GaryLH
Veteran
First impressions on the Sigma dp2 Quattro
First Steve Huff wrote already wrote a good writeup on it.. Check out his review and pics.
http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2014/08/18/got-iq-the-sigma-dp2-quattro-review/
He has test foveon cameras in the past. However, he has never owned a Merrill.. But in general I agree w/ his writeup..
Below are my comments from a Merrill owners perspective. Right now this is more of a first blush from initial testing. I have only had it so far a couple of days. I will post any additional info here as I discover more about the camera.
I decided to chance it
- now that spp seems more stable (still buggy and dog slow)
- new fw update
- the two Quattro threads on getdpi forum
- at end of he day I am really looking at the Quattro as a monochrome camera though more limited then the Leica mm.
The good
- grip is a bit strange, but I have adapted to it. I use it by resting thumb under the four way controller and bottom two fingers under the body. I always shoot two handed anyway. Elbows tuck against the body and left hand cradled under the lens. The way the grip is designed seem to be conducive to this. I always buy a rrs grip for each of my Merrill's anyway (dp1 & 2). One less cost this time.
- af is faster in good light, still bad in poor light.. Now around Fuji x100 speed, give or take. In low light it is reasonable fast if u are willing to use the af assist lamp.
- high iso gains a full stop in color and monochrome almost two stops.
-- iso 6400 seems usable in monochrome compared to Merrill which was plain horrible.. More testing in different situations needed here.
- u still get 2 batteries plus a pouch for the second that can be attached the neck strap
- sd write is a bit better but still slow
- like the new addition scroll wheel, designed like the Sony Nex 7 pair style and changes w/ mode (p/a/s/m).
- like the new qs menu but wished it had more latitude in terms of config.
- Merrill pic dimensions 4704x3136 (14.75mp in conventional non-Foveon mp numbers) vs Quattro 5424x3616 (19.61mp) in normal operation
-- new s-hi jpg is 7680x5120 (39.32mp)
-- spp can create a 2x size jpg or tiff during the output process which is equivalent to the s-hi jpg. Not sure right now which us going to end up better. Will play w/ it later.
- the awb seems to be behaving better
The bad
- who are these camera designers!!! They got to be the most stupid guys on the planet when it comes to form over function. Who uses a sd card slot door designed for the seldom used USB rubber flap door. I can c this wearing out before anything else on the camera. Plus the rubber flapper door is always in the way when ejecting the card.
- why do u turn off awb when shooting monochrome? The Merrill does not do this.
- removal of the grid display option
- new spp is a dog.. Buggy and slow.
- if u declare a color raw a monochrome in spp 5 it would display as monochrome, not so in spp 6.
- the raw file is 55mb vs 44 for the old Merrill.. I am wondering if they are I bedding a complete jpg in the raw file vs the small that is normally there just for preview. If they are doing that then spp jpg extract is simpler.
- LCD still hard to c in bright sunlight..ovf is still needed
- the macro adapter lens u bought for the dp2 Merrill now needs a 58to49 step down ring
- lost movie mode (I never used it)
- I think the Merrill LCD maybe easier to c in bright sunlight but only slightly
- does not look like a normal tourist p&s any longer
- new ac charger needs ac cord unlike the Merrill one that has the flip out ac prongs
The different, not sure good or bad
- longer body shape
- in monochrome, Merrill only removes control of chroma noise, the luminous and banding noise sliders are still there in spp 6.0.5. On the Quattro only the luminous noise slider is available.
- a poor light af assist lamp in the lens barrel
- clipping limiter option
- s-curve (fixed) option (off/mild/strong), not user configurable
- more specialized color options
- a level and histogram display. The bad is that the level is obtrusive and the histogram display is paired w/ the level and cannot be separated.
- green af focus lock confirmation led moved from right side of hot shoe to left
- the new battery is actually the same one as used in Panasonic fz200 camera. While it is bigger, it really does not improve the number of shots (in terms of a lot more), but the number of shots are greater.
- I have never used every config option on the Merrill, so not sure about every single config in terms of what has changed.. I have just commented on the ones I noticed.
- while I am fine w/ the grip, I suspect it is not going to go over well for everyone, especially those w/ large hands.
- need some time to investigate more on the low raw mode. One thing I have always like about the pre-Merrill cameras is the creamy look they have. Will c how this goes this really works out in the future. Same w/ the new s-hi jpg, is it better than just doing spp 2x output.
My thoughts so far
- I think the Merrill has better micro contrast and saturated colors but it could be I have not yet learned to adjust the setting of the Quattro as well yet. Kind of like difference between shooting Kodachrome 25 and a good negative film.
- while a lot of people complain about the interpretation of the Quattro vs Merrill ie 4:1:1 vs 1:1:1 (blue:green:red) that is happening, it is still better than the guessing that traditional Bayer array sensors are doing. The Quattro algo can only get better over time. Plus u can still have 1-1-1 relationship by using low raw mode.
- I have always considered my dp Merrill cameras my monochrome cameras. I probably shoot about 80-90% b&w w/ them. I am mainly looking at the Quattro as my dedicated monochrome where the problems associated w/ color algo interpretation is not an issue. Given the better resolution and higher iso capability in monochrome mode. I am hoping it will end up as good as the Leica mm, but only time will tell as I take more pics w/ it.
- I intend to pick up a dp3 Merrill whether I buy another Quattro --> I don't know yet.. Fix the sd card door issue and it would be more likely.
- I plan to play around w/ small (they call low) size raw since it will give me a 1-1-1 at the RGB level
- spp 6.0.5 is a dog.. Wait for spp 6.1
- I hope the sd door doesn't break on me 🙁
- stay w/ Merrill if
-- if u normally shoot between iso 100-400 anyway
-- don't need the higher resolution or marginally faster af
-- u like the better saturation and micro-contrast (at least to me)
- go for Quattro if
-- u need higher iso capability
-- better resolution
-- monochrome should be better than Merrill
-- can u come to grips w/ the new body design especially the grip
My custom setting - similar to what I have on my Merrill
- c1 (for zone focus)
-- manual focus
-- low raw plus jpg
-- monochrome yellow filter mode
-- auto iso from 100 to 6400
-- aperture priority - f16
- c2 (monochrome)
-- spot af
-- priority af
-- af limit on default
-- high raw plus jpg
-- monochrome yellow filter mode
-- aperture priority - f4
- c3 (for color work)
-- same as c2 setting except
--- std color setting
--- aperture priority - f5.6
- custom af limit set from 3.3 ft to infinity
- no changes to qs menu from defaults
I will start posting Quattro pics in the generic foveon thread later. I will post some of the high iso results here in this thread for u to decide for yourself.
Gary
First Steve Huff wrote already wrote a good writeup on it.. Check out his review and pics.
http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2014/08/18/got-iq-the-sigma-dp2-quattro-review/
He has test foveon cameras in the past. However, he has never owned a Merrill.. But in general I agree w/ his writeup..
Below are my comments from a Merrill owners perspective. Right now this is more of a first blush from initial testing. I have only had it so far a couple of days. I will post any additional info here as I discover more about the camera.
I decided to chance it
- now that spp seems more stable (still buggy and dog slow)
- new fw update
- the two Quattro threads on getdpi forum
- at end of he day I am really looking at the Quattro as a monochrome camera though more limited then the Leica mm.
The good
- grip is a bit strange, but I have adapted to it. I use it by resting thumb under the four way controller and bottom two fingers under the body. I always shoot two handed anyway. Elbows tuck against the body and left hand cradled under the lens. The way the grip is designed seem to be conducive to this. I always buy a rrs grip for each of my Merrill's anyway (dp1 & 2). One less cost this time.
- af is faster in good light, still bad in poor light.. Now around Fuji x100 speed, give or take. In low light it is reasonable fast if u are willing to use the af assist lamp.
- high iso gains a full stop in color and monochrome almost two stops.
-- iso 6400 seems usable in monochrome compared to Merrill which was plain horrible.. More testing in different situations needed here.
- u still get 2 batteries plus a pouch for the second that can be attached the neck strap
- sd write is a bit better but still slow
- like the new addition scroll wheel, designed like the Sony Nex 7 pair style and changes w/ mode (p/a/s/m).
- like the new qs menu but wished it had more latitude in terms of config.
- Merrill pic dimensions 4704x3136 (14.75mp in conventional non-Foveon mp numbers) vs Quattro 5424x3616 (19.61mp) in normal operation
-- new s-hi jpg is 7680x5120 (39.32mp)
-- spp can create a 2x size jpg or tiff during the output process which is equivalent to the s-hi jpg. Not sure right now which us going to end up better. Will play w/ it later.
- the awb seems to be behaving better
The bad
- who are these camera designers!!! They got to be the most stupid guys on the planet when it comes to form over function. Who uses a sd card slot door designed for the seldom used USB rubber flap door. I can c this wearing out before anything else on the camera. Plus the rubber flapper door is always in the way when ejecting the card.
- why do u turn off awb when shooting monochrome? The Merrill does not do this.
- removal of the grid display option
- new spp is a dog.. Buggy and slow.
- if u declare a color raw a monochrome in spp 5 it would display as monochrome, not so in spp 6.
- the raw file is 55mb vs 44 for the old Merrill.. I am wondering if they are I bedding a complete jpg in the raw file vs the small that is normally there just for preview. If they are doing that then spp jpg extract is simpler.
- LCD still hard to c in bright sunlight..ovf is still needed
- the macro adapter lens u bought for the dp2 Merrill now needs a 58to49 step down ring
- lost movie mode (I never used it)
- I think the Merrill LCD maybe easier to c in bright sunlight but only slightly
- does not look like a normal tourist p&s any longer
- new ac charger needs ac cord unlike the Merrill one that has the flip out ac prongs
The different, not sure good or bad
- longer body shape
- in monochrome, Merrill only removes control of chroma noise, the luminous and banding noise sliders are still there in spp 6.0.5. On the Quattro only the luminous noise slider is available.
- a poor light af assist lamp in the lens barrel
- clipping limiter option
- s-curve (fixed) option (off/mild/strong), not user configurable
- more specialized color options
- a level and histogram display. The bad is that the level is obtrusive and the histogram display is paired w/ the level and cannot be separated.
- green af focus lock confirmation led moved from right side of hot shoe to left
- the new battery is actually the same one as used in Panasonic fz200 camera. While it is bigger, it really does not improve the number of shots (in terms of a lot more), but the number of shots are greater.
- I have never used every config option on the Merrill, so not sure about every single config in terms of what has changed.. I have just commented on the ones I noticed.
- while I am fine w/ the grip, I suspect it is not going to go over well for everyone, especially those w/ large hands.
- need some time to investigate more on the low raw mode. One thing I have always like about the pre-Merrill cameras is the creamy look they have. Will c how this goes this really works out in the future. Same w/ the new s-hi jpg, is it better than just doing spp 2x output.
My thoughts so far
- I think the Merrill has better micro contrast and saturated colors but it could be I have not yet learned to adjust the setting of the Quattro as well yet. Kind of like difference between shooting Kodachrome 25 and a good negative film.
- while a lot of people complain about the interpretation of the Quattro vs Merrill ie 4:1:1 vs 1:1:1 (blue:green:red) that is happening, it is still better than the guessing that traditional Bayer array sensors are doing. The Quattro algo can only get better over time. Plus u can still have 1-1-1 relationship by using low raw mode.
- I have always considered my dp Merrill cameras my monochrome cameras. I probably shoot about 80-90% b&w w/ them. I am mainly looking at the Quattro as my dedicated monochrome where the problems associated w/ color algo interpretation is not an issue. Given the better resolution and higher iso capability in monochrome mode. I am hoping it will end up as good as the Leica mm, but only time will tell as I take more pics w/ it.
- I intend to pick up a dp3 Merrill whether I buy another Quattro --> I don't know yet.. Fix the sd card door issue and it would be more likely.
- I plan to play around w/ small (they call low) size raw since it will give me a 1-1-1 at the RGB level
- spp 6.0.5 is a dog.. Wait for spp 6.1
- I hope the sd door doesn't break on me 🙁
- stay w/ Merrill if
-- if u normally shoot between iso 100-400 anyway
-- don't need the higher resolution or marginally faster af
-- u like the better saturation and micro-contrast (at least to me)
- go for Quattro if
-- u need higher iso capability
-- better resolution
-- monochrome should be better than Merrill
-- can u come to grips w/ the new body design especially the grip
My custom setting - similar to what I have on my Merrill
- c1 (for zone focus)
-- manual focus
-- low raw plus jpg
-- monochrome yellow filter mode
-- auto iso from 100 to 6400
-- aperture priority - f16
- c2 (monochrome)
-- spot af
-- priority af
-- af limit on default
-- high raw plus jpg
-- monochrome yellow filter mode
-- aperture priority - f4
- c3 (for color work)
-- same as c2 setting except
--- std color setting
--- aperture priority - f5.6
- custom af limit set from 3.3 ft to infinity
- no changes to qs menu from defaults
I will start posting Quattro pics in the generic foveon thread later. I will post some of the high iso results here in this thread for u to decide for yourself.
Gary
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