Quirky camera gets quirky review ... DP Merrill series by 'English Photographer.'

[jsrockit]

One question remains, why are they sticking with APS sized sensors?
Is their sensor design very expensive to implement in larger size?

Mostly due to costs. When the SD1 came out at $8000, that turned a lot of people off of Sigma. They will have to work hard to get that bad memory out of people's heads. The Dp series has changed a few minds, but ultimately are too niche for most.

That said, I've made flawless 20x30" prints from the DP2m and I know I can go larger.

 

[jsrockit]

I think they've missed a trick by designing it to look like every other small digital camera when it seems to be in a different category altogether.

If it had a tilting screen like the Nex so you could use it as though it had a waist-level viewfinder like a true MF, plus shaped to be held in the hand for composition then its abilities may shine through more strongly.

I, for one, and thankful that it is just an un-asuming brick. I hate grips and tilting screens. If they made it look like a medium format camera, then maybe... but I sure as hell don't need it looking like a Sony Nex or Panasonic G series.

 

[Keith]

That's it .... I could resist no longer. A DP2M is on its way to me from B&H along with a hood ... should be here in a few days. 🙂

 

[marcr1230]

I think someone should tell him that Moire is pronounced mwa-ray and not mwar.
I like the concept, the sensor gets good reviews, personally i'd like a Foveon in an X-Pro 1.
I like the naming convention - what we also need is a OM-D Maitani edition

 

[GaryLH]

That's it .... I could resist no longer. A DP2M is on its way to me from B&H along with a hood ... should be here in a few days. 🙂

Enjoy 😀
Gary

 

[noimmunity]

That's it .... I could resist no longer. A DP2M is on its way to me from B&H along with a hood ... should be here in a few days. 🙂

better get a couple of extra batteries!

p.s. that "irresistibility" continues on and on as you just want incessantly to shoot with the camera, just to see how it looks in Foveon-land!

 

[FrankS]

Imagine how good the next version of this camera could be. (Sorry Keith!) What revisions would you like to see?

 

[Keith]

better get a couple of extra batteries!

p.s. that "irresistibility" continues on and on as you just want incessantly to shoot with the camera, just to see how it looks in Foveon-land!

Apparently they come with two and I'm not a person who takes a lot of exposures when I shoot digitally (work aside) so I'll see how I go.

It amazes me how seductive the images from this foveon sensor are and how ultimately they 'sell' the camera! 🙂

 

[GaryLH]

Sigma did something right when it coes to the sigma educated website as well.
Gary

 

[Keith]

Imagine how good the next version of this camera could be. (Sorry Keith!) What revisions would you like to see?

I must be at RFF ... where we happily discuss revisions to cameras we don't have yet. 😀

I think Sigma don't need to do a lot ... maybe better high ISO performance and try to keep the prices affordable in the current market. And don't change the styling IMO because it's one of the things that makes the DP series unique.

 

[FrankS]

I must be at RFF ... where we happily discuss revisions to cameras we don't have yet. 😀

I think Sigma don't need to do a lot ... maybe better high ISO performance and try to keep the prices affordable in the current market. And don't change the styling IMO because it's one of the things that makes the DP series unique.

I'm just standing on the sidelines, trying to determine if and when to jump in.

 

[Keith]

I'm just standing on the sidelines, trying to determine if and when to jump in.

It's hard to imagine you with a digital camera Frank but in that scenario the DPM would likely be the type you would get IMO. The image quality of the sensor is what attracts people to this camera ... matched with the perfect lenses of course.

 

[burancap]

Well, they are the most filmy digitals I have ever used.

True game changers.

 

[dfatty]

Apparently they come with two and I'm not a person who takes a lot of exposures when I shoot digitally (work aside) so I'll see how I go.

Congrats, Keith, can't wait to see what you can do with it. As for batteries, you should be okay with two as long as you don't chimp too much and it's not too cold, as you know the cold kills batteries quickly. For me at least, I'm not normally a big chimper on other digital cameras but the DP2M begs me to check out the detail. From what I can tell, excessive chimping really shortens the battery life. For what it's worth, third party Samsung IA-BH125C batteries work and can be had for only a few dollars each.

 

[jsrockit]

True game changers.

Too niche to be game changers though... but certainly special and will be cult cameras.

 

[btgc]

English with their love for weird things (separate water taps, marmite etc.) and Sigma cameras are well worth each other 🙂

 

[Keith]

English with their love for weird things (separate water taps, marmite etc.) and Sigma cameras are well worth each other 🙂

😀 😀 😀 😀 😀

 

[burancap]

Too niche to be game changers though... but certainly special and will be cult cameras.

OK. Game changer for me.

I always seemed to be on a quest for "it." When I opened my first few Foveon files and zoomed on what I thought was dust -only to find out that they were well-resolved distant birds, I knew I had found "it."

It is thrilling every time you open a new file.

 

[btgc]

It is thrilling every time you open a new file.

To find a new birds? 😀

I think I get what you mean. I preview RAW in SPP and after couple of seconds spent waiting on ancient CPU applying corrections...wow...picture suddenly clarifies...now go over with loupe tool and...there it is, why DP1 blows away my DSLR with lens of same FOV. And Merril file must look three times more impressive, corresponding to RAW size.