The next Foveon camera?

Jozef M wrote:

Scottelly wrote:

Jozef M wrote:

Le Camerique wrote:

The R5 is a nice camera, no doubt. But I would still prefer a new Foveon. Even an old DP2 Merrill if I'm being honest.

The look is different, period.

The overall look and tonality of the Merrill sensor, which you see and like on your monitor, disappears when you print out photos, or use them in print for books and magazines.

That's where the Bayer sensors win with their greater ease of use, dynamic range, and use of higher iso values. No Foveon sensor camera can compete with that.

And 99% of website viewers give a darn about the image quality of pictures on the internet. Sigma is a business, it has to make a profit to survive. I don't think Sigma is going to launch yet another niche camera.
Regret...

I think that you are off base here. Niche cameras are what sigma has been making all along. Why would they stop doing that, and go up against the likes of Sony, Canon, and Panasonic? Do you really think Sigma can make a 24 MP, full-frame camera that's better than Panasonic's new S5 II?

Sigma has a good position with their fp line, which is a line of niche cameras, as you surely know. Those little cameras probably sell better than any other cameras they have ever sold before (but maybe not, because they're so much more expensive than the SD Quattro).

I can imagine Sigma making the FFF, and selling them slowly for about $3,000 each . . . for a long time. I can imagine them following that up with an fp T (three-layer), using the same sensor, and selling that camera for about the same price. Then I can imagine they might make a more affordable camera, with an APS-C sensor that has 20 MP per layer (though I bet it will be much more expensive than the SD Quattro). Then, after they do that I can imagine them stepping up the resolution of their full-frame offerings by "quatrifying" the FFF, updating the electronics with a faster processor and a faster memory card slot, doubling the buffer memory, improving the EVF, etc. I think one day the switch to L mount will be a thing of the distant past, and Sigma will still be making three-layer sensors, because that will be one of the niches which will make L mount unique.

BTW, would you agree that Leica makes niche cameras? If so, do you think Leica just doesn't know what they're doing?

Sure the image shown has good detail. High detail is a feature of Foveon, but not the only purpose of it. I loved the colors, tonality and overall look from my old Merrill.

Jozef

The Leica M cameras can be considered niche cameras, yes, with their dated focusing system, their lack of long prime lenses and zooms, not to mention their exaggerated pricing.

At Leica, they are still banking on their old outdated reputation for quality, and they apparently still laugh their heads off there that rich people still want to buy their stuff. Bling bling. But yes, I don't blame Leica, this is also a business model, I wonder how long they can keep this up. If the CEO wants another new Rolls, let's make another 'special green Safari M' version. Cash cash.

Jozef.

LOL

While I agree with the sentiment, you probably should acknowledge that Leica does make some of the World's best lenses. I can't afford the $10,000 50mm f2 they make, but if I won the lottery I think I'd get one . . . and the new 60 MP Leica.