the above mentioned Canon/Sony, even though the colors are invariably much truer.
    
    Thus if a 15MP Foveon existed, it would truly be a 5MP camera.

    aaykay at 09:34pm on Tuesday, November 28, 2006

33. Essentially, the concept of the Foveon is similar to a 3CCD camcorder. Each one of the CCDs would record one color. Thus if each CCD was 1MP each, then the "R" ccd would have 1MP, the "G" CCD would have 1MP and the "B" CCD would have 1MP, which when combined, form an image with truer colors (due to lack of interpolation) but effectively function like a 1MP, single CCD camcorder (where colors are builtup/interpolated).

    aaykay at 09:39pm on Tuesday, November 28, 2006

34. A 12 megapixel Foveon image sensor would have 4 million red pixels,
    4 million blue pixels, and 4 million green pixels.
    
    A 12 megapixel Canon/Sony 'Bayer pattern' CCD would have 3 million
    red pixels, 3 million blue pixels, and 6 million green pixels.

    GARY POGODA at 05:09am on Wednesday, November 29, 2006

35. i think the digital zoom buttons are stupid...
    
    i would prefer to have another dial, like the gr digital, which allow me to change the settings easily

    Juno at 12:46pm on Wednesday, November 29, 2006

36. The GREAT thing about this camera is that it makes the Ricoh GR Digital even more attractive!
    I'm kinda wondering why Sigma would lessen their reputation with this model, they are on a roll with their high-end manufacturing!

    nick in japan at 02:28am on Thursday, November 30, 2006

37. Is there any URL where one can see sample images taken with DP1?
    
    And, any pricing info? Or we have to wait for the next Xmas?

    Slobodan at 01:36pm on Tuesday, December 12, 2006

38. Emmm, (post 30). Looks like the lens does need to extend. There is some footage of the dp1 with lens extended on YouTube - it is at the end of a photokana interview about the sd14. A pity in one way as a non-extending lens would be more robust.
    
    Overall I think the dp1 is a great concept, I hope it lives up to my expectations.....

    eckhardf at 05:34pm on Thursday, December 14, 2006

39. Lady at Sigma UK told me a few days back that the DP1 would be out in February 2007

    tommy at 12:38am on Sunday, December 24, 2006

40. hi to you all my name is barry and i was looking for a 10mp camera like the samsung nv10 or the casio exlim1000. i then stumbled across your blog and was introduced to the sigma dp1. i need a compact powerful camera for my work and also for good pictures of my family, as i have read all of your notes it is clear you all know what you are talking about so, what would best be suited to me, and how does interpolation effect my choice of cameras

    barry ledgett at 04:44pm on Monday, January 01, 2007

41. hi chaps its me again, barry ledgett. ive just read that due to the configuration of the pixel colour memories the actual capacity of the DP1 would only be 9million pixels. how does that equate?

    barry ledgett at 07:35pm on Monday, January 01, 2007

42. Barry, for your purposes, the last thing you should be worrying about
    is a camera's resolution. Anything with 5+ megapixels will suffice. You
    should be more concerned about the camera's noise performance, its
    physical size, its zoom range, its build quality, etc.

    GARY POGODA at 03:15pm on Tuesday, January 02, 2007

43. thanks for the advice, but what is the cameras noise performance.
    the canon powershot a 640 seems to score highly would this be better suited?

    barry ledgett at 10:14am on Wednesday, January 03, 2007

44. hi, its me again, barry ledgett, i have now found a canon ixus 900ti. Canon seem to get the better write ups would a choice of the 2 canons be a better bet?

    barry ledgett at 12:07pm on Wednesday, January 03, 2007

45. Digital camera noise is analogous to the audio hiss you hear in analog
    tape recordings. It comes from the image sensor, which is also analog.
    Generally, the smaller the size of the pixels the lower their signal/noise
    ratio and higher megapixel cameras will have smaller pixels for a given
    image sensor size. That is why you do not want to buy a digital camera
    with more megapixels than you actually need.
    
    The Canon IXUS 900 Ti and PowerShot A640 do not have Canon's 'IS',
    image stabilization, a very important feature since it allows you to take
    low-light shots using a slower shutter speed where normally your hands
    would be unsteady and the image would be blurred. With IS the camera
    movement is reduced, so the image will not be blurred. A slower shutter
    speed enables more light to reach the image sensor, thereby giving you
    a better signal/noise ratio.
    
    The Canon IXUS 850 IS (a.k.a. PowerShot SD800 IS) would be a better
    choice. Same with the Canon IXUS 800 IS (a.k.a. PowerShot SD700 IS),
    which gives you slightly better S/N ratio (i.e., 6 megapixels versus 7 for
    the IXUS 850 on the same 1/2.5" size image sensor) and a longer zoom
    (140 mm versus 105 mm for the IXUS 850) at the expense of a reduced
    wide-angle limit (35 mm versus the wider 28 mm for the IXUS 850).
    
    If you can tolerate a slightly larger camera, the Canon PowerShot A710
    IS gives you 6x zoom, versus 3.8x/4x for the IXUS 850/800 with added
    manual control features. So does Canon's top-of-the-line PowerShot G7,
    which is also a 10 megapixel camera, but it has the larger image sensor
    (1/1.8" versus 1/2.5" for 850/800/A710) so its pixel size would be about
    the same.
    
    I think all of the above cameras would be good choices. Deciding which
    to get depends on which features are 'most' important to you (i.e., size,
    zoom range, manual control, etc.), not on the number of megapixels.
    
    Hope that helps.

    GARY POGODA at 03:56pm on Wednesday, January 03, 2007

46. The Foveon F13 sensor is 25mm diagonal, the same as the old F7, which was 10mp. The difference being the pixel pitch, which is down to 7.14um in the F13. The sensor operates just like a 3 channel prism camera, with one red sensor, one blue sensor, one green sensor(In this instance they are layers of silicon, stacked). The old sensor paradigm Bayer pattern sensor(2 green, 1 red, 1 blue pixel)has advantages, but are limited in overall size, since most people will not like a huge camera. The Sigma DP1 is more of a proof in concept, as I see it. The concept being that you can get high resolution, high pixel count in a compact camera.

    Digital Don at 03:49pm on Thursday, January 11, 2007

47. The Sigma DP1 has no image stabilization which I like to work with.
    Does the high resolution of the DP1 make it less desirable to have image stabilization?

    Harry Briels at 05:18pm on Thursday, February 08, 2007

48. One correction, the Pixels in the Foveon F13 sensor are 7.8um's. Stabilization? It may be better suited to anchor the camera as best as possible. I use the Foveon sensor in machine vision applications and microscopy, where keeping the camera anchored is very important. It may be so for the average photographer as well.

    Digital Don at 05:27pm on Thursday, February 08, 2007

49. For all the potential inherent in the Foveon technology, it's disappointing that Sigma has chosen to incorporate it into cameras with little appeal to the professional/serious amateur market. The DP-1 could have been a digital Leica, i.e. an unobtrusive, high quality "street" camera. But with no viewfinder or accessory shoe for attaching one, Sigma is clearly throwing this camera into the mix with every other snapshot machine now crowding the market.
    
    The SD14 is likewise an amateur offering, pushing away serious amateurs and certainly professionals. Case in point: autofocus that is tied to the shutter release. When will camera manufacturers understand that NO professional or serious photographer wants or needs to refocus every time he shoots an image. Go back to the days of manual focus cameras and watch how a real photographer works!
    
    The Foveon technology is exciting, and one that I would like to explore, but I may have to wait until a camera manufacturer comes along that actually designs a camera for photographers, not gadget freaks.
    
    My suggestions for Sigma:
    
    DP-1 - Give it an integrated viewfinder, or at least an accessory shoe for an outboard finder. Provide for some kind of focus-on-demand with a focusing sensor in the middle of the image and a thumb button for activating it. Give the photographer a choice.
    
    SD14- once again, a rear-mounted thumb button for activating autofocus on demand.
    That should be coupled with the ability to select the center focusing sensor as the active sensor.
    
    RAF

    RAF at 03:19pm on Friday, February 09, 2007

50. I agree with RAF. I think that sigma should give photographers the choice by incorporating a OV.
    
    We will never be able to guage the true demand LCD v Viewfinder because only a tiny percentage of photographers post on forums such as these.
    
    I was very excited when I first saw this product. As soon as I saw that no OV was present I sank back into my seat and resolved to wait until someone does.
    
    I'm sure it will be a great product, but I just think that it could have been so much better.
    
    I have tried and tried to get along with compacts that only have an LCD screen. It just doesn't work for me.

    John at 07:47am on Thursday, February 22, 2007

51. Well, things have moved on at PMA. Nice clean new (retro) design, a hotshoe and an optional optical viewfinder. Same lens but also looks like there is some manual control, certainly a manual focus wheel on it...
    
    Interesting little camera, shame its not f/2.8 but I like the idea of an f/4 28mm prime in my shirt pocket...
    
    Nice to see that Sigma listened to the photo blogs on this one

    Alan at 09:41pm on Thursday, March 08, 2007

52. As you will conclude from my following question I am far from a prof in digital phototechnology!
    
    I like the spec's of the DP1 except the lack of anti shake(AS).
    
    Does the large sensor allow for substantially higher shutter speeds than in other compact cameras thus making a AS not necessary and usefull?

    Harry Briels at 07:49am on Friday, March 09, 2007

53. The larger sensor will give much better results at hight ISO for shure, but I agree with most of the people here about the small aperture f:4. We have seen compact lenses on full frame point&shoot like the 2.4 Leica CM, 2.8 Minox 35, 1.9 Fujifilm Natura and much more. Those where very compact retactable lenses. Besides with this sensor side and that max aperture it will be imposible o have a little DOF.
    
    I would prefere this before an Image Stabilitation, but it seems we have none of those, just image quality, that's a big "just" but why would I buy an expensive little toy that is not even usable in low light condition without a tripod? if I'll have to bring a tripod then I'll just take mi DSLR not this.
    
    That limitates the handheld use of this camera to day/exterior. (no sens to use this at ISO 1600 when you can use a litle P&S 2.8 with IS at ISO 200 or ISO 100!! it will give same quality?!?!)
    
    I shoot a lot of film and almost never use my P&S Leica CM f:2.4, always on my pocket but not much used. But when I use it is often in interiors at 2.4 1/30 400ISO and with nice background blur. I couldn't get this with the DP1 so it's not a very interesting choice for me anyway.
    
    Day landscape... that's all I can think about. not much use for that money.

    Chema at 01:07pm on Friday, March 09, 2007

54. Has anyone seen a price listed at all? That could vary my thoughts in so many ways. If it were $499, I like it alot but at $999.... well I would so better getting another option.
    
    Also what kind of batteries will this camera use?
    
    Sigma take to long to get things out especially after announcing a product.
    
    Mark

    Mark at 01:53pm on Friday, March 09, 2007

55. http://www.sigma-dp1.com
    
    secret website
    
    I used the SD-14 special website & altered it and wahoo!
    
    only mention of ISO is flash performance at ISO200
    
    No price but this thing has to net out no less than US$700. & I wouldn't be surprized at $1K. This is not a toy sensor.
    
    robert

    Robert at 02:41pm on Friday, March 09, 2007

56. Harry (52), the good news is that, with the DP1's 28mm lens, camera
    shake will be MUCH less noticeable than it would for the same shot at
    higher focal lengths.

    GARY POGODA at 05:22pm on Friday, March 09, 2007

57. Post 53 - Chema
    
    f/2.8 is just one stop faster than f/4.0.
    
    An exposure at f/2.8 with ISO 100
    equals
    An exposure at f/4.0 with ISO 200 (NOT 1600)
    
    Please do your maths before posting!

    Jag at 12:23am on Sunday, March 11, 2007

58. Post 57 - Jag
    
    I did. Please let me explain to you so you understand my point:
    
    the same reciprocity with these to situation with same avaiable light:
    
    f:4 1600 ISO WITHOUT Image Stabilitation (3 stops for most ones) equals euhhhh... f:2.8 100 ISO.
    
    How did you said again? Oh yes: Please do your maths before posting!

    Chema at 01:18am on Sunday, March 11, 2007

59. Of course I was talking about only one common situation, a low light handheld situation where you can be limitated at 1/30 with this lens to get sharp results and where your only solution to stay at that minimum speed is to set higher ISO.

    Chema at 01:33am on Sunday, March 11, 2007

60. Now my question is when being forced to go to high ISO in low light condition, because of the F:4 lens, whether having a large sensor will cause "substantially" less noise than the same ISO in a compact with a small sensor?

    Harry Briels at 07:05am on Sunday, March 11, 2007

61. That's the theory; however, in practice, you also have to account for
    the camera's internal noise reduction firmware, which, depending on
    the manufacturer, can improve noise performance, or make it worse
    by wiping out all the fine image detail. The best thing to do is wait for
    the PhotographyBLOG review.

    GARY POGODA at 03:27pm on Sunday, March 11, 2007

62. If you don't do cigar or drug, you can have steady hands and legs and waist, and leaning your head onto the viewfinder and doing a shot of 2~3 seconds in low light with a 28mm f/4 and ISO 400 won't be getting you any blur... but maybe several tries. Don't rely too much on aperture, dude.

    dionysus at 12:16am on Monday, March 12, 2007

63. A friend came back from PMA & here is his comment:
    
    I played with a prototype but it didn't perform as a production camera should. They said they hoped to have the production versions available in June.

    Robert at 10:50pm on Monday, March 12, 2007

64. Robert, that's because it wasn't a production camera
    
    I used the same prototype, and yes, there were some issues, but then again the camera is still 3 months away from launch.

    Mark Goldstein at 10:20am on Tuesday, March 13, 2007

65. http://www.imaging-resource.com/EVENTS/PMAS07/PMAS07VIDEO.HTML#
    
    DP1 video

    Robert at 01:29am on Thursday, March 15, 2007

66. Hmmm, doesn't really show too much of the camera!
    
    I think you'll get a better idea of how the DP1 looks from my PMA show photos:
    
    http://www.photographyblog.com/index.php/weblog/comments/pma_2007_sigma_dp1/

    Mark Goldstein at 12:03pm on Thursday, March 15, 2007

67. 28mm equivalent photography won't benefit from image stabalizing that much. It's more on the long end where you really get an advantage. The minimum you should be able to handhold this focal length is 1/30th of a second (according to the rule, but some are better than others). SOOoooo, if you have a three stop advantage from image stabalizing, do you really think you could handhold it at 1/4 of a second and pull off a sharp picture? It just doesn't come into play at these focal lenghts.
    
    The fact that this camera has an SLR size sensor means HUGE things. The noise levels at iso 800 and 1600 will blow away most point and shoots lower iso's. Better noise performance at high ISO's trump image stabalizing every time. The ability to freeze the action (rather that the motion of your camera) will create sharper pictures in more situations.
    
    Also, please remember that a bigger sensor means shorter depth of field. So even though it's f4, it should have a shorter depth of field than a 2.8 camera with a smaller sensor, provided it's at the same focal length. The telephoto end of P&S camera's don't do 2.8 anyway. I'm bringing this up because someone mentioned background blur.
    
    The choice of using a prime lens was the right one. No zoom mechanism means this lens is designed to have the best performance at 28mm equivalent without the need to perform well at other focal lengths. 28mm is it's sweet spot. There is no point using poor quality optics if you're going to get the most out of the sensor. Everyone knows primes offer the best possible image quality.
    
    As a professional photographer I welcome the effort to get a bigger, better sensor in a compact camera. When I go on vacation, or out with friends, I don't want to carry all my gear with me. It's too big and too heavy, plus expensive, and a risk for theft. For this reason, I'd like a small camera that I can fit in my pocket. The problem is, I have a very high standard for image quality. I have fuji's latest compact, which is rated amongst the best for high iso performance and image quality. How do I view it in comparison to my 5D? Shit. But it's all there is out there right now. This new camera from Sigma seems to be a move in the right direction for pro's looking for a travel/night on the town camera.
    
    The price should be nothing to flinch at for pro's like myself. When you've got 20 g's invested in camera equipment, there really not much that will. You simply make the decision that it's a tool that you need, and will use and so therefore makes it justifiable to by. At least that's what I tell my wife.
    
    Someone said it earlier
    "A 28mm prime that fits into my pocket, I'm in!"

    Lucas at 11:09am on Saturday, March 17, 2007

68. It's true, I realised that at low speeds an image stabilitation couldn't give 3 extra stops, however it can give 2 extra stops acording to dpreview when reviewing wide angles stabilized like the LX2 or nikon L3. That would be useful since the hight ISO images from the foveon (SD10) where a bit too noisi for that sensor size. Let's hope this one has beter hight ISO performance.
    
    I've been looking at full resolution samples from SD14 users and that 4.7MP images are incredible.
    
    I understand why Foveon users are so pleased, I never went to see images from the sd9 or sd10 because the final resolution is a bit low and the camera performance is a joke compared to Canon/Nikon... so never interested me. The colors are a life and the 3D look is what I was used to see in film. It's simply a PERFECT pixel per pixel resolution and color! I had to downsimple a S5 image a LOT to get the same pixel per pixel look.
    
    I don't understand why sigma is the only one using this sensor technology, this is the technology they all have to develop!

    chema at 01:04pm on Saturday, March 17, 2007

69. Maybe I have found a replacement for my compact 28ti.

    dionysus at 03:51pm on Saturday, March 17, 2007

70. Now that Sigma has added an outboard viewfinder on the DP1, I'm probably going to buy it. I'm fascinated by the Foveon technology. The f4 maximum aperture is not a big drawback if the lens is good. Given the fact that it's been designed specifically for this camera, it ought to be good. I think this will be my next camera purchase. Image stabilization on a 28mm equivalent lens is a non-issue.
    
    RAF

    RAF at 04:24pm on Saturday, March 17, 2007

71. Who needs IS on a wide angle? Average person should be able to hand hold this camera down to 1/30th second or even 1/8 with good technique. Subject movement is more likely to be the issue and IS wont fix that - but a flash will.
    By good hand -holding technique I mean with camera up to your face - not wobbling it around at arm's length watching the TV screen on the back. The rear LCD display has probably caused more blurred photographs that anything else in camera history! No wonder they had to put IS into compact digicams!

    wolfie at 01:24am on Wednesday, April 11, 2007

72. Hi
    
    Tell me please... what is it??? I have see zoom??? Hot foot???
    In my opinion, it is look most better.
    
    http://images.google.pl/imgres?imgurl=http://www.3dnews.ru/_imgdata/img/2007/03/10/42960.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.3dnews.ru/news/sigma_dp1_dslr_tehnologii_v_kompaktnom_tele-192097/&h=413&w=550&sz=33&hl=pl&start=3&sig2=Bt3vU7Jwpud0MRthxi3DWg&um=1&tbnid=xnLxhp8F_T5U3M:&tbnh=100&tbnw=133&ei=bIEnRpOEM5OK-gK3gszuBw&prev=/images?q=sigma+dp1&ndsp=18&svnum=10&um=1&hl=pl&lr=lang_pl&sa=N

    nomen at 02:57pm on Thursday, April 19, 2007