Sigma cameras

At Photo-John's recommendation, I am re-posting here a question I posted to the old forum...

Has anyone used the Sigma D9 and D10 cameras? Any thoughts on them?

Thanks,
Yaron

Hi Yaron,

Welcome to the boards. I have a 10D, had it about a month and like it a lot. Suits my needs and seeing I still have my EOS30, most of the feel is the same. Just more dials and a screen on the back of it. There is no shutter lag that I have noticed and seems to take the photos as I see them, although I am still getting used to it. You have to have a reasonably good understanding of the digital workflow and I have been taking most of my images in RAW modes that way I can adjust them in software after downloading them to fix things and that way I learn what not to do, or what to adjust in camera to make the process to print or web faster.

I haven't used the Signa D9 or touched one, a bit out of my league price wise and also I use Canon lenses, so they wouldn't fit.

Hope that helps a little in some way.

The Sigma SD10 (and 9) feature one of the most interesting chips by Foveon.

Here is my rreview:

http://www.outbackphoto.com/reviews/...d10_Diary.html

As said the chip is very good. But the camera and also some Sigma lenses may not be at the level of Canon/Nikon competition.

This shot is one of our top 10 shots in 2003:



http://www.outbackphoto.com/reviews/...685_oak_16.jpg

Uwe

I am looking to digitally replace my Pentax 645n, and have been told only the Kodak 14n or the Canon 1ds will do. However, I've seen several samples of the Sigma SD10 with a macro lens (105mm) that look amazing. I shoot babies and young children, candid, mostly black and white- I need a fairly quick AF and something that performs well in low, indirect natural light. But mostly, I need SHARPNESS. It's why I moved up from 35mm in the first place.

Any thoughts?

Thanks.

How big do want to print? Have you seen print samples or only digital samples on a computer monitor? I haven't used the Sigma cameras, but pixel resolution isn't the whole story. Uwe would know best since he's used all of the cameras mentioned. But I expect that the Sigma might work very well for the kind of work you're doing. As long as you can be happy with being limited to Sigma lenses. Also, at the PMA tradeshow, a couple of weeks ago, Kodak announced an updated version of the 14n that looks much, much better. Check the News and Rumors forum for the press release.

I've seen the samples on monitor and in magazines ...do they even count? Is it possible that it's the macro lens-look that I love? I use a macro lens now...hmmm. Maybe that's the answer. Maybe nearly any decent digital camera with a macro lens?

Can you refer us to some samples? I'm curious about what you meanby macro. What a macro lens does and what the camera sensor does are two very different things.

What kind of deliverable do you have with your clients? Are you selling large prints? I really think that you need to get your hands on some original image samples and have some prints made. That's what I did before I bought my Canon EOS 1D. Canon has published full resolution samples from all of their digital SLRs. I downloaded one and had it printed professionally to see if the quality would work for the kind of output that I need. You should get full resolution sample files from all of the cameras you're interested in and have prints made to compare. Ideally, you'd be able to shoot samples yourself. If there's a pro lab in your area, ask them if you can take sample photos. That would be the best thing.

I have seen 2030" prints from the SD9 and they looked good.

Our best of 2003 include 2 SD10 shots:

http://www.outbackphoto.com/places/2...op10_2003.html

Uwe

Specifically, I saw images at www.pbase.com/janus (which was listed as a reference in one of the reviews of this camera in the 'reviews' section of this website) and page 19 of the April edition of the magazine Shutterbug. It's a giant eyeball, and the lashes are so detailed they are frightening.

As to your other questions, the largest size a client has ever ordered from me is 16x20. Typically, though, clients order 5x7-11x14. Pretty standard stuff, but I couldn't stand the results with my Canon EOS 35mm. Not nearly sharp enough.

I think it would be helpful to compare, and yes, I have several good labs in my area (near Philadelphia). I'll see what I can get from Sigma, and maybe Canon, Nikon, and Kodak as well. I would really rather try them all out, doing what I do, though, as samples of landscapes don't help me too terribly much.
Thanks for your help,
Carolyn

Quote:

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Originally Posted by yaronsh

At Photo-John's recommendation, I am re-posting here a question I posted to the old forum...

Has anyone used the Sigma D9 and D10 cameras? Any thoughts on them?

Thanks,
Yaron

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I use Sigma SD10 apart from Canon 300D and some other less significant hardware worth mentioning. You might want to have a look right in here: http://test.dinfo.ru
WARNING! LARGE FILE SIZES!

Not all pics done by Sigma SD10. Actually one of the galleries is a shoot-out vs 300D and some pics done with other cameras.