Tuolumne
Veteran
I went to B&H today to get my hands on a DP2, since there had been so much controversial written about the camera, and I'm really interested in it.
First off, this is not a pocket camera, although it is small. Of course, there are people here who consider a range finder with a small lens a pocket camera, but I am not one of those. To me a pocketable camera is something that can go in your shirt pocket. This will not, unless you are wearing a jungle trecker shirt. I've heard it compared to an Olympus XA. No there, too. The XA is small and it's rounded, smooth body facilitates putting it into a pocket. The DP2 has a pretty big lens that sticks out, even when powered down. Nothing to complain about here, I'm just trying to put its size in perspective.
Build quality - Excellent. I've read complaints about "cheapness", tinniness, etc. Not so. It is quite well built, does not feel cheap in the hand or look cheap. Quite solid.
LCD - Acceptable. Sigma has been excoriated for the screen. I didn't spend alot of time with it, but found it perfectly useable. I could easily do manual focusing in the admittedly bright light of the store. I give it a passing grade.
Auto-focus - much better than I anticipated. I had no problem getting it to auto-focus every time in the store. If it's slow, it's acceptably slow by me. One thing that makes it seem slower is that instead of visibly hunting, the image stays out of focus until it snaps into focus when focus locks. Not a show stopper.
Auto-focus noise - The store was quite noisy, so this was hard to evaluate. However, I have had P&S cameras that sounded like grinding glass when focusing. This is not one of them. I think this is a tempest in a tea pot. Yes, it makes some noise but not that much. Grade: acceptable.
Manual focus - quite easy with the thumb wheel, which is a very effective device, even when focusing at arms length. It would be useful if the distance scale displayed on the LCD could show depth of field. Perhaps they'll add that in a firmware update, but I wouldn't hold my breath. Surprisingly better than I anticipated.
Controls - quite intuitive if you've ever used a P&S digital camera before.
Overall, I was quite pleased. None of the doomsday reports about this camera seem true to me. It will be my next purchase.
/T
First off, this is not a pocket camera, although it is small. Of course, there are people here who consider a range finder with a small lens a pocket camera, but I am not one of those. To me a pocketable camera is something that can go in your shirt pocket. This will not, unless you are wearing a jungle trecker shirt. I've heard it compared to an Olympus XA. No there, too. The XA is small and it's rounded, smooth body facilitates putting it into a pocket. The DP2 has a pretty big lens that sticks out, even when powered down. Nothing to complain about here, I'm just trying to put its size in perspective.
Build quality - Excellent. I've read complaints about "cheapness", tinniness, etc. Not so. It is quite well built, does not feel cheap in the hand or look cheap. Quite solid.
LCD - Acceptable. Sigma has been excoriated for the screen. I didn't spend alot of time with it, but found it perfectly useable. I could easily do manual focusing in the admittedly bright light of the store. I give it a passing grade.
Auto-focus - much better than I anticipated. I had no problem getting it to auto-focus every time in the store. If it's slow, it's acceptably slow by me. One thing that makes it seem slower is that instead of visibly hunting, the image stays out of focus until it snaps into focus when focus locks. Not a show stopper.
Auto-focus noise - The store was quite noisy, so this was hard to evaluate. However, I have had P&S cameras that sounded like grinding glass when focusing. This is not one of them. I think this is a tempest in a tea pot. Yes, it makes some noise but not that much. Grade: acceptable.
Manual focus - quite easy with the thumb wheel, which is a very effective device, even when focusing at arms length. It would be useful if the distance scale displayed on the LCD could show depth of field. Perhaps they'll add that in a firmware update, but I wouldn't hold my breath. Surprisingly better than I anticipated.
Controls - quite intuitive if you've ever used a P&S digital camera before.
Overall, I was quite pleased. None of the doomsday reports about this camera seem true to me. It will be my next purchase.
/T
Kevin
Rainbow Bridge
I'm sure you'll enjoy using it. Remember to buy two extra batteries as well. They drain very quickly on the DP1 and I assume on the DP2 as well.
I recently bought a Luigi case for my DP1 and it makes carrying, holding and shooting the camera much much easier.
I recently bought a Luigi case for my DP1 and it makes carrying, holding and shooting the camera much much easier.
astroman
-
In the price range of the DP-2 there are a lot of cameras to choose from.
Its is in high end price for a P&S.And are there other P&S cameras comparable for less money as we are talking $800
for a point and shoot cameramike kim
Established
You can buy it from ebay for $600. That's only $50 more than the LX3.In the price range of the DP-2 there are a lot of cameras to choose from.
Its is in high end price for a P&S.And are there other P&S cameras comparable for less money as we are talking $800
astroman
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Ill Check it out
Thanks
Thanks
dacaccia
M246&X100V&GFX 50R
In the price range of the DP-2 there are a lot of cameras to choose from.
Its is in high end price for a P&S.And are there other P&S cameras comparable for less money as we are talking $800
yes, lots of P&S - but all of them lack image quality.
The DP2 sensor produces a quality that no other P&S has, due to their mini sensor.
@Tuolomne,
thanks for your report - I feel like you.
I would add a few things:
First - battery charge is too short - because of the AF and the metering (as long as the camera is turned on, it meters). It helps to use an extern viewfinder and turn off the monitor.
Second - the camera has no real sleeping modus. If it turns off after the time you preset, it turns off completely. This is boring - you have to turn it again (and the motive is gone). I shut off the sleeping mode.
Third - the manual focus is great - but I miss a focus control light (as is given with AF).
Fourth - in darkness AF is difficult to handle. A focus light (to turn on or off of course) would have been a good solution.
Fifth - the software is lame - and tends to cyan. It helps to use Adobe's newest RAW converter for PS CS 4.
But that's all. I like the DP2, it is definitely the best minicam I ever have seen. I use it with a Voigtlander viewfinder 40mm. When using a BW film cam I take the DP2 with me, for coloured images, or for images with higher ISO.
You will definitely like the Sigma.
Cheers,
dacaccia
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Tuolumne
Veteran
At least the batteries are cheap. $ 19.95 for the Sigma battery, about 1/3rd the cost of most OEM batteries. So, even if battery performance is poor, it's cheap enough to top off with another two batteries from Sigma for extended shooting.
/T