My Sigma Foveon Journey Update. Where are we and, more importantly, where are we going?

A quick recap and then onto the new stuff!
Some of the images featured in this video can be seen on my Flickr feed stevie-b-63 (flic.kr/ps/3cpDEV)
Filmed mostly on the Olympus E-M1 Mk2 with 12-40 F2.8 Pro lens.
Recorded on the 20th of April 2024.

[@davidm8551]

Great camera…

[@stevieb7121]

I never seem to tire of the Sigma cameras but, just sometimes, I need a short break from them! Thanks for watching.

[@hagentrondheim3675]

Very interesting. How is the colour and microcontrast compared to the merrills?

[@stevieb7121]

It's very early for me to say yet as I've had the sdQ for so little time. This is definitely an area I intend to come back to but, as a first impression, it just seems to be slightly 'different'. I think SOOC the contract may be slightly less with the sdQ and the colour tones are different. I'd got used to quite washed-out greens with the Merrills but I've noticed this less with the first few images from the sdQ. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@rebours]

My favorite color profile especially indoors/under artificial lights is the foveon yellow. Did you try SFD mode ?

[@stevieb7121]

I haven't tried the SFD mode yet. Lots to experiment with still.... Thanks for the tip re yellow and for watching!

[@rebours]

@@stevieb7121 i'd be curious to know what you think about its rendering of textures, especially compared with the merrill's.

[@DemaMoto]

I have the SDQuattro with the 10-20 same as yours, and love it hate it. B&W amazing, Colors or colours are incredible. Post production a little clunky but when the photoshoot allows me to take my time and think it is my camera of choice. I love the content you make and value your opinion. Cheers

[@stevieb7121]

I agree with all your points! Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@imac3355]

Great vid Stevie, I have the SDQ and love the Foveon blue for outdoor photos. I always shoot X3f and only use Sigma photo pro. The raw files are very contrasty so I drop the contrast to -1 sharpness to -1 and fill light to +1. I batch edit then adjust exposure as needed. I shoot in Auto white balance then adjust in post. I was shooting at 5500K in camera but the Viewfinder was bleeding with color :( adding to the poor viewfinder experience. It's the live feed that's poor quality not the lcd viewfinder itself as replaying images are very sharp. I love the rendering and ease of editing Foveon files in post. I have the 8-16, 30 F1.4, 18-35 F1.8, 70 F2.8 macro, 50-100 F1.8 and the big 120-300 F2.8 and love them all on the SDQ. I compared the foveon files to a mates sony Alpha and it's chalk and cheese. Can't wait to hear more 👍

[@stevieb7121]

Thanks for sharing these editing tips - I'm going to take a look as I'm just back from a day out shooting (unfortunately the light wasn't great for a large percent of the time). I'm amazed how much grief people give SPP as an editor. I know it's not the best user experience but it processes the X3F files brilliantly (IMO). That's a stunning lens line-up you have. I've been looking at the 50-100 F1.8 but the expense is too much at the moment (maybe it'll be a possibility later in the year). There is nothing else comparable with the Foveon output. Thanks for watching!

[@imac3355]

@@stevieb7121 The 50-100 is incredible and is one of my favs. I have recently purchased a few polarizing filters and the work beautifully with the Foveon sensor. My next purchase might be a black mist to soften certain scenes. I have no problems with SPP on a mac mini m2 chip. Batch editing is the way to go :)

[@stevieb7121]

@@imac3355 I've not had the results I expected using polarisers with the DP Merrill cameras. I'll continue to experiment because my head tells me there should be something good there. I took a look at the "FOV Classic Blue" in SPP and it's crazy! There are so many ways to edit the X3F files that it's pretty bewildering....