Sigma DP3 Merrill First Impressions
Image courtesy: The Phoblographer
If you missed it, click here to read Sigma’s press release.
Let’s talk again (briefly) about Sigma’s third companion in the fellowship of the Merrills, the DP3. We start with the specifications:
- 46MP Foveon X3 sensor (APS-C 1.5x)
- 50mm f2.8 lens with SLD glass (Special Low Dispersion)
- Dual TRUE II Image Processing Engines
- Minimum focusing of 8.9″
- Macro shooting at 1:3
- 9 point AF
- Face detection
- 3 inch TFT LCD at 920,000 dots
- Hot shoe and lens hood
- SD video recording
- ISO 100-6400 set in 1/3 steps
Yes, 46MP…not bad uh? And a fixed 50mm f/2.8 lens, that’s a 75mm on 35mm film equivalent. Weird, isn’t it? But, hey, the DP3 looks good with its minimalist look. You just have to buy all three DP3s to have the needed flexibility (DP1 19mm, 28mm eq.; DP2 30mm, 45mm eq.). Chris Gampat over at The Phoblographer had a chance to play around a bit with the DP3. About image quality he writes:
Because I worked with a pre-production unit, I couldn’t stick a card in the camera. However, I saw prints made with it; and they’re stunning.
His first impressions:
I walked away quite impressed with the DP3 and I may even be able to get used to shooting at 75mm. It’s a weird focal length though: too long to be normal and too short to be a proper portrait focal length in my opinion.
The build quality of the camera is what truly blew me away though; and that may also help to justify its high price tag.
We have yet to wait for the price of the DP3 Merrill, as well as for pre-order options. However, you can get notified by B&H about the availability by clicking here.
Click here to see all the coverage of the Merrill series by The Phoblographer.
[via The Phoblographer]
yosemite
5 months ago |Why in the world would they do this instead of coming out with an interchangeable lens version?
Harold GLIT
5 months ago |simple ? smaller lens , lower cost , no dust issues ,better optimization of the lens -sensor combo…
the real question is why not propose a 2/80mmor 85mm equivalent ?
duo
5 months ago |50mm for NEX and M43 coming soon?
Would be nice if it’s F2.0 instead of F2.8.
john
5 months ago |interchangaeble lens, faster lens, higher iso.. all these things are not important for these camera’s as far as I am concerned. I care about the highest possible image quality. The DP series deliver stunning results for an affordable price. They have many flaws, yes. But some of these flaw are also it strenghts. Just one fixed lens makes u look better before shooting, the slow wrtiting speeds I even like for the same reason. U have to use this camera with patience and care. What I would like to see changed in the new versions though are these:
The most important thing for me would be the integration of a high quality, bright OPTICAL viewfinder. This optical finder is able to show some basic info on demand such as the histogram. (let Sigma figure out how they want to do this)
I would love to use this camera as a rangefinder camera. Not a fast rangefinder such as a Leica M, but more a high quality image rangefinder such as the Mamiya 7. The sensor would be perfect for taking these kind of pictures in the digital age.
Further changes would be the obvious such as a bigger sensor, higher resolution, more dynamic range and better colour accuracy.
I wou be more then happy to buy antoher 2 extra batteries for these camera’s if it would mean bad battery life again. I hope Sigma can make such a camera, the it would truly be a substitute for medium format film.
Fants
5 months ago |Sure, this is the nichiest of the already-niche DP cameras…but It has a place. This could be an excellent solution for people shooting watches/jewelry/other small objects for publication, given the likely insane IQ and excellent big-print ability (which should also make up for the macro ratio being only 1:3). The small size would have plenty of benefits for that kind of setup, namely allowing the use of a much smaller, lighter tripod for the same level of stability as an SLR rig. It would also be great for people who travel and do similar things; I know someone in the numismatics business who goes all around the world buying and selling coins, and this would probably be a fantastic light option for him to to record hi-res images of potential buys to get second opinions from others at his company.
Will
5 months ago |Ok these cameras are kind of ridiculous and because of that they get this weird cult following by people who think they’re “going against the grain man”. I live in Japan and have played around with the first 2 editions and their build quality is like something of a $5 plastic toy, their handling is very poor, everything about them is terrible down to the battery life (seriously bad).
For those that think it’s all about the image quality… well i’ve got good and bad news, these CAN out do APS-C sized sensors but as shown in tests, and you can look this up on YouTube with a comprehensive battle between them and the D800, it got shot down, fullframe beats tham, about the only thing it’s better at is showing true colour, which lets be honest is not a big problem anyway.
This is for those gearheads that have some kind of weird reverse psychology going on in their minds that makes overly bad products seem desirable and unique. They’re crazy, terrible at everything, feels like you’re using something out of a cereal box. Don’t become someone who gets tempted by them!
john
5 months ago |What an stupid comment.
Walter
4 months ago |“played around”?
Seriously stupid
SiO
3 months ago |Rubbish. They produce outstanding images that are both unique in their look and overloaded with detail. Every camera has it’s flaws, it’s down to a good photographer to work around them. Too many lazy photographers out there.
Francis
4 months ago |I like the sound of this camera. Im looking for high IQ images of my paintings which i can blow up to big prints.
So speed is not of the essence for me. Do you think this fits my requirements?