If the sensor was full frame, I actually believe it could have been different.
Something like: "Dear customers, we are extremely sorry, but after extensive research, we are not completely satisfied with the low light performance of 15 Foveon megapixels on APS-C, so we have changed our course and will release a FF sensor with 18 megapixels capable of excellent imaging at 1600 iso, and very good at 3200. We have ruggedized and weather sealed the body quite a bit. We will also release a special series of high aperture primes that will match and exceed the resolution of the sensor. Again, we are very sorry for the late announcement and the increase in price, but after much wrangling, we think this is the best possible avenue to guarantee a future for the Foveon technology."
Yes, for me, I would have been upset about not getting the SD1 at $2000.00 or $2500.00, but I would have felt totally different about Sigma and would have been relieved that indeed there would be a future for Foveon. My being upset would have waned quite rapidly. AND, more importantly, I would already be trying to imagine what I could sell to get the new camera.
As things stand out right now, I feel Sigma has made a big blunder, not with the camera itself (although we still should wait for the proper testing) but with the way it has proceeded with the announcement (lack of warning, lack of apologies -except for the very late tweet of Mr Yamaki- the astounding amount itself when the camera had more or less been touted at a third of the new price).
People who have been following Sigma for the past decade now doubt the business acumen of the company. They understand that this PR "fiasco" will certainly not further the acceptance of the technology which is a real shame. Most of the potential buyers feel totally let down and for many who were ready for a newer generation camera and who had postponed their buying decision waiting for the SD1, the feeling is that they should probably look elsewhere as thissituation is certainly not going to sort itself out very soon. I am one of those. I am ready for a newer generation camera and I have been waiting (cash in hand) week after week for the SD1. I had big, big plans with my SD1. I could get an SD15, but the anticipation of the SD1 has minimized my interest so I will look somewhere else.
Sigma could have done this very differently, and at least decide and announce substantial improvements to the SD1 to bring it to a level more acceptable for the price, even if it meant further delays. There are many things they could have done that would have softened the blow. They could have been very candid about it and just prepare us some months ago saying, well, our pricing estimate was way, way too optimistic, the costs of the new sensor (or whatever else) were grossly underestimated: WE ARE SORRY but...etc. Why wait till the last minute when everybody is already quite weary of waiting? Nobody will make me believe they found out their real costs 10 days ago.
Anyway, I could go on forever. In the end, now that the anger is really gone, I feel worried that Foveon will pass into oblivion and sad about loosing something very dear. I really hope Sigma finds some way to save the ship. The way they proceeded with the pricing release of the SD1 cast a lot of doubt about their capacity to do so. And that is the real damage in this whole story.
