Sigma sd Quattro Mirrorless Digital Camera

2022-05-17T17:50:32

Best color ever and great resolution. This camera reminds me of those films with great colors like Fuji or Kodack films. Anyone who takes the challenge of taming this camera will have very rewarding images.

Ivory H.

2021-10-05T07:02:34

I've had the Sigma SD Quattro about 6 months and after owning a Sony, Canon, Fujifilm and Nikon Z50 (which I still own), the Sigma has been a revelation of how much COLOR you can actually capture but are prone to miss with the standard Bayer filter array sensor. (Fujifilm is the exception with their slightly different X-Trans sensor.) What sets the Sigma apart is the Foveon sensor that captures MORE of the visible spectrum. Typical cameras using the Bayer filter array try to make up for the elusive colors by tweaking the color science of their software. I have shot comparisons with the Nikon and there is always a noticeable difference in the hues captured by the Sigma (Foveon). Sigma will surprise you with its capture of lilacs, variety of yellows, the subtlety of pastel colors, and intense blues. The SD Quattro is the highest perfection to date (Oct. 2021) of the Foveon sensor. Where the Nikon will capture the green in a plant, shaded with a consistent light to dark green, the Sigma (Foveon) might capture a light avocado green in the highlights, some forest green in the midtones, and a cooler lime green in the shadows because of more blue in the shade. More color within the hue is typical of the Foveon and is noticeable as visibly dynamic color. It is much more than a gradation from light to dark. The SD Quattro does have its limitations such as being optimized for Base ISO of 100, no tilt of the rear LCD, shooting at one-frame-per-second, no Face AF, etc., but it is built like a tank, solid, and handles great! If you prize accurate EXCELLENT color rendition above all else, this camera is an amazing tool.

RICHARD R.

2021-09-08T05:55:12

Photos that I get from this camera look like they were shot on Ektachrome (and sometimes, Kodachrome). You have to be patient - it's a digital camera for a film user!

WTIN J.

2021-07-06T10:00:47

For a landscape photographer who grew-up on film cameras, this camera is comfortable enough & images produced can be superb. In such context, it is effectively a medium format digital camera, comparably discount-priced. Icing-on-the-cake is that it affords several aspect ratios in which to shoot, including pano-style formats almost-as-wide as Hasselblad X-Pan. Having said this, it is definitely not a camera for photographers desirous of camera versatility & video capabilities. Optimal ISO use range being 100-400.

J C.

2021-01-29T07:31:22

With all of the do-everything-mediocre cameras today, this one is for photographers that love film but hate the film workflow. With Sigma's RAW software able to keep detail up to at least 800iso it shows that the negative reviewers of this fantastic shooter never realized the detail and color that this camera gives. In my opinion, the color and detail from this camera equals or exceeds full frame high megapixel dslrs and mirror-less cameras. If you want medium format quality for a fraction of the cost and you aren't afraid to do more than push the button, THIS is the camera for you!

Thomas B.

2020-12-16T08:21:02

This is an amazing camera and the price is nice. Slow, so not for fast action, wildlife, sports etc., but the sensor really makes the images stand out for anything else. Well built. Wish I would have purchased one sooner.

Gregory A.

2020-07-18T23:21:15

This is a very good camera for day time use and I am very happy with its image quality. Camera's file writing very slow even I used a ultra fast Sony Tough SD card but make no difference.

YUKUN T.

2020-07-13T08:23:59

Next to the outstanding image quality I am very impressed by the camera itself in size and handling.

MICHAEL S.

2019-05-23T15:47:46

Quite pleased. Sigma’s offering at this price point is outstanding. Stepping away from video is unique. I wonder if Sigma May change the market with this separation of Church and State , which I view most highly as an endeavor to pursue. I would highly recommend this platform. Don’t have all it’s capa down but am very impressed. Taylor Concepts L.L.C.

Robert T.

2019-01-18T11:38:02

Sigma SD Quattro H I’m a painter, illustrator, and sculptor. My application for this camera is mostly carefully posed model shoots in a well lit studio environment. There’s a little landscape photography and a lot of photographing flat artwork as well. There’s not much in the way of describing studio work with this camera on the interwebs so I thought I’d add my thoughts here. Most of what I’ve read online is that this camera is slow, heavy, and the AF is marginal at best. But that the image quality and resolution are great. Considering that I do maybe 4 or 5 studio shoots per year I wasn’t too concerned with the speed issues but rather with the color accuracy and resolution since I print a lot of my work. I scheduled a model shoot for a few days after receiving this camera to give me some time to figure it out, but it certainly wasn’t enough to become an expert at it, which any photographer should be with their tools. I shot a few hundred images in about an hour and used the AF on each shot. The studio was dimly lit with only the modeling light on the strobe above her head to focus with. I was shooting fast and we didn’t really take any breaks. The AF on each shot was fast enough and accurate as you could possibly be. Each shot was stunningly beautiful, sharp, and the colors were perfect. The resolution was beyond what I could hope for and indeed rivals medium format cameras. For my application this camera was perfect. Unfortunately, a digital camera survives in software and that’s where this thing falls short. You cannot tether with this camera in any usable way. If I had been able to, I would have found a few shots that I loved that could have been made a little better had I seen them as I shot them. For me, the sigma capture pro, their tethering app, would not open the shot in sigma photo pro, their photo editing app. It would, however open affinity photo and send the photo there which strangely enough can read native sigma raw files. But it takes a long time. Admittedly, the files are huge but it would be nice to shoot in raw+jpeg and have the camera send a jpeg to the computer for tethering so you could see what was going on in real time. Maybe a software/firmware update could do that. The EVF is ok, not great, but good enough. The camera isn’t as heavy as many have complained but the extended flange for the lens mount shifts the center of gravity of the camera with a lens way out forward. This makes for a very comfortable handheld experience, for me anyway, and a ridiculously forward heavy tripod experience. When I had my tripod head tilted over to shoot vertical the camera kept tilting down. This is a problem with my tripod not the camera, but it would have been nice if they had put the tripod mount hole on the lens mount flange and not way back on the camera. The most amazing thing about this camera is that I got beautiful image quality and near medium format camera resolution for a third of what it would have cost me for something comparable. I don’t think I’d recommend this as someones only camera but it does have a solid place in my studio.

ROBERT F.

2018-09-24T12:26:59

I like this camera with its unique sensor and its beuatiful color

MEFLEH A.

2018-06-14T08:27:24

I Mostly work with Medium and Large format cameras. Hasselblad and SINAR. This is the only digital camera Regardless of price that can come close to the Resolution and Colour fidelity of Film. Highly Recommended.

adonis

2018-05-24T11:37:59

It is ok for children play

payam j.

2018-04-27T07:08:43

I don't want to say too much about this camera because it's like a hidden jewel and I want to keep the secret! People are flaunting their images taken by their Canon's and Nikon's and then you pull out a Sigma SD Quattro H image and the room gets quiet and their mouth drops open! It never fails to amaze! 95% of the sheep use Bayer Pattern sensors -- The creative few use Foveon! But this camera is definitely not for everyone: It doesn't do video. If you like to shoot and spray images like Nascar it's not for you since it's not the fastest camera in the world. If you want a camera that takes advantage of the highest ISO in low light this is definitely not it. You want a light weight body? Exercise a Sony Mirrorless instead. This camera is for you if you truly enjoy the meditative process of taking/composing an image! This camera is for you if you want Vogue-Magazine quality images -- rich images nearly on par with Medium Format. This camera is for you if you want to be different and have your images stand out from the rest of the crowd. And if you enjoy taking Black & White images this is probably the #1 camera to do it with since it takes incredible B&W! Tip: You can buy an adapter on Adorama that lets you attach old-fashioned M42 lens. The Takumar f1.4 50mm lens pairs well with the Sigma SD Quattro H producing mind-blowing images!

Shane G.

2018-03-23T10:30:34

Despite all the quirks this camera comes with, the final image is all that matters and the Quattro delivers. I have never worked with such a pristine raw file as the multi-shot X3i file. 350 megabytes of detail in the picture! For the price, it's hard to top,

SCOTT R.

2017-12-14T06:27:33

Much improved autofocus, card write speed and battery life over the previous foveon sensor cameras offer greater ease of use. Lens interchangeability is a plus and the 30mm f1.4 art lens delivers sharpness across the frame and excellent bokeh. The ability to switch to zone (manual) focusing makes it a great street camera in good light. Landscape photographers will enjoy the color and detailed images produced by this camera. Pentax K-mount and M42 lenses (w/K-adapter) work well with the SD Quattro body.

MICHAEL W.

2017-12-13T07:16:45

If you judge Sigma's camera with normal standard, then it's truly a horrendous camera. Slow focus speed, no dual card slot, low res viewfinder and screen (compare to the latest in 2017.) get hot some times, battery life is so so, only supports SGV Sigma lens. However, if you understand the concept behinds it. SD Quattro H is the best model they created yet. It has their largest (APSH) size X3 Foveon Quattro sensor The sensor provides breathtaking image quality and is easy to use. Faster processing speed. Compare to my DP1,2 Merrill, it's about 2 to 3 time faster. push the shutter and about 2 seconds then you can review the photo. Ease of pairing with M42 or manual lenses, focus peaking works great, custom button makes operating flexible and fast. plus it feels great in hand, surprisingly light but well constructed. The shutter is soft and steady. makes hand held shooting easier then ever. The white balance is really steady and accurate. The Viewfinder is low res (1.2 million dots) but it works great. If you like Sigma camera's extreme character and welling to spend time to understand it. If you love film quality. If you love Sigma's new SGV lens (they are sharp and they are big.) If you love landscape, street and in studio photography (or any slower pace shooting) with image quality that can compete with the best camera on the market but only cost 1/3 or less. Try this bad boy.

chih-chun c.

2017-06-07T05:32:37

After reading online reviews about how slow the camera is and how it can only be used with a tripod in bright sunlight, I was reluctant to buy it. I own a Canon T3i and a Panasonic GX85 with several lenses and I was always disappointed with the quality of my photos. I admit I am a pixel peeper. I used the Sigma at a friend's wedding without a tripod on a cloudy day and I found it no slower than the Gx85, with precise focus, and exceptional IQ. This is the best camera I owned and the best 1000$ I spent so far. I sold the GX85 and will invest in some more Sigma lenses as well as a flash so I can use it indoors.

George S.