Archiver
Veteran
In the mists of time of 2008, before the birth of micro four thirds and mirrorless cameras, lens manufacturer Sigma announced the arrival of the maverick Sigma DP1. Until this time, no other company had put a large sensor into a compact camera, despite many having the technology to do so. The Sigma DP1 sported a 4.69mp sensor that was only slightly smaller than aps-c, with their proprietary Foveon design that captures red, blue and green wavelengths separately. With a 28mm equivalent lens with f4 aperture, the DP1 was speculated to be a revolution. And it was. Kind of.
The DP1 was riddled with problems that are likely from the first iteration of an unique technology developed by a small company. The autofocus was slow and creaky, write speed was horrendous, jpegs were awful, the settings menu was terrible, specular highlight areas like the sun resulted in a huge pink grid pattern, and anything about ISO400 was a noisy mess. But when shot in bright daylight, and when the raws were processed with a later version of Sigma Photo Pro, the results were verged on magical.
DP1 - Boyds Point by Archiver, on Flickr
DP1 images, especially when processed with SPP, have a sense of depth and 3D pop which was very hard to find in any other camera. There is just something special about the files which had razor sharp detail at the pixel level and a sense of varied colour tones, something that was supplanted only by the Leica M9 and Ricoh GXR M module in later years.
DP1 - A Space of Dreaming by Archiver, on Flickr
The combination of small size and high image quality made it a favourite for everyday carry. It was always with me with a changing array of larger and/or faster cameras like the Canon G10, Canon 5D Mark II, Fuji F30 or Zeiss Ikon ZM.
DP1 - Shadows on the Pier by Archiver, on Flickr
While I use the DP1 much less than before, I still take it for a spin at least once a year. This weekend, I'll take the DP1 on my customary Grand Final Day photo walk, alongside the Panasonic G9 with PL 9mm f1.7 and Oly 17mm f1.2 Pro. Much fun ahead.
The DP1 was riddled with problems that are likely from the first iteration of an unique technology developed by a small company. The autofocus was slow and creaky, write speed was horrendous, jpegs were awful, the settings menu was terrible, specular highlight areas like the sun resulted in a huge pink grid pattern, and anything about ISO400 was a noisy mess. But when shot in bright daylight, and when the raws were processed with a later version of Sigma Photo Pro, the results were verged on magical.
DP1 - Boyds Point by Archiver, on FlickrDP1 images, especially when processed with SPP, have a sense of depth and 3D pop which was very hard to find in any other camera. There is just something special about the files which had razor sharp detail at the pixel level and a sense of varied colour tones, something that was supplanted only by the Leica M9 and Ricoh GXR M module in later years.
DP1 - A Space of Dreaming by Archiver, on FlickrThe combination of small size and high image quality made it a favourite for everyday carry. It was always with me with a changing array of larger and/or faster cameras like the Canon G10, Canon 5D Mark II, Fuji F30 or Zeiss Ikon ZM.
DP1 - Shadows on the Pier by Archiver, on FlickrWhile I use the DP1 much less than before, I still take it for a spin at least once a year. This weekend, I'll take the DP1 on my customary Grand Final Day photo walk, alongside the Panasonic G9 with PL 9mm f1.7 and Oly 17mm f1.2 Pro. Much fun ahead.
Archiver
Veteran
Despite its quirks of operation, I loved the DP1 so much that in 2009, I bought the DP2. The DP2 improved on many of the DP1's failings, with faster operation and focus, better menus, a quick menu button for changing important settings, and slightly better performance above ISO 400. It also shared the DP1's sense of 3D pop, colours and pixel level sharpness.
DP2 - Through The Trees by Archiver, on Flickr
For some reason, I didn't carry the DP2 as much as the DP1, but it still got a lot of use in the first few years.
DP2 - Twilight Tower by Archiver, on Flickr
DP2 - Lara's Return by Archiver, on Flickr
Back then, no other compact cameras had large sensors or image quality like this. The Ricoh GR was not due until the early 2010s, and Canon had not even thought of the G1X. The Sigma DP1 and DP2 were truly the only game in town if you wanted large sensor quality in a compact body.
DP2 - Through The Trees by Archiver, on FlickrFor some reason, I didn't carry the DP2 as much as the DP1, but it still got a lot of use in the first few years.
DP2 - Twilight Tower by Archiver, on FlickrDP2 - Lara's Return by Archiver, on FlickrBack then, no other compact cameras had large sensors or image quality like this. The Ricoh GR was not due until the early 2010s, and Canon had not even thought of the G1X. The Sigma DP1 and DP2 were truly the only game in town if you wanted large sensor quality in a compact body.
shawn
Veteran
Nice shots. Never used the original Sigma Foveons but owned the DP2 Merrill, DP3 Merrill, dp 1 Quattro, sd Quattro H. They were all amazing, and maddening, in one way or the other.
May or may not have a SD1 on the way.
May or may not have a SD1 on the way.
trix4ever
Well-known
Yes, that sensor has something special. I have an SDQuattro with Sigma 17-50 and 8-16, love the colour, but seem to use it for black and white more. Still struggling a bit with the processing.
I wish that Sigma would stop pissing about trying to make a full frame foveon camera and just put this sensor in an L-mount camera. Frankly even the SDQuattro sensor in an Fp would make me very happy.
Those early DP's definitely had something magic, but the DP1 I had nearly drove me mad.
The sensors are terrific, the lenses also great but the bodies less so.
I wish that Sigma would stop pissing about trying to make a full frame foveon camera and just put this sensor in an L-mount camera. Frankly even the SDQuattro sensor in an Fp would make me very happy.
Those early DP's definitely had something magic, but the DP1 I had nearly drove me mad.
The sensors are terrific, the lenses also great but the bodies less so.
shawn
Veteran
The Quattros are really nice in the ability to use DNG to avoid SPP. Huge files but they can be lossless compressed with adobe dng converter. An L mount sd Quattro H would have been an awesome camera.
bjolester
Well-known
Sigma DP1s
Rowing Boat by bjolester, on Flickr
Lake Reflections II by bjolester, on Flickr
Noctilucent Clouds_foveon by bjolester, on Flickr
Rowing Boat by bjolester, on Flickr
Lake Reflections II by bjolester, on Flickr
Noctilucent Clouds_foveon by bjolester, on Flickr
bullterrier
Established
love the low res and color moire or lack there off.the 40 ish lens is good for closeups.Dp2 got a green tint nothing that cant be fixed in PP.The dp2s is almost good except the weird color modes compared with sigma SD9
I make sure having the right in camera settings for the scene then there is WB.the process is Tiffs from SPP. then RT or your favourite editing program
DP2S
I make sure having the right in camera settings for the scene then there is WB.the process is Tiffs from SPP. then RT or your favourite editing program
DP2S