Pre-PMA 2002: Sigma's new SD9 D-SLR will be the first digital camera
to utilize Foveon's recently announced X3 sensor technology. This new
camera has a 3.43 megapixel (effective) X3 sensor which outputs 2268 x
1512 x 3 pixels. Each pixel is 9 microns which makes the sensor 20.7 x
13.8 mm (a 1.7x focal length multiplier). The SD9 has a Sigma lens mount
and a unique dust protector just behind the lens mount to stop dust from
attaching itself to the sensor. Price is expected to be around US$3,000.
| Model |
Sigma SD9 Digital SLR |
| Sensor |
Foveon X3 CMOS (3.54 million pixels
x 3) |
| Effective pixels |
2268 x 1512 x 3 (3.43 million pixels
x 3) |
| Other image sizes |
Med: 2268 x 756 x 3
Low: 1134 x 756 x 3 |
| Sensor size |
20.7 x 13.8 mm (9 microns per pixel) |
| Focal length multiplier |
1.7x (strictly speaking this is
a FOV 'crop') |
| Lens mount |
Sigma SA Bayonet mount (dust protector
just behind lens mount) |
| Auto focus |
Single AF, Continuous AF |
| AF operating range |
EV 2 - EV 18 (@ ISO 100) |
| Metering |
8-segment evaluative, center metering,
center-weighted average |
| Metering range |
EV -1 to EV 20 (50mm F1.4 @ ISO
100) |
| Sensitivity |
ISO 100, 200, 400
(NOTE: We have been asked by Sigma to remove ISO 800) |
| Shutter speeds |
Bulb, 30 sec - 1/6000 sec |
| Shutter type |
Vertical-travel metal focal plane
shutter |
| Continuous |
All resolutions (speed unknown) |
| Auto bracket |
+/-3 EV in 0.5 EV steps (3 frames) |
| Ext. Flash |
Hot shoe (Contact X) |
| Flash X-Sync |
1/180 sec |
| Exp. compensation |
+/-3 EV in 0.5 EV steps |
| White balance |
8 modes |
| Storage |
Compact Flash Type I / II (supports
IBM Microdrive) |
| Image formats |
RAW (Can be converted to TIFF or
JPEG later by software) |
| Viewfinder |
Pentaprism SLR viewfinder (98% horiz,
97% vert view) |
| Sports finder |
Special mode which allows portion
outside capture area to be seen through viewfinder, sensor area is
indicated inside a grey box. |
| LCD monitor |
1.8", 130,000 pixel |
| Review mode |
Single, Magnify, 9 image thumbnail,
slide show |
| Connectivity |
USB 1.1, Firewire (IEEE 1394), Video
Out |
| Power |
2XLithium CR123A+2XCR-V3 or 4xAA
Alkaline Dry Cell or NiMHx4pcs or AC adapter |
| Menu languages |
English, Japanese, French, German |
| Dimensions |
152 x 120 x 79 mm (6.0 x 4.7 x 3.1
in) |
| Weight (body no batt) |
803 g (1.8 lb) |
| Expected price |
"Not decided yet" |
You may also be interested to read about recent 'super-wide zoom' lenses
announced by Sigma:
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