How can Sigma make sure the FFF is the best success it can be? Locked

EEvan wrote:

knoxphoto wrote:

IMO .x3f and SPP have to go, DNG with 3rd party software is the only way forward. It also makes the alliance with Panasonic/Leica make more sense for L mount users.

I've owned/used every version of the layered Foveon X3 sensor since the SD-14. Unpopular opinion, but the magic of those sensors exists more on the computer screen than in actual prints. And yes, I've printed Foveon-captured images from post-card size to billboard size. They look great, no complaints, however, clients/galleries are just as happy with prints made for similar resolution Bayer sensors with good glass.

To be honest, the Sony-made sensors in the FP/L bodies are so good, I don't really care if they release another Foveon X3 sensor camera. I'd prefer to have the FP/L sensors in an SL2/S style body with a Sigma badge for half the price of the Leica-branded versions. I think that would be the game changer the brand needs if they want to sell camera bodies and not just lenses.

Otherwise, it sounds like we'll be getting another obscure sensor in a modular body that half the user base will love, and half will hate.

Flame away.

I agree. Sigma needs to basically make DNG work for their Foveon cameras. Put the RAW data in there, fill all the standard tags so normal software can work with it.
And then add custom tags to store all the SIGMA magic sauce if needed for SPP to know how to develop them right.
But being locked into SPP is going to kill the camera for many new adopters.
The other important thing is speed of operations. It needs to Turn on as fast as a modern camera. it needs to take photos and focus as fast as a modern camera.
It needs to write to the card as fast as a modern camera.
It doesn't need to be a speed-demon, it just needs to feel responsive.

I agree. One of the biggest problems I had with my SD1 was the slow speed of operation. Not the shooting speed, which was fine, but when it would hit that terrible 6 or 7 raw file buffer limit . . . the slow, lethargic, time-consuming processing, and my inability to review what I was just shooting . . . oh, my, god. It was very frustrating sometimes. I really had to shoot that camera slowly. When shooting landscapes it was fine, but not when shooting portraits or sunrises and sunsets, and not when shooting bees or birds, and trying to catch the just at the right time. Sports and many other things would just be so difficult that I would stop shooting with my SD1 Merrill and switch to my Nikon D810 or my Sony A65. I often did that when shooting portraits too, so I'd have a few shots from my SD1 Merrill, but most of my shots were from my Sony A65 or Nikon D810. The SD Quattro H was much better, but it was still just too slow. I think modern processors are now so fast though that Sigma can cut the wait times in half, at least. Hopefully they put a huge raw shooting buffer in the camera too. Have you seen the massive buffers Fuji has in their latest APS-C cameras? THAT is something Sigma should do. How much extra can an extra couple of memory chips cost? Sigma had the right idea with the SD 15. What happened to THAT kind of thinking?