My Thoughts on Sigma DSLRs

Sigma's R&D has not developed new DSLRs fast enough to keep up with market demands and the wonderful capabilities of the Foveon sensor are not put to proper use.

The Foveon sensor is remarkable in that it captures RGB color at each pixel due to its three plates (vs. a single plate in regular sensors). It is supposed to give much more accurate color reproduction than regular sensors.

Unfortunately, because Sigma has not worked fast enough to create DSLRs that can truly compete with those made by more popular camera makers such as Canon and Nikon at all leves (including, but not limited to low light performance and HD video), its DSLR arm now finds itself in a terrible slump. Their latest offerings, the SD15 and the SD1 have not sold well, unsurprisingly, and I hope they do something amazing soon in order to catch up with consumer expectations.

Category:

Film & Animation

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• sigma sd14 dslr

[Exupery1976]

I totally agree. For the same price you can get the Nikon D4, or the Canon 1D X once they are released.

I think Sigma's next step is to dismantle their camera department, and just stick to lenses.

[raoulpop]

@Exupery1976 I don't want to see them close up shop. I want to see them continue to develop and improve their DSLRs. The Foveon sensor is amazing and I don't want to see it buried.

[Lurker1979]

Do you think they much rather focus on lenses for other camera makers? For the price you could spend a little extra and get the new D4. Good video.

[raoulpop]

@Lurker1979 Thanks! I don't know, I can't figure it out. They have this amazing sensor on their hands and it just doesn't seem like they're putting in the time and effort to develop it properly. It's frustrating. Maybe it's hard to push this sensor along, harder than with single-plate sensors, and we don't have the full story from them. Or maybe they're not dedicating enough resources to sensor development, focusing instead on lenses, like you say. Don't know.

[Exupery1976]

Well, I can imagine this camera cost Sigma a bundle in losses. Loss of face with every price drop, in addition. But yes, it would be nice to see them make a revolutionary sensor.

I can't help but think, though, that saying this has a 40-something megapixel sensor, was very deceptive. Your average joe consumer, with more money than sense, would compare megapixels and prices, and if unlucky, would wind up buying this and thinking weeks later, I should have gotten a 7D, 5d mark 2, d700, or 1D X!