Sigma DP2 Review

The Sigma DP2 Digital Camera is a high-end compact digital camera equipped with a 14 megapixel Foveon X3 direct image sensor.  With this camera, it is possible to record images in RAW or the widely used JPEG in four resolution modes. Furthermore, it offers five Exposure modes and three Metering modes as well as being equipped with a built-in flash, hot shoe, and 2.5″ TFT color LCD monitor.

Our Rating (3/5)

Good: Excellent characteristics for shooting in black and white; compact; nice manual controls.

Bad: Slow AF system; short battery life; stiff shutter button; some interface annoyances; occasional lockups; poor white balance; overly blue LCD screen; poor video capture.

TechRadar writes:
“The autofocus system is rather less impressive. It’s not that quick, and it’s pretty noisy, too. The manual focus dial makes up for it, though. It’s quick to use and the distance markings are clear.”
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NeutralDay writes:
“This is not a camera for beginners, for the photographer who prefers more dynamic subjects, or for those on a tight budget. If however, you are a photographer who places a premium on image quality and prefers full creative control over his or her camera, all in a tidy compact form, I highly recommend the Sigma DP2.”
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Pocket-Lint writes:
“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.”
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PhotographyBlog writes:
“Chromatic aberrations like purple and green-fringing, typically a problem in this class of camera, are simply non-existent on the DP2, testament to the excellent prime lens, which is also the reason for the almost complete lack of pincushion or barrel distortion, and the maximum aperture of f/2.8 is a very welcome improvement on the DP1″
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PDN writes:
“AI’m afraid the DP2 has too many liabilities for me to recommend it. If you’re still interested in finding out what all the fuss is about with this technology, seek out the lower-priced, wider-angled Sigma DP1 instead.”
Rating: N/A

Samples:

- Sample Photos @ PhotographyBlog

- Sample Photos @ CNET

- Sample Photos @ TrustedReviews

PCmag writes:
“Overall, outside the lab, I saw excellent results—the experience of capturing D-SLR quality images without lugging around a bulky D-SLR was a pleasure. Despite low sharpness scores in the photography lab, images shot outdoors in good lighting conditions looked crisp and brilliant. The colors created by the Foveon X3 processor didn’t seem to produce anything that could not be replicated by a pricier Canon T1i or Nikon D5000, but definitely rivaled them (below ISO 1600)”
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CNET.uk writes:
“The Sigma DP2 is a camera for the cognoscenti, not beginners. It’s not without its downsides, but it offers a fantastic build, great design, excellent manual controls, and a level of clarity that belies its apparently modest resolution, thanks to its Foveon X3 sensor”
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PCWorld writes:
“The cameras’ shadow detail, dynamic range, and color accuracy are all top notch, but bump the ISO up to 800 and the images start to get overly noisy. The amount of noise isn’t terrible, but it’s not up to par with SLRs, most of which can shoot at ISO 800 and produce very clean files. “
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MacWorld writes:

“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. “
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NeutralDay  writes:
“it’s safe to say that it does take pictures just as good (or very nearly so) as an even more expensive DSLR camera.”

TrustedReviews writes:
“While images at ISO 1600 may be usable in some instances, I for one would not want to shoot above ISO 800, unless it was absolutely necessary, and ideally, I wouldn’t want to stray above ISO 400…. you really do have to want it, and know how to use it to get the best from it. For most people, I suspect, that it comes as too a high a price to pay. ”
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Gizmodo writes:
“As much as I’d like to say it’s a great camera for photographically inclined people to stash somewhere for certain situations, it’s too damn expensive. It costs around $650 street price; for that money you can probably get a clearance-model DSLR model these days, maybe even with a kit lens..”
Rating: N/A

TOP writes:
“After using the DP2 daily for over a week I found it to be a sluggish, noisy, unreliable, and generally charmless device which I ultimately decided to return for a refund. That’s the bottom line of my opinion.”
Rating: N/A

PhotoReview.au writes:
“Low-light performance was only marginally better than we found with the DP1, with a severe loss of colour in long exposures that was reflected in both JPEG and raw files. Noise and colour shifts became increasingly obvious from ISO 400″
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Specifications:

Audio
Built-in microphone: Yes

Battery
Battery type(s): Lithium ion
Battery Charger: AC Adapter

Camera
Optical sensor: CMOS
Megapixels: 14.06 megapixels
White balance: Automatic, Custom, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Shade, Flash, Sun, Overcast
LCD display size: 2.5 inch
Flash type: Pop-up
Focal length: 24.2mm F2.8 (35mm equivalent focal length: 41mm)

General
Camera Type: Digital compact
Dimensions (H x W x D): 59.5 x 113.3 x 56.06 mm
Weight: 260 g

Storage
Storage type(s): MultiMedia Card, Secure Digital Card
Internal memory: MB