Sigma sd Quattro and sd Quattro H

[Harry Caul]

They did add a gimmick that I'm not sure about...new mode which is essentially the Olympus gimmick they put on the pen-f and em5mk2 using multiple shots from single shutter release to create a bigger raw file (emulating a bigger sensor). But this indicates if nothing else, they solved a lot of throughput bottlenecks in their digital path.

Sorry, but I can't stand it when people label features they do not need to be "gimmicks" 🙄

Multi-shot photography has been used on specialty science and industrial sensors for years and is invaluable. To better understand the performance gains go over to DxOMark and look at their 1" sensor DxO One camera.

DxO One score = 70
DxO One "super raw" multi-shot score = 85 (21% improvement!)

To put that into perspective:
Sony A6000 = 82
Nikon D5500 = 84
Sony A7SII = 85
Canon 5DS R = 86

So basically you are getting high-end APS-C/mid-range FF performance out of a 1" sensor.

Sure, not everyone shoots still life and/or architecture, but those folks will see amazing gains in performance with multi-shot cameras. You can also use it as a built-in ND filter to blur water in pinch as well. Given that the Sigma's are already known for their amazing perceived sharpness vis-a-vis their megapixel designation, I for one am super excited to see how much more performance they can eke out.

Sure, street shooters, and wedding/portrait photographers will likely never use it. But just because I don't need 4K or 7 million AF points, that doesn't make those features gimmicks.

By the way, I'm speaking from experience here... I document a lot of art including prints. Camera resolutions are so high these days that moire and color artifacts from the print patterns were a constant struggle with every camera I tried. I was looking at $2-3-4,000 solutions but nothing worked reliably. Then the Oly EM5 mkII w/multi-shot came along and solved all my problems for <$1,000!

 

[jarski]

sure landscape and tripod shooters appreciate pixel shift technology. new Pentax K1 will have it as well.

interesting new camera from Sigma. guess we can finally expect SD Merrill to land somewhere around 300eur/usd level 🙄

 

[Spanik]

From what I get from the sales blub is that it is multi-shot (kinda hdr) but not pixel-shift. Even in landscape this isn't always a blassing. The days that is is absolutely windstill are rare.

 

[Samouraï]

By the way, I'm speaking from experience here... I document a lot of art including prints. Camera resolutions are so high these days that moire and color artifacts from the print patterns were a constant struggle with every camera I tried. I was looking at $2-3-4,000 solutions but nothing worked reliably. Then the Oly EM5 mkII w/multi-shot came along and solved all my problems for <$1,000!

What about a DP3 Merrill?

 

[mingkookoo]

Even more pics from Dp Review... battery grip also
http://www.dpreview.com/sample-galleries/6087587295/sigma-sd-quattro-product-photos

 

[Harry Caul]

What about a DP3 Merrill?

I considered it, but I shoot hundreds of images in a session. The convenience of Lightroom compatibility won out! Not to mention that I already had an EM5 and micro43 lenses...

 

[shawn]

A bit at a loss here. Why a 1.6x and a 1.3x? At least there is a viewfinder.

But very likely the end of the line for the SD1?

EDIT and no 1:1:1 raw for the aps-H version! What were they thinking.

Foveon Quattro sensors do not have the same number of pixels on each layer. Top layer is full resolution, second and third are reduced resolution to make them bigger for better light gathering (lower noise) compared to Merril and earlier versions. Quattros have to interpolate between the three layers.

Shawn

 

[GaryLH]

A bit at a loss here. Why a 1.6x and a 1.3x? At least there is a viewfinder.

But very likely the end of the line for the SD1?

EDIT and no 1:1:1 raw for the aps-H version! What were they thinking.

Actually, u can come close to 1:1:1 if u are willing to accept smaller mp. The small raw maps all 4 pixels of the top layer w/ a single pixel of the red and green layer. It appears to average the top blue layer value.

From my testing, this small raw eliminates most of the false color and aliasing issue. I tend to shot small raw unless I c something that needs to be blown up big..

Gary

 

[Baipin]

There are a lot of things I like about this camera; it's an exciting development for sure, but the location of the viewfinder seems a bit strange to me (I foresee a lot of nose oil on the rear screen). I'm also not sure how I feel about the lens cone; it seems like wasted space. I get that a lens mount for their already-released lenses makes sense for Sigma, but why not go with a shorter registration distance and use something akin to Sony's A to E adapter? This would be a nice, compact kit with LTM or M-mount lenses; not capitalizing on the body's compact size would not be capitalizing on what I'd consider to be an important asset. That said, this might play well with R-mount lenses!

 

[Keith]

Traveling to the beat of their own drum as usual ... it's what I really like about Sigma. It's an interesting release because I've been having a play with my SD1M lately which is a great camera with a few shortcomings.

I have three SA mount lenses so if this venture/camera is successful I may consider this option. The EVF appeals to me ... much more so than the rather dim finder of the SD1M which makes critical manual focus tricky at times.

 

[GaryLH]

From what I get from the sales blub is that it is multi-shot (kinda hdr) but not pixel-shift. Even in landscape this isn't always a blassing. The days that is is absolutely windstill are rare.

Exactly, unless u have a perfectly still subject, it's not clear if u could introduce a descrepency in the shot. Granted the likely hood is extreme small given how fast the multi shot happens.

The Quattro introduced a jumbo jpg setting w/ the DP Quattro as well, which I find sometimes can add descrepency when it goes thru it's algo for increasing the size from the native one. It is better to just shoot large raw and up res in SPP when required IMHO.

Personally, I think your better off to use the APS-h version if u need more resolution. I would love to c dp0q w/ an APS-h version 😛

Gary

 

[shawn]

So I'm on the BH site, more pictures btw, and I'm noticing an expansion port on the bottom. I wonder if a vertical grip is in the works...

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1234172-REG/sigma_sd_quattro_h_mirrorless.html

http://www.sigma-global.com/en/cameras/sd-series/accessories/

 

[fireblade]

I'm sure image quality will not be an issue, I'm liking the design, already owning an Merrill all i want would be an improvement at higher ISO. Interesting to see what images Sigma put out there for this camera.

 

[vytasn]

Does anyone know if there are any wide angle options for sigma, around the equivalent of 20-24mm in FF?

 

[GaryLH]

Does anyone know if there are any wide angle options for sigma, around the equivalent of 20-24mm in FF?

The DP0 is equivelant to 21 fov..

In terms of sd1 dslr supported lenses there are several that fall into that range and wider.

Gary

 

[GaryLH]

Forgot to add

I have both the 10-20 and the 12-24.. My copy of the 12-24 is slightly better than the 10-20.. But when u need 10 (15fov) the 12 (18fov) won't cut it when shooting in tight places.

W/ the APS-h using a 1.3 crop factor even my 17-70 zoom becomes more interesting at 22.1 mm at the 17 end..

I would look to the APS-h version if u are series about superwide or landscape since it also has support for more mp.

Depending on how the reviews go, I'll probably save up for the APS-h myself.

Gary

 

[vytasn]

Forgot to add


I would look to the APS-h version if u are series about supervise or landscape since it also has support for more mp.

Depending on how the reviews go, I'll probably save up for the APS-h myself.

Gary

Thanks, the APS-h version does look super interesting. I am the market for a new digital camera and I am getting a headache with all the choices.

 

[GaryLH]

Sigma foveon cameras take some getting used to...they are not for everyone to say the least. In the past slow and patience would be the hall mark of a typical user. They are great for still life, detail and landscape work. Ok for other work.. Action photography is not their thing.

the review will be interesting to c what has improved.

Gary

 

[GaryLH]

Darn...🙁

The DP Quattro series cameras has an additional aspect ratio 21:9 that they left out of new sd quattro cameras.

Gary

 

[Eric T]

I was a big fan of the Merrill cameras but I just don't think the Quattro cameras are a step up in IQ. I liked my SD1 but for some reason it became a huge battery hog so I stopped using it.
I just don't like the Quattro sensor. I don't like the lower resolution for two of three colors compared to the Merrill sensor. The Quattro files process faster and are a little better at higher ISO but, for me, the IQ isn't there.
I love the Foveon concept but the technology isn't there yet to handle the noise at high ISO.
I am tempted to try the new SD Quattro but I will wait for a comparison with the SD1.