Photokina 2006: Sigma has today announced the interesting, unique DP1 digital camera which features the same Foveon 14M X3 sensor (2652 x 1768 x 3 layers) as the SD14 and a fixed 16.6 mm F4.0 lens (providing a 28 mm equiv. FOV). As a development announcement there isn't a lot more detail than this, a quick look over the body images reveals a large LCD monitor, pop-up flash and the expected range of manual controls.

Press Release:

Sigma DP1 high-end compact digital camera

Sigma DP1 high-end compact digital camera equipped with 14 megapixel, large direct image sensor.

  • 14 megapixel direct image sensor as used in the Sigma SD14 digital SLR.
  • Featuring Sigma’s new, unique ‘True’ image processing engine.
  • 16.6 mm F4 lens (28mm equivalent).

The Sigma Corporation is pleased to announce the launch of the new, groundbreaking Sigma DP1 compact digital camera featuring a 14 megapixel FOVEON X3 direct image sensor (2652 × 1768 × 3 layers) as used in the Sigma SD14 digital SLR. The image sensor uses three silicon embedded layers of photo sensors, stacked to take advantage of silicon’s ability to absorb red, green and blue light at different respective depths.

A 16.6mm F4 Sigma lens, with a wide angle field of view equivalent to 28mm on a 35mm film camera, has been developed to maximize the image quality in conjunction with the full colour capture image sensor.

The DP1 takes advantage of the image sensor’s superior technology to capture accurate, full colour image information.

Sigma’s unique and powerful ‘True’ image processor is incorporated into the DP1, enabling it to handle the large image files produced by the 14 megapixel sensor and reproduce exceptional definition with image quality equal to professional digital SLR cameras and on a par with top quality film. The Sigma DP1 is equipped with a large 2.5” TFT LCD monitor with 100% image preview, making confirmation of composition, focusing and exposure quick and easy. This compact camera includes JPEG recording format for speed and convenience and a RAW data (X3F) recording mode for retaining full image capture detail of the utmost quality.