Sigma SD15

The Sigma SD15 is a new 14 megapixel DSLR camera. Using the same 14 megapixel Foveon X3, APS-C sized sensor as the SD14, DP1 and new DP2, the Sigma SD15 incorporates the “TRUE II” new image processing engine, a large 3.0 inch LCD monitor and improved processing and operational speed. The SD15 is still very early in development, being shown at Photokina as a non-working prototype under glass. Sigma are giving very little away about the SD15, but Sigma UK’s Paul Reynolds confirmed that it will use SD Cards instead of Compact Flash (as on the previous SD14 model), and that it would be launched in Spring 2009.

Update: We have a gallery of photos of the Sigma SD15 - click the continue link below…

Sigma Press Release

Sigma announce the development of the SD15, a 14 megapixel (2,652x1,768x3 layers) Digital SLR camera.

2008.9.23 - The Sigma Corporation (COO: Kazuto Yamaki) is pleased to announce the new SIGMA SD15 digital SLR camera. This camera is the latest model in Sigma’s digital SLR camera SD series, powered by the 14 megapixel Foveon X3 direct-image-sensor it can capture all primary RGB colors at each and every pixel location arranged in three layers. The developing SD15 incorporates the “TRUE II” new image processing engine. It provides high resolution power and reproduces high definition images rich in gradation and impressive three-dimensional detail. Incorporation of the large 3.0 inch LCD monitor and improved processing speed provide ease of operation of the camera.

This product is showcased at Photokina 2008 in Koln, Germany

Development of the SD15
Since October 2002, Sigma has introduced three digital SLR cameras, the SD9, SD10 and SD14 to the market. In March 2008 Sigma also introduced a high-end compact digital camera, the DP1 which uses the same large image sensor as is featured in Sigma’s digital SLR cameras. They have established a strong following from a wide range of photographers, both amateur and professional. Photographers expressed a desire to incorporate the image processing engine “TRUE”, which is used in the DP1, into a digital SLR camera. In order to meet this demand, the SD15, with high resolution direct image sensor, has been designed around the new “TRUE II” image processing engine. This combination delivers superior image quality as well as improved processing speed, operation and performance.

Published: Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Reader Comments

1. Please do not continue to publish Sigma's lies. The SD15 is NOT a 14 Mpixel camera - it is less than 5 Mpixels - just very good pixels.
   
   It seems that marketing people still have us in their grip if intelligent sites like yours publish such headlines.

   Andrew at 08:25am on Tuesday, September 23, 2008

2. Please ignore Andrews comment and read up on sensors and their differences. Take a look at photos taken with this camera.

   Mark at 10:13am on Tuesday, September 23, 2008

3. 14MP?
   OMG, that's more resolution than my 1Ds.
   I think I'll even exchange my p45 for the SD15!
   
   
   No man! It's less than 5mp. Which is tonnes if you are printing up to A3... and overkill in newspring, but still no match for any camera with real resolution. And non-green shadows. And a full frame not 1.69999 repeating crop or whatever.
   
   (I don't really own a p45; if I did, I wouldn't be commenting on this site right now. I'd be waking up with supermodels)

   dario at 11:21am on Tuesday, September 23, 2008

4. at Andrew: did you ever notice that your 8 Mpx DSLR Canon camera is NOT really an 8Mpx camera? It might just be 4Mpx, depending on the mosaic used.
   Each sensor is just sensitive to a single color (r/g/b), so each "pixel" in the final image is obtained using several sensors. Actually the color resolution is much lower
   
   Sigma puts them in 3 parallel layers, others put them in series. It's exactly the same thing. Wake up and check your facts

   pixel0rs! at 09:50pm on Tuesday, September 23, 2008

5. What's worrying is that they haven't improved the sensor at all in such a long time.
   Digital image processing can't help IQ further than the limits set by hardware.
   
   The Sigma SD14 was announced in Sept 2k6, and after two years have passed, they haven't developed any new technology.
   
   Depressing

   pixel0rs! at 09:57pm on Tuesday, September 23, 2008

6. What You expect from a lens company that has limited budget to make a rival aginst poplular DSLRs friends? Faveon sensors made people more exited in past.Someting revolutionary.Sigma is a good 3rd party lens company for our wallets sake. When Sigma bought the patent (I think from Swiss company-probably wrong) I lost all my hope to develop that brilliant idea in photo technology.(The idea of simulating film layers still good to get better stops about DR) Cause developing tech has huge cost.It is absolutely seen just Canon can handle developing new technology and providing innovations about sensors(Maybe Sony will come after soon)
   
   My grandpa said me when I was young; Being a good player on field never means being a good coach out of field...

   Mustafa Ajlan Abudak-Turkey at 10:33pm on Tuesday, September 23, 2008

7. For my personal taste, IQ of Foveon sensor at lower ISO is much better that that of sensors with Beyer pattern. In fact the difference is quite obvious. I like the naturally saturated colours, the deep dynamic range and the three-dimensional-like livelyness of the pictures. I just can not get over the much poorer overall photographic experience of Sigma SD14 that the casual user like me (not a professional) holds for very important. Of course good high ISO IQ, speed, user interface, functionality, form factor, weight, customisability and compatability are KO kriteria which would drift me away from the beatuful IQ of Sigma cameras and make me chose Nikon, Canon, Oly...

   memonste at 01:44pm on Wednesday, September 24, 2008

8. I have a Sigma SD14. In case of ASA50 and ASA 100 sensitivity it gives me true reach colours, that you cannot see on Bayer-method pictures.
   The real resolution of the SD14 and the SD15 is equal of a 10 Mpixel Bayer-sensor camera, but only in 4,7 Mpixel (check the SD14 reviews).
   The SD14 is really slow saving the pictures and there is no noise reduction in it for higher sensitivity, so it was necessary to get a faster processor unit.
   The Foveon has no new higher resolution sensor, that is why the SD15 gives you only (REAL) 4,7 Mpixels. I think it is not possible to get more pixels on DX size because of the noise, but it is possible on FX size.
   A good review and comparison of technology:
   http://www.ddisoftware.com/sd14-5d/
   My opinion is that the very low noise only possible at ISO 50 and ISO 100.
   The Foveon sensor is very good for human portraits because of its true colors.

   Janos Lucza at 06:51am on Tuesday, September 30, 2008

9. To Andrew and the others who do not understand how pixels work; it's like this; A Bayer sensor uses 4 color detectors (pixels in ad-speak aren't really pixels, just detectors) red, blue, and two green to make one pixel which is a "picture element" also known as a pixel. In addition the processor algorithm samples adjacent detectors to determine what the final processed picture element will look like. A 10MP Bayer sensor then has 2.5M of red, 2.5M of blue, and 5M of green. The last time I looked that's really only 2.5M of true pixels that have image data.
   
   By the same token, the Foveon will have 3.43M of each color, so there's actually more data for the given size sensor. I regularly print 24x36 inch images without any interpolation, and they sell quite well. The continuing comments are that the detail is amazing and the images look three dimensional. I won't argue the noise issue as that's been the burden of the sd9 through the current model. The cameras are not intended for the fast action sports work, but within their limitations do an outstanding job. When coupled with the better lenses out of the Sigma stable, they do a good job, and for the ones who don't like Sigma glass, there are flange convertors for Leica, Canon, and Nikon that replace the factory SA mount with full functionality.

   Robert Wallis at 02:55am on Monday, October 06, 2008