Sigma dp1 Quattro Digital Camera

The Sigma dp1 Quattro is the wide-angle sibling to the dp2 Quattro. Like the dp2, its image quality is outstanding, but it's slow to use and Raw processing requires some patience.

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  Wide-angle field of view. Foveon APS-C image sensor. Superb image quality at low ISO. Bright, sharp rear LCD. Dual control dials. Quick set menu system.

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  Slow. Lens lacks image stabilization. Outdated Raw conversion software. Funky design. Lacks built-in EVF or add-on option. No video support. No built-in flash.

The Sigma DP1 Merrill marks a significant overhaul from earlier DP designs, featuring a sharp new f/2.8 lens and a massive upgrade to the 46-megapixel Foveon sensor (borrowed from the Sigma SD1 DSLR) that produces breathtaking, high-resolution images at low ISOs.

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  Exceptionally detailed and uniquely beautiful image quality at low ISOs; Fast, sharp 28mm-equivalent lens; Simple, straightforward controls match camera's simple, straightforward (street photography) goals.

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  Fixed-focal-length lens; Image quality deteriorates significantly at ISO 800 and above; Overall sluggish performer; Falls short when capturing JPEGs; Terrible VGA-only video quality; Very poor battery life; No built-in flash.

Quite simply, the DP1 provides the best image quality of any compact I’ve yet tested. But the price, overall handling and performance mean I suspect you’ll need to think long and hard to justify the outlay.

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  Image quality, build, RAW shooting.

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  Performance, Handling, Price, Menus.

I'd like to start this conclusion by saying that Sigma deserves an incredible amount of credit for doing what none of the 'big' manufacturers so far have been bold enough to do.

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  Class leading detail in ISO 100 images, higher ISO performance better than most compact cameras, Resolution is as good as it gets in compact cameras, very impressive for output size, Good dynamic range (though limited usable headroom in raw files), Very small dimensions for the sensor size, Good...

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  Desaturated and 'flat' JPEG output, Some chroma noise even at base ISO, lots of it at higher sensitivities, Unreliable White Balance (and poor color in low light), Generally very slow, very long read/write and processing times, Unimpressive shutter lag, Continuous mode only allows three shots per...

Sigma DP1 Merrill with 19mm f/2.8 Lens (28mm Equiv)We should start with my recent review of the Sigma DP2 Merrill (DP2M). If you haven't already done so may I suggest that you read it it now before proceeding on this page?

Since it was first announced a year and a half ago, Sigma's DP1 (street: $799) has been creating buzz. Yes, that's the same base Foveon X3 chip as its DSLR brother, the SD14, taking up a whopping .5 x .8 square inch of real estate in this compact camera.

I am what they call an early adopter. I have had and still have a lot of cameras. I enjoy cameras, but am most interested in how their evolution improves overall image quality (IQ) or makes it easier to "get the photo." By 2001, I had owned a string of point and shoot (P&S) digital cameras.

The Sigma dp1 Quattro and other Sigma cameras are unique in being the only camera available that uses a multi-layer sensor solution where every pixel records all colour information, making direct comparisons quite difficult.

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  4.2fps continuous shooting, Easy to use QS menu system, 2 batteries included, Much improved white balance performance, Exceptional pixel level detail, Very good colour reproduction, Improved noise performance compared to previous Sigmas, Dual-axis electronic level

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  No video mode, No auto panoramic shooting mode, Sigma Photo Pro 6 raw processing is slow, Chromatic aberrations and image artefacts in JPEG images, Significantly larger than previous versions, Slow shot to shot time, Noise at ISO800

Sigma continue to take a solitary path with the new DP1 Quattro, remaining the only camera manufacturer to use the Foveon sensor technology. Despite some improvements to the processing speed, the Sigma DP1 Quattro is still a rather slow camera that's really only suited to static or slow-moving...

Better known for its lenses than cameras, Sigma has been producing both compact cameras and DSLRs for decades. The Sigma DP1 Merrill is the latest in a line of compact cameras, and, similar to the previous DP models, it's not your average compact.

For for my needs in art photography, the camera gives me these advantages: 1. compact, solid build quality 2. very high image quality (on par with MF film, scanned) 3. economical / low cost 4. practically silent operation, fairly quick shutter response.

This review reflects my usage of the DP1 Quattro. I really wanted to like this camera. I've been using the DP2Q and DP3Q as well and really enjoyed them, however, the DP1Q seemed to be different. 1) Noise: For some reason, the pics of the DP1Q seem to be noisier.