Sigma C79900 DP3 Merrill Digital Camera with Foveon sensor and 3-Inch LCD Screen (Black)
Sigma C79900 DP3 Merrill Digital Camera with Foveon sensor and 3-Inch LCD Screen (Black)
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- Same Foveon X3 46 megapixel Direct Image sensor as the SD1 DSLR camera
- Exclusive fixed 50mm F2.8 lens (equivalent to a 75mm lens on a 35mm SLR camera)
- Travel Friendly
Buy Now : Sigma C79900 DP3 Merrill Digital Camera with Foveon sensor and 3-Inch LCD Screen (Black)
Brand : Sigma
Category : Electronics,Camera & Photo,Digital Cameras,Point & Shoot Digital Cameras
Rating : 4.4
Review Count : 100
Sigma C79900 DP3 Merrill Digital Camera with Foveon sensor and 3-Inch LCD Screen (Black)
- I have to admit to be being a fan boy for the Sigma Merrill DP cameras. Awhile back I did a review on the Sigma DP2, and have from time to time posted images taken with that camera. Despite my infatuation with the Sigma DP cameras I will be one of the first to admit that they are not cameras for everyone. I like to take my time in shooting landscapes and environmental images. I also love street photography, and most bloggers have dismissed the Sigma DP’s as too slow for street. I disagreed in my DP2 review, and found that I could use that camera for street shooting. Sigma has taken a different tact with their APS-C Foveon sensor pocket rockets, though they really are not that pocketable, each Sigma DP has been given a prime fixed lens to maximize the sensor. The DP1 was given a 19mm f/2.8, the DP2 a 30mm f/2.8, and the latest DP sibling the DP3 a 50mm f/2.8. Since these lenses are tied to an APS-C sensor the lens equivalents in the 35mm full frame world translate into 28mm, 45mm, and 75mm. All for us prime shooters are terrific lenses to have in our bags. Seeing the DP3 enter the fray, I decided to buy one and add it o my Sigma DP arsenal. I figured the DP3 would provide me with a great fixed lens for portraits and for some longer landscape shooting. My reviews are not based on MFT scales or DOX comparisons. They’re just my personal opinion on how I like the camera for my own type of shooting. The DP3 delivers the goods IMO at a slightly improved performance over the DP2 in the following manners: the auto focusing seems a tad faster, the camera seems to power on a little more quickly than the DP2, and the DP3 has a leaf shutter that is totally silent. I haven’t checked it out, but I think I heard somewhere that the flash speed is a tad higher over the DP 1 and 2. The lens quality is top notch. Matching the DP2’s 30mm in sharpness and IQ. I experienced no vignetting or any lateral CA from the images I shot. The camera comes bundled with access to Sigma Photo Pro 5.5, which now includes a monochrome feature to it. Sigma Photo Pro works, albeit slowly, when compared to Lightroom, but it still does an admirable job of post processing and you can save your files to TIFF and transfer them over to Lightroom, Aperture, or Photoshop. There is another third party option, one that I’ve been using, Iridient Developer, that works with Sigma files. It’s a great program that can be yours for $75. It also works with every camera out there, and makes for a great alternative to Photoshop. If you like working in the moment and want an IQ that will blow your socks off, then pick up one of these beasty cameras Sigma has been producing of late. The Sigma Merrill’s will change your opinion on everything Bayer sensor oriented.
- 10/2014 Update: Check my update on the DP1 merrill ( I bought both the DP1 merrill and the DP2 merrill again because the IQ is amazing), I am updating the stars to 4 from 2, would have given it 5 but for the low ISO performance.Old Review:I got both the D3 Merrill and the D2 Merrill.Background: I had Canon 5D II and ton of lens, which I sold off once I got the Fuji X100s, it is that good.Heard about the sigma Foveon and wanted to see what the magic is about. Got both and was thinking of keeping at least one of them for landscape.Good things:Small (relatively)Insane resolutionExcellent BW photos (if you get the exposure right)Fast AFLooks sexy (but finish is slippery)Bad things:No OVFNot pocketalbe (had to carry my small backpack camera bag along with tripod (camera needs it))Finish too easy to scratchVery slippery in handsBattery life is miserableSlow to write (not too bad)Insane resolution (wife refused to be photographed again!!! )Raw files only opens with horrible slow sigma pro software (I got away from the processing of raw files and love the JPEGS from X100s)If you print up to 20 x 30 you may not find much of any difference between x100s (you always get it right) and Sigma (if you get it right) (may be in crop it might stand better)Not good above 400 iso (except you can make decent BW prints with higher iso in NIK)PriceyBottom line:I am in love with my X100s all over again, what a brillant camera. I am actually selling the prints off the X100s native JPEG files.I would wait for this to evolve and will look into this again in a couple of years when they address issuesWish list:OVFGrippy finish and make it less scratch proneFaster processorBetter ISOBetter / Bigger batteryMore pocketableDefinitely needs a better RAW processor OR better Lightroom support for RAW files
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