Sigma 14.1 Megapixels DP2 Review by Pocket-lint With Rating 7/10

Average Camera Review Rating [5 reviews]
Sigma introduced to the market in March, 2008, the DP1 with its direct image sensor; the same sensor utilized by the Sigma SD14 digital SLR. It was called a unique, groundbreaking, compact digital camera with all the power of a digital SLR. Building on this success, the DP2 has arrived and main differences between the DP2 and last year's DP1 model include a longer 41mm lens (versus the 28mm lens on DP1) with a faster aperture of F/2.8, the TRUE II image processing engine which promises to speed up operation, and the Quick Set button which aims to make it easier to change the camera's key settings. The rest of the DP2 are virtually identical to the DP1, sharing the same 14.06 Megapixels Foveon X3 sensor, 2.5 inch LCD screen, full range of creative shooting modes, built-in flash, external hotshoe and RAW support. The camera is currently selling at $630. Pocket-lint has recently posted a review of the Sigma DP2 and here is the summary of the review:

"Because of the limitations of a fixed lens (as opposed to a zoom), using the DP2 over a period of time begins to change the way that you shoot. The only "zoom" option you have is simply to take a few steps forward, so framing is more considered, you find yourself planning shots in advance. In this respect it's almost like returning to the days of film, when every image cost you money, so you naturally slowed down and took your time. Gradually, the fact that the AF is slow doesn't begin to grate nearly so much. This isn't however a model that you can expect to get excellent results from straight out of the camera, with shots that require a narrow depth of field, blurring the background, working best. So unless you're prepared to put in a bit of time in post-production, then this is not the camera for you. However, with a bit of time and patience in Photoshop we were able to achieve pleasing results.

That said, because of its intended limitations and presumably unintended operational quirks, we wouldn't recommend anyone bought a Sigma DP2 as their one and only digital camera; it works best when viewed as a compact back-up to an existing DSLR, or an experimental supplement to a more fully-featured, user-friendly digital compact. OK, so it's a good thing that one manufacturer is attempting to split from the pack and try something different to the rest, but as such, the DP2 finds itself occupying a particularly narrow - and pricey - niche."

Sigma DP2 Camera Reviews Roundup

PhotographyBLOG: "...the X3F sensor still offers excellent image quality with the added benefit of RAW format support. There is virtually no noise throughout the ISO range, only at the fastest JPEG setting of ISO 800, which left me wondering why Sigma chose not to include ISO 1600 and 3200 settings for JPEG as well as RAW files. Chromatic aberrations like purple and green-fringing, typically a problem in this class of camera, a..." - Aug 13 2009 More »
Steve Huff Photos: "Sigma. Get it together! Make the camera a bit tougher, sleeker and improve the AF speed! This is not 1996! The sharp 2.8 lens is great and an improvement over the DP1 but I would love to see an even faster lens on this camera. The DP2 left me a bit cold. I disliked the look, build, ergonomics, and AF speed. I loved the image quality and the easy manual focus dial. But isn't a camera all about the final image?..." - Jul 18 2009 More »	N/A
CNET: "If the clarity of the DP2's detail doesn't win you over, the simplicity of the control layout will. This is how cameras used to be -- a box with a lens, and just enough controls to let you get the picture you want. With the DP2, you get pro-style program auto-exposure, aperture-priority, shutter-priority and manual modes only. There are no scene modes, no face detection, no zoom, no auto scene detection -- this is n..." - Jul 17 2009 More »
PCWorld: "The Sigma DP1 and DP2 produce the most outstanding low ISO (100 to 400) images of any compact camera I have ever used. Their image quality is truly on the same scale as entry-level SLRs. You get sharp, accurate colors, wonderful tonality, and the ability to isolate your subject with shallow depth of field--all in a package that resembles a rangefinder and slips into a jacket pocket when turned off.But unless y..." - Jul 01 2009 More »	N/A
TrustedReviews: "For the enthusiast there can little doubt that the DP-series is appealing, and Sigma must be applauded for bringing the concept to fruition. However despite the many known issues of the original, the DP2 retains many of the same shortcomings, and even brings a few new ones to the table.  So while the DP2 comes tantalisingly close in offering big sensor performance in a small and very discrete body, I..." - Jun 14 2009 More »
Gizmodo: "The Bad News: Let's repeat: There's just the one fixed lens, which isn't much of a wide angle, isn't much of a macro, isn't exactly "fast" by today's DSLR standards, and does not zoom. You have to get in the habit of going to your subjects, then making them stay still long enough to get a decent focus, then a decent shot. To add to the troubles, the sensor that is pristine at ISO 200 is noisy as crap..." - Jun 07 2009 More »	N/A
The Online Photographer: "The most significant DP2 image issues I encountered related to color casts and vignettes. The Foveon sensor seems to have a strong green bias. Raw images captured with auto white balance and the camera's "standard" color profile are generally very cool and often show a slightly green overcast. They are also somewhat flat and undersaturated, contrary to the over-saturated Velvia-style samples that Sig..." - Jun 05 2009 More »	N/A
PhotoReview: "Not surprisingly, many aspects of the DP2 were the same as (or very similar to) the DP1. Like the DP1, the new model is not designed for point-and-shoot photographers but for photographers who are prepared to spend a fair amount of time adjusting camera settings before shooting - and also on their computers processing the image files afterwards... Sigma has made some welcome improvements to the quality of the JPEG f..." - May 24 2009 More »

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