Sigma's vaunted DP1 camera due soon--for $999

Sigma's DP1 should go on sale this spring for $999. This working model was on display at the PMA show in Las Vegas.

(Credit: Stephen Shankland/CNET Networks)

LAS VEGAS--Sigma announced its delayed DP1 camera Thursday, a high-end compact model whose unusually large image sensor is matched by an unusually large price tag.

The 14-megapixel camera likely will ship this spring for a retail price of $999, said a Sigma representative, Desiree Gaige, at the Photo Marketing Association trade show here.

The camera uses the same Foveon X3 sensor as Sigma's SD14 SLR camera. In comparison, compact cameras almost invariably have sensors that are much smaller and cheaper, but that are at least theoretically responsive for a given megapixel count.

The camera uses a 16.6mm f/4 fixed-focal-length lens, equivalent to 28mm in 35mm film camera terms. It produces raw image files for those who want the higher quality possible from using the unprocessed sensor data.

Sigma showed off the DP1 at the PMA show in 2007, and the camera has caught the attention of photo enthusiasts who want a large, sensitive sensor in a compact camera body. However, Sigma delayed the DP1 because it had to redesign the image-processing components later that year.

Probably the closest thing to an SLR shooter's compact camera today is Canon's PowerShot G9, a 12-megapixel model with raw-image capture, a 6X zoom lens, a price tag under $450, and a sensor that's larger than average for compact cameras if not actually as large as the DP1's.

[crazycarl1999]

Large Sensor = large price.

Although this camera is seriously overpriced, the sensor in it is considerably larger then anything available in a point and shoot format camera. Remember, larger sensor size = better dynamic range + lower noise. More megapixels and smaller sensors = less dynamic range + more noise.

The last sentence is misleading, as the sensor in the sigma is 4 times larger then the sensor in the G9.

[ghaff]

Big price premium

Interesting camera if its image quality is up to snuff. And I like the 28mm-equivalent wide angle. But a 2x premium over the apparently very popular G9 is going to be tough for a lot of people to swallow. The advantages are going to have to be pretty stark for that sort of money. Especially in this class of camera which, if not exactly disposable, is the sort of thing that you expect to replace in a few years.

[BKMD]

Wide & slow, too much dough

28mm, f/4, maxing out at ISO 800.

This is mostly an outdoor camera, since you'd be hard pressed to shoot many interiors, especially without image stabilization (IS).

BTW, the G9 sensor measures 7.6 x 5.7 mm, and the DP1 is 20.7 x 13.8 mm, so that's 6x the area of the G9. I don't think you can get a good image at ISO 800 with the G9, but then again it has IS.

If it were 35 mm, f/2 with close focusing, and an acceptable IQ at ISO 1600, it might be doable for <$800.

[dandanrocket]

DP1 sensor is 6x bigger than G9

I don't know why I come here. the people reporting on this site don't have a clue what they're talking about. if they did their research they would know that the sensor is the same one used in sigma's SD14 which is a dslr. and getting slr specs means paying for slr specs. research before you report!!!

[Shankland]

We *did* report that

I quote from the blog: "The camera uses the same Foveon X3 sensor as Sigma's SD14 SLR camera." And I described the G9's sensor as "larger than average for compact cameras if not actually as large as the DP1's."

[leonil7]

too hefty a price..

Thats already the price of a better lens for my nikon SLR! I'll choose to buy a better lens instead :)

[durango4]

No comparison to PowerShot G9

This story also completely misses the fact that full color is recorded
at each pixel site. Every other compact camera out there records a
single color at a pixel and then interpolates the surrounding colors
to make it look "normal". This will make a HUGE difference in
image quality. To even compare it to a PowerShot G9 is a joke.