Sigma DSLR ... show us your images.

[GaryLH]

Looking good Keith.

Gary

 

[Keith]

I actually love the grain from the Merrill sensor when it's used in monochrome mode at higher ISOs. It's the only digital grain I've seen that looks organic to the tonal transitions, and that includes the MM.

Every time I hear about the new Quattro sensor having much less noise at higher ISOs, I really begin to worry that it could be a little too clean for my tastes.

My thoughts exactly ... I really like the output of the current sensor and worry that Sigma are attempting to play with the high ISO boys and girls with the upgrade. As much as the Fuji X series are nice cameras with excellent colours the clean look of the images does little for me.

 

[noimmunity]

My thoughts exactly ... I really like the output of the current sensor and worry that Sigma are attempting to play with the high ISO boys and girls with the upgrade. As much as the Fuji X series are nice cameras with excellent colours the clean look of the images does little for me.

If only the Merrill sensor had been made available in a mirrorless body with relatively compact, uncompromising fast lenses like the Fuji X series, I would have been all over that.

 

[GaryLH]

My thoughts exactly ... I really like the output of the current sensor and worry that Sigma are attempting to play with the high ISO boys and girls with the upgrade. As much as the Fuji X series are nice cameras with excellent colours the clean look of the images does little for me.

For some of the shots I like to do I color, there are times I need iso up to 1600. Right now, 30f1.4 and 50f1.4 at 800 comes close but there have been a couple of times I needed 1600. On the otherhand, monochrom mode, foveon Merrill sensor is already good enough..

Gary

 

[Jamie Pillers]

Keith, I love the look of these portraits. VERY well done.. kudos to you! Is this B&W straight out of camera, or is it post-processing with the Sigma software? Thanks.

 

[Keith]

Keith, I love the look of these portraits. VERY well done.. kudos to you! Is this B&W straight out of camera, or is it post-processing with the Sigma software? Thanks.

Thanks Jamie,

I export the monochrome raw files into ACDSee Pro 6 as tifs for final adjustments after adding a little grain in Sigma Photo Pro. Sigma Photo Pro is actually a very good piece of software but is pretty limited in it's actions and is very resource hungry ... ie SLOW!

The one thing I do consistently in ACDSee is add a slight tone by reducing the blue channel slightly ... it adds a bit of warmth IMO. The rest is just contrast adjustment, curves etc.

 

[GaryLH]

Shots from SD1M and 17-70 Zoom. Walk around various locations in the Monterey and Carmel area on Sunday.

B&W conversion done with Silver FX Pro

Gary

 

[noimmunity]

Love the birds, Gary, especially the last one!

 

[GaryLH]

Thanks
Gary

 

[Keith]

 

[Keith]

 

[Keith]

 

[jarski]

nice work here again 🙂

 

[Keith]

 

[dfatty]

wow.

10 chars.

 

[GaryLH]

I agree.. Nice Keith.

Are u using the sd1m more than the dp Merrill's now?

Gary

 

[Keith]

I agree.. Nice Keith.

Are u using the sd1m more than the dp Merrill's now?

Gary

The poor little DPMs haven't been out of the house since I got the SD1M. I suspected this might happen but it appears to have happened a lot more quickly than I anticipated.

The SD1M certainly has its faults but they are overcome by the control it offers and the fantastic foveon IQ. I also have no real issue with larger cameras ... not really a spontaneous street type shooter at all! 🙂

 

[GaryLH]

So which lens has become your favorite?

Gary

 

[rodt16s]

T
The SD1M certainly has its faults but they are overcome by the control it offers

Do you think the faults are of Sigma's doing or does the sensor also contribute to these...?

Must admit since seeing what Keith has posted from the SD1M, I asked my local camera shop to find a demo version to try out.

 

[Keith]

So which lens has become your favorite?

Gary

Strangely the $399.00 50mm f1.4 ... old version. I read some indifferent reports about this lens but I really like it and the 75mm equivalent focal lenth has grown on me. My best pics with the SD1M so far have defintely been with this lens.

It certainly doesn't have the build quality of the 'Art' lenses and the manual focus ring has poor feel but for the price it's amazing IMO!