DPReview.com is closing April 10th - Find out more

Sigma DP1 review

Started Aug 26, 2008 | User reviews thread
ForumParentFirstPreviousNext
Flat view
Robert Jeantet Contributing Member • Posts: 790
Sigma DP1 review

After using the SD1 for several months whilst in the Alps, I can report on my shooting experiences with a fair degree of confidence.
(note: I also have and use a Nikon D200 and a Casio Z750 pocket camera).
Simply put, the DP1 produces the best-looking images I have ever made with a digital camera. With no additional sharpening, the pictures carry more detail and sharpness than I can get with my Nikon.
The included Sigma software allows me to recover detail from both ends of the light/dark spectrum with incredible ease, so that high-contrast subjects are not a problem and do not require HDR exposures or processing. The sharpness of the lens is remarkable. And, once I've thought about it, I don't really NEED huge, 10 or 12 or 20-megapixel images.
Features on this camera are minimal, but sufficient for my purposes. The flash is weak; I have never used the video (My Casio performs that function wonderfully well) and frankly, the autofocus and autoexposure are sluggish, not to say positively glacial. This is not a camera for the quick snapshooter; using it reminds me of my salad days with a Leica M4, with each shot requiring some thought...
This is a camera that can produce remarkable images, and I'm glad that I bought it !

Problems:

No problems mechanical or optical.
However, the sluggish response of the camera in focus and exposure, as well as the very slow writing to card, require the photographer to plan his shooting, which in and of itself is not a bad thing.

Sigma DP1
5 megapixels • 2.5 screen • 28 mm
Announced: Sep 26, 2006
Robert Jeantet's score
4.0
Average community score
4.2
ForumParentFirstPreviousNext
Flat view
Post (hide subjects) Posted by
ForumParentFirstPreviousNext
Keyboard shortcuts:
FForum PPrevious NNext WNext unread UUpvote SSubscribe RReply QQuote BBookmark MMy threads
Color scheme? Blue / Yellow