Sigma DP1 'Merrill'

Planned for review, due to arrive later this month.

The Sigma DP1 'Merrill' (about $999):

• 46Mp Foveon X3 Direct Image CMOS Sensor
• 3x Color Data in Each Pixel Layer
• 28mm f/2.8 Equivalent FLD Lens
• 3.0" Rear LCD Screen
• Records JPEG & RAW Files (I won't be shooting JPEG).

The DP1 Merrill has a sibling, the DP2 Merrill which is apparently the same except for a 45mm f/2.8 lens instead of a 28mm f/2.8. I consider a 28mm (equiv) much more useful.

The DP1 Merrill shows some promise because of its 15.3 X 3 megapixel true-color sensor and allegedly a very good lens, so I am keeping a totally open mind here— and the image quality under ideal conditions quite possibly could be stunning, literally (in theory) as good as a Nikon D800. We shall see.

I tried the older DP1x last year— best summed up as a 'turd'— awful autofocus (constant backfocus), horrible noise by ISO 400, slow and frustrating to use. I remain concerned about Sigma DP* autofocus problems, this being something that wrecked almost every single one of the self-portraits I made with the DP1x last year (self portraits I do a lot while cycling as no one else is around!). Hopefully it has been improved with the DP1 Merrill.

Sigma DP1 Merrill