Sigma DP1 Compact Digital Camera
Posted on April 1, 2007 by Mark
Having recently written about the Ricoh Caplio GX100, I thought I should also mention the Sigma DP1. The DP1 was announced back in September 2006 at Photokina 2006, and it was re-announced at PMA 2007, having received quite a significant design update. The most significant thing about this compact camera is the physical size of the sensor in it: it uses an APS sized sensor — the same one used in Sigma’s SD14 digital SLR.
This big sensor is quite significant to me. While most companies seem to battle on the megapixel race, Sigma seem to be tackling what is (in my opinion) the single biggest floor in all compact cameras: noise! Physically larger sensors allow for physically larger photosites, which means each pixel can gather more light. This means less amplification of the signal is needed to create an image, which means you’re less likely to introduce noise to the resulting image. In fact sigma don’t fail on the megapixel fight either, this sensor packing a massive 14 megapixels.
Fixed to this camera is a 28mm (in 35mm terms) f/4 prime lens (i.e. non-zoom). For me, the fact that it is a prime doesn’t bother me really. I’m looking for a camera I can carry around at times when I don’t want to lug my DSLR around, and the wide-angle of this lens is a good thing. I’m surprised that the lens only has an aperture of f/4 though - I would like to have seen f/2.8 or thereabouts. Still, with a maximum ISO rating of 1600 (I’m guessing), this shouldn’t be such a problem - especially when you remember that this sensor should be incredibly low noise anyway.
It’ll be interesting taking a closer look at this camera. I don’t know when it will be available, but on paper it looks very promising. Am I finally going to find myself a compact camera that I can be happy with?
Comments
2 Responses to “Sigma DP1 Compact Digital Camera”
Leave a Reply
Any news on the release of this camera?????
Seems to have disapeared.
I’ve not heard anything in ages about the DP1