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Sigma SD1

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  1. User ratingsUser ratingsratings of product added by Productz users
  2. Expert ratingsExpert ratingsexperts ratings from editorial reviews
  3. Consumer ratingsConsumer ratingsratings from the biggest online stores worldwide
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  1. Excellent
  2. Good
  3. Poor
  4. Average
3.7
based on all reviews
User ratings:
38
4.0 out of 5
38 user ratings
5 stars
23 %
4 stars
52 %
3 stars
23 %
2 stars
0 %
1 stars
0 %
Consumer ratings:
3.8 / 5
Editorial reviews:
14
  1. See more
3.2 out of 5
7 user ratings
5 stars
0 %
4 stars
42 %
3 stars
42 %
2 stars
14 %
1 stars
0 %
Read editorial reviews

Pros

  • high-quality work where capturing fine detail and color fidelity counts
  • convenient and the depth of field from the larger sensor is sublime
  • Focusing is good on the Sigma SD1

Cons

  • easy to get lost in the hype of the Foveon sensor technology
  • flash a little hit and miss
  • Neither option is ideal when interacting with a model

Key specs

  • CMOS
  • APS-C
  • 24x16 mm
  • 15 Mpx
  • 4800, 3200 px
  • Sigma SA
  • 2.8
  • Continuous Auto Focus, Single Auto Focus
  • 3.0 in
  • no

Compare technical data of the product to its category

Sigma

Sigma SD1 - Pros & Cons

Sigma SD1

Pros

  • high-quality work where capturing fine detail and color fidelity counts
  • convenient and the depth of field from the larger sensor is sublime
  • Focusing is good on the Sigma SD1
  • Very good projected mechanical reliability
  • Its buttons are rich and luxurious to close examination
  • it functions very competently
  • It fits nicely in the hand and focuses very well
  • These cameras feel GREAT in the hand
  • great quality and value
  • The pictures are very good after all and ultimately
  • good camera that gives very good results

Cons

  • easy to get lost in the hype of the Foveon sensor technology
  • flash a little hit and miss
  • Neither option is ideal when interacting with a model
  • top LCD screen for viewing exposure settings
  • no direct control for video record or even live view
  • the screen resolution looks distinctly lower than rival cameras
  • slight vignetting in the corners of the frame at
  • lack of an AA filter shows though
  • No automatic dust shake removal
  • The battery indicator is inaccurate
  • No access to third party lenses

Sigma SD1 - Technical Overview

PoorAverageGoodExcellent
IconScreen size
3 in
Best:
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W710
Screen size: 6.7 in
IconISO maximum
6400
Best:
Pentax KP
ISO maximum: 819200
IconEffective pixels
15 Mpx
Best:
Hasselblad H6D-100c
Effective pixels: 100 Mpx
IconMax resolution
4800 x 3200 px
Best:
Leica M11
Max resolution: 9528 x 6328 px

Sigma - Video Reviews (9)

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Sigma SD1 - Full Specifications

Icon
Sensor
Sensor typeCMOS
Image sensor formatAPS-C
Sensor size0.94 in
Sensor photo detectors46.0 Mpx
Effective pixels15.0 Mpx
Max resolution4800 x 3200 px
ProcessorDual TRUE II
Icon
Optics and focus
Lens mountSigma SA
Maximum aperture2.8
Focus adjustmentAuto
Focal length multiplier1.5x
Autofocus
  • Continuous Auto Focus
  • Single Auto Focus
Auto Focus (AF) lockyes
Manual focusyes
Auto Focus (AF) assist beamyes
Filter diameter3.03 in
Icon
Photography features
Shutter priorityyes
Aperture priorityyes
Manual exposure modeyes
Subject / scene modesno
Built-in flashyes
Flash modesManual
External flashyes
Scene modes
  • Portrait
  • Landscape
Self-timeryes
Metering modes
  • Multi
  • Center-weighted
  • Average
Icon
Audio features
Built-in microphoneyes
Icon
Dimensions
Weight24.69 oz
Width5.73 in
Height4.47 in
Depth3.15 in
Icon
Power
Power source typeBattery
Battery technology
Lithium-Ion
Icon
Other features
GPSno
Energy Star certifiedno
Languages support
  • CHI
  • DEU
  • ENG
  • ESP
  • FRE
  • ITA
  • JPN
  • KOR
Icon
Image
ISO
  • 100
  • 200
  • 400
  • 800
  • 1600
  • 3200
  • 6400
ISO minimum100
ISO maximum6400
Maximum image resolution4704 x 3136 px
White balance modes
  • Auto
  • Custom modes
  • Flash
  • Fluorescent
  • Incandescent
  • Shade
  • Sunny
Supported image file formats
  • JPG
  • RAW
Photo effects
  • Black&White
  • Neutral
  • Sepia
  • Vivid
Image stabilizerno
Image stabilization typeNo
Supported aspect ratios3:2
Uncompressed formatRAW
Icon
Screen and viewfinder
Screen size3.0 in
Articulated LCDno
Screen technologyLCD
Screen dots460000
Touch screenno
Viewfinder
Optical
Viewfinder coverage96.0 %
Viewfinder magnification0.95 x
Diopter adjustment (D-D)3 - 1.5
Eye relief0.71 in
Icon
Videography features
Video recordingyes
HD typeNot supported
Icon
Design
Body typeSLR
Colour of productBlack
Environmentally sealedyes
Icon
Storage
Compatible memory cardsCF
Storage types
  • Compact Flash Type I
  • UDMA
Camera file system
  • DCF 2.0
  • Exif 2.3
Icon
Connectivity
HDMIno
USB version2.0
PictBridgeno

Sigma SD1 - Q&A

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Sigma SD1 Sigma - Editorial Reviews (14)

3.2
Based on 14 reviews
  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
Sigma SD1 Sigma SD1 Review | Photography Blog
photographyblog.com logo
photographyblog.com
Published: 06.12.2011
Sigma SD1 Review | Photography Blog
4.0

The Sigma SD1 is the flagship DSLR camera from a company better known for their camera lenses. Sigma have taken a very different path with the SD1, which uses a Foveon X3 sensor with no less than 46 megapixels. Read our Sigma SD1 review to find out if this DSLR is worth the eye-watering £6,199.99 / $9,700 price tag...

Sigma SD1 Sigma SD1 / SD1 Merrill In-depth Review
DPReview logo
DPReview
Published: 10.04.2012
Sigma SD1 / SD1 Merrill In-depth Review
3.6

The SD1 created a huge amount of interest when it was announced at Photokina 2010. Having used Foveon's original 4.7x3MP sensor in its SD and DP series of cameras, Sigma bought the sensor company in 2008 and instructed it to focus its efforts on high quality stills photography. The result was a 15x3MP sensor of the standard APS-C size (approx. 24 x 16mm, slightly larger than Foveon's previous designs), and it's around this that the SD1 is built.

Sigma SD1 Sigma SD1 - Ready For Prime Time - Luminous Landscape
Luminous Landscape logo
Luminous Landscape
Published: 20.05.2011
Sigma SD1 - Ready For Prime Time - Luminous Landscape

The Foveon X3 Sensor First announced at Photokina in September, 2010, theSigma SD1has finally become a reality. Scheduled to ship in early June at a MSLP ofUS $9,700 the SD1 is Sigma’s new flagship model and features the largest and highest resolution Foveon sensor yet. It has an APS-C sized (1.5X crop factor over Full Frame [Read More]

Sigma SD1 Sigma SD1 Review - Luminous Landscape
Luminous Landscape logo
Luminous Landscape
Published: 18.07.2011
Sigma SD1 Review - Luminous Landscape

By Michael Reichmann, with the assistance of Nick Devlinand the participation of Laurence Matson  TheSigma SD1is that company’s long-awaited APS-C sized camera using a Foveon X3 sensor. The camera was first shown at Photokina in late 2010 and started to ship in June, 2011. Its launch created something of a furor because the company had [Read More]

Sigma SD1 Sigma SD1 Merrill Review | Photography Blog
photographyblog.com logo
photographyblog.com
Published: 11.12.2012
Sigma SD1 Merrill Review | Photography Blog
4.0

The Sigma SD1 Merrill is the flagship DSLR camera from a company better known for their camera lenses. Sigma have taken a very different path with the SD1 Merrill, which uses a Foveon X3 sensor with no less than 46 megapixels. Read our Sigma SD1 Merrill review to find out if it can compete with Canon, Nikon and Sony...

Sigma SD1 Sigma SD1 Merrill
Layers Magazine logo
Layers Magazine
Published: 12.07.2012
Sigma SD1 Merrill

The SD1 Merrill is practically moiré-proof, making it a great choice for shooting fashion where detail counts and high-frequency patterns abound.

Sigma SD1 Product Review: Sigma SD1 and 120–300mm F/2.8 EX DG OS APO HSM lens - PDN Online
PDN Online logo
PDN Online
Published: 15.11.2011
Product Review: Sigma SD1 and 120–300mm F/2.8 EX DG OS APO HSM lens - PDN Online

And the winner for most controversial camera release of the year goes to: the Sigma SD1! Yes, if you’ve managed to stick your head above your Canon and Nikon digital SLRs and lenses for a few seconds this year, you may have heard about the SD1, a purported 46-megapixel DSLR that uses a three-layered, APS-C-size, Foveon X3 sensor. The SD1...

Sigma SD1 Review: Sigma SD-1 Merrill DSLR - The Phoblographer
The Phoblographer logo
The Phoblographer
Published: 21.09.2012
Review: Sigma SD-1 Merrill DSLR - The Phoblographer

In this post, I take the Sigma SD-1 Merrill out on a field test. Read more at The Phoblographer.

Sigma SD1 Sigma SD1 Merrill Review - Exposure
Imaging Resource logo
Imaging Resource
Published: 20.05.2011
Sigma SD1 Merrill Review - Exposure

Sigma SD1 Merrill Review - SD1 Merrill Exposure

Sigma SD1 Sigma SD1 Merrill Review | Camera Decision
Camera Decision logo
Camera Decision
Published: 10.04.2012
Sigma SD1 Merrill Review | Camera Decision
2.1

Sigma SD1 Merrill is a 15.0MP Advanced DSLR camera with a APS-C sized CMOS (Foveon X3) sensor and Sigma SA Bayonet mount. Read our SD1 Merrill review to find its pros and cons.

Sigma SD1 Sigma SD1 Merrill
PCMag Australia logo
PCMag Australia
Published: 18.07.2012
Sigma SD1 Merrill
2.5

The Sigma SD1 Merrill is built around the uniquely designed image sensor, but a high price, sluggish performance and a time-intensive Raw workflow make it a difficult sell to all but the most devoted Foveon disciples.

Sigma SD1 Sigma SD1 (Merrill)
Pocket-lint logo
Pocket-lint
Published: 29.02.2012
Sigma SD1 (Merrill)
3.0

The SD1’s poor high ISO results, unpredictable auto white balance, lack of live view and slow processing make it one to avoid for the casual user.

Sigma SD1 Sigma SD1 Merrill review
TechRadar logo
TechRadar
Published: 13.08.2012
Sigma SD1 Merrill review
3.0

Now a fraction of its original price, but is a revolutionary sensor enough?

Sigma SD1 Sigma SD1 review
Amateur Photographer logo
Amateur Photographer
Sigma SD1 review

Apart from its unique sensor design, the SD1 has some other interesting features, especially for fans of infrared photography. Tim Coleman finds out what is on offer

Often compared with Sigma SD1