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
Last edited:
dfatty
Well-known
Interesting, Gary. The 2 stops in monochrome sounds great, I'd really like that. I'm not sure I'm convinced about the shape, though, it seems like a PITA for camera bags. And the SD door rubber flap does sound idiotic indeed.
While the 2 stops sounds great, I'll probably wait until they go on blowout before getting one. I'm still happy with the Merrills.
While the 2 stops sounds great, I'll probably wait until they go on blowout before getting one. I'm still happy with the Merrills.
GaryLH
Veteran
Almost 2 stops in monochrom. I going to post the high iso shots soon. Don't blame u for waiting. From the high iso testing u can c awb is still doing some weird stuff depending on iso. Also now that I looked again, for the Quattro, banding noise slider is disabled period, no matter color or b&w.
Don't blame u for holding off. If I was not the curious type and a gear head I would have waited until the sales started as well.
Gary
Don't blame u for holding off. If I was not the curious type and a gear head I would have waited until the sales started as well.
Gary
GaryLH
Veteran
So far the biggest raw file I have seen is a 61mb file from the Quattro. They are varying all over the place from low if 50mb to the 61mb so far. It appears that it is embedding a "fine" JPEG into the raw file.. The Merrill raw file was always 44mb.
Interesting the raw only mode, the size of the raw files are all around 42-45mb so far. It maybe using the "medium" jpg for the embedded jpg.
I am using raw+jpg. I use the jpg files for Aperture to do my sorting and grading. I only work w/ the raw file in spp for those I think are worth it.
Gary
Interesting the raw only mode, the size of the raw files are all around 42-45mb so far. It maybe using the "medium" jpg for the embedded jpg.
I am using raw+jpg. I use the jpg files for Aperture to do my sorting and grading. I only work w/ the raw file in spp for those I think are worth it.
Gary
GaryLH
Veteran
So here are the High ISO test shots. All taken at f2.8 Aperture Priority, AWB setting. In the past everyone agreed that from 100-200 ISO was the best ISO range. So I am not posting anything from that range. The ISO range being tested starts are ISO 400 and goes to 6400 for both color and monochrome. From 3200 to 6400, I have added 1/3 stop ISO values (4000 and 5000). In general I find that there is about one stop in color and almost 2 stops in monochrome. The issue is that everyone has different opinions on what is acceptable level of noise related issues to them.
As said in the early post, the Quattro has eliminated (grayed out the banding noise slider) vs the Merrill which still has this slider active. There is chroma and luminous noise handling for color and luminous only for monochrome now.
Anyway here u go, u judge for yourself
Cheers
Gary
----------------------------------------------- Color and Monochrome shots are paired by ISO ---------------------------------------
ISO 400
ISO 800
ISO 1600
In the past from this point on - the results were just plain horrible.. Whether u like these or not, they are much better than what I remember seeing from the Merrill.
ISO 3200
ISO 4000
ISO 5000
ISO 6400
As said in the early post, the Quattro has eliminated (grayed out the banding noise slider) vs the Merrill which still has this slider active. There is chroma and luminous noise handling for color and luminous only for monochrome now.
Anyway here u go, u judge for yourself
Cheers
Gary
----------------------------------------------- Color and Monochrome shots are paired by ISO ---------------------------------------
ISO 400
ISO 800
ISO 1600
In the past from this point on - the results were just plain horrible.. Whether u like these or not, they are much better than what I remember seeing from the Merrill.
ISO 3200
ISO 4000
ISO 5000
ISO 6400
GaryLH
Veteran
The jpg engine is much better than before.. But if u really want to take advantage of the detail, u must use raw to tiff conversion. The extract jpg from raw is really doing nothing more then giving u a version of the jpg u would have had if u had done either fine or medium jpg (fine for raw+jp and medium for plain raw).
Gary
Gary
Samouraï
Well-known
Thanks for the rundown Gary. Very interesting. And I must say, the relative (to Merrill) lack of banding and noise in those shots is impressive. Colour at ISO 1600 looks completely usable. I'm even impressed by the ISO 6400, to be honest.
I can't wait to see more.
I can't wait to see more.
GaryLH
Veteran
It maybe the best case situation though given how well controlled the setup was. In situations where ambient light is a lot less or the lighting is very different, I expect worse results though.
Gary
Gary
Samouraï
Well-known
I'd imagine so. My Merrill cameras are wildly inconsistent with different light (and not predictably so) but at the similar settings.
I'm feeling a tinge of GAS. I need to sell some equipment before I even consider this camera, though. I'd love to see some more Quattro vs Merrill handling thoughts and image comparisons.
GaryLH
Veteran
I will start posting in the normal foveon image thread as I use the camera in different situations. I don't plan to shoot Merrill during that time though. There have been a lot of blog post already that have been comparing Merrill vs Quattro.
As I said before, if u are ok w/ around 400 and under for iso and u are mainly a color shooter, the Merrill is the better way to go.. Others have posted about the better micro contrast, but I also think better color saturation. I can get shots that remind me of my days of shoooting Kodachrome 25 w/ the Merrill. The Merrill price is good right now and will only go lower before the warehouse inventory is gone. I ordered a dp3m to go w/ the rest of my Merrill cameras.
The dp2 Quattro is the only Quattro I plan to buy unless they fix that sd card door issue, that is the only thing I really hate on the Quattro...
Gary
As I said before, if u are ok w/ around 400 and under for iso and u are mainly a color shooter, the Merrill is the better way to go.. Others have posted about the better micro contrast, but I also think better color saturation. I can get shots that remind me of my days of shoooting Kodachrome 25 w/ the Merrill. The Merrill price is good right now and will only go lower before the warehouse inventory is gone. I ordered a dp3m to go w/ the rest of my Merrill cameras.
The dp2 Quattro is the only Quattro I plan to buy unless they fix that sd card door issue, that is the only thing I really hate on the Quattro...
Gary
GaryLH
Veteran
Btw - large raw to tiff conversion
Tiff 16 files from a Merrill are 88mb. The Quattro ones are 117mb.
Gary
Tiff 16 files from a Merrill are 88mb. The Quattro ones are 117mb.
Gary
Michael Markey
Veteran
Thank you for that detailed review Gary..... 117mb Tiff files , goodness.
My old Vio groans with the size of the current Merrill files
My old Vio groans with the size of the current Merrill files
f16sunshine
Moderator
Thanks Gary.
I'll be the first to say this is not all that encouraging. It sounds like rather than a step forward beyond the Merrils, Sigma has taken a parallel stride landing behind again in some way.
Another stop or even two seems hardly worth it considering all the bags she has packed in the boot!
I'll be the first to say this is not all that encouraging. It sounds like rather than a step forward beyond the Merrils, Sigma has taken a parallel stride landing behind again in some way.
Another stop or even two seems hardly worth it considering all the bags she has packed in the boot!
GaryLH
Veteran
Lol Andy. Yeah I can understand.. I was thinking of the 1 step forward 2 steps back type of quote myself. .. But the side step to a parallel and different view maybe more apt.
Peace
Gary
Peace
Gary
GaryLH
Veteran
Retest at lower lighting - part 1 due to image limit per post
Retest at lower lighting - part 1 due to image limit per post
I decided to do a retest.. I have lowered the lighting in the room to the point just before the AF focus will not lock. This time I have started the test at ISO 800 instead, since this is where the issues on the Merrill start to be seen in certain situations. I have included the color shots from the Merrill here as well. The order u will c in the color section is Merrill first at the reference followed by the Quattro color and then Monochrome.
As a reference the ISO 800 from the prior testing was 1/13 second at f2.8 vs the current lighting condition which is 1/3 second at f2.8 to give a relative EV info for the lighting conditions. The lighting condition is so dark that the first possible hand holdable shot is at ISO 3200 - 1/15 second wide open.
Look at the leather strap and edges of drawer, the color noise starts appearing there first and then the table itself. The Quattro AWB provides a closer to the real color of the drawer by the way.
Anyway again, u be the judge..
Gary
----------------------- Merrill Color first --- Quattro Color --- Quattro Monochrome ------------------------------------------
ISO 800 - 1/3@f2.8
Merrill Color
Quattro Color
Quattro Monochrome
ISO 1600 - 1/8#@2.8
ISO 3200 - 1/15@f2.8
ISO 4000 - 1/15@f2.8
ISO 5000 - 1/20@f2.8
Retest at lower lighting - part 1 due to image limit per post
I decided to do a retest.. I have lowered the lighting in the room to the point just before the AF focus will not lock. This time I have started the test at ISO 800 instead, since this is where the issues on the Merrill start to be seen in certain situations. I have included the color shots from the Merrill here as well. The order u will c in the color section is Merrill first at the reference followed by the Quattro color and then Monochrome.
As a reference the ISO 800 from the prior testing was 1/13 second at f2.8 vs the current lighting condition which is 1/3 second at f2.8 to give a relative EV info for the lighting conditions. The lighting condition is so dark that the first possible hand holdable shot is at ISO 3200 - 1/15 second wide open.
Look at the leather strap and edges of drawer, the color noise starts appearing there first and then the table itself. The Quattro AWB provides a closer to the real color of the drawer by the way.
Anyway again, u be the judge..
Gary
----------------------- Merrill Color first --- Quattro Color --- Quattro Monochrome ------------------------------------------
ISO 800 - 1/3@f2.8
Merrill Color
Quattro Color
Quattro Monochrome
ISO 1600 - 1/8#@2.8
ISO 3200 - 1/15@f2.8
ISO 4000 - 1/15@f2.8
ISO 5000 - 1/20@f2.8
GaryLH
Veteran
Part 2 of the retest
Part 2 of the retest
ISO 6400 - 1/25@f2.8
Part 2 of the retest
ISO 6400 - 1/25@f2.8
GaryLH
Veteran
The extracted jpgs from the raw file
The extracted jpgs from the raw file
So a different test - the extracted JPGs from the RAW files. Normally the embedded JPGs that are in a RAW file from other manufactures tend to be the smallest they support since it is normally just used as a preview. In Sigma's case, they have embedded the full size "FINE" jpg inside their RAW file. This is the reason that their RAW files are all over the place when it comes to the size of those files.
I believe (just my guess) the extracted JPG tells us some interesting things going on between the Merrill and Quattro:
- Improvements in the base JPG engine
- HW level noise algo improvements
- Differences in the emphasis
Note an anomaly at ISO 1600 on the Quattro where the color noise is outrageous in the JPG but is back to being fine at ISO 3200. It looks like the noise algo got interrupted based on what is seen of the next one at ISO 3200.
A surprise --> I find that the JPG engine in terms of color and saturation, some of the Quattro looks very close to the Merrill TIFF output.. This time I am only concentrating on the color shots.
Again u be the judge.. Same order - Merrill color followed by Quattro color
Gary
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ISO 800
Merrill
Quattro
ISO 1600
ISO 3200
ISO 4000
ISO 5000
ISO 6400
The extracted jpgs from the raw file
So a different test - the extracted JPGs from the RAW files. Normally the embedded JPGs that are in a RAW file from other manufactures tend to be the smallest they support since it is normally just used as a preview. In Sigma's case, they have embedded the full size "FINE" jpg inside their RAW file. This is the reason that their RAW files are all over the place when it comes to the size of those files.
I believe (just my guess) the extracted JPG tells us some interesting things going on between the Merrill and Quattro:
- Improvements in the base JPG engine
- HW level noise algo improvements
- Differences in the emphasis
Note an anomaly at ISO 1600 on the Quattro where the color noise is outrageous in the JPG but is back to being fine at ISO 3200. It looks like the noise algo got interrupted based on what is seen of the next one at ISO 3200.
A surprise --> I find that the JPG engine in terms of color and saturation, some of the Quattro looks very close to the Merrill TIFF output.. This time I am only concentrating on the color shots.
Again u be the judge.. Same order - Merrill color followed by Quattro color
Gary
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
ISO 800
Merrill
Quattro
ISO 1600
ISO 3200
ISO 4000
ISO 5000
ISO 6400
GaryLH
Veteran
Some final thoughts
I think that Sigma has accomplished the following goals at the expense of what I would say dubious design points (reference - the bad - in initial post). These are:
- higher iso performance
- slightly better af
- faster sd card write - still slow compared to other cameras
-- but what other cameras need to support max of around 61mb raw file or 61+17 for raw+jpg?
- higher resolution
-- at cost of fine color detail and micro contrast (does every photo require that?)
- better accuracy of awb (still got a way to go compared to Fuji and Nikon)
For me, the worst and stupidest design choice is the sd card door. This will keep me from buying another Quattro until they change the design --> bought a dp3 Merrill, I won't wait for a Quattro version since I don't think they will do something about this until they have released the first three dp Quattro models.
With that all said, the dp2 is really my most used camera. The dp2q accomplishes what I am after. A dp2 that I can use in more situations.. Given I am mainly a monochrome shooter w/ the dp cameras, having usable iso up to 4000 and ok to 6400.. The situations where I can hand hold have gone up tremendously compared to the Merrill..
For me.. I think it is going to be worth it, but only time will tell. If u are purely a landscape shooter and/or u use a tripod anyway, I don't think the upgrade to the Quattro is worth it.
Gary
Ps.. I forgot to mention, the ooc jpg from the Quattro is actually usable up to around 5000, but to really c fine detail, u need to converted tiff 16 from the raw file.
I think that Sigma has accomplished the following goals at the expense of what I would say dubious design points (reference - the bad - in initial post). These are:
- higher iso performance
- slightly better af
- faster sd card write - still slow compared to other cameras
-- but what other cameras need to support max of around 61mb raw file or 61+17 for raw+jpg?
- higher resolution
-- at cost of fine color detail and micro contrast (does every photo require that?)
- better accuracy of awb (still got a way to go compared to Fuji and Nikon)
For me, the worst and stupidest design choice is the sd card door. This will keep me from buying another Quattro until they change the design --> bought a dp3 Merrill, I won't wait for a Quattro version since I don't think they will do something about this until they have released the first three dp Quattro models.
With that all said, the dp2 is really my most used camera. The dp2q accomplishes what I am after. A dp2 that I can use in more situations.. Given I am mainly a monochrome shooter w/ the dp cameras, having usable iso up to 4000 and ok to 6400.. The situations where I can hand hold have gone up tremendously compared to the Merrill..
For me.. I think it is going to be worth it, but only time will tell. If u are purely a landscape shooter and/or u use a tripod anyway, I don't think the upgrade to the Quattro is worth it.
Gary
Ps.. I forgot to mention, the ooc jpg from the Quattro is actually usable up to around 5000, but to really c fine detail, u need to converted tiff 16 from the raw file.
clear2000
Established
Thanks Gary, I'm trying not to like the Quattro, but the iso performance is better than the Merril. I'm looking forward to seeing more B&W comparisons.
I appreciate the time and effort you are putting into this.
Smith
I appreciate the time and effort you are putting into this.
Smith
FA Limited
missing in action
wow gary just wow! thanks for putting in so much time and work doing the testing and being the guinea pig in doing the testing. point form reviews just the way i like them instead of fluffy narrative.
although i sold my merrill, i do wonder if we will ever have another camera that will do something so unique again...
just the way i like them instead of fluffy narrative.although i sold my merrill, i do wonder if we will ever have another camera that will do something so unique again...