Sigma announces Sigma dp Quattro

<p>Sigma announced the new generation/reinvention of high image quality compact cameras - now called the Sigma dp Quattro.<br /><br /><strong>dp1</strong>: wide angle, 19mm (equivalent to 28mm on a 35mm lens)<br /><br /><strong>dp2</strong>: standard, 30mm, first to be released (equivalent to 45mm on a 35mm lens) <br><br>

<strong>dp3</strong>: medium telephoto, 50mm (equivalent to 75mm on a 35mm lens)<br>

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<strong>Features: </strong><br />* a redesigned body with balanced shape, layout, and weight distribution<br />* an impressive Foveon X3 image sensor, which is known for producing incredible resolution, color, and artistic possibility<br />* 39 mexapixel-equivalent resolution!<br />* ISO 100-6400<br />* 9 point AF <br />* Exposure controls: Program AE, Shutter Speed Priority AE, Aperture Priority AE, Manual<br /><br /><br>

<strong>Foveon sensor - world's only image capture system to use vertical color separation technology.</strong><br />What does this mean? </p>

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<p>Starting with our very first digital camera, we have featured the Foveon direct image sensor, which offers radically better image quality than any other sensor available. Leveraging the light absorption characteristics of silicon, the sensor comprises three layers of photodiodes, each at a different depth within the silicon and each corresponding to a different RGB color. Since it is the only sensor to use this superior vertical color separation technology, it is also the world’s only direct image sensor.<br>

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Almost all other image sensors are mosaic sensors, which use an array of RGB color filters in a single horizontal plane to capture color information. Each pixel is assigned only one of the three colors and cannot capture all three colors at once. In contrast, the Foveon direct image sensor captures color vertically, recording hue, value, and chroma accurately and completely for each pixel.<br>

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In the Foveon direct image sensor, there are no color filters, which cause a loss of information transmitted by light. Moreover, there is no low-pass filter needed to correct the interference caused by a color filter array. Finally, unlike the data from other sensors, which requires artificial interpolation to “fill in” missing colors, the data from the Foveon direct image sensor is complete for every single pixel and requires no interpolation. The unique technological principle of this sensor produces consistently outstanding image quality.</p>

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<p><strong>The first camera to be released will be the dp2. The launch date and price are currently TBD. For more details about this new trio of cameras from Sigma, <a href="http://www.sigmaphoto.com/article/sigma-dp-quattro?utm_source=feb_email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=monthly_email">click here</a>. To be the first to know about new releases, <a href="https://twitter.com/Sigma_Photo">follow Sigma on twitter</a>.</strong><br>

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<strong><img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/17680216-md.jpg" alt="" /></strong></p>

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<p>* an impressive Foveon X3 image sensor, which is known for producing incredible resolution, color, and artistic possibility<br />* 39 mexapixel-equivalent resolution!</p>

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<p>The Foveon sensors have been around awhile.</p>

<p><strong>39 megapixels?</strong></p>

<p>The Foveon method of <strong><em>counting megapixels</em></strong> has been and remains very controversial.</p>

<p>--Lannie</p>

<p>I've thought about this new sensor a lot, since I read about it. Considering the fact that blue is one of the most common colors in photos, I believe the new sensor will be capable of producing superior images, not only because of an improvement in noise characteristics. It will capture significantly more points of blue data than the previous Merrill sensor, so we are likely to see an increase in real resolution too. I believe that red may suffer, but most photos people shoot do not contain the same level of red detail as they contain blue detail, making the 14.7 megapixels of blue data from the Merrill sensor the primary producer of resolution. The new Quattro sensor captures about 10 megapixels of blue, making it a sensor capable of captuirng finer detail in landscape scenes with trees backed by blue or cloudy skies. Blue water and snow-capped mountains are likely to look sharper. A blue pool or a blue scarf will hold greater detail, as will any blue or white car or garment. Many things in nature are blue or white, like white snow, blue flowers or butterflies, etc. Even herds of zebras will look more detailed, when produced with a Quattro sensor. We have yet to see the results, but I look forward to them, knowing that Sigma may have made their greatest innovation since their decision to use Foveon sensors in the first place.</p>

<p>I'm sorry, but the 10 megapixels of blue above was supposed to be 20 megapixels.</p>