Name: Sigma dp2 Quattro Digital Point & Shoot Camera, 29MP Foveon X3 Quattro CMOS Image Sensor 19.6 Megapixel with FOVEON X3 Direct Image Sensor, Fixed 30mm f/2.8 Lens, RAW Image Capture
Brand: Sigma
SKU: SGDP2Q
Price: 999.00 USD
Availability: Discontinued
Rating: 4.5 (2 reviews)

Sigma dp2 Quattro Digital Point & Shoot Camera, 29MP Foveon X3 Quattro CMOS Image Sensor 19.6 Megapixel with FOVEON X3 Direct Image Sensor, Fixed 30mm f/2.8 Lens, RAW Image Capture

Sigma dp2 Quattro

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Sigma dp2 Quattro Digital Point & Shoot Camera

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Sigma dp2 Quattro 

29% Off: Sigma dp2 Quattro Digital Point & Shoot Camera, 29MP Foveon X3 Quattro CMOS Image Sensor 19.6 Megapixel with FOVEON X3 Direct Image Sensor, Fixed 30mm f/2.8 Lens, RAW Image Capture Buy now & save $401. Color: Black, Configuration: Camera Only

 Sigma dp2 Quattro Incorporates a newly developed Foveon X3 direct image sensor   Unique and without peer among image sensors, the Foveon direct image sensor is similar to traditional color film in that its multiple layers capture all of the information that visible light transmits. Along with Sigma's proprietary image processing technology, this sensor produces incredible resolution, precise gradation, gorgeous color, breathtaking realism with a 3D feel. In other words, full-bodied image quality.  &#149; Fixed 30mm 2.8 Lens specifically designed for sensor  &#149; Newly designed Foveon sensor with 30% resolution gain from Merrill generation  &#149; Improved optics, ISO performance, image processing and design  For the new dp series, Sigma rethought and redesigned every aspect of the camera, including the sensor, engine, lens, and body. While retaining its famous textural expression, which seems to give form to the air itself, the updated Foveon direct image sensor produces images that are more colorful, rich, deep, and faithful than ever before.  To a radical degree, the new-generation dp series embodies Sigma's philosophy of creating cameras that produce works of art. Featuring the highest level of fundamental performance, this series unites artistic expression and daily experience as no other cameras can.  Thanks to its optimized design featuring a fixed focal length lens and integrated body, the dp series offers both sensor and lens performance at the highest level. The result is full-bodied image quality.  In addition to superior holding performance, the camera body offers a balanced shape, layout, and weight distribution. With all of its elements designed for image quality, the dp offers highly intuitive operation. Its complete and robust specification allows the photographer to concentrate fully on photography itself and leverage the camera's potential to produce outstanding images.  In everyday life, the dp series lets photographers find unexpected opportunities for experiencing emotion and enjoy photography and personal expression in exciting new ways. It is an outwardly simple yet extremely powerful embodiment of Sigma's philosophy of photography.   The world's only image capture system to use vertical color separation technology   Starting with Sigma's very first digital camera, Sigma has featured the Foveon direct image sensor, which offers radically better image quality than any other sensor available. Leveraging the light absorption characteristics of silicon, the sensor comprises three layers of photodiodes, each at a different depth within the silicon and each corresponding to a different RGB color. Since it is the only sensor to use this superior vertical color separation technology, it is also the world's only direct image sensor.  Almost all other image sensors are mosaic sensors, which use an array of RGB color filters in a single horizontal plane to capture color information. Each pixel is assigned only one of the three colors and cannot capture all three colors at once. In contrast, the Foveon direct image sensor captures color vertically, recording hue, value, and chroma accurately and completely for each pixel.  In the Foveon direct image sensor, there are no color filters, which cause a loss of information transmitted by light. Moreover, there is no low-pass filter needed to correct the interference caused by a color filter array. Finally, unlike the data from other sensors, which requires artificial interpolation to "fill in" missing colors, the data from the Foveon direct image sensor is complete for every single pixel and requires no interpolation. The unique technological principle of this sensor produces consistently outstanding image quality.   Newly developed Foveon X3 Quattro direct image sensor Now featuring 39 megapixel-equivalent ultrahigh resolution   Capturing the information transmitted by light vertically instead of horizontally, the full-color image capture system of the Foveon direct image sensor is the only one of its kind in the world. This system makes possible the sensor's full-bodied image quality, which is characterized by rich tone and gradation and texture that one can almost touch.  The newly developed Foveon X3 Quattro is the latest generation of this unique sensor. While retaining the distinctive characteristics of its predecessors, it offers an even higher level of image quality. In addition to 30% higher resolution, the volume of image data has become lighter, and it enables much faster image processing and lower current consumption.  At the same time, able to maintain the same exacting standard of image quality while increasing megapixels and enhancing noise characteristics, this 1:1:4 solution was the inspiration for the name of the current generation of Foveon sensor: "Quattro."  Newly developed TRUE III image processing engine Optimized for processing Foveon X3 Quattro direct image sensor data  The new dp series cameras feature the newly developed TRUE (Three-layer Responsive Ultimate Engine) III. This image processing engine has evolved in pace with Sigma's Foveon direct image sensor and incorporates all of the image processing expertise Sigma has developed over the years. Thanks to new refinements, it is the ideal engine for processing the rich and complex image data produced by the new-generation Foveon X3 Quattro direct image sensor. Sigma's proprietary algorithm makes possible ultrafast processing of an immense volume of image data without any deterioration of the final images. The result is high-definition, 3D-like photographs with outstandingly rich color detail.

I use this camera primarily for landscape and also plan to use it for still life, studio, architecture.

Camera produces an excellent film-like image; vibrant, with excellent clarity and well defined detail with very good microcontrast.

I would recommend finding some RAW and jpg files from this camera online and editing/viewing them in the Sigma Photo Pro software to determine if the excellent image quality from this camera overrides its limitations.

One thing that the online reviews don't mention is that while the manual focus is good(although by wire, not mechanical), the magnification (8x) was a dissapointment. That said, the autofocus is as good or better than I could acheive using manual focus so it's turned out to be a bit of a moot point.

Excellent next gen image quality for fine art photography

I bought this camera because i was looking for an excellent B&W camera that didnt break the bank.  I have used the camera for limited landscape areas, portraits and art photos.  It excels at B&W.  Perhaps its not a Monochrome Leica but it sure beats my higher end DSLRs. Color rendition is excellent.  The adjustments are really well thought out and handy for use in the fly.  The macro ability is slightly lacking but the pictures are so sharp that a little enlarging gets you where you want to be. It is extremely light weight and i find it very easy to hold although some of the reviewers found it a little difficult.

Sigma dp2 Quattro Digital Point & Shoot Camera, 29MP Foveon X3 Quattro CMOS Image Sensor 19.6 Megapixel with FOVEON X3 Direct Image Sensor, Fixed 30mm f/2.8 Lens, RAW Image Capture

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