Anyone up for testing a camera? - DPChallenge Forums

06/30/2014 11:27:55 AM · #1

Check out the new, odd-looking SIGMA dp2 QUATTRO.

And then please explain what I'm looking at. Glorified p&s...?

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70 f2.8 L IS

06/30/2014 01:44:07 PM · #2

What an odd-looking fish!
It's basically a large-sensor compact (think Sony RX100) but with (limited) lens interchangeability. Looks like the lenses are specific to this design, due to a (very) short register distance. The 30/2.8 is what they apparently will ship with the test cameras. The sensor is APS-C, so while this is a "compact" camera, it still has a pretty large sensor. They are claiming resolution equivalent to a 39Mpx Bayer sensor, which is utter BS. They are using a sensor with 19.5Mpx in the blue channel, and 4.9Mpx in the red and green channels. The blue channel will have to provide the luminance detail without any real help from the red and green channels. The detail will be roughly equivalent to a 19.5Mpx bayer sensor without an AA filter.

06/30/2014 01:48:54 PM · #3

thank you kirbic. when I took a (brief) gander at the offer it was unclear which lens ... Would you happen to know if the colour channel distribution is any different from the other dp2's?

06/30/2014 01:58:22 PM · #4

I'm excited by it. The previous Merrill cameras have the best image quality i've ever seen on any camera short of medium format as long as they are at base 100 ISO or 200 at a pinch. I've got all three and they blow my ex Nikon D700, and the D800 i used a few times, out of the water. The look to the images from them is pretty unreal and quite quirky. That rendering may be a bit of a personal taste though. I love them to bits even with their many operational flaws (rubbish at higher ISO, slow to read to cards , cruddy auto focus). Work with them slowly as you would a medium or large format on a tripod and they are utterly amazing. Saying that though, i've started to use them a little on portrait shoots and weddings and am loving the results but they definitely work best on a tripod.

If the new Quattro's keep the image quality and unique rendering of the Merrills and manages to make them usable up to ISO 3200 or so and with decent autofocus and write speeds then i'd drop everything else i own in an instant no matter what they look like!

Message edited by author 2014-06-30 15:13:50.

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70 f2.8 L IS

06/30/2014 02:05:20 PM · #5

Originally posted by tnun:

Would you happen to know if the colour channel distribution is any different from the other dp2's?

It's a different sensor than either of the other DP2s. It seems to be the same physical size as the DP2 Merrill sensor, but that's where the similarities end:
- DP2 Quattro has 19.5Mpx in blue channel, 4.9Mpx in red, 4.9Mpx in green
- DP2 Merrill has 15.36Mpx in all three channels
- DP2 has 4.9Mpx in all three channels, and a slightly smaller sensor (about 15% smaller in area)

06/30/2014 02:55:13 PM · #6

Thank you. Interesting. I have been very happy with my 2 sigmas (one of which died), colour and luminance wise. As Clive-Patrick said, they operate like grumpy old persons, and the more streamlined the operations of Other new cameras, the more we (I) tend to be discommoded.

06/30/2014 03:04:11 PM · #7

Here is why I'm interested!!!

From the link:
Get your hands on a camera that makes images that are works of art.
Obviously, I have been way to hard on myself.

Seriously though, I think this one would be fun to play with.

Message edited by author 2014-06-30 15:05:10.

06/30/2014 03:04:18 PM · #8

If they put the Merrill sensor and lens combinations (perhaps widened to f2) with better high iso in Fuji X100s bodies i'd be over the moon.

Google Glass Google Glass

06/30/2014 03:06:18 PM · #9

Originally posted by tph1:

I think this one would be fun to play with.

Yea, i like the design of them myself.

ambaker

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM

06/30/2014 04:38:53 PM · #10

The Foveon sensor is the Rodney Dangerfield of camera sensors. Quite excellent, but quirky, and never gets respect it should.

I would love to see where they could go with Canikon money, but that is just not going to happen.

I own an SD-14, much older Foveon based camera. When it is in its element, it is amazing. But even with the Merrill, the home turf is more limited than the other sensors. I wonder how the noise at high ISO levels is in the new sensor?

Interesting product, but I have more cameras than I can shoot now.

bvy

Sigma DP1x

07/01/2014 11:17:56 AM · #11

I'd call it the rotary engine of digital sensors myself.

I'm excited by it too. But I wonder if they'll also make pants with pockets to accommodate its beastly shape.

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70 f2.8 L IS

07/01/2014 02:38:44 PM · #12

Originally posted by bvy:

I'd call it the rotary engine of digital sensors myself.

LOL, I think you just insulted Mazda!

FWIW, I *do* agree that at or near base ISO, the Foveon sensors do produce results somewhat beyond their pixel count. No surprise there, as they collect closer to a full three colors per pixel site. It's worth noting, however, that the new "Quattro" sensor in this camera collects only one data point per four pixels for the green and red channels; it is only one-to-one for the blue channel. This is only very marginally better than a Bayer array, which collects one-for-four in red and blue, and one-for-two in green.

Tamron SP 24-70mm f/2.8 Di VC USD Canon Mount

07/01/2014 02:42:46 PM · #13

I think all serious photographers are going to have to rethink their pants.

Mike

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

07/01/2014 03:06:32 PM · #14

does anyone else get turned on by Kirbic when he starts talking all technical? i'll bet lots of the ladies are following this thread.

on a serious note, does anyone have sample pics this sensor produces??

07/01/2014 03:19:07 PM · #15

Kirbic is awfully good with the numbers. the tease is what the numbers might actually mean. strings a gal along for awhile.

Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

07/01/2014 03:51:38 PM · #16

Originally posted by Mike:

on a serious note, does anyone have sample pics this sensor produces??

I haven't seen any samples from the upcoming Quattro yet but here are a couple from the DP2 Merrill which i hope show some of the reasons why i love the sensor so much. Like i said upthread - the look the sensor/lens gives is maybe a bit of an acquired taste. Lots of micro contrast and detail. It can be very odd but i love what it does with detailed textures - grass and rock etc - it's kind of a hyper-real, almost psychedelic look really. Quite strange sometimes but i find it very appealing. I've been using them very occasionally at weddings and engagement shoots when i've got a bit of time and space and can introduce something a bit different. I certainly couldn't do a whole wedding with them but for the odd shot i like them.

These are not straight out of camera of course so i'd ignore my somewhat idiosyncratic approach to colour and look at the detail and rendering. One thing to note is that they need absolutely no sharpening in Lightroom whatsoever. They can almost be too sharp sometimes and i have to soften them up a bit. These two were with the DP2M but i'd say the DP3M performs just as well with the wider DP1M pretty close. I've uploaded these at 1400 on the long side so you can look at the full size image.

This one was shot at f2.8 so a relatively shallow DOF (something to bear in mind on the 100% crop)

100% crop =

And here is one from the DP3M which is pretty much RAW straight out of camera. I say 'pretty much' because another of the slightly annoying things about these cameras is that the Raw files aren't supported elsewhere yet so what i do is take the RAW's into Sigma Photo Pro (not the best of software it has to be said) an then do a straight export as 16bit TIFF's to take into Lightroom. I don't do any adjustments and have the sharpening turned off so these are pretty much straight out of camera.

Message edited by author 2014-07-01 16:06:43.

CEJ

Canon EOS-40D

07/01/2014 04:13:12 PM · #17

First thing I noticed is that it appears more right hand oriented than even current cameras. But only three focal lengths.

Message edited by author 2014-07-01 16:14:08.

07/01/2014 06:33:37 PM · #18

Well, I signed up for a Try Before you Buy Quattro. I'll have to wait and see if I am worthy. I am such a sucker for a new piece of ~~glass~~ gear.

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

07/01/2014 11:34:08 PM · #19

Originally posted by tph1:

Well, I signed up for a Try Before you Buy Quattro. I'll have to wait and see if I am worthy. I am such a sucker for a new piece of ~~glass~~ gear.

Let us know!!!!

MattO

Nikon D4

07/02/2014 12:07:55 AM · #20

Originally posted by Mike:

does anyone else get turned on by Kirbic when he starts talking all technical?

I'm really worried about this statement. OK not so much worried as....well yeah worried.

bvy

Sigma DP1x

07/02/2014 08:35:46 AM · #21

Originally posted by kirbic:

Originally posted by bvy:
I'd call it the rotary engine of digital sensors myself.

LOL, I think you just insulted Mazda!

As the owner (at one time or another) of three RX-7's and four Sigma cameras, I think I paid them the highest compilment! In any case, Sigma seems committed to the Foveon sensor, while Mazda has given up on the Wankel for the time being.

07/26/2014 09:24:22 AM · #22

Received the Sigma Quattro DP2 "Try Before you Buy" camera today. Just in time for a little road trip. Funky shape feels remarkably stable. Materials used are top notch. Can't wait to give it a go..

07/26/2014 11:14:31 AM · #23

Oh wow! You did it!!

Pictures!

07/26/2014 11:44:25 AM · #24

Originally posted by tanguera:

Oh wow! You did it!!

Pictures!

Yup. And it is your fault too! (Thank you.)
I'll be heading to northern Michigan for a little solo fly fishing trip next week and hope to fill an SD card..

Message edited by author 2014-07-26 11:55:31.