Sigma DP-2 Reviews and Buying Tips
June 22nd, 2009 • Filed Under•30 views
Featured with a 14 Mega Pixel FOVEON X3 direct image sensor,The Sigma DP-2 Digital Point & Shoot Camera is approximately seven to twelve times larger than the 1/1.8 inch to 1/2.5 inch image sensors used in ordinary compact digital cameras.
Index of Sigma DP-2 Reviews
- Trustedreviews—For the enthusiast there can little doubt that the DP-series is appealing, and Sigma must be applauded for bringing the concept to fruition. However despite the many known issues of the original, the DP2 retains many of the same shortcomings, and even brings a few new ones to the table.So while the DP2 comes tantalisingly close in offering big sensor performance in a small and very discrete body, I for one can’t help but feel that Sigma has a way to go before perfecting its operation.If you can get past its obvious limitations – the price will be a factor for the majority of people – then there is a lot that the DP2 has to offer. But you really do have to want it, and know how to use it to get the best from it. For most people, I suspect, that it comes as too a high a price to pay.
- photoreview.com.au—Buy this camera if:
- You’re looking for a well-built pocketable camera with P, A, S and M shooting modes – and can afford the relatively high price tag.
- You’re prepared to shoot and process raw files.
- You don’t mind working with a frustratingly non-intuitive user interface and menus that are difficult to read outdoors.
- You’re happy to use the monitor for shot composition.
Don’t buy this camera if:
- You want a point-and-shoot digicam.
- You require high-quality images in dim or contrasty lighting – and when shooting under incandescent lights.
- You want to shoot widescreen or high-definition video (the DP2 can’t).
- PCAdvisor—”The Sigma DP2 is one of a kind and produces strong at images with shallow depth of field. Is it for you? Well, consider this: the Sigma DP2 is pricey, has a confusing menu system, freezes up on occasion, has an unresponsive autofocus and a stiff shutter release button. Oh, and video capture is at a low resolution. But as strange as it is, we like the Sigma DP2.”
- PopPhoto—”In imaging ability, the DP2 doesn’t disappoint. On RAW files converted to TIFFs in Sigma’s Photo Pro software at the default settings, tested resolution rated High through ISO 1600 and Acceptable at ISO 3200. Its scores might have been higher were it not for occasional banding that blurred finer detail in our test target.”
- TechRadar—”The autofocus system is rather less impressive. It’s not that quick, and it’s pretty noisy, too. The manual focus dial makes up for it, though. It’s quick to use and the distance markings are clear.”
- Pocket-lint—”This isn’t however a model that you can expect to get excellent results from straight out of the camera, with shots that require a narrow depth of field, blurring the background, working best. So unless you’re prepared to put in a bit of time in post-production, then this is not the camera for you. However, with a bit of time and patience in Photoshop we were able to achieve pleasing results.”
- PC Magazine—”Bottom Line： The compact Sigma DP2 produces extraordinary D-SLR-quality images, but its steep price and laundry list of drawbacks probably won’t please the average photographer. Enthusiasts, on the other hand, are likely to flip for this camera. Pros:Beautiful D-SLR-quality images. Smaller build than a D-SLR. Fast, high-quality f/2.8 lens. Unique Foveon X3 image processor. Cons:No optical zoom. Lens is not interchangeable. No face detection. Noticeable shutter lag. Low still image and video resolutions. Small LCD. ISO 1600 and 3200 are only available when shooting in RAW format. Noticeable noise above ISO 1600.”
- DPReview—“The DP1 was a difficult camera to review – resolutely niche in its outlook, it was a brave, if not wholly successful, attempt to do something that no large manufacturer seemed willing to risk. We tried to give Sigma credit for taking that risk and producing an interesting, if distinctly esoteric, product. Sadly, we’re not in a position to be much more glowing about the DP2, not because it isn’t a better camera – it is and Sigma deserve a lot of praise for the improvements that have been made – but because it now has comparatively mainstream competition.”
- cnet reviews—“The good: Excellent characteristics for shooting in black and white; compact; nice manual controls. The bad: Slow AF system; short battery life; stiff shutter button; some interface annoyances; occasional lockups; poor white balance; overly blue LCD screen; poor video capture. The bottom line: The Sigma DP2 doesn’t really live up to the promise of its Foveon sensor, but it does excel for shooting in black and white photos.”
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(4.50 out of 5)
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Comment by
Steven R. Lawrie on 22 June 2009:
this is not an easy camera to use. I use a 5d and take a lot of photos. I wanted a go everywhere camera.The auto focus is slow – the manual focus is not so great because the lcd is not so great. Maybe the viewfinder will help. I’ll buy one soon because despite the faults this camera is worth keeping.
Dont buy this if you want to photograph people – the auto focus is too slow.
There is just something about the photos this camera can take. When the focus is bang on its great. But its more than that. These pictures don’t look like photos taken with other digital cameras.
I put them into photoshop and need to do nearly nothing to them – especially the B&W.
Use this camera if you can use an slr. Use this camera if you have patience. Don’t use this camera if you want a quick auto focus.
If you can be patient and if you can put up with slow(ish) write times you will like this. If you are used to an slr and want a walk aroud , you will love this.
This is a great point and shoot but not a point and shoot for somebody who can’t use an slr. In terms of sharpness etc it may not be better than some others – the panasonics/ leicas, the g10 etc. However, the photos this produces make it stand apart from them. The dymnamic range is great. But its something about the colour and the contrast. I have used all the named above so can make that judgement.
I really wanted a digital rangefinder and coudn’t afford one right now. This is not a leica or even an epson but these pictures have a certain chartacter in the same way that rangefinder images do to me. They don’t compare, no question of that – but I have not been disappointed. These are not your usual digital images and I love them for it. They may not be leica images by a long way but there is still something unique about them that makes them stand out and they are undoubtedly comaparable with some dslr images.
I love film but also love the convenience of digital. So I use alien skin etc in photoshop. To my eyes, this is giving me something of the halfway house with minimal help from photoshop.
Give it a go if you are prepared to take your time and dont want quick auto focus and particularly if you want something against the grain, that stands apart from the usual crisp, clean digital image; an image with character earned by the camera and not just by photoshop.
If you can use a cmaera you can make good with this. Not a point and shoot for someone who wants a simple point and shoot. You can find quicker and cheaper point and shoots. You will get the most of this if you understand the basics of camera controls, have patience and appreciate film.
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Comment by
Ken on 22 June 2009:
After using this camera for a few days I really had a difficult time rating the Sigma DP2 with a 4 star or 5 star rating. Yes, the camera is slow to focus in dim light and the user interface is difficult and convoluted. However, the image quality it produces is superb! When all thing are considered, the pluses far out weight the negatives. The camera is capable of producing a technically excellent image, the rest is up to the photographer.
This may not be a beginners camera however, when a person works around the cranky aspects the results are top notch.
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Comment by
Jeffrey A. Echtenkamp on 22 June 2009:
Got my DP2 from Amazon today. Was really excited to see the pictures.
To my disappointment, the item arrived with a crack… when I looked at the LCD for the first time, I noticed a weird “spiderweb” artifact. At first I thought there was just some dirt on the lens… after some looking, its obvious they shipped me a defective unit. (The crack is not on the LCD, its in the imaging path… either the lens or sensor as the spiderweb shows up in the pictures… the outer lens appears intact so its internal to the camera) Imagine looking through a piece of glass that was shot by a pellet gun… that’s what they shipped me.
The 2 pictures I took looked amazing, if you ignore the fact that there is this subtle spiderweb on every single picture.
This is going to be a great product, but Sigma needs to take a serious look at their quality control. This should have been easily caught. The item was well packed, and does not appear to have been damaged during shipment. How you ship a $650 camera with such an obvious defect baffles me.
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UPDATE:
Got the replacement. Had some time to get used to it a bit. So my background… I’m not to familiar with photography… so I might not be the target customer for this, and some of my comments might be my lack of knowledge.
Anyways, for such a small size, this thing can definitely take some amazing pictures. What I noticed is especially in well lit situations (outdoors) where you’ve got alot of different light (reflections, sun, shade, etc) the pictures really pop out at you. In mid to dark light, it takes more work.
My biggest gripes… I don’t like the LCD. Its very difficult to do fine tuning when viewing through an LCD. This makes some of the settings difficult to tweak (especially the manual focus) because you are tweaking below the noise floor of the LCD. If you there is light on the LCD, it makes it even harder. Its not impossible, it just takes some practice.
The auto focus works fairly decent, and the flash has a reasonable recharge time. Zoom would have been nice, but you know going in you won’t get that feature with this camera.
I’m still practicing, but I’m fairly happy with it. When I get a good picture, it definitely blows away any other camera I have.
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