Biggest price drop in camera history: Sigma sd1 Merrill

[@richardcantwell3126]

nothings interpolated, you got it wrong, it uses the fact that light diffuses at different depths through silicone so each photo site recieves a red green and blue signal and it dosent need a moir filter to fix the problem of the red green blue grid of conventional cameras, so a single sensor recieves (red green and blue) 3x 15mp =45 mp and accounting for it not needing a filter than reduceds sharpness you can easily add another mega pixel. only problem with the fovenon sensor is it suffers films acheles heel, and thats quality drops quiker as you increase the iso, but nowhere near the same moneys been put into this type of sensor as the cmos based sensors in conventianal digital slrs. between iso 100-400 the sd1 beats every camera out there on picture quality, but theres a big decline as you go higher into the iso range. it would be good for a studio photographer and thats its problem its price range until recently was in the same range as a pentax 645 digital medium format camera, even at £800 a body now, most entry slrs have far more features

[@mipmip5759]

It's still a better buy than that sony with a hasselblad sticker on it!!

[@DavinArt]

Good review and nice style to tell the story ;) well done!

[@OyvindSOyvindS]

Thanks for your view on the SD1, Dom. Nice to have the message about Sigma cameras spread. There are, however, a few important points you leave out:

[@paintingtracey]

You crack me up. I can always count on you to tell it straight!

[@OyvindSOyvindS]

There was actually a few people that bought the SD1 at its high price. Unlike any other camera maker, Sigma decided to compensate these buyers, allowing them to get the difference worth in Sigma glass. What Sigma lost, was the trust of their very loyal followers, with a number switching system.

[@DirectX3]

I used my Pentax K-5 to take some landscape photo and a man stood next to me was using this Sigma SD1. He came to me and compared about the picture quality at the same setting. And you are so right, at the same ISO the Sigma is underexposed.

[@angelisone]

Finally, someone able to gave correct answers. But companies are not telling people why their dslrs comes 1.5 and 1.6 = APS-C when we all know that they are not the same. Take an examples: 15mm lens 14mm lens One mm difference but a big jump in prices.

[@OyvindSOyvindS]

I am sure Sigma are working on Live View. They have indicated that it is possible through a firmware update, like they did with tethering.

[@OyvindSOyvindS]

The Sigma can indeed use other mounts than the SA mount. Adaptors opens up many possibilities, like Nikon F, Hassy, Mamiya, M42and others. Commercially, a camera mount replacement kit for Nikon, Oly, Leica R and Minolta is available. If you are a DIY type, lens rear mount replacements opens up even more possibilities. And for the really advanced, the camera SA mount can be replaced with a EF mount, retaining AF and AE.

[@wakeeeboarder]

Great review and to the point. Not an option for us. Still much better cameras out there at this price.

[@nerwin]

Dom, where do you get the black frames that you are using for the photos behind you?

[@frzen]

Please make sure all your pictures are level in the background. They look great, but if you make another video with them like this I may have a nervous breakdown

[@francismbatha3392]

Hello sir, someone gifted me a sigma SD1 Merrill body without a lens and charger, are you able to help out I get them, please?

[@predatorjoutube]

where can I buy your t-shirt?

[@handsomelok]

D4 Price actually gone up after the annoument which they blamed internal error in pricing system x

[@Dombowerphoto]

thanks for all the extra info there

[@Lainer1]

I want to buy the t-shirt you have on. I have a Rolleiflex TLR. Where did you get it?

[@DaveHaynie]

The only APS sizes, originally anyway, are APS-C (classic), APS-H (high definition... meaning 16:9-ish) and APS-P (panoramic). C and P were crops of the original 30.2 × 16.7 mm APS negative. Of course, APS died in flames ages ago, as Kodak's last attempt to build a proprietary film format. But the crop-35mm cameras are more or less delivering the 25.1 × 16.7 mm of the APS-C negative. The SD1's sensor is 23.5 ×15.7mm.

[@OyvindSOyvindS]

1. It SEEMS like largest price DROP in history, but it is just a price adjustment back to what Sigma INITIALLY promised the camera would cost. 2. When announced, the COO promised the SD1 at 7D equivalent price - which at that time was about 1700 USD. The COO was son of the CEO. 3. But at launch, the MSRP was set at 10.000 USD. 4. The CEO died recently, and the son moved up. Shortly after, the price went back to about the level he initially promised.

[@tosvus2009]

ironically, this could have been great for Video, with no moire, and I wonder how this is compared to the regular cmos sensors in terms of jello effect as well.

[@lopezae33]

i thought they used nikon bodies? or is that fuji??

[@REDKILLARED]

I took a nap and had a weird dream after I watched this video. In the dream is forced to buy the Sigma SD1, it was more like a nightmare. Lol

[@jinbelfast]

NO idea what Sigma were thinking with this camera. Don't even think I'd buy it for £500.

[@RichardHaall]

Yeah I agree, still not umm 5dmkII with Glass.. is the same price

[@MandrakeCigars]

The D3x needed this type of price drop but it never happened. Now Nikon really stuck it to the D3x owners by releasing the much cheaper D800.

[@Wingerlang]

Hope they can come into the game. Would be cool if Sigma with their great lenses also had awesome bodies!

[@DaveHaynie]

The sensor isn't remotely fast enough for video, much less the processing. This isn't what would get video folks interested. All pro video cameras using conventional sensors use three, so they have 24-bit (or better) color per pixel. You go to a DSLR is for sensitivity and large sensor. This has neither. And the Bayer pattern isn't a problem itself; the typical problem is that still cameras lack a anti-aliasing filter. Available aftermarket for Canons, anyway.

[@dipro001]

most of the retailer around the world are gonna give a very Epic weird look when some one tells them to give a sigma mount sigma lens!

[@ChristopherJManess]

I just found out about it. Yeah, it's not all that. It would be nice, if they keep going. Sigma makes great lenses, but to jump up to selling actual cameras, I'd rather buy a Sony A77.

[@OyvindSOyvindS]

There is only one reason to buy the Sigma cameras (including the SD1), and that is the Image Quality - at low ISO. The Foveon sensor has its limitations, as well as strength. If you are dependent on the cameras features to get a good picture, or you need high ISO, or you need a reasonable fast fps and buffer size, or live view, the SD1 is NOT for you.

[@Whatisright]

Never even heard of this camera until you made this video about it. Price drop won't do much to help it. I you can buy that camera at the new price you might as well get a Nikon or Canon.

[@jinbelfast]

I couldn't own a DSLR that only allowed one brand of lenses, though...

[@OyvindSOyvindS]

But if you place Image Quality above all, and you can live with no Live View, slow fps, long write times, small buffer (well, at least few pictures), noise at high ISO, lack of RAW support apart from Sigmas own quirky SW (SPP), AE/AF as standard only with SA lenses, lack of PRO support, no rental options in most countries, and can do without the bells and whistles of other cameras, you should check out the SD1. It can produce AWSOME results in capable hands.

[@trothron]

I have a Canon 7d and a Sigma SD15, I only use the Canon for low light or fast action, otherwise, my Sigma blows the Canon away in picture quality. I'll pick one of these Sd1's up when they come down to $1k.

[@rcordiner]

At about £800 the D7000 gives the D800 a run for its money with its equivalent crop sensor

[@Tomaschhh-k5z]

Im going to wait till the price drops to 300€ and than Im going to get own for my shelf to collect it :D

[@MarioDiLeonardo]

I think the idea behind this 'layered' sensor is the same as Panasonic did with the 3CCD sensor in video cameras. They separated the recording of the RGB signals all to their own sensor to prevent them from interfering and getting less noise this way. Nothing I ever witnessed in DSLR's anyway. Maybe I'm wrong with this. Don't shoot me.

[@habadashery2009]

I don't know why sigma would make a camera that only takes their own lenses and make it have such a high resolution. It sounds nice on paper but to have that many mega pixels but in practice the resolution isn't that great.

[@bwinn10]

good cams dont drop that fast and the canon 5d3 its still a month or 2 waiting list lol

[@walkabout16]

Somebody's looking £3,032.75 for one on Ebay...lol

[@Lainer1]

Thanks.

[@BitfeNicks]

You know there was some lunatics who bought it based on the price alone. "Well, it's 5 grand, it must be good, and whoa!!!, 30 mega pixels, neeeeeeeeeeetooooooo!!!" Same people who think Leica M9's are the greatest cameras on the planet. An M9 and a lens would run what? Nearly $10,000 USD? Yea, no thanks, Give me a 5D MKII or MKII and a few pieces of L glass.

[@trevorpinnocky]

Create a full frame version of this, make it $2.6k. Take this sensor and put it in the current S5 for $1.9k. Offer both mounts on full frame.

[@acesofgambit]

i wish Sigma will do a Photo contest and their camera will be the prize :) Let's see if there's someone interested :)

[@amk1984]

If it was £200 I might 'think' about it.

[@Jimmyageek]

SD1 Merrill Beat the Medium Format!

[@samcockram123]

Specs sound similar to a d3100:L other than the megapixel count

[@iello911]

i am always surprised by the comments of all the morons who comment negatively about things they do not own, have never even tried, or probably have never even seen. i would suggest you lot to go and test one, and THEN comment. i bought one a few weeks ago, i am still amazed by the resolution and the quality of the image - and i have owned an/or used MANY different types of cameras ...

[@vandenkevin]

You can't judge a camera, based on specifications..

[@comojb2]

You are missing the point, the foveon sensor gives the best image quality of any camera out there at the moment, APS to 35 mm, BUT it takes a long time to learn how to deal with it. Not made for for everybody, but superb in studio or environment were you have time dealing with its flaws. You will be rewarded with unsurpassed picture quality, and no i don't own one. @ DirectX3 If he underexposed, his setting weren't right for his camera at that time.

[@mr.rawhite]

LOOOL I wouldn't take this camera if they GAVE it away for FREE, I already have a paperweight : )

[@patrujo]

I thought the fuji s5 super ccd was brilliant tech. In a few years If I could get this sigma with a nikon lens adapter for $500,I would buy it.

[@tophtml1]

Unfortunately, there's too great a "leap of faith" in buying a camera with an APS-C, Foveon sensor to warrant anything but entry level pricing for this thing. Sigma has overbuilt a risky endeavor and they need to rethink their Foveon sensor. The Foveon has just not performed well enough against the more popular Bayer Sensor to justify any pricing more than entry level DSLR pricing. Sigma took a substantial risk in hitching their cart to the Foveon horse for so many years but they should not expect cash strapped consumers to take the same risk without a substantial price cut which is much deeper than what they are offering now. While Sigma was fixated on Foveon technology, the rest of the world was moving on, with Bayer, into areas that consumers REALLY wanted. It's time to dump the remaining stock of Foveon anchors at Walmart and Costco and rethink and re-engineer the technology.

[@donaldwolff]

Then again Nikon and Canon might buy one each just to take it apart and see whats inside!

[@mastas7]

they had done one

[@Gunfyre]

I'd be tempted to believe canon in particular already have very similar technology. Besides who needs 36MP, its ridiculous.

[@deadkennedys909]

I feel bad for the ONE person or however many people bought that expensive camera for nearly 5k and now it's nearly 2k. Haha sucks for them

[@DaveHaynie]

Sigma tend to want to have their cake and eat it too. This sensor has 15 Megapixels. Period. They're full RGB pixels, each composed of three sensors. So there are 45M sensors, but only 15M pixels. Get it? Nice idea, and others are trying it out. But there are problems. They have to do massive color correction to get normal color out of this; rather than use filters, they're using the properties of the silicon itself as a filter. That's ok in bright light, but this suffers in low light. Badly.

[@samcockram123]

Isnt a d7100 ;)

[@islanderiam1]

Sigma = EPIC FAIL. The price is still too high at $2,299 USD. You can get a brand new D700 (if you can find one) for less.

[@franzst.664]

reminds me of the early days of Apple - doesn't do anything better than the rest, just different and way overprized.

[@3bd0o0l]

It was $10,000 then dropped to $6000 and stoped at $1800

[@MrPerfectlogic]

Sigma changed the name of the SD1 to MERRILL they should have change the name to FUBAR.

[@Dombowerphoto]

the link to the tshirt is in the description, of this video and all my other videos

[@will98fb]

stop it a 0:21... lol i pasued cos i had to do something then i saw his face! XD

[@goodtimes616]

or uhh..like any digital junk...just wait a couple of years and then you'll buy it for 50$

[@apostlethomas1]

You wish! wait a minute......I wish! :(

[@bwinn10]

and your still stuck using sigma glass lol

[@Maxsdiscos]

imagen if the D4 fell in price - YOU WISH Dom !!!

[@casualking4548]

The Red One dropped 21k

[@casualking4548]

I realize this is late

[@tomrose2086]

What I think is that quite a few of the comments on here are truly idiotic.

[@emikes123]

let"s face facts they are going to have to give it away.

[@PINKATS21]

nice intro

[@donaldwolff]

And they still will not sell even one! Who wants to only use sigma lenses!

[@acesofgambit]

ouch! bad for sigma. but i still buy L lenses :) and that's make me happy :)

[@richardcantwell3126]

i'd definetly buy one but id be looking at £300-400 for a body, you have the best image quality out there between 100 and 400 iso. but my pentax slr in that price range has a bigger feature list, you'd be justifying the purchase purely on that great image quality limited to a very small iso range. Sigma could have had a winner on there hands, but the high prices including their dp1 etc compacts. you'd have to be mad to entertain sigma for the price of entry

[@Dombowerphoto]

also a slight restriction on the lenses you can use as well

[@cant1rac]

Dombowerphoto i dont think its too great a restriction, since sigma will supply most of its range in its mount, more a problem if you need to hire pro spec lenses or you need a specific specialist lens not in sigmas range. so yeah a slight restriction in some circumsatnaces but not one i think that would be a deal breaker for the majority of pros or ameaturs

[@ChrisFrosin]

HOOOOGE! lol Actually shot with this on wednesday. It's... ok

[@Nexrun]

This camera is a dog for the price now, You're 10x better off getting a Canon 7D Mark II or 5D Mark III, even if they sold it for $500 USD. Sigma should stick to lenses and forget cameras.

[@qpae123]

Now is like 800 pounds :))

[@SLRist]

Still too expensive.

[@patnaly]

supply and demand.

[@T3chno1d]

drop it another 1500pounds... people will buy it~

[@Wuzzysbrand06]

lol that camera is just a big fail...and it's still overpriced.

[@MegaAfroGuy]

haha its still way over priced, even with the sensor it'll still have a hard time topping something like a 500d

[@dsit9955]

I bought it....:P

[@jewlouds]

you can only poot

[@PedroFerreirasTube]

Reminds me Sony...

[@MrPerfectlogic]

A stupid camera for stupid people period Sigma need to drop the price to £30 then I will buy it as a paper weight, LOOKS COOL!!!!!!!

[@lopezae33]

id buy it for $550 ;-)

[@xyz46xyz]

three thouuuuuuuuusand pounds

[@ROCKnROLL4NGEL]

@dombowerphoto Dom ye dun arf make me laff ! Sigma (shakes head) I wouldn't take an SD1if you gave it to me for free, soon enough they will pitch those pieces of crap in the rubbish....should have made their mount Nikon or Canon friendly.. Then maybe, but to reinvest in new glass for a body that isn't worth a pinch of flea #%+£$@& who are they kidding. Love the vids Dom keep it up.

[@CEEPMDEE]

get a nikon d7100, d5100, d3100 or Canon 1D MarkIII, 5d markii... or 7d... or T2i/ T3i instead. I would laugh out loud at anyone who payed money for this sigma sd1 joke of a camera. It should be priced at $550 - $800.00 tops.

[@saadsolaiman]

who would buy that piece of crap camera for 1800 pounds? lol