Sigma introduces Photo Pro 5.5 with Monochrome mode

Sigma has released version 5.5 of its Photo Pro raw processing software, which adds a monochrome processing mode for cameras with the 15x3MP Foveon sensor - i.e. the SD1, SD1 Merrill, DP1 Merrill, DP2 Merrill and DP3 Merrill. It's also now compatible with Windows 8. The software is available now from Sigma's website - click through for more details and download links.

Click here to download Sigma Photo Pro 5.5 

Click here for Sigma's microsite with more details on SPP's monochrome mode

Press release:

Sigma Corporation of America announces the release of Sigma Photo Pro 5.5 software

Sigma Photo Pro 5.5's monochome mode is compatible with 15x3MP cameras such as the DP3 Merrill

Company introduces SPP 5.5 software with updates and new Monochrome Mode interface

Ronkonkoma, New York —February 21, 2013 — Sigma Corporation of America a leading researcher, developer, manufacturer and service provider of some of the world’s most impressive lines of lenses, cameras and flashes, is pleased to introduce Sigma Photo Pro 5.5 software, which includes upgrades and updates for both Mac and Windows platforms, as well as a new Monochrome Mode processing interface. This updated software is now available for download for both Mac and Windows operating systems.

The new Monochrome Mode will feature several new functions, including a channel-mixing palette, which allows users to control the level of red, green and blue within an image for better tonal separation and contrast. A new grain palette feature will allow users to add or reduce the size and strength of grain within an image, producing a texture and dimension similar to that found in film photography. Paired with the Sigma cameras’ Foveon sensor, Monochrome Mode brings out the true potential of black and white images with great detail, sharpness, contrast and tonality. Foveon X3 image sensor technology allows the camera design to bypass the need for an anti-aliasing filter, which causes image blur, as well as a color filter array which reduces image sharpness.

“Black and white photography is becoming increasingly popular, and the Monochrome Mode, paired with the strength of the Foveon sensor, truly takes black and white photography to the next level,” said Mark Amir-Hamzeh, president of Sigma Corporation of America. “With an entirely new processing pipeline for monochrome images, Sigma users will be able to truly take advantage of the Foveon sensor with Monochrome Mode, which we believe will set even higher standards for our Sigma camera line.”

Changes to the updated Sigma Photo Pro 5.5 software include:

• Design change for fringing reduction
• Updated adjustment settings: Selecting “Auto” chooses the appropriate preset value for the color mode (only compatible with the data of the SD1, SD1 Merrill, DP1 Merrill, DP2 Merrill, DP3 Merrill)
• Ensures TIFF files save completely
• Added Monochrome Mode interface (only compatible with the RAW data from SD1, SD1 Merrill, DP1 Merrill, DP2 Merrill, DP3 Merrill)     
• Ensures color consistency on Macs when viewing X3 files in SPP compared to the same file in JPEG opened with the default Mac preview mode
• Ensures SPP reflects the data of the latest lenses on Windows

To download the latest Sigma PhotoPro software, visit http://www.sigmaphoto.com/service-support/product-software. For information about Sigma Corporation of America, visit www.sigmaphoto.com.

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Comments

Total comments: 19

By Ben O Connor (3 months ago)

The lonely corner of photography. Surely a neccesity for its own professionals, but not for massess

Still i love its minimalist design.

0 upvotes

By Kalka (3 months ago)

I like it :)
some examples:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/3187ygak2f22tff/dlqkVXlC6k

0 upvotes

By JEROME NOLAS (3 months ago)

The only thing I'd love to have is a simple glass VF, a built in flash and better battery life. Impossible dreams in the 21st century...
PS. Better design and 24mm (36mm eqv.) wouldn't hurt either!

0 upvotes

By HowaboutRAW (3 months ago)

Well here's a version with a 28mm lens (35mm FF equivalent):

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/890304-REG/Sigma_c77900_DP1_Merrill_Compact_Digital.html

0 upvotes

By JEROME NOLAS (3 months ago)

No, it's 19mmm/28mm eqv! Sigma doesn't have a compact with 24mm/36mm!

0 upvotes

By Trollshavethebestcandy (3 months ago)

Will be cool to see the Merrill Chrome go head to head with the Leica M8 chrome.

1 upvote

By HowaboutRAW (3 months ago)

What's a Merrill Chrome?

Why not the M9?

At what ISO were you thinking, though I guess with M8 that question is moot.

Good Leica M lenses easily beat good Sigma lenses for colour vivacity.

0 upvotes

By Revenant (3 months ago)

Seems like he thinks this is the announcement of a monochrome DP Merrill camera, similar to the Leica M-Monochrom (which is based on the M9, not the M8).

0 upvotes

By 3DSimmon (3 months ago)

I wish the monochrome options would be available to the older dp and sd models as well

2 upvotes

By solarsky (3 months ago)

That would be great. DP1, DP2, DP1s, DP2s, DP1x, DP2x. SD9, SD10, SD14, SD15... SIGMA seem to have completely ignored legacy owners by limiting the monochrome options to the current sensor-generation-models only.
Well, demand for the newer models might go up even further because of this, since the monochrome-options, or rather really "extensions" should certainly become a standard tool for any serious SIGMA-camera owner from now on.

Comment edited 1 minute after posting

1 upvote

By Professor999 (3 months ago)

This news is more recent than Nikon's (check the time stamp).
Question, Why is this article pushed down the list?
I almost missed it.
Normally articles are posted chronologically.
Am I missing something?

Comment edited 47 seconds after posting

0 upvotes

By brelip (3 months ago)

It may seem that way, but news are not posted chronologically.

0 upvotes

By brelip (3 months ago)

when are they adding retina display support?

0 upvotes

By solarsky (3 months ago)

Why? Apple's notebook screens employ 6-bit LUTs, hence only properly displaying 252k colors.
It's totally unsuitable for any serious photo or video work, since there will always be drop-offs those screen's LUTs simply won't deal with right. Get a good external monitor and you'll be fine. Or alternatively a HP EliteBook with a HP DreamColor screen. That'll do the job, since it uses internal 12-bit-LUTs. That's a different world of color detail you'll be seeing there ;-)

1 upvote

By Raist3d (3 months ago)

Doesn't sound like you know what you are talking about. Use a Retina MBP with LightRoom or Aperture and come back then. There is indeed a benefit to the extra detail.

Comment edited 18 seconds after posting

1 upvote

By HowaboutRAW (3 months ago)

solarsky--

And no one believes me when I say that my HP laptop (well Elitebook) has a screen with color that's much better than the so called retina displays on some new Macs.

Is it simply a more bit depth thing with the "DreamColor" screen or are the pixels actually constructed differently?

0 upvotes

By HowaboutRAW (3 months ago)

Raist3d:

Try getting beyond pixel density and look at a laptop with really good colour, it won't be a Mac, retina or otherwise.

0 upvotes

By Paul Storm (3 months ago)

been seriously considering a Foveon camera (DP3). if photo pro 5.5 rocks it's a no brainer.

0 upvotes

By HowaboutRAW (3 months ago)

Well ProPhoto 5.5 could be a bit faster, but will still lack things like vibrance controls.

The Foveon raws from the DP2x can be extracted with Adobe Camera Raw 6.x. Not sure that I've tried ACR 7, but probably that too.

0 upvotes

Total comments: 19