I think Sigma is in a crossroad and so we are.
Up to now Sigma tried to create a Legacy with Foveon sensor and tried to achieve niche market segment position which Foveon sensors deserve. But I feel market realities and under dogging the Sigma system by big players and content creators bring a reality for all Foveon sensor users.
Even though I do not expect sigma kill Foveon sensor cameras but I am afraid it will become less and less common if specially Sigma succeeds by their Bayer sensor line of cameras and to reach to a level of recognition by main stream players and content creators.
The signs are there. For me DP series cameras were more innovative then FP and end results were very effective with the limitations of film area cameras and functionalities. But never get recognition by mainstream.
I should give my respect to Sigma for their long time devotion and persistence to be committed to foveon sensor cameras.
Yes I do expect Sigma to go FF with foveon cameras but I am afraid it will be expansive to most us to reach any more. as now they are creating a new line of camera sets probably Foveon sensor cameras will be way higher in food chain. For sure it deserves such a place but little depressing to feel it coming.
So my proposal for the future of Foveon and Sigma will be a more radical solution. To go medium format as soon as possible before this niche area completely occupied.
Interesting proposal.
I don't think it's wise for Sigma to make such a move though.
Sigma has limited resources & must decide where to direct them.
They just joined the L-Mount alliance and will be making lenses for it & for Sony... and maybe Canon and Nikon mirrorless. The fixed R&D and machining costs can be spread across multiple lens mounts.
To introduce a medium format camera, they will have to develop a full line of medium format lenses.
So they'd be taking a camera that was already a niche camera - Foveon - and making it even more niche (medium format).
I actually quite like they idea of a "dp" series medium format Foveon - give me a wide aperture portrait appropriate prime and I will 100% buy it. Other people will buy wide angle versions for landscape.
But an interchangeable lens medium format camera.... I just don't see it being practical for Sigma.
For Fuji it was a smart move - leapfrog the Canon, Sony and Nikon full frame mirrorless brands & own a niche. But even they were conservative when it came to the sensor - Bayer not X-Trans.
The cameras and lenses are expensive - and likely because they know they won't sell in huge numbers, so they have to amortize the costs across fewer users.
So a medium format Foveon would be expensive - few people would buy it, the lenses would be expensive. And all of that goes against Sigma's core philosophy of producing high quality, reasonably priced equipment.
Their stated goal with Foveon has always been "medium format quality". Funny now that there's a medium format camera that's getting a lot of buzz we're all wondering if it's even 36+megapixel "full frame" quality.
I feel that a not so high pixel resolution medium format Foveon sensor is the future for Sigma. Where foveon can benefit from large pixels to gather enough information without too much noise. Where it might attract the Studio shooters with Flash and studio lighting environment where the noise problem of the Foveon sensor becomes less of a issue. Where Sigma can create excellent medium format lenses to reach even larger and rich professional photographers to provide art series lens to the most of the medium format cameras available in market.
I think such camera if succeeds can secure the life of Foveon sensor for us. As I don't see a bright future for FF foveon sensor where it is very easy for mega brands to out maneuver Sigma.
Only commercial success could come to Foveon if we ever see a Leica or Panasonic camera with Foveon sensor. I pray that the real agenda of L-Mount alliance is to create Foeveon sensor camera over the board.
which might provide over the long run excellent well priced Foveon sensor cameras and finally people realizing the limitations of Bayer sensor as a problem.
I would have to state that as my gear list suggest many time over I preferred Sigma cameras over Bayer sensor as a loyal brand user. But finally I had to settle with Sony A7R2 as I started night time-lapse photography.
