Sigma Changes DP-1 Website

[bmattock]

About a month after an email message from Sigma CEO regarding the long-awaited, could-be-vaporware DP-1, the website has been changed. PMA announcement?

Or more disappointments?

http://www.sigma-dp1.com

[sirius]

You think they could write properly: "Now, a dreams come true"??

[cmogi10]

Still promising

[bmattock]

That's not the only typo on it that I noticed.

But this makes me think it was a rush job - for some reason.

Announcement? One can hopes, doesn't one?

[bmattock]

Originally Posted by nikonhswebmaster

The DP-1 is still going to be a horrible disappointment for me at least, it has no viewfinder, but just one of those horrid screens you have to hold 2 feet from your face.

What I want is an M8 killer, a Canon G9 with an APS size sensor. Seems the designers find that impossible to build.

The DP-1 is just another chimp camera as far as I am concerned.

I agree with your concerns for the drawbacks - those are mine as well. I also feel that the wide lens (I hear 28mm) is wider than I prefer - I would like a 35mm (equiv) or even a 40mm but I fear not many agree with me on that.

However, given 'only game in town' status if and when it is finally released, if I can possibly afford it (and perhaps I am waiting in vain and will not be able to afford it), I am tempted to epoxy a bloody external viewfinder to it and get on with my life.

I know, I know, I could have a Ricoh with that already - but I did not want the tiny sensor, regardless of how 'good' it is - it is tiny and that cannot be overcome with 'goodness'. I want what I want - an APS/C sensor, 35mm fixed lens, manual control, optical viewfinder. And the bloody LCD can bloody get stuffed - I have no particular use for it. I'll admit to the occasional histogram checking - but it is a bad habit to get into.

[Tuolumne]

It looks like its time has come 'round. Here's the announcement of the dealy:

http://www.sigma-photo.co.jp/english...age_071130.htm

This new place holder Web site looks like it's preparing the way for a launch.

/T

[Solinar]

Sigma can be such a tease. Or is it teases in Sigma speak.

Chimp camera or not - maybe some other manufacturers will consider building fixed-lens digicams with near APS-C sized sensors. Maybe if Yoshihisa Maitani were still at Olympus. Is anyone at Oly or Panasonic paying attention? .................... Probably not.

[Didier]

Originally Posted by nikonhswebmaster

The DP-1 is still going to be a horrible disappointment for me at least, it has no viewfinder

The lack of an optical finder would be the good side of this camera. It allows you to use much brighter and sharper external viewfinders than any inbuilt optical finder of any digital camera ever was. And many of us happen to have such a finder.

The more negative aspects are the DP-1's slow lens (f4 compared to f2.5 of the Ricoh GR-D) and the fact the new Foveon sensor (also used in the already available SD-14) seems to be quite weak at higher ISO.

Didier

[bmattock]

Niche market, I don't think the Canons and Nikons, Pentax, Olympus, Panasonic, et al, are listening. This properly belongs in the small craft-scale domain of the Sigmas, Cosinas, and etc. I'd just like to see more of it.

[Solinar]

Originally Posted by bmattock

I agree with your concerns for the drawbacks - those are mine as well. I also feel that the wide lens (I hear 28mm) is wider than I prefer - I would like a 35mm (equiv) or even a 40mm but I fear not many agree with me on that.

Perfect so long as it is a 35mm equiv focal length that opens up to f/2.8. I wouldn't *** *** the lack of an optical viewfinder, because I'd rather use one that I already own.

[bmattock]

Originally Posted by Tuolumne

It looks like its time has come 'round. Here's the announcement of the dealy:

http://www.sigma-photo.co.jp/english...age_071130.htm

This new place holder Web site looks like it's preparing the way for a launch.

/T

That announcement and mea culpa from the CEO was from November of last year. I took solace from it, but was still mindful of past vaporware and so held my enthusiasm in check to the extent that I was able. I'd like to see the camera shipping.

[xayraa33]

if this thing ever comes to a photo store shelf near you, it would be hopelessly out of date with all the delays in its intro.

[bmattock]

Depends entirely on what its capabilities are, although I agree with you in principle. The Olympus C-3040, case in point. 2001 tech, still a viable camera; and not really equalled at what it is good at.

[Solinar]

Originally Posted by xayraa33

if this thing ever comes to a photo store shelf near you, it would be hopelessly out of date with all the delays in its intro.

What's funny, if you set the Ricoh GRD II to ISO 80 and the DP1 to its slowest ISO, I'd bet dollars to donuts that the Ricoh has better resolution.

The Fovecon has 14 million pixels, but they are layered giving an effective resolution of a 5 or so mega pixel Bayern sensor.

Fred, there is no VR on this puppy.

[bmattock]

Ricoh has better resolution

As if that were the only criteria. Small sensor is SMALL. Some types of creative photography cannot be practiced on a small sensor. This cannot be changed, physics being what it is. To me the resolution is but one part of the dance. For this, I have and will continue to reject the Ricoh GRD, et al. I'm sure they make fine photographs, no argument there.

[sirius]

Have you all seen this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yv285...eature=related

[Zenjitsuman]

Look at this photo of the DP1
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0609/06092604sigmadp1.asp
It seems to me the lens enclosure is much wider than the glass elements and that an extra f-stop f2.8 instead of f4 is doable without increase in diameter of the lens housing.



It also need raw and no shutter lag. You could use a small VF on the hot shoe in bright sun otherwise if the lens has DOF it won't be all that much a problem.

[RML]

Originally Posted by Zenjitsuman

Look at this photo of the DP1
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0609/06092604sigmadp1.asp
It seems to me the lens enclosure is much wider than the glass elements and that an extra f-stop f2.8 instead of f4 is doable without increase in diameter of the lens housing.



It also need raw and no shutter lag. You could use a small VF on the hot shoe in bright sun otherwise if the lens has DOF it won't be all that much a problem.

Starts to sound like an R-D1, except for the interchangeable M mount lenses.

[shadowfox]

That version in the Youtube video looks like a Panasonic LX2. And sports an external VF.

So, aside from the APS size sensor, what else is worth getting excited about this camera?

[bmattock]

I think that's pretty much it, unless the Foveon design also floats your boat. The APS/C is enough to make me want it - and frankly, I need no other reason.

[PetarDima]

with fast focus - as it can be on digicam, it will be fine street shooter - Winogrand
28 mm retro style

[BillBingham2]

GR-D I is working fine for me. What I really want is something about the size of a GR-D, maybe a bit bigger. The controls (Shutter Speed and ISO) and meter of a Bessa L (perhaps a bit more center weighted please). 28 or 25mm equivalent, manual focus and aperture control like the SnapShot-S. A verification of focus would be nice but only if there was an LCD to show just that area. Shots JPG and RAW, fast cycle times for up to three shots. f3.5 on the lens would be nice, but 2.8 would rock.

B2 (;->

[cgf]

A shop in Australia has just listed the DP1 for sale along with a few accessories eg hood, viewfinder, etc...

http://www.vanbar.com.au/catalogue/i...&Item3=Digital

The retail price of Au$990 including taxes is about US$870 at current rates. But everything here is marked up to buggery which is why myself and most others buy from the larger internet order companies eg B&H. 50% or more above the cost of buying from overseas is common.

My bet is on US$699 rrp (msrp) when/if it's announced.

George.

[rxmd]

Originally Posted by bmattock

I know, I know, I could have a Ricoh with that already - but I did not want the tiny sensor, regardless of how 'good' it is - it is tiny and that cannot be overcome with 'goodness'. I want what I want - an APS/C sensor,

That may or may not be true, but a big sensor can be overcome with badness, though. The Foveon sensor, which isn't exactly big to begin with, traditionally has had underwhelming low-light performance, and the lens is so slow that you don't get a DOF advantage either vis-a-vis the smaller sensor, so in the DP-1 the advantages of the larger sensor are exactly zero.

Philipp

[Solinar]

Not exactly true, the Fovecon will have better color reproduction.