Sigma SD15 - why? But Fuji sensor sounds promising..

It all started with the SD9 - 3.4Mp.., then the SD10 - 4.6Mp, then the
SD14 - 4.6Mp... And now, continuing their ever upward progress..
http://www.sigmaphoto.com/news/news.asp?nID=3440

The SD15!! at...... 4.6Mp. Same sensor. Why, Sigma/Foveon? You've
had how many years now to extract more out of this sensor? Maybe you
should give up?

But maybe the new processing engine can do something about the slightly
twisted colours and jaundiced fleshtones. Maybe the noise (and general)
performance might be incrementally better/faster. But exactly the same
sensor, and no more resolution. Presumably it still has no a-a filter,
so the Sigma jaggies will still pretend to be detail. I wonder if they
will just recycle their old patched up sample images for the new camera?

At least the new Fuji sensor looks promising - it's nice to see them
acknowledge that the F20/30 series was about as good a sensor as they
have ever produced, and unlike Foveon they seem to be moving forward:
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0809/08092308fujifilm.asp

If they successfully extrapolate to a larger sensor... (O:

 

The Gentec rep had an SD14 in the store, but we declined stocking them.

 

Retailers seldom sell new merchandise on consignment. We looked at it, and
based on the fact in 4 years, nobody had ever asked about a Sigma dSLR or
even a film Sigma SLR camera

 

the sd10 was also 3.4 mp. it had the exact same sensor as the sd9 but
with the addition of microlenses. however, that's when the deception
began and it was marketed as 10 megapixels.

i'm wondering how long it will be until they do give up. they can't be
making money on them.

the people who buy them like the aliased jaggy look and blame the
photographer for getting the wrong colours. seriously.

did you know that their sample images are photoshopped in some cases,
and sometimes significantly so?

there is also the kodak sensor:
<http://www.dpreview.com/news/0706/07061401kodakhighsens.asp>

 

I guess they are making enough to keep foveon producing sensors, just
not doing any development...

Yes, I've noticed this. And I'll even admit that a tiny bit of added
yellow often helps fleshtones... But some of the Sigma tones are so
weirdly twisted that getting neutral colour is very difficult. And at
higher iso's? Not funny.

Yes, and I think that practice is disgraceful. It reflects very poorly
on Sigma that they don't believe sample images should be straight from
the camera.

Kodak seem to struggle to make low noise, high DR sensors, at least in
the lower end of the market.. (Which is where I shall probably remain..!)

 

Me neither. I do quite like the Foveon 'cleanness', but the lack of AA
is a big mistake, and I couldn't imagine using it as a people camera..

Yes, Fuji are saying they won't use it for large sensors. But there is
a large gap between P&S/zlr/bridge cameras and APS-C - it's nbice to see
Fuji and the 4/3 crowd (eg Panasonic G1) addressing it.

I've been watching the 4/3 sensors very closely, and their high iso
performance has been steadily improving. Of course it will never match
an APS-C or FF sensor (as 35mm will never match MF..), but to me the
balance between portability and decent image quality (and maybe even a
decent evf) makes these cameras very tempting.. I think the next gen of
G1-ish cameras will be very interesting.

 

Fuji is out of the DSLR game, so unless you're buying a P&S.....

 

I did. Was missing the front filter.

http://www.pbase.com/andersonrm/image/89747617

 

due to the way the sensor works, getting accurate colour is actually
impossible. different input colours produce the same output colour.
plus, it has more noise than the same size bayer sensor.

it's not all that surprising from a company that outright lies about
the pixel count.

 

cameras can be a lot smaller with micro 4/3rds, and still produce
decent quality photos. there are a number of rumours that nikon/canon
have aps size compacts coming. should be interesting...

 

Sigma/Foveon keeps the same sensor and changes their math each year...

 

The importer came into the store last year and was almost begging us to take
in some SD14 dSLR, we declined, but can get them in on special order... to
date nobody have ever asked for one.

 

I have.
They really exist.

-Wolfgang

 

actually, they changed the math between the sd9 and sd10, when it went
from 3.4 to 10.2 megapixels. the sd14 and dp1 have a 4.6 megapixel
sensor that sigma calls 14 megapixels, and it's the same one that will
be in the sd15 and dp2.

 

an actual person using one?? or in a store, waiting to be sold?

 

Both at once: In a store (ano not even a camera store, but general
electronics), held in the hands of a prospective buyer.

-Wolfgang

 

did he ultimately buy it? maybe he was just curious, and once he saw
how clunky and slow it really is, he opted for something else...

 

No idea. He was having a deep conversation with the salesperson.
I *did* throw in that he would need to convert the RAWs as the
camera had no in-body JPEG. (Which should tell you which
camera it was.)

But other than than, he was seriously considering the camera,
holding it in the hand all the time ...

-Wolfgang

 

that would be an sd9 or sd10.

well they have sold some. not very many, but it is greater than zero.

 

Next year Foveon will multiple the 4.6 by the bit depth....