Sigma dp2 Quattro Review

The Sigma DP2 Quattro is a pocketable camera that utilizes a recently developed 39-megapixel Foveon X3 Quattro sensor designed to fit APS-C.

The one-of-a-kind sensor included in the DP2 Quattro produces raw photos with a resolution of 5424 by 3616 pixels when set to the maximum possible level. This sensor is made up of four separate layers, three of which are devoted to catching red, green, and blue light.

In addition, the DP2 Quattro has a manual focus ring, an external hot shoe, a Quick Set button, support for the RAW format, and a fixed lens that measures 30 millimeters and has an aperture of f/2.8. It also has a TRUE III image processing engine, a 3-inch TFT color monitor with 920,000 dots, a full range of creative shooting modes, and RAW format support. The Sigma DP2 Quattro may be purchased through an authorized retailer for £899 or $999.

Sigma dp2 Quattro Build Quality

A completely new APS-C-sized Foveon image sensor serves as the primary imaging component of the Sigma DP2 Quattro. The image sensor of the DP2 Quattro camera has identical dimensions of 23.5 by 15.7 millimeters, making it somewhat more significant than the sensor in the DP2 Merrill camera. The DP Quattro from Sigma is said to have a resolution of 39 megapixels, and Sigma is the only company that currently uses the Foveon X3 sensor in its products. The Foveon solution consists of three layers placed atop one another, with each photodiode collecting all of the RGB data.

When compared to the previous generation, the Quattro sensor is distinguished by the fact that it allocates 20 megapixels to the top layer, which records both blue color and luminance information, but only 4.9 megapixels to each of the other two layers, which record green color information first, followed by red color information.

According to Sigma, this significant upgrade provides a higher resolution than the old Foveon sensor, faster processing times, and less noise, at least in the red and green channels.

When compared to a CCD or CMOS sensor, Sigma and Foveon assert that the 3-layer technique produces better-looking color photographs that may be taken directly from the camera. This may be the case, but from the perspective of the end user, the finished picture has a resolution of 5424 by 3616 pixels. This places a cap on the maximum size the native image may be printed or cropped without the need for interpolation in Adobe Photoshop or another program.

Sigma dp2 Quattro Image Quality

When shooting in RAW, the image quality of the Sigma DP2 Quattro is exceptional, and it produces excellent results at ISO settings ranging from 100 to 1600. Because there is a lot of noise and color desaturation at the higher ISOs, our recommendation is always to use the DP2 Quattro’s RAW mode if possible. Curiously, the quality drops off noticeably when shooting JPEGs, with only ISO 100-400 being usable because higher ISOs are worth using (despite the so-so Sigma Photo pro software and the huge file sizes).

Chromatic aberrations were handled so effectively by the Sigma DP2 Quattro that it was difficult to locate even a single instance of the phenomenon in any of the hundreds of frames we captured.

When the photographs came out of the camera with the default sharpness setting, they were just a little bit soft. However, you can adjust the amount of sharpening on the camera itself, or you may use Adobe Photoshop later.

The night shot came out well, and the fact that you could use the maximum shutter speed of 30 seconds meant that you could catch sufficient light for the vast majority of after-dark scenarios. The main problem with the camera was its poor performance in macro mode, which only allowed you to concentrate on subjects up to 28 centimeters distant.

Sigma dp2 Quattro Specs

Sensor Resolution	Actual: 33 Megapixel Effective: 29 Megapixel (5424 x 3616)
Sensor Type	APS-C CMOS
Image File Format	JPEG, Raw
Bit Depth	14-Bit
Image Stabilization	None

Lens

Focal Length	30mm (35mm Equivalent Focal Length: 45mm)
Maximum Aperture	f/2.8
Minimum Aperture	f/16
Focus Range	Normal 11.02″ to Infinity / 27.99 cm to Infinity
Optical Design	8 Elements in 6 Groups
Filter Size	58 mm

Exposure Control

ISO Sensitivity	100 to 6400
Shutter Speed	1/2000 to 30 Seconds
Metering Method	Center-Weighted Average, Evaluative, Spot
Exposure Modes	Aperture Priority, Manual, Program, Shutter Priority
Exposure Compensation	-3 to +3 EV (1/3 EV Steps)
White Balance	Auto, Color Temperature, Custom, Daylight, Flash, Fluorescent, Incandescent, Overcast, Shade
Interval Recording	Yes
Self-Timer	2/10-Second Delay

Monitor

Size	3.0″
Resolution	920,000 Dot
Display Type	Fixed LCD

Flash

Built-In Flash	No
External Flash Connection	Hot Shoe

Interface

Media/Memory Card Slot	Single Slot: SD/SDHC/SDXC
Wireless	None
GPS	No

Physical

Battery	1 x BP-51 Rechargeable Lithium-Ion
Dimensions (W x H x D)	6.4 x 2.6 x 3.2″ / 16.3 x 6.6 x 8.1 cm
Weight	13.93 oz / 394.92 g

Packaging Info

Package Weight	2.9 lb
Box Dimensions (LxWxH)	7.8 x 7.1 x 6″

Sigma dp2 Quattro Conclusion

Sigma is the only camera manufacturer that uses the Foveon sensor technology. With the release of the new DP2 Quattro, the company has continued along its road of going it alone.

The Sigma DP2 Quattro is a relatively slow camera only suited to static or slow-moving subjects. Additionally, the relatively radical new design prioritizes image quality over usability (apparently, moving the memory card and battery away from the sensor helps to improve the latter). Suffice it to say that we did not get along with the much larger DP2 Quattro with its awkward grip.

Despite these reservations, however, the photographs that the DP2 Quattro creates are simply outstanding. They are by far the best photographs that we have ever seen produced by a simple, compact camera, and they can even compete with pictures taken with a high-end DSLR equipped with an equivalent and pricey prime lens.

It may take some time to get used to the DP2 Quattro, but the photographs it produces are unquestionable and of high quality.