First Look: Production-ready Sigma DP1

[David Rasnake]

After all of yesterday's rumor and speculation died down, there it was, just sitting out in the open this morning when the PMA doors opened. The long-awaited Sigma DP1 compact concept is, in fact, production ready, and we've got the shots and the specs to prove it.

For those who haven't been following the saga, the Sigma DP1, which has been in the concept stage for awhile now, promises DSLR-like image quality (using a DSLR-sized sensor) in a compact camera.

Chained to a display under the watchful eye of the nice folks at Sigma, I wasn't able to sneak a memory card into the DP1 for some test shots. What I can say is that the overall experience seems to be even better than anticipated. The camera, with its fixed 16.6mm (that's roughly a 28mm wide-angle in the traditional 35mm-equivalent format) f/4 lens and unique three-layer, 14 megapixel Foveon X3 sensor sourced from Sigma's DSLR lineup, is a an incredibly responsive performer.

In terms of build, there's a lot more metal here than was seen on earlier prototypes, giving the whole thing the feeling of a precise photographic instrument. Mode choices are basic and familiar (Auto, Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Manual, etc.). In many ways, the vibe is more classic than high tech: like a Leica, but with less pretense. ISO range is limited by compact-camera standards, but with that wide-angle lens, potential DP1 buyers are probably thinking more about the camera's potential as the ultimate portable outdoor shooter.

Per the rumors from yesterday, the most definitive answer coming from the Sigma reps on a release date was still "spring," but given how refined the demo units looked, this seems more and more like a strong possibility.

Update: After further discussions with Sigma, we were able to get some firm release information: it looks like the DP1 could begin showing up in US retailers' inventories by mid March.

Sigma DP1 specifications:

Sensor	14.06 megapixel, 20.7x13.8mm Foveon X3 CMOS sensor
Zoom	16.6mm (28mm) fixed, f/4
LCD/Viewfinder	2.5", 230K-pixel TFT LCD
Sensitivity	ISO 100-800
Shutter Speed	15-1/2000 seconds
Shooting Modes	Auto, Program, Manual, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, Movie
Scene Presets	N/A
White Balance Settings	Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Flash, Custom
Metering Modes	Evaluative, Center, Spot
Focus Modes	Manually Selected Point
Drive Modes	Normal, Continuous Hi, Continuous Low
Flash Modes	Not Specified
Self Timer Settings	10 seconds, 2 seconds, Off
Memory Formats	SD, SDHC
Internal Memory	None
File Formats	JPEG, RAW
Max. Image Size	2640x1760
Max. Video Size	Not Specified
Zoom During Video	Not Specified
Battery	Rechargeable lithium-ion
Connections	USB 2.0, video output, DC input
Additional Features	Sigma wide-angle lens, Foveon X3 sensor

[bTaryag]

I'm not understanding this very well.

I was under the impression that the main (only?) advantage of a large sensor was the ability to get high ISO images with little noise.

If ISO is limited at 800, which isn't all that high, what is the purpose of this camera?

[usapatriot]

Well the larger sensors in DSLR's do not only offer better high ISO performance they also produce better dynamic range and truer colors.

[David Rasnake]

Precisely. It's more a dynamic range issue, as well as a noise issue. Sigma had some enormous prints created from the DP1, and the color rendition and graduation range of this camera is, not surprisingly, up to DSLR standards.

Also, one of the Sigma folks hinted that ISO 1600 was probably in the near future...

dr

[CalebSchmerge]

This would be a neat little camera to carry around when I don't have my DSLR, I'll have to keep my eye on it.

[David Rasnake]

Agreed. I'm just a little scared, given that the whole marketing concept focuses on the premium product aspect, what the price may be. Which opens up an interesting question for the forum: what would you pay for this camera?

dr

[David Rasnake]

Agreed. I'm just a little scared, given that the whole marketing concept focuses on the premium product aspect, what the price may be.

Answering my own question, the latest word is that the DP1 will retail for right at $1000, with a street price closer to $800...

dr

[CalebSchmerge]

Well, if that's the case this just got ripped off of my list. That's just too much for this camera in my opinion.

[Jerry Jackson]

A street price of $800 means the DP1 will likely be my next camera purchase. That said, I'm not in a rush to get another camera (I have too many already).

Still, this is almost exactly what I've been dreaming about since 2002 ... a compact camera with a decent wide angle lens and a DSLR-quality sensor.

Now, if the real-world tests show that the DP1 has serious image quality I'll be sure to buy this thing eventually.

[CalebSchmerge]

I know it has a sensor that is much more expensive than most compact cameras, but I'm just curious, can anyone try to explain why the price is this high? I was excited for this camera.