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Sigma DP1 Review

Review Summary
Review Diary (Summary): "In some way the new Sigma DP1 is a great concept. Use a small P&S like camera, insert a larger DSLR sensor (here the Foveon sensor of the Sigma SD14) and add a good lens. Larger sensors can mean less noise and more image quality. ...

Sigma decided to use a fix focus 28mm f/4 lens. While this maybe a popular choice we would like to see a top 28-70mm f/4 zoom lens. Maybe to get a smaller lens the sensor could even be slightly smaller. Also the decision to have a good optical viewfinder (although optional with the DP1) is a good idea. ..."

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Other Reviews For This Model

Review Site Review Score Date Link
Imaging-Resource 9.00 05-03-08 Read Full Review
Review (Summary): "The Sigma DP1 was designed for anyone wanting digital SLR quality in a small package. Starting with the Sigma DP1's sensor, Sigma chose Foveon's 14.1-megapixel sensor that outputs a 4.64-megapixel image. Each of those pixels is created by three photosites that are stacked in layers, recording full color information at every pixel location. The maximum resolution is identical to that of Sigma's SD14 digital SLR: 2640 x 1760 pixels (uninterpolated), with a 3:2 aspect ratio. ...

... 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. ..."



Review Site Review Score Date Link
Trusted Reviews 8.75 05-24-08 Read Full Review
Review (Summary): "There's one compact camera that has caught the imagination of photographers over the last couple of years. It's rare for a compact to stir up much anticipation, but the Sigma DP1 has done just that. It's been a long time coming, being first announced at Photokina 2006 as a development model. The main reason for the fuss is its sensor: the controversial Foveon X3 sensor capable of 14MP resolution, and the first APS-C sized sensor in a compact digicam. ...

... the DP1 is hardly a cheap compact, in fact it costs more than a DSLR, but it is a unique proposition both in terms of its design and its sensor. There are other cameras with similar handling, but the sensor size is sure to appeal to a certain type of photographer. ..."



Review Site Review Score Date Link
DPReview 8.67 05-19-08 Read Full Review
Review (Summary): "The Sigma DP1 is without doubt one of the most eagerly anticipated cameras of late, certainly in the compact camera sector. ... So what is all the fuss about? It's the sensor. The DP1 uses the same Foveon X3 sensor as Sigma's SD14 DSLR and that makes it the first compact camera ever to be made with an SLR-sized sensor (it's around the same size as the Four-Thirds format). ...

As it stands though the DP1 has not been developed to its full potential yet and can only really be recommended for landscape photography (and similar applications) in reasonable light and to photographers who can live with a frustratingly slow speed of operation and the other shortcomings ..."



Review Site Review Score Date Link
ePhotoZine 8.60 04-30-08 Read Full Review
Review (Summary): "... With its 14mp (2652x1768x3 layer) Foveon sensor, the same as in the SD14 SLR camera, along with the latest TRUE (Three-layer Responsive Ultimate Engine) processor algorithms the camera can produce some stunning results for a compact. The sensor is some seven to twelve times larger than regular compact cameras. ...

... The Sigma DP1 is certainly a specialist item designed for those to whom image quality is their key requirement. It's aimed at the professional and advanced amateur image-makers who want the quality it can provide in a pocket-sized bundle. The camera is simple and robust with no pretensions to being pretty, but it is practical with a sensible interface that's not full of fairy-ware!"



Review Site Review Score Date Link
Popular Photography 8.50 03-02-08 Read Full Review
Hands-on Preview (Summary): "Since it was first announced a year and a half ago, Sigma's DP1 (street: $799) has been creating buzz. Yes, that's the same base Foveon X3 chip as its DSLR brother, the SD14, taking up a whopping .5 x .8 square inch of real estate in this compact camera. But the DP1 has all new microlenses, a new Three-layer Responsive Ultimate Engine ("TRUE") processing, a specially designed 28mm f/4 equivalent lens (5 groups/6 elements), a new version of Sigma's Photo Pro RAW conversion software (v2.4 Win/v3.1Mac), and full manual controls, among other high-end features. ...

... But that's all past now. We've got a full production version of the DP1 and it is heading to the Pop Photo lab as we speak. But I couldn't resist stealing it away for a 24-hour whirlwind tour. Was it worth the wait? We'll have to wait for the final certified test results to make our final verdict. But I'm ready to share my initial findings on the shooting experience, feature set and handfeel ..."



Review Site Review Score Date Link
The Online Photographer 8.00 07-29-08 Read Full Review
Review (Summary): "... First let me make it clear that the DP1 is not and never could be what is referred to on TOP as a DMD (Decisive Moment Camera). Why? Because it is slow. That is one of the main reasons I called it a "blast from the past." It suffers from shutter lag, slow focusing, LCD screen lock, and slow write speeds like I haven’t seen in years. ...

... Under the right circumstances the images from this camera can be quite stunning. Noise is low even at ISO 800. Shadow detail is good. Dynamic range may be a little less than most DSLRs, so maintaining highlight detail is more the challenge. Color, contrast and sharpness can all be easily optimized with RAW processing. I was also impressed by how well the images held up even with a lot of post processing in Sigma’s RAW program. ..."



Review Site Review Score Date Link
TheOnlinePhotographer 8.00 04-11-08 Read Full Review
Review (Summary): "... First let me make it clear that the DP1 is not and never could be what is referred to on TOP as a DMD (Decisive Moment Camera). Why? Because it is slow. That is one of the main reasons I called it a "blast from the past." It suffers from shutter lag, slow focusing, LCD screen lock, and slow write speeds like I haven't seen in years. In fact, the LCD screen lock is something I don’t remember at all. ...

... Under the right circumstances the images from this camera can be quite stunning. Noise is low even at ISO 800. Shadow detail is good. Dynamic range may be a little less than most DSLRs, so maintaining highlight detail is more the challenge. Color, contrast and sharpness can all be easily optimized with RAW processing. I was also impressed by how well the images held up even with a lot of post processing in Sigma’s RAW program ..."



Review Site Review Score Date Link
PhotoReview 7.00 04-02-08 Read Full Review
Review (Summary): "One of the most impressive features of this camera is just how much Sigma has packed into its compact body. The sensor is between five and seven times larger than the sensors used in other digicams, which would put the DP-1 in a class of its own were it not for the fact that it's also a very special type of imager...

... Sigma's DP-1 is a revolutionary camera - and quite different from any other digital camera in the current marketplace. This, in part, accounts for its relatively high price tag and restricted feature set (prime lens, pared-down set of controls, limited video capabilities). It is not a camera for point-and-shoot photographers. Nor will it suit photographers who only shoot JPEGs and prefer not to become involved in subsequent editing. ..."



Review Site Review Score Date Link
New York Times 5.00 07-29-08 Read Full Review
Review (Summary): "Sigma, an admired lens company that only recently started making cameras, has introduced the DP1: the world’s first compact camera with an S.L.R.-sized sensor inside. ... It’s what’s called an APS-C size sensor, the same size as what is in pro cameras like the Canon 40D and the Nikon D300. It measures about 1 inch diagonally. ...

... The lack of zoom is probably a deal-killer for a lot of people, but not everyone. The 16.8mm f/4 lens (the film-camera equivalent of 28mm) gives it a wonderfully wide angle, which is ideal for landscapes, cityscapes, interior real-estate shots and so on. ..."



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