burancap
Veteran
Battery life? HA!
Without question, my biggest gripe so far! Surely this is why Sigma includes not one, but two batteries! Frankly, two is not enough. I think that the 100-200 shots/battery being claimed elsewhere would be fantastic. I am getting maybe 50!!!
Batteries (and any Merrill specific accessories) are hard to come by. It would seem some early adopters are going the eBay/overseas route. If they are available direct from Sigma via their website -well, that is news to me. The good news is that the battery is apparently the equivalent of the Ricoh GRD IV which is available. I have bought some battery holsters and plan on filling them up!
Without question, my biggest gripe so far! Surely this is why Sigma includes not one, but two batteries! Frankly, two is not enough. I think that the 100-200 shots/battery being claimed elsewhere would be fantastic. I am getting maybe 50!!!
Batteries (and any Merrill specific accessories) are hard to come by. It would seem some early adopters are going the eBay/overseas route. If they are available direct from Sigma via their website -well, that is news to me. The good news is that the battery is apparently the equivalent of the Ricoh GRD IV which is available. I have bought some battery holsters and plan on filling them up!
burancap
Veteran
Wow, manufactuers just keep seeing how low they can go and still get our cash.
I don't know what is going on! Heavy file transfer in this case, I suppose??? Regarding other manufacturers -you may well be right as batteries keep getting worse and worse!
Back in the day, I bought a Nikon D50 and it came with two batteries. Even after all of these years and use/abuse -I often forget the thing even has a battery! Excellent!
In the short time I have had the DP2M -I forgot the second battery ONCE. It will not happen again. My purchased holsters will be going bandolier style on a new strap (the stock one is awful)!
btgc
Veteran
Not a bad thing, people used to 500 shots per charge will not bid on Merril DP's. Question, if bargain lovers will still be OK with 50 shots - if only that's not issue of new battery while being broken into.
d_ross
Registered User
I have no idea how many shots I get from my DP2 battery now, and am not concerned with this when the DP2M arrives. I think DP camera's are for a specific type of person, myself included. I like them because the result is film like with extremely good detail etc. if you want speed, and want to take 5000 pictures a day, then you would be a fool to buy any DP camera, but if you think and work slowly, in the tradition of film, and your not trying to be Garry Winogrand, I can't think of a better camera!
Archlich
Well-known
Well, 50 shots per charge seems to be extreme.
To me, part of the "film like" experience is never to worry about batteries. Even on a long trip one may need only a pair of button cells to roll for months...now you have to carry half a dozen small Li-on bricks during a day's walk.
Wonder if this could be fixed via firmware.
To me, part of the "film like" experience is never to worry about batteries. Even on a long trip one may need only a pair of button cells to roll for months...now you have to carry half a dozen small Li-on bricks during a day's walk.
Wonder if this could be fixed via firmware.
d_ross
Registered User
I don't think it's near that bad, I have two batteries with my current DP2, I have them both charged and in a day out working I have never run out of battery power. Seriously if you were using film on a day out how many rolls would one usually shoot?
There are issues with the camera's for certain types of users, but if you fit the type of user the camera is designed for, and your prime concern is a quality image, then is changing a battery really that big a deal? would anyone actually take a lesser image quality for extended battery power?
burancap
Veteran
Folks, I have a crushing, debilitating hangover or I would comment further. Here is my best shot ...
It is the internet and you both are absolutely correct! My comment of "maybe 50" was just that ... a comment! I will try and flex the camera further this weekend and get some more specific data regarding battery performance.
In the meantime...
1.) Should the battery performance be better? Absolutely!
2.) Is it the closest thing to film in the digital world? Closest yet, IMHO. This is 120 slide film with no funny smells!
3). Is that accomplished in an incredibly small -though perhaps not pocketable format? Yes!
We are dealing with transferring 45-55MB files + a "live view" screen of fairly decent resolution -all this from a rather tiny battery. Excuse? Maybe not, but this camera is in a league of one in so many regards that this is important to note.
It is the internet and you both are absolutely correct! My comment of "maybe 50" was just that ... a comment! I will try and flex the camera further this weekend and get some more specific data regarding battery performance.
In the meantime...
1.) Should the battery performance be better? Absolutely!
2.) Is it the closest thing to film in the digital world? Closest yet, IMHO. This is 120 slide film with no funny smells!
3). Is that accomplished in an incredibly small -though perhaps not pocketable format? Yes!
We are dealing with transferring 45-55MB files + a "live view" screen of fairly decent resolution -all this from a rather tiny battery. Excuse? Maybe not, but this camera is in a league of one in so many regards that this is important to note.
lam
Well-known
I have 4 batteries with my DP2x, haven't ever needed to change them though in a day of shooting yet.
I'm intrigued by the DP2m still and always considering just biting the bullet.. the screen is much better?
I'm intrigued by the DP2m still and always considering just biting the bullet.. the screen is much better?
d_ross
Registered User
stangely 50 shots would suit me fine
I rarely shoot more in a day anyway, thanks for your input here. It helped me decide to get one. Cheers
fireblade
Vincenzo.
decent images here.... http://www.sigma-dp.com/DP1Merrill/jp/samplephoto.html
burancap
Veteran
Well, yes. It is much bigger and I would say a better resolution. That may be played up a bit for me with the longer lens than my DP1.
Regardless, it is still a live view and dies in strong light. I have never used a "barn door" style hood on the back, yet. I may try a VF as well. The simple reality is that an optional plugin EVF (think Nex-5n) with this major redesign certainly would have been welcome, IMHO.
johnny9fingers
Well-known
This review from The Luminous Landscape may push a few people off the fence regarding buying this camera....
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/sigma_dp2m_review.shtml
John
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/sigma_dp2m_review.shtml
John
Shutterspark
The perpetual new guy.
A friend bought one of these over the weekend, and while he understandably won't lend it to me properly yet, we swapped our new cameras (I bought an RX100 recently) for an hour or so when we met earlier this week.
I've never owned a DP series camera, so no comparisons to be made there.
My initial impression was that this was definitely not the camera for me.
It felt like a step backwards in terms of things I had come to expect from high end digital cameras in general, namely speed of operation and low light performance. The RX100 has all of these things in *****s. (why is s-pade censored?)
I had no idea why anyone would spend $1000 on one of these.
The photos looked pretty average on the LCD too, but when I got home I was -immensely- impressed at the resolution the camera is capable of. All of the sudden the camera didn't feel like a joke. Most of my shots were botched by motion blur, though, since I admittedly wasn't taking it very seriously and it was getting dark at the time.
I still wouldn't buy one at the current asking price, but as others have mentioned this is a very specialised tool with a very specific target audience. I must admit it seems a bit odd though, since I think if I did actually get this little camera I would feel inclined to put it on a steady tripod to get the most out of it.
Less seriously, it's about the most film like camera I've handled in recent years, and it's not just the look of the files.
Batteries are a lot more like rolls of film than memory cards: with recent SD card sizes going up to 128gb, you can forget about carrying spares (well, perhaps one, just in case) and having to them swap mid-day.
But instead of having to change films every several dozen shots you have to change batteries instead
And when you run out, you're done for the day. No going back and deleting photos to squeeze out some more space. On the plus side, unlike rolls of film at least you can recharge them in your hotel room
Just my two cents.
Oh, and the battery died shortly after I handed the camera back - that foveon sensor must need some serious juice.
Edit: Forgot to mention I hate the ergonomics. A personal thing really, but I wish this camera was made by Ricoh/Pentax. Same goes for the RX100. There's just too much emphasis on making it look nice and clean, sacrificing grips and controls in the process.
I've never owned a DP series camera, so no comparisons to be made there.
My initial impression was that this was definitely not the camera for me.
It felt like a step backwards in terms of things I had come to expect from high end digital cameras in general, namely speed of operation and low light performance. The RX100 has all of these things in *****s. (why is s-pade censored?)
I had no idea why anyone would spend $1000 on one of these.
The photos looked pretty average on the LCD too, but when I got home I was -immensely- impressed at the resolution the camera is capable of. All of the sudden the camera didn't feel like a joke. Most of my shots were botched by motion blur, though, since I admittedly wasn't taking it very seriously and it was getting dark at the time.
I still wouldn't buy one at the current asking price, but as others have mentioned this is a very specialised tool with a very specific target audience. I must admit it seems a bit odd though, since I think if I did actually get this little camera I would feel inclined to put it on a steady tripod to get the most out of it.
Less seriously, it's about the most film like camera I've handled in recent years, and it's not just the look of the files.
Batteries are a lot more like rolls of film than memory cards: with recent SD card sizes going up to 128gb, you can forget about carrying spares (well, perhaps one, just in case) and having to them swap mid-day.
But instead of having to change films every several dozen shots you have to change batteries instead
And when you run out, you're done for the day. No going back and deleting photos to squeeze out some more space. On the plus side, unlike rolls of film at least you can recharge them in your hotel room
Just my two cents.
Oh, and the battery died shortly after I handed the camera back - that foveon sensor must need some serious juice.
Edit: Forgot to mention I hate the ergonomics. A personal thing really, but I wish this camera was made by Ricoh/Pentax. Same goes for the RX100. There's just too much emphasis on making it look nice and clean, sacrificing grips and controls in the process.
tinyrobot
Newbie
I respect Sigma and the Foveon sensor as it was their DP2 that brought me back into photography.
If they sorted out these issues, I'd be happy to make another Sigma purchase.
1. The interface is clunky(before the upgrade with white lettering to help).
2. I manually focus, but wish fast AF was an option.
3. I have the OVF, but don't like it much because it's still a gestimate game. I want a built in viewfinder.
4. No weather sealing.
5. Did they fix the splotches of color issue?
6. Too expensive. (I bought mine right when it came out. I will wait until it drops substantially before consideration)
7. Can the shutter shoot until 100,000 snaps? I wonder.
The SD1 Merrill is not an option for me as Sigma's lenses are not right for me.
The DP2 is a great camera, but it is ONLY the Foveon sensor which makes it great. I just hope Sigma keeps making cameras but improves their R&D.
If they sorted out these issues, I'd be happy to make another Sigma purchase.
1. The interface is clunky(before the upgrade with white lettering to help).
2. I manually focus, but wish fast AF was an option.
3. I have the OVF, but don't like it much because it's still a gestimate game. I want a built in viewfinder.
4. No weather sealing.
5. Did they fix the splotches of color issue?
6. Too expensive. (I bought mine right when it came out. I will wait until it drops substantially before consideration)
7. Can the shutter shoot until 100,000 snaps? I wonder.
The SD1 Merrill is not an option for me as Sigma's lenses are not right for me.
The DP2 is a great camera, but it is ONLY the Foveon sensor which makes it great. I just hope Sigma keeps making cameras but improves their R&D.
Derogatory term in the US.
lam
Well-known
I think the headline from Luminous Landscape defines it well enough:
"Definately Not for Camera Pussys"
"Definately Not for Camera Pussys"
So, did anyone get one?
