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Sigma Photo Pro 5 Software
Sigma supplies Sigma Photo Pro with the Sigma DP1 Merrill; it’s a free download at sigma-dp.com. I am a Mac user, and my comments apply to the OS X version.
The output quality from SPP is excellent. This is not at issue. Alternatives include Iridient Digital 'Iridient Developer'.
The SPP software appears to have changed little since 2009 when I last used it, when it was barely unusable. Sigma has done little for three years to fix the egregious usability problems.
- The user interface displays type so tiny and so dark gray on darker gray that it is difficult to read of the user interface elements, at least on a properly calibrated display.
- The software is unaware of color profiles for screen display, because it renders an image that looks completely different than what will be saved.
- Operation is extremely slow even on a 12-core 3.33 GHz Mac Pro system available, generously configured with memory and PCIe SSD.
- White balance controls are primitive and make adjusting tint and white balance difficult to get right, even if one could see the actual results properly. Trial and error are often needed; shoot a gray card whenever possible; see Setting White Balance in Sigma Photo Pro.
- There is no fast or convenient way to zoom an image to actual pixels and no shortcuts to make this happen; it is a multi-click procedure.
- 32-bit app, years after 64-bit apps were right and proper of OS X.
- The software suffers from multi-threading memory management bugs that cause frequent crashes. I reported many of these but only has been fixed, but several others persist. The problem tends to occur more often on computers with more CPU cores.
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Diglloyd Guide to Mirrorless offers comprehensive integrated coverage of most APS-C and full frame mirrorless cameras and lenses.
Special emphasis is placed on Sony full-frame, including Sony lenses and the high performance Zeiss Batis and Zeiss Loxia lenses plus Rokinon/Samyang and others. Fujifilm X, Olympus and Panasonic M4/3, Sigma dp Merrill and dp/sd Quattro are also covered in depth. Years in the making, it offers a wealth of material for choosing and using a mirrorless camera.
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Want a preview? Click on any page below to see an excerpt as well as extensive blog coverage, for example on Sony.