Dual Wield Merrills?

[FA Limited]

Anyone have two merrills and use them as your primary cameras? i just spent a weekend with the DP2M and the X100 and yeah... it wasn't even close ... i was thinking of getting a Ricoh GR / Coolpix A but even if the IQ is closer, it won't have the punch kick combo that the Sigma will have...

i would like something wider and the DP1M definitely looks interesting, however it seems a bit crazy to use two sigma cameras. i was thinking of maybe getting a flash to make up for the lack of low light performance.

any thoughts?
thanks!

 

[noimmunity]

I have all 3 DPMs, but they are not the only cameras that I have and use.

Were I limited to the choice of having or carrying only two, I would definitely not want both of them to be DPMs *except when I'm going out to shoot landscape and landscape only.

Things like high ISO, manual focus, OVF, EVF etc. are just too much fun and too important to be willing to use only DPM cameras.

 

[thegman]

I don't, but if I was still using digital, this would be way up my list. My first decent camera was DP-1, I thought it was great, the Merrill versions seem to be more of the same, and that's fine with me.

One wide and one normal/tele Merrill would be everything I need I think. I don't need high ISO, fast frame per second, fast lenses, or video, so the Merrills could be the only cameras I owned easy enough.

 

[sanmich]

If I shot digital, I think a couple of Sigma's would make a lot of sense to me.
Even more so than an m9 with two lenses since I hate changing lenses on the streets.
And when you consider the price....

 

[Keith]

If I shot digital, I think a couple of Sigma's would make a lot of sense to me.
Even more so than an m9 with two lenses since I hate changing lenses on the streets.
And when you consider the price....

I'm thinking of the DP3M to compliment my 2M when the price is right and may even extend the collection to the 1M. Slightly limited ISO aside these Sigmas are phenominal image makers.

 

[jsrockit]

I actually prefer the X100 and X-Pro1 to my Sigma DP2m ... I guess sharpness and resolution weren't as high up on my list as I thought.

 

[mugent]

I think I'd be OK with that. If you aren't fussy about high ISO and fancy features, I think Sigma is as good as it gets in digital at the moment (for the money).

 

[Keith]

I actually prefer the X100 and X-Pro1 to my Sigma DP2m ... I guess sharpness and resolution weren't as high up on my list as I thought.

Sharpness and resolution aren't really the Sigma's mainstay IMO ... though they can't be denied. That sensor just has it's own unique look and IMO it produces better black and whites than the Leica Monochrom.

 

[PaulW128]

Keith;

You've had your DP2M for awhile now, are you overall happy you got it? Still considering getting one, just not sure at this point

Thanks
Paul

 

[Keith]

Keith;

You've had your DP2M for awhile now, are you overall happy you got it? Still considering getting one, just not sure at this point

Thanks
Paul

It's taken me a little while but definitely yes! It's not a camera you love instantly IMO ... you need to let it soak in and look past it's perceived shortcomings! 😀

It's the most rewarding digital camera I've ever owned or used ... I have nothing but praise for what it can do image wise.

 

[PaulW128]

Hi Keith;

Wow, that's great to hear, thanks for sharing

Best
Paul

 

[jsrockit]

Sharpness and resolution aren't really the Sigma's mainstay IMO ... though they can't be denied. That sensor just has it's own unique look and IMO it produces better black and white than the Leica Monochrom.

See, I think that's the issue. I prefer Color to B&W and sometimes the DP2m gets color right too, but not always. I tend to like the DP2m on overcast days more than on sunny days. Perhaps I've gotten used to the CMOS look these days. However, it just isn't as consistent for my needs as my other cameras. I love it when it gets it right, but I cannot depend on it as my only camera to use for a whole day.

On another note, I'm not sure how you can say sharpness and resolution are not its mainstay.... have you made a 20x30" print from one? I have. It will not show any signs of breaking down at all even viewing from 2" away and will be completely sharp corner to corner at f/2.8. Not many APS-C camera / lens combos can boast that.

 

[Keith]

See, I think that's the issue. I prefer Color to B&W and sometimes the DP2m gets color right too, but not always. I tend to like the DP2m on overcast days more than on sunny days. Perhaps I've gotten used to the CMOS look these days. However, it just isn't as consistent for my needs as my other cameras. I love it when it gets it right, but I cannot depend on it as my only camera to use for a whole day.

On another note, I'm not sure how you can say sharpness and resolution are not its mainstay.... have you made a 20x30" print from one? I have. It will not show any signs of breaking down at all even viewing from 2" away and will be completely sharp corner to corner at f/2.8. Not many APS-C camera / lens combos can boast that.

Well, to be more specific John ... not its mainstay in my world! 😀

 

[jsrockit]

Got ya Keith, though I would think some of that helps with the B&W conversions as well. Well, I haven't sold mine, so I must not hate it too much then... I can probably get $650 used for it these days. It is well worth keeping at that price.

 

[Exdsc]

Anyone have two merrills and use them as your primary cameras? i just spent a weekend with the DP2M and the X100 and yeah... it wasn't even close ... i was thinking of getting a Ricoh GR / Coolpix A but even if the IQ is closer, it won't have the punch kick combo that the Sigma will have...

i would like something wider and the DP1M definitely looks interesting, however it seems a bit crazy to use two sigma cameras. i was thinking of maybe getting a flash to make up for the lack of low light performance.

any thoughts?
thanks!

The Sigma SD1 DSLR has the same Merrill sensor, it operates faster with a good VF and it has the option to change lenses and other SLR factor pluses.

For the price of two DP2ms you can buy the SD1.

But then again buying three DP2m has the collector pleasure to it, if you have the money to burn.

 

[Monochrom]

A fourth DP modell

A fourth DP modell

Hi, very intersting....i´m thinking of buying the dp1m....it wouldn´t be a bad idea since you´ll have at least 4 batteries and of course you´re not gonna shoot like a cowboy with each camera in each hand 😉

BTW let´s tell sigma we need....a fourth dp!!!! that would be a 21mm fov...

 

[noimmunity]

The Sigma SD1 DSLR has the same Merrill sensor, it operates faster with a good VF and it has the option to change lenses and other SLR factor pluses.

And of course those other SLR factor minuses.

 

[btgc]

And of course those other SLR factor minuses.

I think different camera firmware and raw processor awareness (if there's place) which camera produced file can have some impact on raw->jpg results.
Probably DP-cams and SD1 with a lens of equivalent FOV won't produce same results, this is what I were saying.

 

[FA Limited]

i agree with john, the colour seems like it is a bit fiddly, especially with the colour modes but with all the information there, in PP it should be easy to get it spot on
using just my own logic, i would imagine the merrill would beat the monochrom because it is recording three separate color intensities for each pixel rather than one. and you don't have to deal with those pesky filters.

the files are just so jaw droppingly beautiful, it seems like a downgrade to use other cameras for low iso work. i dont' really use high iso much only for maybe fill or dark places, i think getting a big sigma flash would make up for that bit. it is kinda going back in the past like how i used to use film P&Ss.

 

[noimmunity]

I suspect you're right.
The lens formula for the DPMs are supposed to be slightly different from the same models that Sigma sells in other mounts.
Then there are also the differences in software.

For me, size/weight was the clincher. I use these for backpacking. An SD1 was barred from consideration *for me* from the start.