Review by Edward Hor.

Price: 3 out of 5
Ease of use: 4 out of 5
Build Quality: 4 out of 5
Usefulness: 3 out of 5
Overall: 4 out of 5
Total: 18

The much anticipated and talked about compact digital camera of 2008 amongst photography enthusiasts would have to be the Sigma DP-1, their debut compact digital camera. The DP-1’s Foveon sensor is taken straight from Sigma’s SD14 digital SLR camera and is matched with a fixed 28mm (35mm equiv) f4 lens.

Pros

• The APS-C Foveon sensor, there are only a handful of compact digital cameras on the market that come close to the DP-1’s image quality in all conditions.
• Digital SLR quality in a pocket sized camera.
• Has a hot shoe for an external flash.
• Manual focus dial comes in handy.
• Nice simple design that does not scream “look at me”.
• Lens is sharp (but that doesn’t suprise as Sigma is a lens maker afterall).

Cons

• Not well suited for average-joe low-light happy snaps.
• Aperture controlled via buttons. A dedicated aperture dial would have been better.
• Slow shot-to-shot times.
• Maximum of 800ISO combined with the f4 lens means slow shutter speeds in low light conditions.

Other thoughts
A faster lens like an f2.8 would have helped in low-light conditions. Shot-to-shot times and write speeds could be faster.

Conclusion
This definitely is not a camera for the masses. The enthusiasts who are after quality photos and are willing to sacrifice slow shot-to-shot times will be happy with this camera. It will make for an excellent travelling camera for enthusiasts or professionals who need high-quality photos from a compact camera.

Sigma has released yet another firmware upgrade for their debut compact digital camera the Sigma DP1.  The new firmware (version 1.04) adds the following:

1. A customizing function has been added to the Digital Zoom button.
2. The ft (feet) indicator has been added to the scale bar in MF mode.

Download V1.04 firmware here.

The Sigma DP1 has a new firmware available (v1.03) which adds the following extra features:

1.  
   1. ISO 50 has been added into the ISO setting.
   2. Grid Display mode shows Display Icons.
   3. Shorten the pre-flash time in the Red-eye reduction flash mode.

Firmware and upgrading instructions can be found at:
http://www.sigma-dp1.com/software/firmware/

Sigma have announced that there will be an upgrade available for their two new large-range telephoto zoom lenses, the 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM and 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM for Canon mount, to address an issue when attached to the Canon EOS-40D.  The problem is encountered when the OS function is switched on  then the number of continuous frames per second decreases. The affected lenses are:

APO 120-400mm f/4.5-5.6 DG OS HSM for Canon - Serial Numbers lower than 1011001

APO 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM for Canon - Serial Numbers lower than 1007001

The firmware has already been upgraded for lenses with Serial Numbers above these.

CR Kennedy, the Australian distributor for Sigma Lenses, have indicated that they will supply the free upgrade from today. www.crkennedy.com.au

Ricoh have updated the firmware to ver. 2.03 on their GR Digital II so that it will recognise the following recommended Sigma flash units when attached to the camera:

EF-530 DG ST (SA-STTL)
EF-530 DG SUPER (SA-STTL)
EF-500 DG ST (SA-STTL)
EF-500 DG SUPER (SA-STTL)

click this link to be taken to the Ricoh firmware update and instructions

Sigma has announced a firmware upgrade for its Foveon X3-sensor-equipped D-SLR, the Sigma SD-14. The upgrade addresses the following fixes and improvements:

• Exposure time of Bulb Mode is increased from 30 seconds to 2 minutes (It is only available when the camera is set for Extended Mode).
• Accuracy of the Evaluative Metering has been improved.

SD14 firmware Ver.1.07 is available for download at the following site: http://www.sigma-sd14.com/software/firmware/

Sigma have released a firmware ugrade Ver. 1.01 for its newly-released Foveon X3-sensor-wielding compact digital camera, the  DP-1. The upgrade addresses the following fixes and improvements:

DP1 FIRMWARE

• The grid display mode for picture taking is added to the LCD monitor.(It cannot be used in MF mode and movie mode).
• Improved stability of the camera’s operation.

The DP-1 firmware upgrade will be available from 11th April 2008 from Sigma:  http://www.sigma-photo.co.jp/english/support/soft/index.htm 

As well as this Sigma has also upgraded its Photo Pro software to include the following fixes and improvements:

SIGMA Photo Pro 2.5 for Windows

• Improved color reproduction of the SD14’s RAW images.
• Coloring at the corners of the image generated under a specific condition of the DP1’s RAW image has been improved.

SIGMA Photo Pro 3.2 for Macintosh

• Improved color reproduction of the SD14’s RAW images.
• Coloring at the corners of the image generated under a specific condition of the DP1’s RAW image has been improved.
• When the image’s white balance, captured by a custom white balance, was changed using Sigma Photo Pro3.1 for Macintosh, the image was not able to return to the original condition. This color balance was corrected even if it returned it to “former setting” afterwards.

Download the software upgrades from here:  http://www.sigma-photo.co.jp/english/support/soft/index.htm

Sigma have made available a firmware upgrade (Ver. 1.06) for the SD14 D-SLR camera. The upgrade should be applied to SD-14’s that have firmware version 1.05 or lower. If the camera already has Ver 1.06 the upgrade is not required.

The update addresses the following fixes and improvements:

1. Accuracy of the custom white balance has been improved.
2. One-day advance date counter that occurs with X3F images during an intercalary year was corrected.
3. Review image quality on the camera’s LCD is improved.
4. Users now have the option to disable the shutter release if there is no CF card in the camera. This option is found in the ‘Preview Style’ menu.

Download the update here

Sigma has today announced it’s first digital compact camera the DP1. It features the Foveon X3 14 megapixel sensor which is also found in Sigma’s SD14 digital SLR camera. The Foveon sensor is 20.7mm x 13.8mm which is similar in size to most digital SLR’s.

The DP1 utilises Sigma’s TRUE (Three-layer Responsive Ultimate Engine) processing engine. This unique engine allows high-speed image processing along with high quality images.

A 16.6mm f/4 lens (equivalent to 28mm on a 35mm SLR camera) was specially developed for the DP1 featuring super multi-layer coating to reduce flaring and ghosting; large aspherical glass to provide low distortion and high contrast images.

The DP1 has compact dimensions of 113.3mm (W) x 59.5mm (H) x 50.3mm (D) and weighs just 240g. Its compact body and lightweight design makes it easy to carry everywhere.

Sigma Corporation have advised that a number of Sigma lenses, when used with the Nikon D3, won’t be able to use the Auto DX crop function on the D3. Sigma will be giving a free upgrade to customers with affected lenses. The lenses affected are as follows:

DC lenses (Exclusive for digital SLR cameras with APS-C image sensor)

 30mm F1.4 EX DC HSM - Serial Numbers lower than 2054001

10-20mm F4-5.6 EX DC HSM - Serial Numbers lower than 2160001

DG lenses(Lenses for 35mm format SLR cameras)

APO 300mm F2.8 EX DG HSM - Serial Numbers lower than 3013701

APO 120-300mm F2.8 EX DG HSM - Serial Numbers lower than 4022401

The upgrade addresses the following issues:

1. When the Nikon D3 is in Auto DX crop function and the 30mm F1.4 EX DC HSM or 10-20mm F4-5.6 EX DC HSM lens is attached, the image area format will not change to DX format automatically.
2. When the Nikon D3 is in Auto DX crop function and the APO 300mm F2.8 EX DG HSM or APO 120-300mm F2.8 EX DG HSM lens is attached, the image area format will be changed to DX format, even if the image area format is set to FX format or 5:4.

Customers in Australia can contact Sigma’s authorised Australian dealer CR Kennedy.