Mixed Sigma DP2 Reviews
Over at The Online Photographer, Ken Tanaka has written a review of the long awaited Sigma DP2. This is a camera many a photographer has been waiting for news about because it sounds like it would fulfill the desire for the decisive moment digital camera. A camera with a large sensor and a fast prime.
With a 20.7mm x 13.8mm sensor and a 24.2mm f/2.8 lens (equivalent to a 41mm lens on a 35mm camera), the DP2 certainly has the specs to be a contender. But, Mr. Tanaka’s review pans the camera as coming up short. He calls out build quality issues, slow focusing, a sub-par LCD screen, and random lockups and glitches. From his point of view, the camera doesn’t sound like it’s ready for prime time. Read the full Sigma DP2 review for more.
On the other hand, Fazal Majid has chimed with an interesting comment to this post (as it was originally written as a link to the DP2 review) which serves as a counter point to Tanaka’s comments. Fazal’s thoughts put the DP2 in a much better light. He finds the build quality to be fine and to like it more than his other pocket cameras.
I still hope to get my mitts on a DP2 at some point to play with it myself, but the most troubling thing to me is the report of glitches and freeze ups. That’s the kind of thing that would totally mar my own experience with a camera. At any rate, I have to say that at this point I’m much more excited to see what Olympus and others come up with around the micro four-thirds format.
Update: Mike Johnston chimes in saying that while the DP2 isn’t the DMD, he’s still quite interested in it. Hopefully, he’ll pick one up and give us his opinion.
6 Comments
I have both a DP1 and DP2. The DP2 does not feel appreciably faster, and they changed the UI in small ways that will be quite annoying to those who have both.
That said, the image quality blows away the other cameras he reviews out of the water altogether, and I have a hard time time taking his review seriously. Build quality is perfectly fine. Not Leica M8 class, perhaps, but at least as good as a D-Lux 4 and it does not feel crude and rough-hewn as a G10.
I had purchased a Leica D-Lux 4 a month ago and had to return it because even at ISO 320 images had highly objectionable levels of noise (so much noise, in fact, that it was visible even in Lightroom thumbnails) and washed-out dynamic range even when shot RAW. The G10 is even worse, with a tiny sensor that has far too many pixels for its own good.
The bottom line is, I can't bear to take any other pocket camera because the results are so poor. Is the DP2 perfect? Far from it, but it comes as close to my ideal of a digital Contax T3 as any camera on the market today. The new Olympus compact M4/3 camera due on June 15th could give it a run for its money, but the LX3/D-Lux 4 or G10 are nowhere near it.
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I could not agree more Fazal. The Contax T3 was ans is a dream for of compact and I miss the bright viewfinder on the Sigma. But I still admire Sigma for trying to build a compact with such an fantastic image quality. At the moment I still only own the DP1, the DP2 is not available in the Netherlans at the moment, but my order is already out. What worry me a bit is the washed-out dynamic on the DP2,that seems to be more then on the DP1, is that really an issue? I have read that in an article. There are view camera's that moves me, but de DP serie does!
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My input for what it's worth.... I own an LX3, A G1 and a Ricoh GR II all used commercially. I owned a Contax T3 which with 50-100 asa film was truly lovely (and I miss the view finder as well!). I've spent about two months using the Canon G10 as well.
I recently traded my Nikon D200 and sold all of the fast lenses when I saw the consummate skill of the LX3/G1 at ISO 80/100 respectively: For ultimate quality, I dont understand why any comparison would be made at a higher than optimum ISO rating: Exactly the same as would be the case with film....? I am interested to see how the DP2 compares with Panasonic and Ricoh.
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The lock-up issue has by and large been remedied by the firmware update that Sigma has put out. I dare say that most people who have spent much time with a DP1 or a DP2 are genuinely puzzled by Mr Tanaka's comment on build quality. As for the other "quirks" of the camera, I liked Sean Reid's approach, where he likened it to the Rollei 35, a camera that engendered many compromises in pursuit of its goal.
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Mike, it's good to hear that the firmware update has addressed the lock-up issue. That sounds like the most miserable point that was raised. As far the rest of the items, well, the goal is the big thing
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As a photo trade person and kown to Sigms - you could call me biased
But I have not done any real photography for 40 years and at last I have the time
I do not want to carry a reflex and lensesor just take pictures - my desire is to take a few great pictures - thats all
I want to combine this with my cycling which I have started again. Racing Bike and no extra weight
for long trips - one extra sock and toothbrush type cycling - what is now known as credit card cycling
The two Sigmas DP1 and Dp2 are the only digital cameras that fit the bill
I would think walkers, mountainers, sailors etc would think the same
Keith
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