In praise of the Sigma DP2.1.04

Fuji X100 making my DP2 jealous

Fuji X100 making my DP2 jealous

Yesterday I visited Photokina. I never came near the Sigma DP-cameras as the Sigma stand was simply too crowded. I did fondle the Ricoh GXR + A12 combo (AF somewhat improved but still slowish inside and hunting) for a prolonged time. My impression remains: What a well sculpted camera. What a great handling. What a high price. What a limited amount of visitors, sadly. If I were rich I would buy one just to support Ricoh and to use occasionally.

But the real experience was the Fuji X100. The price was again, again confirmed at approx 1000€. Since these were prototypes much can of course change but the dual viewfinder is amazing. The feel of the aperture ring is smooth, but definite. The manual focus ring the benchmark. All moving dials were firm, but not too firm. The feel was absolutely wonderful.

The staff seemed slightly overwhelmed by the interest and unsure of which of the (slightly different) cameras displayed was closest to the final thing. One muttered that feedback at Photokina would be taken into account. Embarrassingly my feedback was a series of words. I. Want. One. Now.

The best thing is of course that the focal length is so VERY (ahem) different from the DP1 and DP2 that I simply NEED it.

I love my DP-cameras (and hate them a bit too), but if the X100 delivers what it promises (and despite being bigger) this is the benchmark Sigma DP-range will be judged against in the future. And one has to be very fond indeed of the Foveon look (and/or DP price) to buy Sigma.

For me the game changing camera at Photokina is the Panasonic GH2 if AF performance claims (speed and precision) are indeed real. But I saw the biggest smiles around the Pentax 645D and Fuji X100. Since they look and feel like film cameras and being such and old f@rt myself, I find that comforting 😀

Of course, for Leica, these two cameras are not exactly good news.
 
The End

The End

The End

Of this year that is - so it is time for a status. Trying to find my 10 “best shots” of the year the DP2 did well. Although the exercise was totally unscientific (and actually somewhat unfair since the DP2 was the main camera on my summer vacation) I was still a bit surprised to find the actual numbers.

When culling started to become really difficult 26 pictures remained and eight of these were made with the DP2. And this was a ratio that also held in the end: Three pictures from the DP2 of the final ten.

One thing that stood out was the fact that all eight DP2 pictures (although hardly surprising giving the fixed focal length) were “up and close” shots. And, also not surprising, none of them had any post processing done when “judged” – thank you Foveon.

The competition is obviously rearming (new 28mm for the GXR, faster AF for the GXR and the X1) and the X100 is rumoured to be only the start of a series of new Fuji bodies. Yet, for me the DP2 is the modern equivalent of the Contax G series (even though there are no interchangeable lenses) and it is here today.

I will still eye the X100 lustfully, I may even stumble and fall, but whatever happens this regard the DP2 is sitting pretty tight on the list of necessary travel accessories.

Oh, and Sigma, if you can make the AF even faster I would not mind at all 😉
 
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