Sigma SD1M

[Samouraï]

Do any forum members use this camera? Can anyone comment on the abilities of this camera compared to the DPM series, particularly in regard to lens quality, focusing speed, general quickness.

I'm also curious, if Sigma ever releases a full frame Foveon camera, will the Sigma dlsr mount be backwards compatible? I'm assuming so, but who knows. I'll be first in line for the camera, anyway.

 

[dfatty]

iirc gary has one, he usually posts stuff in the sd1m picture thread in the advanced compact forum.

oh yeah, here's one of his posts with the sd1m.
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2225677&postcount=658
iirc gary's made several posts about it in that forum, i don't recall if he's in the slr forum much.

 

[GaryLH]

Nah I don't hang out at the slr forum... Just look at what is in the current threads that may interest me.

Anyway, Eric and I both have sd1ms along w/ dp Merrill's. Keith ain't biting on the sd1m darn it 😛


Anyway have a look at what I have already posted that dfatty was kind enough to link.. Got any additional questions give me a shout via message if I don't happen to c your thread reply.

Gary

 

[Keith]

I have thought long and hard about the SD1M but the fact that the quirky little square things known as the DPMs are blessed with the same sensor is hard to go past.

In a world of excess available funds I'd have one! 🙂

 

[GaryLH]

If it was not for wanting wider or longer then the dp Merrill series currently has, I would be as happy as u are Keith.

Gary

 

[Samouraï]

I have the DP2M and DP3M, and the SD1M is pretty darn intriguing (I held it in B&H over the summer, and it felt better than any DSLR I've ever held). But I think I'll throw down my chips with its followup.

I emailed Sigma about the camera today, here is the response:

No new camera products that I am aware of and I truly don’t see a 24x36mm Foveon sensored camera in the near to distant future, the file size might become un manageable. As for Adobe we would gladly give them X3F tech specs but they are based in DNG, a file format they invented, and see no reason to change.
Yours Truly,
[X]
Sigma Corporation of America

Interesting about Sigma's stance on giving out its raw tech specs. I had thought the opposite for the past year.

And I've seen Gary's work. It's always great. But I hadn't realized that you used the SD1M as well. What's the flange distance like in comparison to Canon? I'd like to shoot a wedding with one of these, but I feel that the post-processing is too time consuming and computer intensive atm in SPP.

 

[GaryLH]

Thanks for the kind words.

I don't have a canon slr.. But I just did an eyeball measurement using the film plan symbol as ref...looks to be about 38-40mm.. I would say 39...

Af speed is not as good as any of the current dslrs. I would guess about 2nd gen Nikon d200 at best. I would suggest that u might want to find someplace to rent one if unsafe series about using it for wedding photography.

For all the set shots, I don't c a problem.. But the live candids where people are moving..this is where I am not sure.

Well one rumor for end of the year down the tubes 🙁

Gary

 

[GaryLH]

Btw lensrental has for rent w/ the 35f1.4...

http://www.lensrentals.com/rent/compact/sigma/sigma-sd1-merrill-sigma-35mm-f1.4-dg-hsm-a1-kit

Can't believe they put it under compact. It as big as any Nikon dslr.

Gary

 

[Samouraï]

Btw lensrental has for rent w/ the 35f1.4...

http://www.lensrentals.com/rent/compact/sigma/sigma-sd1-merrill-sigma-35mm-f1.4-dg-hsm-a1-kit

Can't believe they put it under compact. It as big as any Nikon dslr.

Gary

Thanks, I may just try it out one of these weeks. You're probablt right about people in motion and using the Sigmas as more considered cameras. Might not be a great candid wedding camera, but maybe an interesting second body/posed portrait/group portrait camera.

 

[Eric T]

As Gary stated above, I have the SD1m. I started with the 18-250mm zoom but now have several lenses. I started with the DPxMs but I wanted other focal lengths and faster lenses.
I also wanted to go wider so I bought the Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5.
In my view, fast lenses are a must with SD1m given the inability of the camera to do well in low light (unless you convert the files in SP5 to black and white).
I continue to be amazed at the resolution of the Foveon sensors - just spectacular.
Posts by Gary and Keith on this forum encouraged me to take the plunge. I now consider other sensors to be inferior (although I still like the Fuji x-trans sensor).
You may have noticed the the SD1m price has gone down again recently.
Most of the lenses I have bought are full frame Sigma lenses so I will be ready if Sigma decides to go full frame with this camera.
After using a more traditional DSLR (such as the Canon 5D mark ii), you have to be willing to slow down with the SD1m. Buffering takes time. The viewfinder could be larger but it is ok.
Sigma primes are great, especially the Sigma 35mm f/1.4. I also like the 85 and 105mm.
The mirror slap is minimal on this camera - very well designed.
So take the plunge - especially at current prices.

 

[Samouraï]

As Gary stated above, I have the SD1m. I started with the 18-250mm zoom but now have several lenses. I started with the DPxMs but I wanted other focal lengths and faster lenses.
I also wanted to go wider so I bought the Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5.
In my view, fast lenses are a must with SD1m given the inability of the camera to do well in low light (unless you convert the files in SP5 to black and white).
I continue to be amazed at the resolution of the Foveon sensors - just spectacular.
Posts by Gary and Keith on this forum encouraged me to take the plunge. I now consider other sensors to be inferior (although I still like the Fuji x-trans sensor).
You may have noticed the the SD1m price has gone down again recently.
Most of the lenses I have bought are full frame Sigma lenses so I will be ready if Sigma decides to go full frame with this camera.
After using a more traditional DSLR (such as the Canon 5D mark ii), you have to be willing to slow down with the SD1m. Buffering takes time. The viewfinder could be larger but it is ok.
Sigma primes are great, especially the Sigma 35mm f/1.4. I also like the 85 and 105mm.
The mirror slap is minimal on this camera - very well designed.
So take the plunge - especially at current prices.

I really do want to take the plunge, but I'm already well invested in Canon glass. I was wondering if there was any way to adapt Sigma mount lenses to a Canon camera, or vice versa. Any thoughts?

edit: I've found that people convert Canon glass to SA by switching the mounts. Interesting. Anyway, I'd need a 50mm lens if I went for the SD1M, and I'd want to wait for an Art line update to the 50 length.