Sigma DP1 'Merrill'
Related: digital sensor, Sigma, Sigma true-color, true-color sensor or image
Planned for review, due to arrive later this month.
The Sigma DP1 'Merrill' (about $999):
- 46Mp Foveon X3 Direct Image CMOS Sensor
- 3x Color Data in Each Pixel Layer
- 28mm f/2.8 Equivalent FLD Lens
- 3.0" Rear LCD Screen
- Records JPEG & RAW Files (I won't be shooting JPEG).
The DP1 Merrill has a sibling, the DP2 Merrill which is apparently the same except for a 45mm f/2.8 lens instead of a 28mm f/2.8. I consider a 28mm (equiv) much more useful.
The DP1 Merrill shows some promise because of its 15.3 X 3 megapixel true-color sensor and allegedly a very good lens, so I am keeping a totally open mind here— and the image quality under ideal conditions quite possibly could be stunning, literally (in theory) as good as a Nikon D800. We shall see.
I tried the older DP1x last year— best summed up as a 'turd'— awful autofocus (constant backfocus), horrible noise by ISO 400, slow and frustrating to use. I remain concerned about Sigma DP* autofocus problems, this being something that wrecked almost every single one of the self-portraits I made with the DP1x last year (self portraits I do a lot while cycling as no one else is around!). Hopefully it has been improved with the DP1 Merrill.
