Image Quality

All of the sample images in this Review were taken using the 14 megapixel Fine JPEG setting, which gives an average image size of around 2.5Mb.

The Sigma DP2x's image quality is very good, much better than most compact cameras that we've reviewed, and on a par with most compact system cameras.

The Sigma DP2x handled noise well, with only the fastest JPEG setting of ISO 800 showing some noise, slight loss of detail and colour desaturation. I'm a little puzzled why Sigma chose not to include ISO 1600 and 3200 settings for JPEG as well as RAW files.

The Sigma DP2x dealt with chromatic aberrations so well that I struggled to find a single example from the hundreds of frames that I shot. The images were just a little soft straight out of the camera at the default sharpening setting, but you can increase the level in-camera, or use Adobe Photoshop later. The night photograph was very good, with the maximum shutter speed of 15 seconds allowing you to capture enough light for the majority of after-dark situations.

The built-in flash worked quite well indoors, with no red-eye, adequate range and fairly good overall exposure. Macro performance was the only fly in the ointment, allowing you to focus as close as 28cms away from the subject, which means that you'll need to buy the DP2x lens hood and then fit a third-party close-up macro filter if you want to get really close to your subject.

Noise

There are 5 ISO settings available on the Sigma DP2x for JPEGs, with ISO 1600 and 3200 also available when shooting in RAW mode. Here are some 100% crops which show the noise levels for each ISO setting, with JPEG on the left and RAW on the right:

JPEG	RAW
ISO 50 (100% Crop)	ISO 50 (100% Crop)
ISO 100 (100% Crop)	ISO 100 (100% Crop)
ISO 200 (100% Crop)	ISO 200 (100% Crop)
ISO 400 (100% Crop)	ISO 400 (100% Crop)
ISO 800 (100% Crop)	ISO 800 (100% Crop)
	ISO 1600 (100% Crop)
	ISO 3200 (100% Crop)

Sharpening

Here are two 100% crops which have been Saved as Web - Quality 50 in Photoshop. The right-hand image has had some sharpening applied in Photoshop. The images are just a little soft at the default sharpening setting of 0. You can change the in-camera sharpening level to one of the 10 preset preset levels (0.2 increments on a scale of +1 to -1) if you don't like the default look.

Original (100% Crop)	Sharpened (100% Crop)

File Quality

The Sigma DP2x has 3 different JPEG image quality settings available, with Fine being the highest quality option. Here are some 100% crops which show the quality of the various options, with the file size shown in brackets.

14M Fine (2.05Mb) (100% Crop)	14M Normal (1.11Mb) (100% Crop)
14M Basic (0.98Mb) (100% Crop)	14M RAW (15.2Mb) (100% Crop)

Chromatic Aberrations

As with the DP2, the Sigma DP2x handled chromatic aberrations so well during the review that I struggled to find a single example to show you. The ironwork in the corner of this over-exposed roof area is exhibiting just the merest hint of purple-fringing, but you won't notice any chromatic aberrations in almost all photos from the DP2x.

Example 1 (100% Crop)

Macro

The Sigma DP2x doesn't offer a dedicated Macro setting. The closest distance that you can focus on a subject is 28cms away from the camera when it's set to Full Focus mode. The first image shows how close you can get to the subject (in this case a compact flash card). The second image is a 100% crop.

Macro Shot	100% Crop

Flash

The flash settings on the Sigma DP2x are On, Slow Synchro, Red-eye Reduction, Slow Synchro + Red-eye Reduction and Flash Compensation. These shots of a white coloured wall were taken at a distance of 1.5m.

Flash Off - Wide Angle (41mm)	Flash On - Wide Angle (41mm)

And here are a couple of portrait shots. As you can see, neither the Flash On or the Red-Eye Reduction options caused any red-eye.

On	On (100% Crop)
Red-eye Reduction	Red-eye Reduction (100% Crop)

Night

The Sigma DP2x's maximum shutter speed is 15 seconds, which is good news if you're seriously interested in night photography. The shot below was taken using a shutter speed of 15 seconds, aperture of f/8 at ISO 100. I've included a 100% crop of the image to show what the quality is like.

Night Shot	Night Shot (100% Crop)

Sample Images

This is a selection of sample images from the Sigma DP2x camera, which were all taken using the 14 megapixel Fine JPEG setting. The thumbnails below link to the full-sized versions, which have not been altered in any way.

Sample RAW Images

The Sigma DP2x enables users to capture RAW and JPEG format files. We've provided some Sigma RAW (X3F) samples for you to download (thumbnail images shown below are not 100% representative).

Sample Movie & Video

Product Images

Front of the Camera

Front of the Camera / Turned On

Isometric View

Isometric View

Rear of the Camera

Rear of the Camera / Image Displayed

Rear of the Camera / Turned On

Rear of the Camera / Main Menu

Rear of the Camera / Quick Menu

Top of the Camera

Bottom of the Camera

Side of the Camera

Side of the Camera

Front of the Camera

Front of the Camera

Memory Card Slot

Battery Compartment

Conclusion

The Sigma DP2x is a very minor upgrade of the previous DP2s model, with quicker autofocusing being the principal new feature. Although this helps to make the camera faster to operate, it's not enough to keep up with the ever-expanding competition. In isolation the DP2x is a solid enough camera with great image quality, but there are just too many better alternatives on the market.

Four years is a long time in the world of photography, and sadly time hasn't been too kind to Sigma's compact camera vision. Back in 2008, the DP2 stood alone as the only relatively small camera with a DSLR sensor, providing fantastic image quality in a pocketable format. Fast forward to mid-2011 though, and Sigma have been joined by Olympus, Panasonic, Sony, Samsung, Ricoh and most recently Pentax in this segment of the market, with their compact system cameras providing comparable image quality, often in a similar sized package to the DP2x. The compact system cameras also offer the significant benefit of interchangeable lenses, both prime and zoom, making them instantly much more verastile than Sigma's cameras.

Which isn't to say that the Sigma DP2x is suddenly a bad camera. Far from it - the X3F sensor still offers excellent image quality with the added benefit of RAW format support. There is virtually no noise throughout the ISO range, only at the fastest JPEG setting of ISO 800, which left me wondering why Sigma chose not to include ISO 1600 and 3200 settings for JPEG as well as RAW files. Chromatic aberrations like purple and green-fringing, typically a problem in this class of camera, are simply non-existent on the DP2x, testament to the excellent prime lens, which is also the reason for the almost complete lack of pincushion or barrel distortion, and the fast maximum aperture of f/2.8 is very welcome. Just be aware that the quoted 14.06 megapixel resolution isn't comparable to a Bayer sensor, in that it creates much smaller 2652×1768 pixel images which you'll need to interpolate for larger print sizes.

The speed of the DP2x has been improved thanks to the improved AF algorithim, but don't expect a quantum leap in performance from the previous DP2. The DP2x is still not well-suited to quick moving subjects, with a slower and more considered approach required to get the best from it. The full retail price of £619 / $699 is an awful lot to pay for a compact camera, with the DP2x costing the same as a mid-range DSLR camera with kit lens or a comparably-sized compact system camera. So although the Sigma DP2x improves on the previous generation, there are now far too many more verastile and simply better alternatives to recommend it more strongly.

Ratings (out of 5)
Design	3.5
Features	3
Ease-of-use	4
Image quality	4.5
Value for money	3

Review Roundup

Reviews of the Sigma DP2x from around the web.

Specifications

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