Why I chose the SD1M over an M9.

[dfatty]

keith, fwiw, just noticed the 50/1.4 is $100 off at B&H.

eta: it's a fantastic lens for the price, i have a canon-mount version. very creamy bokeh if you like that sorta thing.

also, that's the old version. just learned there's a new version coming out, no idea on the differences.

 

[hans voralberg]

Thanks Hans. Leica and Nikon only (sadly for me).

Alexander T on DPreview does the EOS conversion, try contacting him. Linky.

 

[shadowfox]

Yep still there.. But the issue relates to phase detection af. Ir wavelength is different, so if u try to focus w/ a ir filter like a 720nm, it will be out of focus. The work around is to af focus normally and then put the 720nm filter on the lens. The ir filters are so dark that normal manual focus is extremely hard.

Thus u will end up using it as a full spectrum camera or go thru this work around. The other issue is related to stacking of the three color channels over the same photo site. I have been told by others, ir results may not be as good.

Given the workaround issue, I never tried removing the ir/dust filter. I have seen the work of people who have, to me, it is good enough for my needs, but I am basically a lazy person.

Gary

Thanks for the info, Gary.
I use tripod when shooting landscape IR anyways, so focusing is not a problem especially with digital cameras where you can check on the spot.

But this is Keith's SD1M thread, back to the programme...

 

[Keith]

keith, fwiw, just noticed the 50/1.4 is $100 off at B&H.

eta: it's a fantastic lens for the price, i have a canon-mount version. very creamy bokeh if you like that sorta thing.

also, that's the old version. just learned there's a new version coming out, no idea on the differences.

I'll be ordering two more lenses from B&H in the next couple of days and the 50mm will be one of them ... the other will be the 24mm f1.8

Sigma seem to be upping the anti with their lenses of late and another lens I have an eye on is the recently announced 24-70mm f2 zoom when it eventually becomes available.

 

[dfatty]

is this the 46mp camera?
do you need to upgrade your computer to handle those files?

oh yeah, joe, the sd1 has the same file sizes as for the compact dpxm models, so since keith's computer is handling those there should be no issue with handling the sd1m files. the big files sure suck up memory quickly, but otoh they encourage slower and more selective shooting, at least for me.

 

[Keith]

I've had no trouble processing the files on my Toshiba laptop at all. SPP is a little slow by it's nature but that said it's a very good piece of software IMO. I started off initially converting the raws to tifs and processing them in ACDSee Pro 6 but eventually realised that SPP does a much better job when working directly with the raw files. Anything shot at the base ISO of 100 has an enormous amount of flexibility. Highlight recovery in SPP is quite amazing!

 

[GaryLH]

Charged the battery and have been having a look throught the menus, setting the date and time etc. Most of the controls are exactly where they should be and no top LCD. Like the DPMs it's very basic ... unlike the D700! I haven't bothered to look in the manual ... it's all pretty well self explanatory. 🙂

The shutter sound is interesting ... more of a muted 'thump' and very quiet. 🙂

Oh ... and like the DPMs it came in a very low rent white box with 'Sigma SD1 Merrill' marked tastefully on it and not much more. Great company ... no bullsh!t here!

I think the mirror is pretty well dampened..

Gary

 

[jarski]

is this the 46mp camera?
do you need to upgrade your computer to handle those files?

46 comes from ~15mp x 3 (since every pixel records three colors).

files are obviously pretty massive, and Sigma Pro Photo isn't the leanest software either. both CPU and RAM are in need, especially if raw library is big.

 

[back alley]

oh yeah, joe, the sd1 has the same file sizes as for the compact dpxm models, so since keith's computer is handling those there should be no issue with handling the sd1m files. the big files sure suck up memory quickly, but otoh they encourage slower and more selective shooting, at least for me.

thanks for answering…i didn't realize that the file size was the same for the cameras…explains some of the great results that people get from them.

 

[GaryLH]

Thanks for the info, Gary.
I use tripod when shooting landscape IR anyways, so focusing is not a problem especially with digital cameras where you can check on the spot.

But this is Keith's SD1M thread, back to the programme...

Well just in case Keith ever has an interest in IR now that he has a sd1m, here is a good writeup about it. I discovered a while back.

http://blog.sigmaphoto.com/2012/sigma-sd1-and-sd15-for-digital-infrared-photography-by-jack-howard/

I know Keith uses a tripod when required.. 😛

Gary

 

[GaryLH]

thanks for answering…i didn't realize that the file size was the same for the cameras…explains some of the great results that people get from them.

Actually it has more to do w/ the fact that every one of those photo sites is an exactly color and point in the photo versus a Bayer or xtran array sensor where an algorithm has to guess by using the pixels next to it what the true color is and if this pixel location is part of any edge or surface representation.

The only other camera in normal production that is capable of this is the Leica MM.

Gary

 

[burancap]

Glad the Sigma and computing question has risen again.

Last time it did, I answered similarly and was torn limb from limb. Go figure! 😕 😀

 

[back alley]

Actually it has more to do w/ the fact that every one of those photo sites is an exactly color and point in the photo versus a Bayer or xtran array sensor where an algorithm has to guess by using the pixels next to it what the true color is and if this pixel location is part of any edge or surface representation.

The only other camera in normal production that is capable of this is the Leica MM.

Gary

i realize it has more to do than just lots of pixels...

 

[2WK]

Keith let's see some shots already!

 

[Keith]

Keith,
I am glad to hear that you are getting an SDM1. It is my primary camera now.
Consider getting the Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 lens. I know you prefer primes but this zoom lens is terrific. I bought the 50mm prime but I didn't like it. Since then Sigma has come out with a new one - it should be better. Consider the 85mm f/1.4 - fantastic lens. of course, the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 lens is also amazing.
Enjoy!
Eric

Hey Eric.... do you have any pics you could post here with that 18-35?

🙂

 

[Keith]

Keith let's see some shots already!

I currently have two lenses in transit ... one coming from Korea (35mm f1.4) and the other from the US (50mm f1.4). 🙂