DP-1 Update!

[Digart]

Just got off the Sigma forum and learned that various owners of the just released DP-1 have noticed green and/or magenta casts in some of their images. Supposedly Sigma is aware of the problem . . . could it be that Sigma is following the trend set by Leica and expects it's new owners to become dedicated beta testers?

I guess it's wise to never purchase a camera when initally released.!
--
Digart

 

[Ross]

Just got off the Sigma forum and learned that various owners of the
just released DP-1 have noticed green and/or magenta casts in some of
their images. Supposedly Sigma is aware of the problem . . . could it
be that Sigma is following the trend set by Leica and expects it's
new owners to become dedicated beta testers?

I guess it's wise to never purchase a camera when initally released.!
--
Digart

Not the first time for Sigma and no mfr is immune. There is a risk to being the first kid on the block with the lates gadget, but there is a fun in it, too. There is also a lot of learning to be had dealing with anomolies. I sure know a lot more about IR contamination than I ever wanted to know and I got a real lesson on color profiles, just from being one of the first with an M8. There is actually a payback in being a beta tester...you learn stuff.

Back in the old days, it happened every time a new camera or film was introduced, but without the internet, it took more time to compare notes.
--
Bob Ross
http://www.pbase.com/rossrtx

 

[Jim Radcliffe]

Just got off the Sigma forum and learned that various owners of the
just released DP-1 have noticed green and/or magenta casts in some of
their images. Supposedly Sigma is aware of the problem . . . could it
be that Sigma is following the trend set by Leica and expects it's
new owners to become dedicated beta testers?

But what you failed to mention is the number of incredible images that have come from the DP1. Mine arrived today and I am charging batteries now.. hope to put it through its paces this weekend.

The casts you speak of seem to be a characteristic of the Foeveon sensor under certain lighting conditions and do not seem to be the major issue that the M8 initially had.

I guess it's wise to never purchase a camera when initally released.!

Hmmmm.... let's see. I bought the Canon D30, the Canon 20D and the Canon 5D all site unseen and have no regrets... oh, I also bought the Leica D-Lux 3 as well.

Because I bought all these cameras early on I got to shoot with them while many others waited and waited and waited for theirs. I like being an early adopter.

--
Jim Radcliffe
http://www.boxedlight.com/sigmadp1
http://www.boxedlight.com/dlux3
http://www.image36.com
http://www.oceona.com

The ability to 'see' the shot is more important than the gear.

 

[markE59102]

Mine arrived today and I am charging
batteries now.. hope to put it through its paces this weekend.

Can't wait, can't wait, can't wait!!!

--

• markE

http://www.wingsoflight.com

'Good street/wildlife photography is a controlled accident,
a vision of preparation and surrender materialized.'

 

[Digart]

Just got off the Sigma forum and learned that various owners of the
just released DP-1 have noticed green and/or magenta casts in some of
their images. Supposedly Sigma is aware of the problem . . . could it
be that Sigma is following the trend set by Leica and expects it's
new owners to become dedicated beta testers?

But what you failed to mention is the number of incredible images
that have come from the DP1. Mine arrived today and I am charging
batteries now.. hope to put it through its paces this weekend.

The casts you speak of seem to be a characteristic of the Foeveon
sensor under certain lighting conditions and do not seem to be the
major issue that the M8 initially had.

I guess it's wise to never purchase a camera when initally released.!

Hmmmm.... let's see. I bought the Canon D30, the Canon 20D and the
Canon 5D all site unseen and have no regrets... oh, I also bought the
Leica D-Lux 3 as well.

Because I bought all these cameras early on I got to shoot with them
while many others waited and waited and waited for theirs. I like
being an early adopter.

--
Jim Radcliffe
http://www.boxedlight.com/sigmadp1
http://www.boxedlight.com/dlux3
http://www.image36.com
http://www.oceona.com

The ability to 'see' the shot is more important than the gear.

Jim, I was ready to purchase the DP-1 as soon as it was released because of the many excellent images I saw on the Sigma forum. After reading the various posts concerning the green/magenta casts I feel I don't want to deal with a product that has been released "before it's time". From what I read, Sigma is aware of the problem but released the camera anyway.

I also own the Canon 20D and have not had a problem with the camera since day one. BTW, I purchased the camera when it was first released and didn't have to resort to beta testing the new kid on the block. Canon and Nikon seem to release products that are not half baked.

I'm truly looking forward to seeing some of your DP-1 images and hope you don't have any problems with the camera. Of course you have the option to return the camera if you find it doesn't meet your expectations. :0)

Regards,

--
Digart

 

[james vornov]

I got one of the first DP1's released. I really was looking for something to use for travel other than my Leica M6 and film.

It's a groundbreaking compact and the Foveon sensor is an interesting change from the usual. The green corner problem is a white balance issue in the RAW converter when set to auto. The presets like daylight, cloudy, etc have little or no problem.

For anyone looking for DSLR quality in something smaller, it's a very good choice right now based on my experience of the last week.

 

[Digart]

I got one of the first DP1's released. I really was looking for
something to use for travel other than my Leica M6 and film.

It's a groundbreaking compact and the Foveon sensor is an interesting
change from the usual. The green corner problem is a white balance
issue in the RAW converter when set to auto. The presets like
daylight, cloudy, etc have little or no problem.

For anyone looking for DSLR quality in something smaller, it's a very
good choice right now based on my experience of the last week.

James, thanks for your input concerning the DP-1 auto WB issue. Do you know if Sigma has a fix for this problem?

Best Regards,
--
Digart

 

[james vornov]

Sigma support told me about the use of presets to avoid the problem and called it a temporary fix. So they know about it and it's a WB issue in RAW conversion. At this point, I'd assume that future versions of the RAW software and firmware will fix it.

 

[Tedwill48170]

I shoot all raw and fix it in post processing.

What I have noticed are some odd things - I'm probably not accustomed to the Foveon imaging, are that whenever I add or remove contrast, the image gets 'fuzzy' around the edges. Maybe it's just the Sigma software. I'm hoping Adobe updates camera raw with the DP1 soon. I much prefer ACR.

Overall, I am pleased with the imaging quality, particularly in low light situations, but the D-Lux3 is a better all around camera. If the DP1 had an optical zoom, better than an F4 speed and a macro settings it would be heads and shoulders above the D-Lux 3. I understand the physics of why a large sensor in a P&S body make for certain limitations, but then again, that's what innovation is all about - breaking the rules.

I see this camera as a prototype of hopefully newer and better quality smalller cameras. It's biggest advantage - size. If my 40D or 5D were smaller, I wouldn't have considered a DP1.

--

Think about the photo before and after, never during. The secret is to take your time. You mustn't go too fast. The subject must forget about you. Then, however, you must be very quick.

Henri Cartier-Bresson

 

[Digart]

Sigma support told me about the use of presets to avoid the problem
and called it a temporary fix. So they know about it and it's a WB
issue in RAW conversion. At this point, I'd assume that future
versions of the RAW software and firmware will fix it.

Thanks for the info James. :0)

Regards,

--
Digart

 

[Digart]

I shoot all raw and fix it in post processing.

What I have noticed are some odd things - I'm probably not accustomed
to the Foveon imaging, are that whenever I add or remove contrast,
the image gets 'fuzzy' around the edges. Maybe it's just the Sigma
software. I'm hoping Adobe updates camera raw with the DP1 soon. I
much prefer ACR.

Overall, I am pleased with the imaging quality, particularly in low
light situations, but the D-Lux3 is a better all around camera. If
the DP1 had an optical zoom, better than an F4 speed and a macro
settings it would be heads and shoulders above the D-Lux 3. I
understand the physics of why a large sensor in a P&S body make for
certain limitations, but then again, that's what innovation is all
about - breaking the rules.

I see this camera as a prototype of hopefully newer and better
quality smalller cameras. It's biggest advantage - size. If my 40D
or 5D were smaller, I wouldn't have considered a DP1.

--
Think about the photo before and after, never during. The secret is
to take your time. You mustn't go too fast. The subject must forget
about you. Then, however, you must be very quick.

Henri Cartier-Bresson

Ted, thanks for the heads up on the DP-1. Not having an optical zoom would be a minus for me as well. As far as the macro issue goes you might consider attaching a closeup lens up front and use the LCD screen for focusing.

I presently shoot with a Canon 20D and when I want to travel light or do some available light photography I use my thifty-nifty 50mm, 1.8 that I'm sure you know is small, light and razor sharp. It's not a zoom, but gives me a handy 80mm stretch for street shooting and portrait work.

Much luck with your DP-1 and once again thanks for getting back. :0)

Best Regards,
--
Digart

 

[james vornov]

I'm comparing the DP1 to an M8 rather than the D-Lux. I generally just have a 35mm Summicron on my M6, so I have no problem giving up a zoom. The auto/manual focus plus the way auto exposure lock works on the DP1 gives me working speed like my M6.

The f/4 and maximum ISO of 800 are the main limitations I have with the DP1. I'm giving up 2 stops to the summicron plus 400 film and, truth be told, ISO 800 for the Foveon is not noisy, but it is relatively desaturated. Of course the DP1 is even more compact than an M8, which makes me more likely to have it with me than the bigger, heavier Leica.

In the end, we are still making big compromises at this stage of digital camera evolution and one needs to make the trade offs that fit budget and working style. For image quality, the DP1 opens up new possibilities in image quality for a camera this small.

 

[Jim Radcliffe]

The DP1 arrived the other day and after a day of shooting all I can say is WOW!

If you wish to know more visit this thread in the Sigma forum.

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1027&message=27453901

Pictures will be online sometime today or this evening... the quality is amazing. And I have experienced no color issues at all.
--
Jim Radcliffe
http://www.boxedlight.com/sigmadp1
http://www.boxedlight.com/dlux3
http://www.image36.com
http://www.oceona.com

The ability to 'see' the shot is more important than the gear.

 

[charlesh]

about significant shutter lag as well as the green cast. Any kind of shutter lag would kill this camera for street shooters.
--
charlesh

 

[Rich Simpson UK]

I was told on the Sigma forum when I queried the DP-1 response time:

"that it is instant with AF when turning off LCD and using viewfinder....

...and set to HF Distance in manual focus it is also instant when you want to frame with LCD"

I don't own a DP-1, so really can't say, but would be very surprised if it could work as a street cam in the mould of a Ricoh GX-100, which I do have, (as well as a D-Lux 3). Speed of use for street shooters is also heavily dependant on accessing other controls besides focus, and I'm not sure if that is the DP-1's strength either ...

--
Regards,
Rich Simpson

 

[Jim Radcliffe]

My first days work with the DP1 is online at

http://www.boxedlight.com/dp1/

Here's a sample BW from last night's B.B. King concert.



This was taken at ISO 800 with virtually no noise.. my D-Lux 3 gets noisy at any ISO setting over 200. I've tried a number of times to use my D-Lux 3 at this exact same venue with the same lighting and failed miserably.

I'm not getting rid of the D-Lux 3 because the DP1 does not have a zoom nor can it do macro but it blows the D-Lux 3 away when it comes to IQ and DR.. especially in low light situations. Most impressive little camera I've seen in ages.
--
Jim Radcliffe
http://www.boxedlight.com/dp1
http://www.boxedlight.com/dlux3
http://www.image36.com
http://www.oceona.com

The ability to 'see' the shot is more important than the gear.

 

[l_objectif]

Jim, I am very impressed! But I am curious to see what other folks can do with DP1 (almost any camera in your hands can produce nice photos!)
How is the size comparing to dlux3?

Have fun with your new camera; and make lots of beautiful shots of your wife so she wouldn’t complain too much about it! )

Louis

 

[Tedwill48170]

That's where the Leica M8 and digital SLRs come in. I bought the D-Lux 3 and the DP1 as a backup camera on non shooting days. Generally it sits in my laptop back until I need it. I would never try to do street photography with either of those cameras unless I had no choice.

An SLR like my 40D or my 5D are much better for street photography than any P&S unless you're very lucky and get something by accident.

That being said, I think you can do a lot with point and shoot cameras of high quality if you plan ahead.
--

Think about the photo before and after, never during. The secret is to take your time. You mustn't go too fast. The subject must forget about you. Then, however, you must be very quick.

Henri Cartier-Bresson

 

[Tedwill48170]

Those were worth the wait! Great shots of BB and Lucille!

Thanks for posting the exif data on your site. I'll look forward to other shots you take with the DP1.

Thanks,

-Ted
--

Think about the photo before and after, never during. The secret is to take your time. You mustn't go too fast. The subject must forget about you. Then, however, you must be very quick.

Henri Cartier-Bresson

 

[Rich Simpson UK]

I don't see that ANY cam should be dismissed or catagorised as specific for "street shooting" - I use my Oly E3 with 50-200, or E400 with Leica 14-50 OIS, with L1 with Leica R 135 .. as well as D-Lux 3 AND the Ricohs.

Each has their strengths and weaknesses, and only this last week I took shots with the GX-100 and left the E3 in the bag, as it would have simply been the wrong tool for the job.

Street shooting opportunities don't happen by "luck or accident" !! - They happen by careful observation and quick reaction coupled with a solid understanding of camera controls .... ;-)

--
Regards,
Rich Simpson