One trick pony Locked

DMillier wrote:

MF cameras are one trick ponies if you consider versatility as essential.

But for me the pejorative of calling Sigma that is they are unique amongst camera makers in making cameras that look like and compete in the space of far superior models from other companies.

It is only the particular image quality that is the Sigma "trick", Replace the quattro sensor with a conventional Sony EXmor and you will have a better camera but one that would almost impossible to sell because it would still fall well short of the competition.

It is all about the sensor - but it shouldn't be the ball is still in Sigma's court to fix that. Put the Foveon in a body that would sell in its own right - then they would have more than a one trick pony.

The SD1 is a camera with a body that would sell in its own right. It is weather sealed, comfortable, solid, and has good controls and review screen (though it is falling a little short today, as far as the review screen is concerned, which is probably why Sigma decided to upgrade the review screen, when they made the new DP2 Quattro). Hopefully Sigma will upgrade the screen even more, when they make the SD1 Quattro (or whatever DSLR they put the new Quattro sensor into). I'm hoping to see a 3.2" screen with slighly higher resolution (about the same as what the Nikon D810 has would be nice). Does it have the live-view feature? No . . . but neither does the $20,000 Leica S2, right? I would like to see a good implementation of live-view in the SD1 Quattro though. I think that if Sigma makes an SD1 Quattro with the new True III processor, a buffer big enough to hold 20 frames of RAW+JPG, live view, a bigger and better review screen, and dual SD card slots, they'll have a winner for most people, who are comparing it to the Nikon D810 are concerned. It shoots as fast, produces image quality that is as good at ISO 100 and 200, and it will be $1,000 less money. If Sigma adds a good implementation of wi-fi, so people can control it with their cell phones and review reasonably high resolution images on a large screen, like an iPad screen, it will probably be a real winner. Ultimately though, it will still be somewhat of a niche camera, just like the Nikon D800 and other 36 MP cameras are. There will be people who say, "It doesn't do video, so it's not as good as the Nikon D610." There will be people who say, "It doesn't have built-in GPS, so it's not as good as the Nikon D5300." There will be people who say, "It doesn't have a fold-out screen, so it's not as good as a Sony A99." Would any of those people be right? Of course. They're all as right as anyone can be, considering what is important to them. For most Foveon users though, it will be the better camera, because of the image quality.

As far as the size of the DP2 Quattro is concerned . . . please point out a camera that captures such detail that isn't actually significantly bigger. The Sony A7r? That thing costs almost $3,000 with a good lens on it. In fact, compared to anything else out there, the Sigma DP2 Quattro is the best value for the image quality it produces, when you consider image quality as the most important thing. Who buys a camera, if they don't consider image quality as the most important thing? After-all, a cell phone with an 8 MP camera built into it captures decent image quality, right? The alternative? Maybe something like a Sony RX100 or a Pentax GX7 (with interchangeable lenses). But if image quality is the most important thing to you . . . you'll probably take your Sigma DP2 Quattro with you too . . . for the shots that its lens is good for. Why? Because it is the ultimate . . . unless you have thousands of dollars to spend or you just HAVE to have an EVF or a "real" optical viewfinder. The popularity of the DP series is a testament to the fact that there are lots of people who DON'T need or want those things enough to decide to NOT buy the DP series cameras.