Compared to the Canon EOS-D30 and EOS-D60

It's difficult to choose a camera with which to compare the SD9. There aren't any other X3 sensor cameras out there yet and the promise of X3 is more resolution than the same 'pixel count' Bayer sensor. Thus I have chosen to use the EOS-D30 as a Bayer sensor camera with similar resolution and the EOS-D60 which is fairly well accepted as the best current six megapixel digital SLR.

Features compared to the Canon EOS-D60

	Sigma SD9	Canon EOS-D60
Kit price (street)	US: $1799 [check]	US: $2199 [check]
Sensor	Foveon X3	Canon CMOS
Photodetectors	10.3 million (3 photo detectors per pixel)	6.3 million (1 photo detector per pixel)
Total pixel locations	3.4 million	6.3 million
Final image size	2268 x 1512	3072 x 2048
Image formats	RAW (X3F)	JPEG, RAW (CRW)
FOV crop (approx.)	1.7x	1.6x
Lens mount	Sigma SA mount	Canon EF mount
Sensitivity	ISO 100 - 400	ISO 100 - 1000
Exposure modes	Program AE Aperture-Priority AE Shutter-Priority AE Manual	Auto Program AE Aperture-Priority AE Shutter-Priority AE Manual Scene modes
Metering	8 Segment evaluative Center metering CW Average	8 Segment evaluative Center metering CW Average
Shutter max	15 sec (1 sec at ISO 200,400)	30 sec
Shutter min	1/6000 sec	1/4000 sec
Exposure steps	0.5 EV	0.3 or 0.5 EV
Bulb	Yes	Yes
Flash X-Sync	1/180 sec	1/200 sec
Exp. compen	+/- 3EV in 0.5 EV steps	+/-2 EV in 0.3, 0.5 EV steps
Auto Focus	TTL, 1 AF area	TTL, 3 AF areas (selectable)
AF assist lamp	No	Yes
Self-timer	2, or 10 secs	10 secs
Continuous	2.4 fps, max 6 images	3 fps, max 8 images
White balance	Auto, 6 settings, manual	Auto, 5 settings, manual
In-camera image params	White Balance	Contrast Sharpness Saturation Color Tone White Balance
Built-in Flash	No	Yes, Pop-up
Flash hot-shoe	Yes	Yes
Mirror lockup	Yes, 'UP' mode	Yes, 'Mirror lockup'
PC Sync terminal	No (only via adapter)	Yes
LCD monitor	1.8" 130,000 pixel	1.8" 114,000 pixel
LCD cover	Yes, supplied	No
Status panel	Yes, not illuminated	Yes, illuminated
Viewfinder	Sports finder (98% coverage)	95% coverage
User memories	No (not required)	1 (up to 3 image param. sets)
Storage	CF Type I/II (Microdrive compatible)	CF Type I/II (Microdrive compatible)
Connectivity	USB 1.1 Firewire (IEEE 1394)	USB 1.1
Custom functions	None	Yes, 14
PC Remote control	No	Yes, supplied software
Portrait grip	Unknown	Optional
Power	2 x Lithium CR-123A 4 x AA or 2 x Lithium CR-V3	Supplied Lithium-Ion 1100 mAh
Body dimensions	152 x 120 x 79 mm (6.0 x 4.7 x 3.1 in)	150 x 107 x 75 mm (5.9 x 4.2 x 3.0 in)
Weight (no lens)	918 g (2.0 lb)	855 g (1.9 lb)
RAW conversion	Yes, Sigma Photo Pro	Yes, Canon File Viewer Utility
RAW conversion output	JPEG (12 quality levels) TIFF (8 or 16 bit) Same, Half, Double size	JPEG (4 quality levels) TIFF (8 or 16 bit)
RAW conversion color space	sRGB Adobe RGB Apple RGB ColorMatch RGB	sRGB
RAW conversion image params	White Balance (7 settings) Exposure (+/- 2.0 in 0.1 steps) Contrast (+/- 2.0 in 0.1 steps) Shadow (+/- 2.0 in 0.1 steps) Highlight (+/- 2.0 in 0.1 steps) Saturation (+/- 2.0 in 0.1 steps) Sharpness (+/- 2.0 in 0.1 steps) Color Adjustment (CMY + eyedropper)	White Balance (6 settings + eyedropper) Exposure (+/- 2.0 in 0.1 steps) Contrast (3 levels) Sharpness (4 levels) Saturation (3 levels) Color Tone (3 settings)

As you can see on paper the EOS-D60 offers a lot more for the money, it's more flexible and easier to use, smaller and slightly lighter. There's also the issue of lens mount, while we understand completely that a Sigma digital SLR will have a Sigma mount that reason alone may be enough to steer some people away from this camera, there is a lot of brand loyalty among Nikon and Canon shooters. The SD9 does of course have the groundbreaking X3 sensor and a far superior RAW conversion application (Sigma Photo Pro).

Color compared to the Canon EOS-D60

Below is a standard shot of a GretagMacbeth ColorChecker chart shot by the Sigma SD9. If you place your mouse cursor over the image it will change to the same shot taken by a Canon EOS-D60. These two exposures were taken within a minute or so of each other, both cameras set to ISO 100, manual exposure, manual white balance. Both cameras were fitted with a Sigma 50 mm F2.8 lens.

As you can see the SD9 has a very similar grayscale response to the EOS-D60 but that the D60's color appears to be richer (and warmer), especially noticeable in the darker foliage green (fourth from the left, top row) which is important for the proper reproduction of greens in landscape shots.

Place your mouse cursor over the image above to see a comparison of color reproduction with the Canon EOS-D60