Just got a Sigma DP2M

[mugent]

A few thoughts for those considering purchasing one...

Battery life is every bit as appalling as you've read, the two batteries mitigates it a little, but it's still bad, I may need to invest in a few more.

The write time complaints I don't really get, the buffer is massive, so I don't think it'll affect me in the real world.
The resolution is brilliant, but you knew this, dynamic range very good.

It's not a camera for all occasions, or even most occasions, but it's very easy to use, simple, and for ultimate quality in an inexpensive, light package, it can't really be beaten.

The high ISO performance is not up to modern standards, but it's pretty good, I've taken colour shots at 800 which are good enough for me, I'm coming from film, so 400-800 as a max is reasonable.

I'm an ex-SD15 user, so I'm used to SPP, it's slow, but I don't mind it.

I miss the lens flexibility of the SD15, but I don't miss carrying the thing around, the DP is very, very light, I barely know I have it with me.

 

[GaryLH]

Have fun w/ it. I have been using wasabi batteries that I bought via amazon. The last set I bought were the db65 replacements (normally for Ricoh grd), on Jon's recommendation due to higher maH spec.

The batteries tend to get better as u recharge them more.. First time no matter which battery seems to be the worst.

If u don't mind using monochrom mode, there is a thread about good iso up to 3200 by using the color wheel in spp.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=133467

Gary

 

[dogberryjr]

Has anyone used Sigma's accessory viewfinder? I can't seem to get the hang of using a camera at army's length.

 

[GaryLH]

I have the one for the dp1m and it is squinty compared to the rollei 40 brightline I put on the dp2m. Better to get a cv brightline (the rollei is a cv).

Gary

 

[jarski]

am usually not getting very exited about point and shoots, my current G1X works ok (with its weaknesses, focus speed in particular). but been recently reading about DP1 & 2 and new 3. interesting and different approach in this category!

 

[dogberryjr]

I have the one for the dp1m and it is squinty compared to the rollei 40 brightline I put on the dp2m. Better to get a cv brightline (the rollei is a cv).

Gary

Just what I was wondering about, thanks!

 

[GaryLH]

I just remembered this ovf thread Samourai posted awhile ago.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=127946

Gary

 

[Keith]

Congrats on the DPM.

I did a crazy thing the other day. I went out to the back of Brisbane to shoot some landscapes which involves a one hour drive and about a 200k round trip. Halfway there I realised I'd left the spare battery for the DP2M in the charger and only had the one in the camera which was fully charged luckily. I managed to come home with about fifty exposures on the SD card, several of which I'm very pleased with so it turned out to be no big deal. I don't think I would have taken any more pics if I'd had both batteries.

 

[GaryLH]

am usually not getting very exited about point and shoots, my current G1X works ok (with its weaknesses, focus speed in particular). but been recently reading about DP1 & 2 and new 3. interesting and different approach in this category!

There is also a rumor about a new dp model by end of his year as well.

Gary

 

[GaryLH]

Congrats on the DPM.

I did a crazy thing the other day. I went out to the back of Brisbane to shoot some landscapes which involves a one hour drive and about a 200k round trip. Halfway there I realised I'd left the spare battery for the DP2M in the charger and only had the one in the camera which was fully charged luckily. I managed to come home with about fifty exposures on the SD card, several of which I'm very pleased with so it turned out to be no big deal. I don't think I would have taken any more pics if I'd had both batteries.

Done that before. 🙁.. In my case the battery was only half charged. After that I made it a point to carry at least one spare battery all the time. 😛

Gary

 

[Keith]

About finders ... I currently have one of those Leitz turret finders on the DPM at the moment ... the VlOOH. I can adjust the finder to suit the exact framaing of the camera by putting it about halfway between 35mm and 50mm ... it's also adjustable for parallax. I was thinking of getting the genuine finder but the VlOOH does a great job ... and looks really unusual.

 

[mugent]

I'd like a proper finder on the DP2M, but I'm getting used to the screen on the back, I can manually focus with it pretty well, it's not so bad.

I see the DP2m (and the other ones) as pretty speciallist, amazing quality in a small, light and fairly inexpensive package, there isn't really much similar to it.