Before looking at price, consider what you'll have to pay for the
entire system. Due to Sigma's generally lower-priced lenses this
could make the SD9 cheaper (financially speaking).
But you can buy those same lenses (and others) for the Nikon and
Canon bodies. Thus the lens cost issue is does not really exist
(if anything it is better with a non-Sigma mount).
It depends on what you're willing to compromise on just for the
"right" to own this new technology. If you have a massive amount
of patience and know going in all of the problems with the SD9,
then it might be for you.
But please look at Phil's review before you spend you hard earned
money and possibly make a mistake.
Canon D60 - Highly Recommended
Nikon D100 - Highly Recommended
Fuji S2 Pro - Highly Recommended
Canon 1Ds - Highly Recommended [in a different price bracket though]
Sigma SD9 - Recommended
I suggest you collect all of the facts, and use common sense in
making your decision - as I have.
I think this is generally good advise. I was a bit surprise that
DPREVIEW gave it a "Recommended" when you consider the problems it
identified.
I thought Steve's Digicams gave a nice tight statement at the end
(bottom of Page 7)
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2002_reviews/sd9_pg7.html
"For a "first effort" I think that Sigma has put together a very
capable camera that will only get better in the future. Do I
recommend it? With the Nikon D100 and Canon D60 being available
for only $200-400 more, I'd pass on the SD9 until it matures a bit."
Imagine Resources had a similar conclusion:
From the bottom of the conclusions page at:
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/SD9/SD9A12.HTM
"As the first digital camera from a company not previously involved
in the digital world at all, the SD9 is a remarkable achievement.
It clearly has a number of limitations though, some of them
serious. Taken as a whole, I think users give up an awful lot of
capability for the roughly $400 in price that separates it from the
competing models from Nikon and Canon "
Unfortunately there are a lot of valid problems that have been
indentified with the SD9 as it currently stands. These severely
limit the camera for general purpose use when compared to the other
DLSRs and that is before you consider the issues unique to using a
Sigma Mount (namely the lens choices).
People that identify these faults or point them out are called
"bashers" and trolls by people that don't seem to want to admit to
the problems or think people should shot around them. Or that
someone of great skill could shoot around them. I don't see what
one should have to shoot around the the problems the SD9 has today
when you can buy DSLRs that don't have these problems.
I suggest you read through the similar topic on whether to buy and
SD9. I have made my comments there.
For the record, I have a Canon DSLR, but I don't advocate Canon
over Nikon and Fuji's S2. I consider the Canon and Nikon mounts
have more and better choice today and safer bets in the long run
for a lens system, not because a love either company or hate Sigma
(I have a Simga lens I like a lot). I think that if you lay all
the facts out and take the emotion, they make more sense today for
most people.
