Reading mode: Light Dark

Bidding on an SD-9. Tell me about yours please.

Go to last post
Ann Chaikin

Ann Chaikin

Veteran Member
Messages
7,094
Solutions
2
Reaction score
134
Location
Bellingham NW/USA, US
From what I hear these cameras have some advantages over the newer SD cameras. And some disadvantages. I'm bidding on one on eBay and may well buy it if the price is right. Please tell my you feelings about yours and what to expect if I do get it. I'm a DP-1 owner. The rest of my equipment is mostly Canon.
--
Ann Chaikin



Painting & Photography:
http://www.annchaikin.com
http://www.pbase.com/ptkitty/galleries
http://www.flickr.com/photos/annchaikin/
Family Websites:
http://www.chaikinsofbellingham.com
http://www.achaikin.com
 
I think you are talking a step backwards with a SD9 even if you get one for free.

Of course you have a few fans that will swear by it. But heck, you might like it.
 
Pretty much limited to iso100 as I recall. Perhaps a little better image because there are no microlenses but while some images seem to show the sd9 at a slight advantage not everyone agreed even about those that did which puts it firmly in the "maybe" territory.

Battery issues abound. It can be rewired to eliminate the cr123a batteries but it's not trivial. There were also some issues with the battery tray springs for which Sigma issued a replacement and sd10 trays will work as well. Finally some lenses, the 15-30 in my experience, would lose continuity and freeze the camera neccesitating a reboot.

Mike
Ann Chaikin said:
From what I hear these cameras have some advantages over the newer SD
cameras. And some disadvantages. I'm bidding on one on eBay and may
well buy it if the price is right. Please tell my you feelings about
yours and what to expect if I do get it. I'm a DP-1 owner. The rest
of my equipment is mostly Canon.
--
Ann Chaikin



Painting & Photography:
http://www.annchaikin.com
http://www.pbase.com/ptkitty/galleries
http://www.flickr.com/photos/annchaikin/
Family Websites:
http://www.chaikinsofbellingham.com
http://www.achaikin.com
Click to expand...
--

People do not seem to realize that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character.
  • Ralph Waldo Emerson
 
I got fed up with the SD14's Green issue and ditched it for a DP1 (which doesn't have it) but the SD9 is my fave fovie - Why? - It's those colours, not real (Surreal in lovely weather sometimes) but gorgeous all the same in an E1 kinda way.... BTW SD9 Reds are RED and not Pink like the SD14/DP1.. Far from having a mucky green cast, the SD9 tends towards a yellow/magenta cast which warms dull scenes up and admittedly needs altering sometimes but it rarely offends - it's sharper too and has no colour shifts because the IR block is a layer on the sensor and it has no Micro lenses (the Dust protector is just that and nothing else) ..

SD9 bodywise is more ergonomic than the more consumeresque (but modern) SD14 - like comparing an original tanklike Lada with one of the later Samara models (very fitting too - all these cams are more old Russian like than Japanese and the SD9 epitomises this) - as well as more dedicated buttons, it has twin command dials and a massive bright pentaprism which is greyed out for the shooting area, a lot nicer than the squinty SD14 ..

Batterywise the SD9 is the longest lived, with a good pair of CR123As and a decent set of rechargeable CRV3s, it'll go a very loooong way - avoid AAs if poss and stick with Panasonic, Varta or Sanyo CR123s if you can ..

It's CARD FUSSY - hates 1Gb Ultra IIs (blank files and weirdness) loves Lexar 80X and 133X cards .. it empties its buffer faster than the SD14 (Smaller files with no JPG embedded)

Metering SUCKS - all over the place (the one area the SD14 is better - the DP1 Rules of course) most of the time it needs .5 to 1 stop added and there's no THIRD Stop settings, it's Halves only .

Noise levels in the latest SPP are about 1/3 of a stop worse than the SD14 if that !! it only goes to ISO400 but 800+ are Pushed ISOs on the SD14 and DP1 anyway ..

BEWARE OF AF - the SD9 is capable of more accurate focussing than the big clumsy cross sensor in the SD14 but you have to know how to use it .. it's NOT a cross so only responds to vertical contrast - also its very long (as long as the brackets in the Viewfinder) so be careful where you are aiming it . I can position an SD9 on the button everytime (even if it means AF'ing in portrait mode) whereas with the SD14 and other Consumer Cross sensor bodies, it can be trouble as you can't isolate somewhere to lock with wide angles...

The SD9 body is reliable, few have died (no 0020 errors and they're 5 to 6 years old now !) it's rather like an old Russian camera , if Zenit made a DSLR, the SD9 would be it even now (probably with the 5yr old 1DS Mk1 sensor) - it's the Most Un-Japanese camera i've ever used !

If you want a sanitized version with neutral colours then get the SD10, some say it's the best of the lot but it does combine a softer Microlens sensor / IR block in the lens mount of the SD14 with lower resolution of the SD9 and it tries to run the whole lot off AAs -- Eereeek - loads love it though..

SD9 - the First one is a 100% Crop !!

















--
Please ignore the Typos, I'm the world's worst Typist

 
Ann, too bad we live on opposite coasts... I'd like to try your 5D and you'd be welcome to my SD9 as a loaner if we were in the same vicinity. Seriously, the 5D is probably the only Canon/Nikon camera which has been remotely of interest to me, but I don't use what I have now. I didn't even take the Pentax DSLR on the most recent trips, took the x530 to Europe this month but didn't take a single photo. Now I'm in the throes of selecting what goes with me to Phoenix and Sedona (red rocks and ruins!!) next week

Adam gave a great summary of the SD9. It's big, the shutter goes THUNK, it's startling compared to the SD14 or of course DP1. It's built big, solid, and to last years, and most probably have lasted well. The LCD is tiny and rather useless. Rather fussy on what it eats as batteries (what brands).

I probably prefer the SD10 to the SD9 myself, but I'm more accustomed to the SD10 than the SD9 which I bought oh a year 1/2 ago to settle MY curiosity while I shot 6000+ with the SD10, maybe couple hundred with the SD9. I've done okay with ISO400 fooling around in dark gardens' areas, but the SD9 really prefers ISO100 and good natural light to get those photos with the glow. Skies tend to be BLUE... hey, maybe even for the Pacific NW ? ... if Adam can get blue skies in the UK...

In the days before SD14 launched, we always had lots of photo comparisons between SD9 and SD10 and often I couldn't tell which was which, for all the claims that the SD9 is 'sharper' you can usually make the photos appear quite the same IF they're good natural light files at ISO100 or ISO200 especially.

I'll be interested to hear your opinion if you get it.. If not, keep watching for a SD10 alternately.
Best regards, Sandy
[email protected]
http://www.pbase.com/sandyfleischman
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sandyfleischmann
 
Yes, it would be great to be closer by. I've really enjoyed your posts and would love to try out the SD9 first. The one I'm bidding on is a new one in Australia... we shall see if I get. Don't want to pay too much as I'm still thinking about the Panasonic G1 as a reasonable quality small companion to my DP1... We shall see.
--
Ann Chaikin



Painting & Photography:
http://www.annchaikin.com
http://www.pbase.com/ptkitty/galleries
http://www.flickr.com/photos/annchaikin/
Family Websites:
http://www.chaikinsofbellingham.com
http://www.achaikin.com
 
--I'm not bidding on the SD9 from Camera Exchange...., but I can tell you that the store is one of the "Pro" shops here in town, so they are really legit. Good luck!

I have owned, (and loved) the SD9. I sold it to a friend about a year ago because she was starting a photography course.

I still have an SD10, and also a SD14. (..... I also use another brand of digital SLR as well).

The SD9 is special because it doesn't have microlenses on the sensor, and the SD10 and SD14, and DP1, do; in theory the results are sharper because of it, but in practice the 10 and 14 produce very sharp results too. Of course, as you know, none of the Foveon sensors use anti-aliasing filters, which is one of the key factors in their ability to produce the results they do.

The SD9 & 10 run very well on AA Lithiums, which are available at supermarkets. My advice is forget rechargables unless you have the powergrip. I have the grip, but still prefer AA Lithiums these days for my SD10, since I am not using the camera that often, and the rechargables loose power just siting around...

The SD14 is so cheap at the moment, that I would suggest that camera instead, except you would then need to buy lenses, and the SD9 auction comes with a nice lens.

So long as you are buying the SD9, knowing it's limitations, and providing the price doesn't get bid up, it is an interesting camera to own, especially since you are an artist.

One more thing..., the SD9 & 10 do best with shutter speeds faster than 1 sec, and I use them at 100 ISO all of the time... You can deviate from this, but then you don't get the best "Foveon" look :-) IMHO.
 
Ann: sometime back I tried all four Sigma cameras. When all was said and done, I bought an SD9.

I think Adam's post says it all, to which I can only add that I found the SD9 images to be crisper, deeper, more colorful (though not necessarily color accurate, as Adam pointed out) and far more captivating than the SD10, SD14 and DP1 images (my least favorite).

One of the things I really appreciate about the SD9 is the way its files upsize. In direct comparison with uprezzed files from the SD10 and SD14, I found the SD9 files to hold edge detail and overall detail in a more photographically satisfying way, ie they retained their great appeal to the "inner eye" while, conversely, the SD10 and SD14 enlarged files appeared to have lost something in the process when compared to their original, smaller sizes. I have no idea why.

Anyway, hope this helps. Good luck with the auction.

--
John Reed
Film & Digital
 
Hello Ann,
It was images from the Sd9 that first drew my attention to foveon.
Images by Lawrence and Paulo and others.

My first purchase was the sd10 and I picked up an sd9 on ebay for the lens that came with it.
I currently have the sd9 and sd10 and dp1 as I could never justify an sd14.
If asked what camera I would keep of the three it would be the sd9 hands down.

To me it is just special for it's peculiar color and it epitimizes the foveon concept.

It is certainly a personal thing as Adam and others can verify and it has this elephant man thing that grabs at you.

I like yourself am a painter also and there is something special about this particular camera that will appeal to you.
Good Luck!
Don
 
Sandy

Latest rebel (450D) is a pretty good match for the 5D in many ways. If you have the chance to compare one to your Sigmas (they are very common) you might be surprised at how good cheap bayers are getting compared to your pentax.
SandyF said:
Ann, too bad we live on opposite coasts... I'd like to try your 5D
and you'd be welcome to my SD9 as a loaner if we were in the same
vicinity. Seriously, the 5D is probably the only Canon/Nikon camera
which has been remotely of interest to me, but I don't use what I
have now. I didn't even take the Pentax DSLR on the most recent
trips, took the x530 to Europe this month but didn't take a single
photo. Now I'm in the throes of selecting what goes with me to
Phoenix and Sedona (red rocks and ruins!!) next week

Adam gave a great summary of the SD9. It's big, the shutter goes
THUNK, it's startling compared to the SD14 or of course DP1. It's
built big, solid, and to last years, and most probably have lasted
well. The LCD is tiny and rather useless. Rather fussy on what it
eats as batteries (what brands).

I probably prefer the SD10 to the SD9 myself, but I'm more accustomed
to the SD10 than the SD9 which I bought oh a year 1/2 ago to settle
MY curiosity while I shot 6000+ with the SD10, maybe couple hundred
with the SD9. I've done okay with ISO400 fooling around in dark
gardens' areas, but the SD9 really prefers ISO100 and good natural
light to get those photos with the glow. Skies tend to be BLUE...
hey, maybe even for the Pacific NW ? ... if Adam can get blue skies
in the UK...
In the days before SD14 launched, we always had lots of photo
comparisons between SD9 and SD10 and often I couldn't tell which was
which, for all the claims that the SD9 is 'sharper' you can usually
make the photos appear quite the same IF they're good natural light
files at ISO100 or ISO200 especially.

I'll be interested to hear your opinion if you get it.. If not, keep
watching for a SD10 alternately.
Best regards, Sandy
[email protected]
http://www.pbase.com/sandyfleischman
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sandyfleischmann
Click to expand...
--
Galleries and website: http://www.whisperingcat.co.uk/mainindex.htm
 
I really have no intention (or room or money) at present for another camera.... I simply don't even use most of what I have, especially the Pentax K100D. Thinking of **** Merrill, I intend next to take my SD9 to the gardens with the 50mmEX which actually WAS one of ****'s 50mmEX's (I got it from Seng when they changed over to DG's). He of course was our "one lens Seng" as he preferred the 50mmEX (or DG) to other lenses. See the gallery links in Laurence's post.
Best regards, Sandy
[email protected]
http://www.pbase.com/sandyfleischman
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sandyfleischmann
 
I hope you get it, the colours are lovely, the handling is ergonomic and quirky at the same time and there's nothing like it ... the DP1 and SD9 are all the Foveon I need..

--
Please ignore the Typos, I'm the world's worst Typist

 
I wasn't suggesting you buy one, merely take a look if you have the chance. You expressed a modest interest in the 5D - in many ways the cheapie 450D is just as good image quality wise and of course it is far more speedy and responsive than any Sigma.
SandyF said:
I really have no intention (or room or money) at present for another
camera.... I simply don't even use most of what I have, especially
the Pentax K100D. Thinking of **** Merrill, I intend next to take my
SD9 to the gardens with the 50mmEX which actually WAS one of ****'s
50mmEX's (I got it from Seng when they changed over to DG's). He of
course was our "one lens Seng" as he preferred the 50mmEX (or DG) to
other lenses. See the gallery links in Laurence's post.
Best regards, Sandy
[email protected]
http://www.pbase.com/sandyfleischman
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sandyfleischmann
Click to expand...
--
Galleries and website: http://www.whisperingcat.co.uk/mainindex.htm
 
bawy said:
I'm seriously considering an SD9/10 to go with my E1. Very useful info.
Click to expand...
If you're a big fan of the E1's rose tinted view on the world over the lifeless flat representation the E3 puts forward then you'll LOVE the SD9 ! .. The SD10 is more neutral like an E500 etc

--
Please ignore the Typos, I'm the world's worst Typist

 
Adam

Thanks for that. There's an SD10 twin lens kit for £250 nearby and I am sooooo tempted, but I might just look out for an SD9 instead.

Anyone know of any SD9 raw files for me to download and have a play with?

--
Regards

Barry
----------------------------------------------
http://www.bawy.smugmug.com

 
bawy said:
Thanks for that. There's an SD10 twin lens kit for £250 nearby and I
am sooooo tempted, but I might just look out for an SD9 instead.
Click to expand...
I would as IMO the output is less "orthodox" and has more character however the SD10 is a safe option - the twin lenses aren't really worth paying extra for if you're serious and likely to add better glass - the 18-50 was only any good in "Furry" form which was far later than the SD10 so it'll likely be the sad older version - the 55-200 is good and IS worth having unless you're serious about telephoto and likely to buy a better lens..

An SD10 bod isn't worth £200 thesedays (about what they are asking taking the kit lenses into consideration) - I'd hold out for that SD9 or make Mifsud Photographic an offer for their SD10 body and the 28-70 DG , they've had them for MONTHS and can't shift them.

--
Please ignore the Typos, I'm the world's worst Typist

 
Adam

Thanks for the information. Food for thought. I have a number of Pentax PK lenses that I use on the E1, and would use on the SDx. I'm going to keep my eyes open for an SD9 - quirks and all. Thanks

--
Regards

Barry
----------------------------------------------
http://www.bawy.smugmug.com

 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top