Photography has been my hobby since I was a teenager. I'm now pushing sixty and am enjoying it more than ever. Iv shot with many different cameras over the years both film and digital but never have I had more pleasure in my photography than I have in the last two years. I've always been a one shot one kill type of photographer so to speak, and I love the whole process of seeing something that I think would look nice in BW and trying to get everything right in camera. I love lugging a tripod around and just making a day of it and its all thanks to the Sigma DP1 Quattro. this camera has re ignited my love of photography. It has given me the best of both worlds, the convenience of digital and the feeling of shooting film. The IQ you can get out of these cameras in absolutely stunning straight out of camera, specially BW. I'm not at all computer savvy so ninety eight percent of my shots have only very miner tweaks if any at all. I'm sure that to the professional eye my photos are not technically great but as long as they are what I was trying to achieve then I'm happy and that's what counts. I have since bought my second DP Quattro, the DP3 and after watching your video I am in the process of buying the SD H Q . Seems finding SA lenses isn't as easy as I thought it would be though. may I ask what your opinion is on the 70-200 2.8 ? I chose this lens because it best suits to my type of photography. Great reviews please keep up the great work and sorry for the long blurb..
I've never used the 70-200 2.8, as the sdQ has a smaller sensor than the sdQ H, so I opted for the 50-100 f1.8 to use for the same purposes as one would use the 70-200 for. The 50-100 is fantastic, and I would figure it to be slightly sharper in the center and weaker in the corners than the 70-200. As far as buying SA-lenses, they were easy to find used for awhile, but nowadays there is more searching. New, though, Adorama has full stock. I've purchased multiple lenses new (and used, actually) from them in SA-mount. They tend to have a much better selection in SA than the other stores. I'm to the point where I have order issues, they look at my order history and resolve things immediately =)
SD Quattro H user here. Have it for 2 years. I use it as surgical scalpel. Always at iso 100. Always on tripod. I have various Sigma (non art) lenses and selected M42 and Tamron adaptall goodies. There hasn't been a photo shoot that i haven't been blown away from the results it can produce. 51 MP in an APS-C sensor. Equivalent to 75ish in a full frame. If you respect it's limitations it will be paradise. If you don't know what you are doing it will be a very bumpy ride. And probably you will fall off the wagon...😁
I, just like Charles, bought my SD Quattro around your first video. I had been eager to try it out ever since the release and thought that yet another summer at home was a very good reason for spending the money on it. And wow, I am amazed. All my life, I have mostly used Canon cameras and used to go for speed and stuff, until about 5 years ago when I got my EOS 6D with a terrible Autofocus and since then, I have lived in the slow lane. So the Quattro was PERFECT! First of all, that sharpness and the color reproduction is amazing. I finally get what all Foveon fans has been saying for years. Then the look and feel of the body, it is solid and looks like a masterpiece. With all the shortcomings in mind already at purchase, I did not know what I expected, but this was an even more pleasant surprise than I imagined. Thanks for two super informative films, I would probably have bought the camera earlier if these had been out for maybe 6 months ago. I would say that they capture a nice that other reviews haven't. /Joakim, Sweden
I bought an SD Quattro about the time of your first video. I had recently been shooting slide, after years of film photography, and having dug out my old DP1, found I preferred its output to that of slide. I adore the output from the sensor, finding SA mount lenses is more difficult than I thought (I want OS lenses in addition to the gorgeous 30mm f1.4), but I'm finding some. I don't shoot subjects that need autofocus, so it's not too limiting. With the film background, I believe in getting exposure right in camera, but post processing is essential, if not obsessively done by me. Most capabilities of a modern DSLR/Mirrorless are wasted on me. So far, I love it, and think it quite brilliant! Colours, monochrome, all superb. Two superb, intelligent, well presented videos - thank you. It will not displace 35mm black and white, but gives me medium format colour performance that I'd struggle to better aesthetically and definitely economically with colour film.
Thank you! This makes me really happy that the kinds of people that would really appreciate this camera are finding it. It is probably for the better that you do prefer the Foveon output to that of slide film, since...I don't think slide film has too much longer to exist =( I really don't think it will make it to 2030, outside of possibly some VERY small manufacturers/boutique, and the price will be even more astronomical. I do agree that it couldn't fully replace B&W film, both for the education and prosumer/pro markets. Very different tools. Maybe for similar purposes, but still different. For lenses, my go-to is Adorama. The 60-600 was a very lucky find, and the pricing was extremely aggressive. I've had good luck with KEH, too, another extremely reputable source. They sometimes have weird unicorn lenses. As for OS, many of Sigma's better lenses don't have it. The 1.8 zooms don't have room for it, so you're pretty much limited to regular zooms (like the 17-50 or the 18-70 f2.8-4, both very good lenses) or the Bigma series, like the 80-400, 50-500, and 60-600. I don't think they have made any primes with OS. I have the older 17-50 and the OS is pretty good, although I am sure it is better with the slightly newer lenses, which are probably also a little sharper.
@@forgottencameras Thanks - I've found a 18-70mm in Japan, which is on its way, my battery grip arrived this morning, while a friend has found a 10-20mm f3.5. I think the rest will be Art primes, which are spectacular. I think the US and Japan are definitely the key source for most secondhand stuff - here in the UK it's a tiny niche! I don't need much more, so at least I won't get much more frustrated in the hunt. Anyway, to repeat, an immensely helpful and timely pair of videos, you deserve a wider audience! As to slide, fortunately I'd been given these rolls for free, and I sucked my teeth at the cost of developing them (I do all my own BW for peanuts!). So as long as the SD survives, I'll be fine.
hi, congratulations on your review, one of the best I've ever seen. I am writing to you from Italy and I have owned a sd quattro h for more than 5 years, I also own leica m, sony a7r3, panasonic s1r, canon dslr in the past, an old phaseone and 35 mm and medium format 6x6 and 6x7 film, in shortly I have too many cameras but the sigma is unique, for its rendering, for its limitations for its colors, for its black and white .. It is the most limiting camera I have ever had but also the one with the best results . Its tone is unique, the other cameras are very clear but substantially the same, for paid jobs I use s1r and a7r3 together in the services and no one has ever noticed any difference between the two. Phaseone have medium format ccd sensor, I can get wonderful images but with strong post production work, sigma jpegs are almost perfect right from the camera. Is a special camera for a few persons probably .. but it's a shame because others don't know what growth opportunities they are missing. Umberto Lepore
I completely agree with you cogent assessment and practical use case for Sigma SD Quattro and all Sigma Foveon cameras. I owned the Sigma DP1, 2 and 3 Merrills. I also have created wonderful images with my Friend's SD Quattro. Best results were seen during the gold hour especially in the Autumn after rain storms. I have hauntingly beautiful images handheld (daring I know) where the foveon sensor in the Merrills were able to capture the hues on grey blue skies and fire red orange and yellow sun shine. The sensor made the images look 3-D. A Patient, thoughtful and focused approach will yield the best results. Autofocus works fine in optimal lighting but otherwise use a tripod. ISO range should be 100-200 unless shooting in B&W where a grain effect is desired. You nailed the appropriate demographic for this camera. I shoot with a Leica Q2, Fuji XH-1, the Merrills, and Ricoh GRIII. Thank you for sharing your best practices. I will be following you for more content and discussion. Keep well.
I've been shooting with my SD Quattro for a couple of years now. I use it professionally on a regular basis for real estate photography. Partnered with a fuji xt-3 I can capture most of the quality I need. I still have an itch for medium format but I'm still waiting on the right lens before I make that leap. The ultra-wide sigma 8-16mm for my quattro and the fuji 8-16mm for my xt-3 work well together. I also use the 10mm+ zoom variants on both systems as well. I do wish there were some more weather resistant lenses for the sigma in ultra wides. I process x3Is in SPP and then lightroom. It feels like a secret club camera and I love how my images stand out from the crowd. Processing is slow but the images are so rewarding. I also have the older SD14 because I wanted a 1:1:1 sensor and it does look amazing but gets limited use due to it's quirks. Thanks for making these videos. I really enjoy them!
You are very welcome! The next one will probably be something about shooting the 60-600 on the Quattro, so 900mm equivalent at ISO 100. Have you tried the 8-16 vs the 10-20? I'm between the two, as I'd like to get more into architectural/real estate photography and break out of being mostly a hobbyist. It would make sense to have a weather sealed ultrawide, but that's probably not going to happen unless they come out with an L to SA adapter, which would need extra optics and possibly degrade quality =( . Yea my X-E1 covers pretty much anything else I'd want to do, so it balances out the Quattro's deficiencies.
@@forgottencameras Yes, I have both the 8-16mm and the 10-20mm. The 8-16mm is by far what I use most. I honestly don't even pack the 10-20mm anymore but I do carry a 28-80mm as the 8-16mm gives me everything I need on the wide end. Otherwise I just crop in a bit. The 8-16mm is considerably sharper as well and allows for post lens shift effects when needed. I had to make a custom lens profile for Lightroom and it works well. Looking forward to seeing more from you!
I caught this video about a year after it was posted. I have recently bought an SD Quattro and it's a camera I feel satisfied with. A number of years ago, just before the SD Quattro was released, I wanted a decent zoom lens for a Sony a6000. I bought the Sigma 17-70 in SA mount along with an MC-11 adapter figuring that if the new camera was any good at a reasonable price I could buy it and have a lens ready to go. Fast forward to 2022 and I finally got around to buying one of these cameras. I wish I had taken the leap earlier. And I wish I had gotten the SD Quattro H when I had the chance.
Loving your Sigma videos. I've been interested in them for a while and am just now starting to do more research into them. Will check out your other videos too, as I'm also into old digital cameras. Thanks for the vid.
I’m happy to see you here! I just discovered this channel and I actually thought about you because I got a similar vibe. I love that there’s others besides myself that appreciate these quirky, and unique cameras that think outside the norm.
I loved both your videos on the sd Quattros and you are 100% spot on about it. I have my old gen1 DP1 and 2, but most of my shooting now is 100% monochrome with the DP2 Merrill and I love that camera so much for as finicky as it is. I love my Leica M240 with 35mm Summarit as my "everyday, every situation" camera, but when I see a situation that the DP2 will shine, it comes out and continues to amaze me, yes, even over the Leica Monochrom's. There is tonal range that Foveon has, even in BW that I've yet to match. And just like my Leica, it is simple for me to use, but I'm particular. And I also use SPP but since it's mainly monochrome, my settings rarely change to get what I need out of it. Love the Foveon content and hope to see more.
Nice video and your comments on the Sigma is spot on. Foveon sensor is not for everyone, it has a cult following and only those who recognise the unique quality from these sensor will appreciate it fully. I see it as a 100 ISO camera and I'm totally happy shooting this along with my other mirrorless cameras. Horses for courses, something this camera can do that no other sensor can match, therefore there's no need to compare this camera/sensor to others as those who love Foveon sensors will love it as is.
I had the SD Quattro and sold it. But the nostalgia of the feelings when you are using this camera set my mind to buy another one. Now I am searching for a cheap one. The output of the sensor is fantastic. Really an analogue experience from a digital camera. Regarding the big files, I had a workaround. Import the files and then use the Convert to DNG from the LR Library menu. Use lossy compression. This saved me a lot of space on the hard drive. There are some videos on youtube where you can compare the image difference from the original file and the lossy compressed file. You are not losing essential information from the image. Try it and you will not regret it.
Thank you for this interesting, thoughtful review! I think your comments are spot on. I recently jumped into the Foveon world with a DP2 Quattro and really enjoy using it, but then I grew up on manual film cameras and thus am very accustomed to a slow and deliberate process and working with limitations posed by a camera/film stock. I just love the images I get from the camera, both color and black and white. I'm afraid I'm headed down a path of multiple Foveon cameras!
After watching your two part series it made me want the camera more, though I don’t have many years of experience with cameras in general it made me appreciate the more robust and over-built aspect of the camera. That coming off of using the old Nikon D2X for +/- 3 consecutive years I would love to get my hands on this camera once I get the budget to buy the kit
Along with Mattias Burling, the best reviews out there. I do think you should pick up a Sigma fp (perhaps not fp-L so much) now that they're on the used market. It is - interestingly, surprisingly - the inheritor of the Sigma SD Quattro. Quirky = fun, and you can use all your older Sigma SA-mount lenses with the MC-21 adapter. Everybody emphasises how small the fp is, but that's irrelevant to me (I always LIKED the size and shape of the SD Quattro) and with an EVF-ll directors viewfinder, SmallRig cage and a Sigma 24-105 Art lens, it's huge-ish and definitely heavy. So much fun! I do miss SFD mode on the fp, though there is the low-ISO magic which might be similar in function, but the sensor is Foveon-opposite with GREAT low-light performance and high dynamic range by default. The video performance is super, and a whole new dimension of fun compared to Foveon. -Tom
Thanks for the detailed video. I can't buy a new one now, but I was wondering what I would do if I could still get one. After coming across your information, I decided to get it somehow. Recently, I've been shooting mainly portraits, so I was a little worried about whether this camera would work, but when I saw your work, I was moved by how wonderful it was. from Japan.
Let me start by saying that after watching your videos I found them to be the most useful and entertaining for someone like me. I value your opinion and your photographs but am not particularly interested in seeing you unless it's relevant. Thank you for your visual absence. You have truly convinced me that this is the camera I've been searching for. I was born in a time of limited technology and from age 18 to 28 my Canon AE1 was my best friend until I tried a Canon EOS 3 and found it weird and noisy so I put it back in the bag and went back to the AE1. Many years later I tried a Nikon D5000 when they were fairly new and it felt like I was lost in menus and could never get what I wanted out of it so it went back in the bag as well. I pretty much gave up altogether on digital cameras and out of convenience mostly take pictures with my phone unless I'm using my AE1(which is not often). Over 10 years later I'm ready to try again and I feel like the SD Quattro might be the one. I'm slow, and methodical, and take pics to relax, not to strap one to my head and jump from off of a bridge with a rubber band around my legs. I also love the look of the SDQ as it is clearly modern and not some type of weird hybrid that is from an era that never really existed. I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks!
Loved watching this. I am primarily shooting RAW video with a Canon M at the moment. Thats an oldie too, from 2012 I think. I heard about Sigma Foveon back in the day but I was not shooting myself then. I can’t wait till Sigma announces their new FF, the FP will suit my hybrid needs better though. But man, the color rendition is insane on the SDq. Thanks for sharing your experience🙏
I actually love using my Sigma SD Quattro H for family portraits, just for the extreme high quality pictures and colors, but I mainly shoot portraits outdoors, in the fields or with a nice scenery. I also use this camera a lot for landscapes and summer family pictures : the results look like it was shot on a Mamiya GX680iii or Bronica/Pentax 67 camera using slide film or Kodak Ekar 100 depending on the level of saturation and detail/sharpness added in post production. But indeed, if the goal is to shoot quick portraits or street photos, the micro 43 or Fuji system combined with 1.4 or 1.2 lenses is the best option out there. My 35mm Nikon D610 basically sits on a shelve since I use the m43 system for everything fast, pro portraits, reportage, etc. I only take it out for studio shots or low light events but the Sigma Foveon sensor beats the hell of those CMOS sensors in terms of color separation. The Sigma cameras produce artistic film like organic images while the cmos sensors produce ok images but nothing stunning. This is the reason why I prefer the Sigmas vs any digital medium format camera too. (They all use older cmos sensors apart from the first generations which used ccd sensors that are closer to foveon but have their issues too)
I don't have a sdQ (yet), but I do have a lovely used SD14! It's primarily the B camera to my jack-of-all-trades Sony a6500, but I use the same lenses for both since SA mount lenses can be adapted onto the E mount really easily. I was drawn to the Foveon sensor by how amazing the colors are, & I haven't been disappointed so far! As someone who has always shot digital (& who loves Sony's super fast AF), it's definitely a different experience when working with the SD14 than with my other cameras, but the output is worth it when I have the chance to slow down & do the image some justice.
Reading and listening was pretty annoying and impossible with longer image descriptions, but damn, this vide is full of really great photos, you're a really good photographer! I rarely see a "review" with pictures this great
I really appreciated your absolutely brutally honest reviews, I enjoy your wit and your perspective. I must’ve watched this one 3 times. You asked for comments so I’m writing in the event you might have experienced this and know what I need to do. I just got an sd quattro because now I live in a place with stunning landscapes everywhere (southwest), I wanted to do them justice but medium format film is just not worth it just to do digital prints (like a whole new DSLR just to scan, lol) and I’m not gonna set up a color darkroom. And I have always loved shooting film! So this seemed PERFECT. But I’m having awful weird color noise/vibration issues in tans, oranges and browns and since that’s basically everything here that isn’t a cactus, I’m bummed out. I’m shooting raw at 100. Sharpness and all turned off. Using SPP ever so lightly. I can’t figure out if there’s a problem with the camera, the 30mm lens, a problem with what I’m doing, or a problem with expectations. But for that last one, I am prepared for all the hassle but IN SERVICE to the promise of color quality. I’ve gotten beautiful results up close with cacti (aka when I’ve excluded rocks and sand). I’ve seen other people’s desert shots on forums have the same issues with the quattro, where the red-tan-orange rocks look unreal and not just “3d” but badly shopped in, almost like the eyeball-watering feeling of fringing but everywhere not just the edges. I have begun to think it’s an issue with the quattro due to the red layer being at the bottom *and* smaller. The Merrill and even original dp desert examples I’ve found online do not have this issue at all. But after trawling hard on flickr, I’ve also seen incredible quattro desert rock shots that do not have this issue. I am at a loss!! I’ve been shooting since 1995 and using Photoshop since version 3 and this is unlike anything I’ve dealt with. Any ideas?
I had no interest in photography. Read about the 3 layer sensor, had to buy a DP2 and got hooked. I have DPs, all the Merrills, DP0, and SDQ. I recently also bought small Olympus EPL7 because everyone says micro 4 so small and light. BUT, those small cameras have shiny dials and the metal bodies you can feel has no shock asorption. I was very self conscious carrying them with strap and afraid to bump them clunky. The other day I took out the SDQ and put on Peak Design leash with one end at bottom of the camera. WOW, it felt light, the matte surface is inconspicuous, the build material is not clanging metal. I carried it with 17-70mm lens and I couldn’t believe how light and comfortable I felt with this pretty large camera. I wasn’t worried it was too flashy. I walk around with it slung across body out for walk without worry and fell in love with SDQ again. I am small built person. I love the design of all Sigma cameras except Merrill is box, but who can say no to those sensors.
I own the 3 DP Merrill little camera's and they still amaze me till this day. The detail of your picture is bizar. It are not allround digital camera's, but I love them. I would love to buy the Quatro, with a 30mm F1.4 still 1000 euro. New. And I also use only 100 iso. The build quality is great, so perhaps I buy a secondhand. Nice vlogs, thank you very much. (I love cats, so I melt a little with your photo's...)
Part of what drew me to this camera, is that it is supposed to "slow you down" i primarily shoot film, and currently am shooting a sony a7rii for digital, and it just feels strangely wrong... ive really been trying to bring the experience of shooting film to digital one way or another and i really want to try this camera after stumbling down the rabbit hole. I really enjoy the process of shooting my mamiya 645 but don't like waiting to get film back, and will soon be in college without much time to work to pay for film, and thats why i want this camera. Shooting slow brings me a unique perspective, the experience of shooting medium or large format is an amazing perspective that really makes you think.
I always want a Foveon camera especially the price dropped quite a lot, it will not be a starter camera or the only camera to use, but for those who has some experience in photography especially started from shooting film like many of us reading this post. The only real downside of this camera other than slow processing speed I heard of was the EVF, some said it doesn't have high res hard to tell focus.
have dp1merril and p2 merril since they were on market... They had to stand everything, drops, hits, offorad bike crashes... One LCD is broken, another has no more glass protection, the battery doors have gone,etc... Still working like a champ. The dp1m is my favorite for....portraits... But I need more wide angle for dramatic effects, so maybe a quattro and finding a 8/16 would be fun... Sadly, the small size of the dp in this world of appearance makes pro work hard, people are not used to small bricks like the dpm... I'm using the dp1m for street photo and when you get to trigger anticipate with he 0.5 sec in advance time, majority of shots are good. I can't stand no more the bayer sensors. The sony has a sort of video rendering which I can't stand. I bought a fuji x3 but found it really so so compared to my merrils. And it made me shoot lazy and at the end, producing pictures that everyone could have done... What I like the most is that when I look outside at grey and sad light, I never pick up my merrils. Ithere are not the tourist zenith light 13:00 clock cameras ... I think that people just forgot the ethmyology of the word photography : 'paint with light' . Thhis obsession to shoot in dark , where even the eye can't see details is IMHO a bit psychotic.
Enjoyed your videos, part 1 & 2. Really like the Sigma brand of lenses, mostly e-mount, I have more than a couple. Would love to get my hands on this SD but have to admit, after watching your videos, probably not for me. Thanks for posting, excellent videos. Mark in Eastern, PA.
I know this video is a bit old. And yes, I do think this camera is for me. I have been photographing for almost 30 years and I find that any camera that slows me down is good. I primarilly shoot nature, abandoned buildnings and landscape. I really enjoy the color I see in these example photos. I don't mind the slow work process or having no means to fire of a burst. It just reminds me of the time I stood on a field in -20 degrees C with a Canon EOS 600 (not D) as a young guy trying to take pictures of Hale Bop comet on a 100 ISO film roll. The size bothers me a little bit but as I have to lug around a bag anyway I don't see this being a big issue. I think I will try and get the kit with the 30mm as this should be a good walk about in the woods type of lens. I enjoy good build quality and it seems built like a tank. Not going to treat it bad though but I just like the feeling of things put together well. The AF system on DSLR:s never were trustworthy either so that doesn't bother me. I am from Sweden by the way.
So...a question from New Zealand for you! Did you get a quattro, or did you get 'cold feet'? I shoot similar subjects to you, am probably of similar vintage to you, and am considering trying one of these cameras.
this camera would be well worth checking. I mean as a photographer (at least if you take it halfway serious) you always have to adapt to your gear. and if you know that this is not a sports camera, well then dont use it there. I think Sigma cameras are very capable and I think I will get one, one day :) thanks for sharing your thoughts
Very good production. I shoot mostly film and have considered a different digital type camera. This is probably right up my alley. Unfortunately, I'm not very good at photo editing. I hate sitting in front of a computer for long periods of time but I also see no value in spray and pray. I use manual focus cameras mostly, but I do have a couple autofocus systems that I end up manually focusing the AF lenses. To be honest, I think I'm getting to a point where I don't want to be bothered with film anymore. It's this or the Fuji GFX 50R.
So basicially besides IQ, it's a nightmare. Roger, just ordered one, lol. Got a DP Quattro cheap. Got it aweek and ordered this. The 50-100 is next. I have it in EF-S for my Canon M6 ii. Trying to decide if I want to buy another for the SD or send it Sigma for a mount conversion. I saw it's like $380 to convert.
Man, I just wish Sigma release a new Foveon camera than utilizes the newer L-mount as they are part of the alliance. Sigma ART series of lenses are superb on its own right but having more options is always better. The advantage of L-mount over the SA-mount is its shorter flange distance, making it easier to adapt vintage glass or lenses from other manufactures.
What a great series on the esoteric SD Quattro. I've had mine just after its release and haven't given up on it although there were moments when I had my doubts. My two most serious complaints are overheating and the low resolution EVF. Even in moderate mid-70° temperatures, I'll get the overheating warning sign after capturing a few series of shots. I was especially curious to hear your comment about the depletion of battery power being the cause. Could you prove more explanation and whether the additional battery grip might help? As for the EVF, I think it's pretty useless to check focus or exposure, but if you come from film, it's a big step up. Thanks again for your thoughtful work.
For the large dng files, I use the Google photos "hack". Bought a used pixel 1 for unlimited storage and use it to store the files with a usb-c card reader. Additional benefit is that after upload, you can edit the files using Snapseed through the Google photos ecosystem :-).
I’ve dipped my toe into the sigma foveon cameras with the dp2. Not sure how well it represents these sigmas since it’s supposed to be 14mp type of camera. Colors seems nice but zooming in, I’m use to more detail as I zoom in. I think it’s a nice camera but right now have not been blown away. Since these are specialized cameras i am not sure if I want to risk getting another one since most likely it won’t have a return policy. I am curious mostly at the sigma dp Quattro 3. The weird shape 75mm 2.8 equivalent. What intrigues me most is the left shutter and the better megapixel, color and the level of detail I’ve seen on Flickr websites along with the reviews. The leaf shutter intrigues me because shooting against the sun is one of the hardest types of shoot you can do and to have the leaf shutter allows me to not bring the biggest strobes to overcome it. Plus I’m partial to portrait telephoto lenses. There aren’t tons of people photos with this camera. Most people shoot macro with it and it looks good. I’m a portrait type of photographers so this is what I want it for. To use flash to balance out the background and foreground
Thank you very much for the video on this camera. Love using my SD Quattro, even own all of DP Quattro and DP Merrill (often carry with me a DP 1 with my Ricoh GR for some Street) . Love using it for portraits, landscape/cityscapes, and anything where color (even black and white) is a emphasis for me. Paired with my Pentax KP and K1, covers all my needs. What's your experience with Affinity Photo? Often I like to use the in-camera editor You can also use some K mount lenses on SD quattro that can expand some options
You are very welcome! I have tried a couple of older K-mount and m42 lenses on my sdQ, but found that the Pentax 50mm f1.4 (m42) tends to want to crash into the IR filter, so I err on the side of caution with that. I actually used Affinity for a bit pre-DNG capability. I kinda liked it, but found that I didn't have much use for most of the features. I've been wanting a DP3M to have a super-light portrait kit; that will probably come next.
@Raoul Simon, hello ! I would like to ask your opinion. Since you have owned almost all Sigma cameras and many other cams as well, which camera you would highly recommend for black and white and for color photography ? Preferably not much post processing involved . Thank you in advance !
@@yew108 good question. It kinda depends at least for me on the subject and whether I need the dynamic range or not because I consider myself to be a more technical shooter. But to keep it simple and based off what I have, the sigma's are excellent with color and monochrome photography, but of course you would have to deal with the limiting dynamic range which for certain situations can be a issue if you don't dial in your settings correctly. The Pentax K1, KP and Kiii is also great with color and monochrome. Their DNG raw files are easily workable and can be transferred from camera to tablet or phone for on the spot edits. So for ease of use I would go with the Pentax but for color and monochrome pop, the sigma's for sure
@@odemata87 Thank you for your long reply, appreciate that very much ! Then, If I want to just buy a Sigma to try on, which one you would highly recommend? I heard very good things about SDQH , but would like to hear what you would say . I usually capture landscape.sea scape and sometimes portraits.
Loving these videos and the idea of this channel. I started off with digital on a Sony point and shoot back in 2004. Moved to a Canon 60D in 2011, a 7Dii in 2015, 80D in 2017, Canon M5 in 2018 and currently on the Fuji X system with an XT2, XH1 and XT3. But I'm looking to do slow paced and manual work because Medium format is way outside my justifiable range and my only question (probably already answered elsewhere on the internet) is can I use my Sigma EF mount (for crop)and Canon EF glass without having to modify the lenses as I use them for my professional work too and don't want to buy into a lens kit that can only be used on the DPQ.
Thanks; I've had a lot of people in the real world requesting that I do how-to/educational videos on how to use cameras and photo software in general. If I ever find the time again to work on videos, I'll get some up. SPP is kind of a bear, but it's not hard to use with some context as to what everything does. It is just painfully slow on many computers. As far as the best settings go, that's really up to the situation you are shooting in and your shooting style. For me, it's all center focus/manual focus and X3F+Jpg and everything else depends on what I am doing.
Very informative video. I own this camera and a Sigma DC 17-50mm f2.8 EX HSM lens. And I've been looking for a battery grip forever. It is also my experience that if you are a methodical photographer this camera has magnificent image capabilities. I am wondering if you have a preference for any particular flash for the SD Quattro? Again, nice information on an odd bird of a camera.
Nice video :) hope to see more of the not so common Cameras , I came here from searching about the dp cameras since I find them quite interesting. And I am thinking of getting one , but I haven’t gone to far down the rabbit hole that is cameras so I’m more a beginner than anything else. Since my knowledge of them and focal lengths and other things are lacking I was wondering what each of the 4 dp’s are good for? Do you or any of my fellow viewers know witch can be said to be most suited for landscape/nature photography, then macro then people. 😅
While expensive, Foveon cameras are good for learning, since they are far more difficult to use (at first) than more regular ones. This can also be really off-putting. There are quite a few DPs: Original DP1/DP2 - Old Foveon, 4.7MP effective output. DP1m/DP2m/DP3m - Merrill sensor, 15MP effective output. Very challenging but many people prefer the results. DP0q/DP1q/DP2q/DP3q - Quattro sensor, more forgiving and technically superior to the Merrill sensor (newer technology). People will argue with you about that. Super basic guide: DP0q - VERY wide lens, useful for expansive landscapes and architecture, etc. Going to distort people quite a bit if used close-up. DP1q - Wide, more general purpose, probably the most popular since it can be used in a lot of different situations, although I wouldn't use it for portraiture. DP2q - More of a 'normal' focal length, closer to what the human eye sees naturally. DP3q - This is the one I want; it is a short telephoto, meaning it is more zoomed in than the others. It will render people better (not distort their faces or mess with their proportions). Also good for really isolating subject matter. What is good for you really depends on what you want to shoot and your style of shooting; and this is something you develop as you practice. Personally, I'd wait until you learn more and really figure out what you want to do, since the DPs are expensive and I'd hate to see you get one and it sit in the closet because it doesn't end up suiting your shooting style. Also, if you want a fun way to learn about focal lengths and things, I recommend two old film-era books: one is called Shoot! and the other is the 35mm Handbook. They are obviously extremely dated (thus cheap) but the basics are all the same. Also, to get the most out of Foveon cameras, you really have to treat them much like you are shooting film (slower, more methodical), so it's a good way to learn.
@@forgottencameras thank you for answering and thank you for the quick rundown on the sigmas. I quite like the Foveon look, I feel other sensors often make photos more sterile but that might be more a me problem , but it might also be that I feel they are closer to the film look , I'm old enough that film isn't foreign for me and a few years ago I actually bought a couple of 35mm film Olympus cameras a omPC ( I do believe it have another name too ) and an Olympus XA2. Also have 4 digital one old Olympus I think the others are a cannon g16, cannon ixus 55 (quite good camera for 5mpx ) but sadly the buttons and other things are starting to act upp, the newest one I managed to snag a Sigma DP2s for 260USD so I'm using both the g16 and sigma now and learning with them. yeah I agree the sigmas are expensive so I'm hesitant to get a new one and as you say I don't quite know what kind of photography I gravitates the most to 🙃 I'm gravitating towards The sigma DP3q I feel that is the best fit for me but I do believe it might be wise to wait a bit until I learn a bit more of what kind of photographer I am. I would say Maco and Nature but I can't say for ceirtain. one thing I know is that I need to enter the slow lane when it. comes to photography right now I believe I'm more on the highway then anything else and my photography suffers for it. Thank you for the book recommendations il look into them don't know if they are to find as digital or just bound since they are so old , shipping to Norway is sometimes expensive or difficult but luckily just sometimes =) I enjoy watching your videos, thank you for making such interesting videos, and I hope you enjoy the process as well and keep them coming 😁
How would you describe the Quattro's image quality compared to the modern Sony, Canon and Nikon mirrorless cameras? What exactly is noticeably different in the Quattro's output?
Overall, IQ compares pretty favorably against the A7RIV when you blow up sharp images taken with good glass from the Quattro to a size that matches, depending on what you are looking for. It totally wrecks any other APS-C camera in IQ at ISO 100 overall. While dynamic range sucks, the difference in contrast at the pixel level brings out details much better than other sensor types, you often get something more in-line with what you'd expect from a medium format camera, especially if you use HDR to kill the noise. This also allows you to enlarge photos with better fidelity. With the old SD1, you could go to about 60MP (base 15MP x2 on both X and Y axis) or so; I'm guessing it'd be higher with the Quattro, but I haven't taken the time to really test it. The caveat here is that it needs high-end glass to perform at these levels. The camera maybe around $600 used but the lenses you'd need to squeeze good performance from it start at about the same price used. It's really hard to put into words exactly what the difference is, but viewing base ISO images from Foveon sensors versus those from Bayer and X-Trans sensors shows that they render the overall image very differently. The Foveon sensor has a much easier time reproducing difficult colors and color transitions at the pixel level are far smoother than what I've been able to get with Bayer/X-Trans, especially cameras with an AA filter. This gives images from it the strange three-dimensional qualities they are known for. B&W is also comparable to a dedicated monochrome camera. In theory, it should actually be better, but I'm not buying a Leica Monochrom to do direct comparisons. If you're really curious, I would find some sample X3F files from the Quattro and take a look. Sigma Photo Pro, the software you need to work with them, is free, so there's no money in doing that.
Apparently Sigma is discontinuing the production of the quattros. The sdHquattro and the dp2quattro are already sold out according to the japanese homepage. I wonder what will happen with Foveon? I myself owned the dp2quattro and the sdHquattro. I sold both again. The colours of the automatic white balance were often awful, especially with the dp2quattro. I liked monochrome and the high detail resolution, but a missing folding monitor and strong reflections on the monitor in sunlight also bothered me a lot. It was always a love-hate relationship for me with the Sigma cameras.
Love the channel! Do you know of any resource where I could download a variety of Quattro SD or H sample raw files of outdoor shots? I'l like to check out the processing workflow for both the Sigma Raw files as well as their in-camera DNG files. Also, do you know how well these types of files work with panorama software like PTGui? I like to do multirow vertical panoramas with a 105mm lens to create large portrait orientation 4x5 aspect ratio and think the color detail of the sensor could really be something else for that type of work.
Very great review(both videos)! Thank you for your work! It might be a stupid question... So sorry for that. But I'm curious how this camera performs in landscape astrophotography? If it will be used at start tracker so 1 shot exposure could be easily 1 or 2 minutes and ISO between 100-400, max 800. Is it possible to save its native files to 14 bit tiff files? I'm asking cause this camera supports very good lenses with no almost no coma or astigmatism aberrations, and I heard that it's has excellent noise level at base ISO.
Good review. I waited for a long time for a foveon sensor to be released, but ended up giving up on it due to release delays. Purchased a Canon 5D mark II instead and have never regretted it. I wanted to buy this so your review is greatly appreciated. I was waiting for a Foveon L-mount camera this time, and ended up buying into the Canon RF system instead. What is your advice? Buy this, or wait for an L-mount Foveon camera?
Do you have any experience with the SD1? I have one and I'm trying to decide if I should pick up a Quattro. I love the camera, it has single-handedly kept my passion for photography alive, but I'm constantly missing focus due to a combination of the poor autofocus in camera and me having an astigmatism out of camera, it kind of makes DSLR's without reliable autofocus hard to shoot since I can't trust my eyes on the optical viewfinder. I shoot with manual focus exclusively on my X-T3, but it also has good focus aids like focus peaking and punch in, which is why I'm considering the Quattro, but I have not been able to find a good comparison of the two directly.
I actually don't have any experience with the SD1...yet. I can tell you that, if you are used to manually focusing on a mirrorless camera, you will do fine with the sdQ. Keep in mind that it is going to inherit some of the slowness of the SD1 in general, but not be quite as bad (going off what I read).
@@forgottencameras Thanks for your thoughts. I know that the Quattro still isn't going to be amazing in terms of auto focus, but I should be able to land more shots in focus with it. I was curious about how the camera's compare in other aspects because as of right now Quattros aren't cheap enough for me to buy just to improve my hit rate. I hope you do get your hands on an SD1 someday, it is a very cool camera and I'd like to see how you think they compare.
Hey, great vid… question for you - wondering what your process is when dealing with Color. I’ve been shooting with the Merrills for a long time now but skin tones have always been iffy. Sometimes they look great some times they look muddy. Would love to hear your thoughts.
Hooboy. It's a lot of fidgeting with the skin-tone tool in Capture One; a lot of flailing around and trial-and-error. I actually start with color before anything else in C1; often just cutting the levels down individually helps A LOT right off the bat. Also, I find that shooting in X3F gives more accurate color overall than DNG. SPP is a pain to work with when color is way off, though. Depending on the person and lighting, the skin tone is either fantastic or terrible and needs a lot of work, it's a problem with the Quattros too. Natural light is tougher, flash is easy and comes out fairly accurate most of the time. Could make a whole video on that topic alone.
I really enjoyed both videos on the Sigma sd Quattro. I am always looking to improve image quality within financial restraints, which is why I have been using Pentax. I have been seriously looking at the Quattro and for my kind of shooting I don't think I would mind it's unusual quirks. However maybe you could provide a little more information that I cannot seem to find. I shoot RAW and the Quattro has the X3F and DNG available, with the X3F being proprietary and from what I have gleaned the DNG losing some of the magic image quality. I probably won't ever get to using Davinci as yourself, so for now I use Lightroom. So without Davinci what is the best choice in the Quattro RAW, X3F or DNG and software for post processing? Sigma software for X3F, dng in LR. I use xrite for accurate colors, is it even necessary with the Quattro? Also what about those details for using the Quattro for monochrome? Thanks and I would love to see a video covering these aspects of the camera. I am really leaning toward getting it, just need a little more info to help me before buying. I am waiting for the 30mm kit. Have you used the Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro with IS for handheld shooting at the 100 ISO?
As a landscape a fine art print photographer who needs a kit to match the results I am getting with an entry level Nikon DSLR (D3500) - this is my next move. Any thoughts on the Quattro H versus this one? I read the quality is even more pronounced. Thanks, TJN
Thanks for your Videos ! I have a Sigma FP + Sigma lenses, and Fuji + Fuji Lenses. I am very interested for the Faveon Sensor. Can i get really a benefit from this Faveon Sensor, or can the same result with my FP or Fuji Cameta in Post editing 🤔 Wich Sigma Faveon Camera is the best ? & Can I use my L mount Lenses on them ?
I am a lighting designer and photograph my work in very low light (obviously)- has anyone tried this camera in very low light, locked off on a tripod at base ISO with longer shutter speeds in the 15-20 second range? Wondering how well it would do in low light situations. I’m using great Nikon Z gear now and it works great, but I am always curious and experimenting with other sensors for fun and to seek different mouse traps. Thanks
hi. thanks for the videos. just subbed. i have a question, i've been thinking about this for some time... would a zeiss lens fit the quattro? i think the foveon 3d effect with the zeiss pop would theoretically make really good looking images. thoughts?
Hi! Do I got this camera recently. It is slow and takes great shots. I have 2 questions : how do you handle low light situations? (night markets, sunrise/sunset). What lenses are actually compatible? (I can't make sense of the sjgmalens list... Most people selling sigma have Canon or Nikon mount. How to find something compatible with SA mount?) thank you!
Low Light: For sunrise/sunset, the camera needs to be either on a tripod or braced on something. As far as hand-held in darker areas, it is just the wrong tool for the job. When I carry this thing, I also carry another body that can handle low light. SA-mount lenses: despite being discontinued, you can still buy some of them new from Adorama/B&H/etc., but the best way is used, since pricing is so low for them. There is just so little demand, you can pick up really nice lenses for bargain prices. That coupled with an E- or L-mount adapter so you can use them on a less specialized camera, and you're good. Just be careful, since the AF system doesn't play well with older lenses (pre-Art), with a few exceptions, including the 17-50 and 50mm f1.4 EX.
I haven't used it personally, but I know the autofocus should be better than the 17-50 since it is a newer design. BUT, the 17-50 is still more expensive, BUT the 17-70 is a newer design in a newer series (EX vs Global Vision Contemporary) with probably better IQ. Key word is probably. I can't justify the purchase of a 17-70 because I already have a 17-50. I would lean toward the 17-70, just because it is newer and is supposed to actually have fully compatible AF with the Quattro. See if you can find some test shots and make sure it is acceptable to your eyes. As an alternative, I'd look at the 18-35 f1.8 (used) if you plan on using it wide more often. That thing will cost about $550 USD for a good used copy and is in another league IQ-wise.
If you can deal with a shorter zoom range, the 18-35mm f/2.8 DC HSM Art is the best choice. Remember that this camera is basically stuck at base ISO, so you really need as wide of an aperture as you can get, and what's the point of a special camera like this if you're going to attach non-Art (less sharp) lenses to it? Just my thoughts. I don't have experience, but I've read loads of reviews.
Getting a Quattro DP1 as a second camera. As much as the sd Quattro and the H sound nice, I already have a Fuji XH2, and with Fuji's already expensive ass lenses, I thought the best thing for me was to divert from the typical Fuji user buying an X100/XPro camera as a second camera and go with something way different.
You are the Joe Pera of forgotten cameras.
Photography has been my hobby since I was a teenager. I'm now pushing sixty and am enjoying it more than ever. Iv shot with many different cameras over the years both film and digital but never have I had more pleasure in my photography than I have in the last two years. I've always been a one shot one kill type of photographer so to speak, and I love the whole process of seeing something that I think would look nice in BW and trying to get everything right in camera. I love lugging a tripod around and just making a day of it and its all thanks to the Sigma DP1 Quattro. this camera has re ignited my love of photography. It has given me the best of both worlds, the convenience of digital and the feeling of shooting film. The IQ you can get out of these cameras in absolutely stunning straight out of camera, specially BW. I'm not at all computer savvy so ninety eight percent of my shots have only very miner tweaks if any at all. I'm sure that to the professional eye my photos are not technically great but as long as they are what I was trying to achieve then I'm happy and that's what counts. I have since bought my second DP Quattro, the DP3 and after watching your video I am in the process of buying the SD H Q . Seems finding SA lenses isn't as easy as I thought it would be though. may I ask what your opinion is on the 70-200 2.8 ? I chose this lens because it best suits to my type of photography.
Great reviews please keep up the great work and sorry for the long blurb..
I've never used the 70-200 2.8, as the sdQ has a smaller sensor than the sdQ H, so I opted for the 50-100 f1.8 to use for the same purposes as one would use the 70-200 for. The 50-100 is fantastic, and I would figure it to be slightly sharper in the center and weaker in the corners than the 70-200. As far as buying SA-lenses, they were easy to find used for awhile, but nowadays there is more searching. New, though, Adorama has full stock. I've purchased multiple lenses new (and used, actually) from them in SA-mount. They tend to have a much better selection in SA than the other stores.
I'm to the point where I have order issues, they look at my order history and resolve things immediately =)
SD Quattro H user here. Have it for 2 years. I use it as surgical scalpel. Always at iso 100. Always on tripod. I have various Sigma (non art) lenses and selected M42 and Tamron adaptall goodies. There hasn't been a photo shoot that i haven't been blown away from the results it can produce. 51 MP in an APS-C sensor. Equivalent to 75ish in a full frame. If you respect it's limitations it will be paradise. If you don't know what you are doing it will be a very bumpy ride. And probably you will fall off the wagon...😁
What M42 lenses work well if you don’t mind me asking?
I, just like Charles, bought my SD Quattro around your first video. I had been eager to try it out ever since the release and thought that yet another summer at home was a very good reason for spending the money on it. And wow, I am amazed. All my life, I have mostly used Canon cameras and used to go for speed and stuff, until about 5 years ago when I got my EOS 6D with a terrible Autofocus and since then, I have lived in the slow lane. So the Quattro was PERFECT!
First of all, that sharpness and the color reproduction is amazing. I finally get what all Foveon fans has been saying for years.
Then the look and feel of the body, it is solid and looks like a masterpiece.
With all the shortcomings in mind already at purchase, I did not know what I expected, but this was an even more pleasant surprise than I imagined.
Thanks for two super informative films, I would probably have bought the camera earlier if these had been out for maybe 6 months ago. I would say that they capture a nice that other reviews haven't.
/Joakim, Sweden
I bought an SD Quattro about the time of your first video. I had recently been shooting slide, after years of film photography, and having dug out my old DP1, found I preferred its output to that of slide. I adore the output from the sensor, finding SA mount lenses is more difficult than I thought (I want OS lenses in addition to the gorgeous 30mm f1.4), but I'm finding some. I don't shoot subjects that need autofocus, so it's not too limiting. With the film background, I believe in getting exposure right in camera, but post processing is essential, if not obsessively done by me. Most capabilities of a modern DSLR/Mirrorless are wasted on me. So far, I love it, and think it quite brilliant! Colours, monochrome, all superb. Two superb, intelligent, well presented videos - thank you. It will not displace 35mm black and white, but gives me medium format colour performance that I'd struggle to better aesthetically and definitely economically with colour film.
Thank you! This makes me really happy that the kinds of people that would really appreciate this camera are finding it. It is probably for the better that you do prefer the Foveon output to that of slide film, since...I don't think slide film has too much longer to exist =( I really don't think it will make it to 2030, outside of possibly some VERY small manufacturers/boutique, and the price will be even more astronomical.
I do agree that it couldn't fully replace B&W film, both for the education and prosumer/pro markets. Very different tools. Maybe for similar purposes, but still different.
For lenses, my go-to is Adorama. The 60-600 was a very lucky find, and the pricing was extremely aggressive. I've had good luck with KEH, too, another extremely reputable source. They sometimes have weird unicorn lenses. As for OS, many of Sigma's better lenses don't have it. The 1.8 zooms don't have room for it, so you're pretty much limited to regular zooms (like the 17-50 or the 18-70 f2.8-4, both very good lenses) or the Bigma series, like the 80-400, 50-500, and 60-600. I don't think they have made any primes with OS. I have the older 17-50 and the OS is pretty good, although I am sure it is better with the slightly newer lenses, which are probably also a little sharper.
@@forgottencameras Thanks - I've found a 18-70mm in Japan, which is on its way, my battery grip arrived this morning, while a friend has found a 10-20mm f3.5. I think the rest will be Art primes, which are spectacular. I think the US and Japan are definitely the key source for most secondhand stuff - here in the UK it's a tiny niche! I don't need much more, so at least I won't get much more frustrated in the hunt. Anyway, to repeat, an immensely helpful and timely pair of videos, you deserve a wider audience! As to slide, fortunately I'd been given these rolls for free, and I sucked my teeth at the cost of developing them (I do all my own BW for peanuts!). So as long as the SD survives, I'll be fine.
hi, congratulations on your review, one of the best I've ever seen. I am writing to you from Italy and I have owned a sd quattro h for more than 5 years, I also own leica m, sony a7r3, panasonic s1r, canon dslr in the past, an old phaseone and 35 mm and medium format 6x6 and 6x7 film, in shortly I have too many cameras but the sigma is unique, for its rendering, for its limitations for its colors, for its black and white .. It is the most limiting camera I have ever had but also the one with the best results . Its tone is unique, the other cameras are very clear but substantially the same, for paid jobs I use s1r and a7r3 together in the services and no one has ever noticed any difference between the two. Phaseone have medium format ccd sensor, I can get wonderful images but with strong post production work, sigma jpegs are almost perfect right from the camera. Is a special camera for a few persons probably .. but it's a shame because others don't know what growth opportunities they are missing.
Umberto Lepore
I completely agree with you cogent assessment and practical use case for Sigma SD Quattro and all Sigma Foveon cameras. I owned the Sigma DP1, 2 and 3 Merrills. I also have created wonderful images with my Friend's SD Quattro. Best results were seen during the gold hour especially in the Autumn after rain storms. I have hauntingly beautiful images handheld (daring I know) where the foveon sensor in the Merrills were able to capture the hues on grey blue skies and fire red orange and yellow sun shine. The sensor made the images look 3-D. A Patient, thoughtful and focused approach will yield the best results. Autofocus works fine in optimal lighting but otherwise use a tripod. ISO range should be 100-200 unless shooting in B&W where a grain effect is desired. You nailed the appropriate demographic for this camera. I shoot with a Leica Q2, Fuji XH-1, the Merrills, and Ricoh GRIII. Thank you for sharing your best practices. I will be following you for more content and discussion. Keep well.
I've been shooting with my SD Quattro for a couple of years now. I use it professionally on a regular basis for real estate photography. Partnered with a fuji xt-3 I can capture most of the quality I need. I still have an itch for medium format but I'm still waiting on the right lens before I make that leap. The ultra-wide sigma 8-16mm for my quattro and the fuji 8-16mm for my xt-3 work well together. I also use the 10mm+ zoom variants on both systems as well. I do wish there were some more weather resistant lenses for the sigma in ultra wides. I process x3Is in SPP and then lightroom. It feels like a secret club camera and I love how my images stand out from the crowd. Processing is slow but the images are so rewarding. I also have the older SD14 because I wanted a 1:1:1 sensor and it does look amazing but gets limited use due to it's quirks. Thanks for making these videos. I really enjoy them!
You are very welcome! The next one will probably be something about shooting the 60-600 on the Quattro, so 900mm equivalent at ISO 100.
Have you tried the 8-16 vs the 10-20? I'm between the two, as I'd like to get more into architectural/real estate photography and break out of being mostly a hobbyist. It would make sense to have a weather sealed ultrawide, but that's probably not going to happen unless they come out with an L to SA adapter, which would need extra optics and possibly degrade quality =( .
Yea my X-E1 covers pretty much anything else I'd want to do, so it balances out the Quattro's deficiencies.
@@forgottencameras Yes, I have both the 8-16mm and the 10-20mm. The 8-16mm is by far what I use most. I honestly don't even pack the 10-20mm anymore but I do carry a 28-80mm as the 8-16mm gives me everything I need on the wide end. Otherwise I just crop in a bit. The 8-16mm is considerably sharper as well and allows for post lens shift effects when needed. I had to make a custom lens profile for Lightroom and it works well. Looking forward to seeing more from you!
I caught this video about a year after it was posted. I have recently bought an SD Quattro and it's a camera I feel satisfied with. A number of years ago, just before the SD Quattro was released, I wanted a decent zoom lens for a Sony a6000. I bought the Sigma 17-70 in SA mount along with an MC-11 adapter figuring that if the new camera was any good at a reasonable price I could buy it and have a lens ready to go. Fast forward to 2022 and I finally got around to buying one of these cameras. I wish I had taken the leap earlier. And I wish I had gotten the SD Quattro H when I had the chance.
Loving your Sigma videos. I've been interested in them for a while and am just now starting to do more research into them. Will check out your other videos too, as I'm also into old digital cameras. Thanks for the vid.
Thank you! Yes, doing a lot of research on these is wise, since they have a lot of limitations.
ooooh hi, awesome to see you here.
also as a regular viewer we would definitely love a video with a foveon camera
I’m happy to see you here! I just discovered this channel and I actually thought about you because I got a similar vibe. I love that there’s others besides myself that appreciate these quirky, and unique cameras that think outside the norm.
I loved both your videos on the sd Quattros and you are 100% spot on about it. I have my old gen1 DP1 and 2, but most of my shooting now is 100% monochrome with the DP2 Merrill and I love that camera so much for as finicky as it is. I love my Leica M240 with 35mm Summarit as my "everyday, every situation" camera, but when I see a situation that the DP2 will shine, it comes out and continues to amaze me, yes, even over the Leica Monochrom's. There is tonal range that Foveon has, even in BW that I've yet to match. And just like my Leica, it is simple for me to use, but I'm particular. And I also use SPP but since it's mainly monochrome, my settings rarely change to get what I need out of it.
Love the Foveon content and hope to see more.
Nice video and your comments on the Sigma is spot on. Foveon sensor is not for everyone, it has a cult following and only those who recognise the unique quality from these sensor will appreciate it fully. I see it as a 100 ISO camera and I'm totally happy shooting this along with my other mirrorless cameras. Horses for courses, something this camera can do that no other sensor can match, therefore there's no need to compare this camera/sensor to others as those who love Foveon sensors will love it as is.
Exactly.
I had the SD Quattro and sold it. But the nostalgia of the feelings when you are using this camera set my mind to buy another one. Now I am searching for a cheap one. The output of the sensor is fantastic. Really an analogue experience from a digital camera. Regarding the big files, I had a workaround. Import the files and then use the Convert to DNG from the LR Library menu. Use lossy compression. This saved me a lot of space on the hard drive. There are some videos on youtube where you can compare the image difference from the original file and the lossy compressed file. You are not losing essential information from the image. Try it and you will not regret it.
Thank you for this interesting, thoughtful review! I think your comments are spot on. I recently jumped into the Foveon world with a DP2 Quattro and really enjoy using it, but then I grew up on manual film cameras and thus am very accustomed to a slow and deliberate process and working with limitations posed by a camera/film stock. I just love the images I get from the camera, both color and black and white. I'm afraid I'm headed down a path of multiple Foveon cameras!
After watching your two part series it made me want the camera more, though I don’t have many years of experience with cameras in general it made me appreciate the more robust and over-built aspect of the camera. That coming off of using the old Nikon D2X for +/- 3 consecutive years I would love to get my hands on this camera once I get the budget to buy the kit
I love the 21:9 crop mode in this cameras, very fun to shoot!!!
Same here. It's very cool. Wide lux with out the wide.
Along with Mattias Burling, the best reviews out there. I do think you should pick up a Sigma fp (perhaps not fp-L so much) now that they're on the used market. It is - interestingly, surprisingly - the inheritor of the Sigma SD Quattro. Quirky = fun, and you can use all your older Sigma SA-mount lenses with the MC-21 adapter. Everybody emphasises how small the fp is, but that's irrelevant to me (I always LIKED the size and shape of the SD Quattro) and with an EVF-ll directors viewfinder, SmallRig cage and a Sigma 24-105 Art lens, it's huge-ish and definitely heavy. So much fun! I do miss SFD mode on the fp, though there is the low-ISO magic which might be similar in function, but the sensor is Foveon-opposite with GREAT low-light performance and high dynamic range by default. The video performance is super, and a whole new dimension of fun compared to Foveon.
-Tom
Thanks for the detailed video. I can't buy a new one now, but I was wondering what I would do if I could still get one. After coming across your information, I decided to get it somehow. Recently, I've been shooting mainly portraits, so I was a little worried about whether this camera would work, but when I saw your work, I was moved by how wonderful it was. from Japan.
Thank you =) The camera has aged well, and I wish you fantastic results from it. Just remember to stay patient, and savor the details.
Let me start by saying that after watching your videos I found them to be the most useful and entertaining for someone like me. I value your opinion and your photographs but am not particularly interested in seeing you unless it's relevant. Thank you for your visual absence. You have truly convinced me that this is the camera I've been searching for. I was born in a time of limited technology and from age 18 to 28 my Canon AE1 was my best friend until I tried a Canon EOS 3 and found it weird and noisy so I put it back in the bag and went back to the AE1. Many years later I tried a Nikon D5000 when they were fairly new and it felt like I was lost in menus and could never get what I wanted out of it so it went back in the bag as well. I pretty much gave up altogether on digital cameras and out of convenience mostly take pictures with my phone unless I'm using my AE1(which is not often). Over 10 years later I'm ready to try again and I feel like the SD Quattro might be the one. I'm slow, and methodical, and take pics to relax, not to strap one to my head and jump from off of a bridge with a rubber band around my legs. I also love the look of the SDQ as it is clearly modern and not some type of weird hybrid that is from an era that never really existed. I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks!
Loved watching this. I am primarily
shooting RAW video with a Canon M at the moment. Thats an oldie too, from 2012 I think.
I heard about Sigma Foveon back in the day but I was not shooting myself then. I can’t wait till Sigma announces their new FF, the FP will suit my hybrid needs better though. But man, the color rendition is insane on the SDq. Thanks for sharing your experience🙏
I actually love using my Sigma SD Quattro H for family portraits, just for the extreme high quality pictures and colors, but I mainly shoot portraits outdoors, in the fields or with a nice scenery. I also use this camera a lot for landscapes and summer family pictures : the results look like it was shot on a Mamiya GX680iii or Bronica/Pentax 67 camera using slide film or Kodak Ekar 100 depending on the level of saturation and detail/sharpness added in post production.
But indeed, if the goal is to shoot quick portraits or street photos, the micro 43 or Fuji system combined with 1.4 or 1.2 lenses is the best option out there.
My 35mm Nikon D610 basically sits on a shelve since I use the m43 system for everything fast, pro portraits, reportage, etc. I only take it out for studio shots or low light events but the Sigma Foveon sensor beats the hell of those CMOS sensors in terms of color separation. The Sigma cameras produce artistic film like organic images while the cmos sensors produce ok images but nothing stunning. This is the reason why I prefer the Sigmas vs any digital medium format camera too. (They all use older cmos sensors apart from the first generations which used ccd sensors that are closer to foveon but have their issues too)
I don't have a sdQ (yet), but I do have a lovely used SD14! It's primarily the B camera to my jack-of-all-trades Sony a6500, but I use the same lenses for both since SA mount lenses can be adapted onto the E mount really easily. I was drawn to the Foveon sensor by how amazing the colors are, & I haven't been disappointed so far! As someone who has always shot digital (& who loves Sony's super fast AF), it's definitely a different experience when working with the SD14 than with my other cameras, but the output is worth it when I have the chance to slow down & do the image some justice.
The 6500 does it all, and they couldn't be more different. But that's what makes them great and gives balance to a kit.
Reading and listening was pretty annoying and impossible with longer image descriptions, but damn, this vide is full of really great photos, you're a really good photographer! I rarely see a "review" with pictures this great
I really appreciated your absolutely brutally honest reviews, I enjoy your wit and your perspective. I must’ve watched this one 3 times. You asked for comments so I’m writing in the event you might have experienced this and know what I need to do.
I just got an sd quattro because now I live in a place with stunning landscapes everywhere (southwest), I wanted to do them justice but medium format film is just not worth it just to do digital prints (like a whole new DSLR just to scan, lol) and I’m not gonna set up a color darkroom. And I have always loved shooting film! So this seemed PERFECT.
But I’m having awful weird color noise/vibration issues in tans, oranges and browns and since that’s basically everything here that isn’t a cactus, I’m bummed out. I’m shooting raw at 100. Sharpness and all turned off. Using SPP ever so lightly. I can’t figure out if there’s a problem with the camera, the 30mm lens, a problem with what I’m doing, or a problem with expectations. But for that last one, I am prepared for all the hassle but IN SERVICE to the promise of color quality.
I’ve gotten beautiful results up close with cacti (aka when I’ve excluded rocks and sand).
I’ve seen other people’s desert shots on forums have the same issues with the quattro, where the red-tan-orange rocks look unreal and not just “3d” but badly shopped in, almost like the eyeball-watering feeling of fringing but everywhere not just the edges. I have begun to think it’s an issue with the quattro due to the red layer being at the bottom *and* smaller. The Merrill and even original dp desert examples I’ve found online do not have this issue at all. But after trawling hard on flickr, I’ve also seen incredible quattro desert rock shots that do not have this issue. I am at a loss!!
I’ve been shooting since 1995 and using Photoshop since version 3 and this is unlike anything I’ve dealt with.
Any ideas?
I had no interest in photography. Read about the 3 layer sensor, had to buy a DP2 and got hooked. I have DPs, all the Merrills, DP0, and SDQ. I recently also bought small Olympus EPL7 because everyone says micro 4 so small and light. BUT, those small cameras have shiny dials and the metal bodies you can feel has no shock asorption. I was very self conscious carrying them with strap and afraid to bump them clunky. The other day I took out the SDQ and put on Peak Design leash with one end at bottom of the camera. WOW, it felt light, the matte surface is inconspicuous, the build material is not clanging metal. I carried it with 17-70mm lens and I couldn’t believe how light and comfortable I felt with this pretty large camera. I wasn’t worried it was too flashy. I walk around with it slung across body out for walk without worry and fell in love with SDQ again. I am small built person. I love the design of all Sigma cameras except Merrill is box, but who can say no to those sensors.
I own the 3 DP Merrill little camera's and they still amaze me till this day. The detail of your picture is bizar. It are not allround digital camera's, but I love them. I would love to buy the Quatro, with a 30mm F1.4 still 1000 euro. New. And I also use only 100 iso. The build quality is great, so perhaps I buy a secondhand. Nice vlogs, thank you very much. (I love cats, so I melt a little with your photo's...)
Part of what drew me to this camera, is that it is supposed to "slow you down" i primarily shoot film, and currently am shooting a sony a7rii for digital, and it just feels strangely wrong... ive really been trying to bring the experience of shooting film to digital one way or another and i really want to try this camera after stumbling down the rabbit hole. I really enjoy the process of shooting my mamiya 645 but don't like waiting to get film back, and will soon be in college without much time to work to pay for film, and thats why i want this camera. Shooting slow brings me a unique perspective, the experience of shooting medium or large format is an amazing perspective that really makes you think.
great review, pictures and text . thank You so much
Thank you for these videos on the SD Quattro. I am joining the Foveon gang😂! Ordered a SD Q! I’ll let you know how it is. 😊
I always want a Foveon camera especially the price dropped quite a lot, it will not be a starter camera or the only camera to use, but for those who has some experience in photography especially started from shooting film like many of us reading this post. The only real downside of this camera other than slow processing speed I heard of was the EVF, some said it doesn't have high res hard to tell focus.
I still use a SD14 with the superzoom from time to time. It's a great second or third camera.
I really like the output from that sensor; really regret selling my dp1X awhile back. Which superzoom?
Thanks a lot for the video. Totally agree with the perfect marriage: SDQ and Fuji X system.
have dp1merril and p2 merril since they were on market... They had to stand everything, drops, hits, offorad bike crashes... One LCD is broken, another has no more glass protection, the battery doors have gone,etc... Still working like a champ. The dp1m is my favorite for....portraits... But I need more wide angle for dramatic effects, so maybe a quattro and finding a 8/16 would be fun... Sadly, the small size of the dp in this world of appearance makes pro work hard, people are not used to small bricks like the dpm... I'm using the dp1m for street photo and when you get to trigger anticipate with he 0.5 sec in advance time, majority of shots are good. I can't stand no more the bayer sensors. The sony has a sort of video rendering which I can't stand. I bought a fuji x3 but found it really so so compared to my merrils. And it made me shoot lazy and at the end, producing pictures that everyone could have done... What I like the most is that when I look outside at grey and sad light, I never pick up my merrils. Ithere are not the tourist zenith light 13:00 clock cameras ... I think that people just forgot the ethmyology of the word photography : 'paint with light' . Thhis obsession to shoot in dark , where even the eye can't see details is IMHO a bit psychotic.
Enjoyed your videos, part 1 & 2. Really like the Sigma brand of lenses, mostly e-mount, I have more than a couple. Would love to get my hands on this SD but have to admit, after watching your videos, probably not for me. Thanks for posting, excellent videos. Mark in Eastern, PA.
I know this video is a bit old. And yes, I do think this camera is for me. I have been photographing for almost 30 years and I find that any camera that slows me down is good. I primarilly shoot nature, abandoned buildnings and landscape. I really enjoy the color I see in these example photos. I don't mind the slow work process or having no means to fire of a burst. It just reminds me of the time I stood on a field in -20 degrees C with a Canon EOS 600 (not D) as a young guy trying to take pictures of Hale Bop comet on a 100 ISO film roll. The size bothers me a little bit but as I have to lug around a bag anyway I don't see this being a big issue. I think I will try and get the kit with the 30mm as this should be a good walk about in the woods type of lens. I enjoy good build quality and it seems built like a tank. Not going to treat it bad though but I just like the feeling of things put together well. The AF system on DSLR:s never were trustworthy either so that doesn't bother me. I am from Sweden by the way.
So...a question from New Zealand for you! Did you get a quattro, or did you get 'cold feet'? I shoot similar subjects to you, am probably of similar vintage to you, and am considering trying one of these cameras.
this camera would be well worth checking. I mean as a photographer (at least if you take it halfway serious) you always have to adapt to your gear. and if you know that this is not a sports camera, well then dont use it there. I think Sigma cameras are very capable and I think I will get one, one day :) thanks for sharing your thoughts
Very good production. I shoot mostly film and have considered a different digital type camera. This is probably right up my alley. Unfortunately, I'm not very good at photo editing. I hate sitting in front of a computer for long periods of time but I also see no value in spray and pray. I use manual focus cameras mostly, but I do have a couple autofocus systems that I end up manually focusing the AF lenses. To be honest, I think I'm getting to a point where I don't want to be bothered with film anymore. It's this or the Fuji GFX 50R.
So basicially besides IQ, it's a nightmare. Roger, just ordered one, lol. Got a DP Quattro cheap. Got it aweek and ordered this. The 50-100 is next. I have it in EF-S for my Canon M6 ii. Trying to decide if I want to buy another for the SD or send it Sigma for a mount conversion. I saw it's like $380 to convert.
Man, I just wish Sigma release a new Foveon camera than utilizes the newer L-mount as they are part of the alliance. Sigma ART series of lenses are superb on its own right but having more options is always better. The advantage of L-mount over the SA-mount is its shorter flange distance, making it easier to adapt vintage glass or lenses from other manufactures.
What a great series on the esoteric SD Quattro. I've had mine just after its release and haven't given up on it although there were moments when I had my doubts. My two most serious complaints are overheating and the low resolution EVF. Even in moderate mid-70° temperatures, I'll get the overheating warning sign after capturing a few series of shots. I was especially curious to hear your comment about the depletion of battery power being the cause. Could you prove more explanation and whether the additional battery grip might help? As for the EVF, I think it's pretty useless to check focus or exposure, but if you come from film, it's a big step up. Thanks again for your thoughtful work.
For the large dng files, I use the Google photos "hack". Bought a used pixel 1 for unlimited storage and use it to store the files with a usb-c card reader. Additional benefit is that after upload, you can edit the files using Snapseed through the Google photos ecosystem :-).
I’ve dipped my toe into the sigma foveon cameras with the dp2. Not sure how well it represents these sigmas since it’s supposed to be 14mp type of camera. Colors seems nice but zooming in, I’m use to more detail as I zoom in. I think it’s a nice camera but right now have not been blown away. Since these are specialized cameras i am not sure if I want to risk getting another one since most likely it won’t have a return policy. I am curious mostly at the sigma dp Quattro 3. The weird shape 75mm 2.8 equivalent. What intrigues me most is the left shutter and the better megapixel, color and the level of detail I’ve seen on Flickr websites along with the reviews. The leaf shutter intrigues me because shooting against the sun is one of the hardest types of shoot you can do and to have the leaf shutter allows me to not bring the biggest strobes to overcome it. Plus I’m partial to portrait telephoto lenses. There aren’t tons of people photos with this camera. Most people shoot macro with it and it looks good. I’m a portrait type of photographers so this is what I want it for. To use flash to balance out the background and foreground
Thank you very much for the video on this camera. Love using my SD Quattro, even own all of DP Quattro and DP Merrill (often carry with me a DP 1 with my Ricoh GR for some Street) . Love using it for portraits, landscape/cityscapes, and anything where color (even black and white) is a emphasis for me. Paired with my Pentax KP and K1, covers all my needs. What's your experience with Affinity Photo? Often I like to use the in-camera editor
You can also use some K mount lenses on SD quattro that can expand some options
You are very welcome!
I have tried a couple of older K-mount and m42 lenses on my sdQ, but found that the Pentax 50mm f1.4 (m42) tends to want to crash into the IR filter, so I err on the side of caution with that.
I actually used Affinity for a bit pre-DNG capability. I kinda liked it, but found that I didn't have much use for most of the features.
I've been wanting a DP3M to have a super-light portrait kit; that will probably come next.
How is the dng firmware on the dp quatro?
@Raoul Simon, hello ! I would like to ask your opinion. Since you have owned almost all Sigma cameras and many other cams as well, which camera you would highly recommend for black and white and for color photography ? Preferably not much post processing involved . Thank you in advance !
@@yew108 good question. It kinda depends at least for me on the subject and whether I need the dynamic range or not because I consider myself to be a more technical shooter. But to keep it simple and based off what I have, the sigma's are excellent with color and monochrome photography, but of course you would have to deal with the limiting dynamic range which for certain situations can be a issue if you don't dial in your settings correctly. The Pentax K1, KP and Kiii is also great with color and monochrome. Their DNG raw files are easily workable and can be transferred from camera to tablet or phone for on the spot edits. So for ease of use I would go with the Pentax but for color and monochrome pop, the sigma's for sure
@@odemata87 Thank you for your long reply, appreciate that very much ! Then, If I want to just buy a Sigma to try on, which one you would highly recommend? I heard very good things about SDQH , but would like to hear what you would say . I usually capture landscape.sea scape and sometimes portraits.
Loving these videos and the idea of this channel. I started off with digital on a Sony point and shoot back in 2004. Moved to a Canon 60D in 2011, a 7Dii in 2015, 80D in 2017, Canon M5 in 2018 and currently on the Fuji X system with an XT2, XH1 and XT3. But I'm looking to do slow paced and manual work because Medium format is way outside my justifiable range and my only question (probably already answered elsewhere on the internet) is can I use my Sigma EF mount (for crop)and Canon EF glass without having to modify the lenses as I use them for my professional work too and don't want to buy into a lens kit that can only be used on the DPQ.
Great!!! Please a video wit the best settings for sd quattro. And if it possible a video for Sigma photo pro.
Thanks; I've had a lot of people in the real world requesting that I do how-to/educational videos on how to use cameras and photo software in general. If I ever find the time again to work on videos, I'll get some up. SPP is kind of a bear, but it's not hard to use with some context as to what everything does. It is just painfully slow on many computers.
As far as the best settings go, that's really up to the situation you are shooting in and your shooting style. For me, it's all center focus/manual focus and X3F+Jpg and everything else depends on what I am doing.
@@forgottencameras thank you very much. You are great! Gianluca from Italy.
man i cant wait for the full frame version to come out... come on sigma get it together.. it can easily be the sharpest camera out there
Very informative video. I own this camera and a Sigma DC 17-50mm f2.8 EX HSM lens. And I've been looking for a battery grip forever. It is also my experience that if you are a methodical photographer this camera has magnificent image capabilities. I am wondering if you have a preference for any particular flash for the SD Quattro? Again, nice information on an odd bird of a camera.
Nice video :) hope to see more of the not so common Cameras , I came here from searching about the dp cameras since I find them quite interesting.
And I am thinking of getting one , but I haven’t gone to far down the rabbit hole that is cameras so I’m more a beginner than anything else. Since my knowledge of them and focal lengths and other things are lacking I was wondering what each of the 4 dp’s are good for?
Do you or any of my fellow viewers know witch can be said to be most suited for landscape/nature photography, then macro then people. 😅
While expensive, Foveon cameras are good for learning, since they are far more difficult to use (at first) than more regular ones. This can also be really off-putting. There are quite a few DPs:
Original DP1/DP2 - Old Foveon, 4.7MP effective output.
DP1m/DP2m/DP3m - Merrill sensor, 15MP effective output. Very challenging but many people prefer the results.
DP0q/DP1q/DP2q/DP3q - Quattro sensor, more forgiving and technically superior to the Merrill sensor (newer technology). People will argue with you about that.
Super basic guide:
DP0q - VERY wide lens, useful for expansive landscapes and architecture, etc. Going to distort people quite a bit if used close-up.
DP1q - Wide, more general purpose, probably the most popular since it can be used in a lot of different situations, although I wouldn't use it for portraiture.
DP2q - More of a 'normal' focal length, closer to what the human eye sees naturally.
DP3q - This is the one I want; it is a short telephoto, meaning it is more zoomed in than the others. It will render people better (not distort their faces or mess with their proportions). Also good for really isolating subject matter.
What is good for you really depends on what you want to shoot and your style of shooting; and this is something you develop as you practice. Personally, I'd wait until you learn more and really figure out what you want to do, since the DPs are expensive and I'd hate to see you get one and it sit in the closet because it doesn't end up suiting your shooting style. Also, if you want a fun way to learn about focal lengths and things, I recommend two old film-era books: one is called Shoot! and the other is the 35mm Handbook. They are obviously extremely dated (thus cheap) but the basics are all the same. Also, to get the most out of Foveon cameras, you really have to treat them much like you are shooting film (slower, more methodical), so it's a good way to learn.
@@forgottencameras thank you for answering and thank you for the quick rundown on the sigmas.
I quite like the Foveon look, I feel other sensors often make photos more sterile but that might be more a me problem , but it might also be that I feel they are closer to the film look , I'm old enough that film isn't foreign for me and a few years ago I actually bought a couple of 35mm film Olympus cameras a omPC ( I do believe it have another name too ) and an Olympus XA2.
Also have 4 digital one old Olympus I think the others are a cannon g16, cannon ixus 55 (quite good camera for 5mpx ) but sadly the buttons and other things are starting to act upp, the newest one I managed to snag a Sigma DP2s for 260USD so I'm using both the g16 and sigma now and learning with them.
yeah I agree the sigmas are expensive so I'm hesitant to get a new one and as you say I don't quite know what kind of photography I gravitates the most to 🙃 I'm gravitating towards The sigma DP3q I feel that is the best fit for me but I do believe it might be wise to wait a bit until I learn a bit more of what kind of photographer I am.
I would say Maco and Nature but I can't say for ceirtain.
one thing I know is that I need to enter the slow lane when it. comes to photography right now I believe I'm more on the highway then anything else and my photography suffers for it.
Thank you for the book recommendations il look into them don't know if they are to find as digital or just bound since they are so old , shipping to Norway is sometimes expensive or difficult but luckily just sometimes =)
I enjoy watching your videos, thank you for making such interesting videos, and I hope you enjoy the process as well and keep them coming 😁
How would you describe the Quattro's image quality compared to the modern Sony, Canon and Nikon mirrorless cameras? What exactly is noticeably different in the Quattro's output?
Overall, IQ compares pretty favorably against the A7RIV when you blow up sharp images taken with good glass from the Quattro to a size that matches, depending on what you are looking for. It totally wrecks any other APS-C camera in IQ at ISO 100 overall. While dynamic range sucks, the difference in contrast at the pixel level brings out details much better than other sensor types, you often get something more in-line with what you'd expect from a medium format camera, especially if you use HDR to kill the noise. This also allows you to enlarge photos with better fidelity. With the old SD1, you could go to about 60MP (base 15MP x2 on both X and Y axis) or so; I'm guessing it'd be higher with the Quattro, but I haven't taken the time to really test it.
The caveat here is that it needs high-end glass to perform at these levels. The camera maybe around $600 used but the lenses you'd need to squeeze good performance from it start at about the same price used.
It's really hard to put into words exactly what the difference is, but viewing base ISO images from Foveon sensors versus those from Bayer and X-Trans sensors shows that they render the overall image very differently. The Foveon sensor has a much easier time reproducing difficult colors and color transitions at the pixel level are far smoother than what I've been able to get with Bayer/X-Trans, especially cameras with an AA filter. This gives images from it the strange three-dimensional qualities they are known for. B&W is also comparable to a dedicated monochrome camera. In theory, it should actually be better, but I'm not buying a Leica Monochrom to do direct comparisons.
If you're really curious, I would find some sample X3F files from the Quattro and take a look. Sigma Photo Pro, the software you need to work with them, is free, so there's no money in doing that.
Apparently Sigma is discontinuing the production of the quattros. The sdHquattro and the dp2quattro are already sold out according to the japanese homepage. I wonder what will happen with Foveon? I myself owned the dp2quattro and the sdHquattro. I sold both again. The colours of the automatic white balance were often awful, especially with the dp2quattro. I liked monochrome and the high detail resolution, but a missing folding monitor and strong reflections on the monitor in sunlight also bothered me a lot. It was always a love-hate relationship for me with the Sigma cameras.
Love the channel!
Do you know of any resource where I could download a variety of Quattro SD or H sample raw files of outdoor shots? I'l like to check out the processing workflow for both the Sigma Raw files as well as their in-camera DNG files.
Also, do you know how well these types of files work with panorama software like PTGui? I like to do multirow vertical panoramas with a 105mm lens to create large portrait orientation 4x5 aspect ratio and think the color detail of the sensor could really be something else for that type of work.
Very great review(both videos)! Thank you for your work!
It might be a stupid question... So sorry for that.
But I'm curious how this camera performs in landscape astrophotography? If it will be used at start tracker so 1 shot exposure could be easily 1 or 2 minutes and ISO between 100-400, max 800. Is it possible to save its native files to 14 bit tiff files? I'm asking cause this camera supports very good lenses with no almost no coma or astigmatism aberrations, and I heard that it's has excellent noise level at base ISO.
Good review. I waited for a long time for a foveon sensor to be released, but ended up giving up on it due to release delays. Purchased a Canon 5D mark II instead and have never regretted it. I wanted to buy this so your review is greatly appreciated. I was waiting for a Foveon L-mount camera this time, and ended up buying into the Canon RF system instead. What is your advice? Buy this, or wait for an L-mount Foveon camera?
Do you have any experience with the SD1? I have one and I'm trying to decide if I should pick up a Quattro. I love the camera, it has single-handedly kept my passion for photography alive, but I'm constantly missing focus due to a combination of the poor autofocus in camera and me having an astigmatism out of camera, it kind of makes DSLR's without reliable autofocus hard to shoot since I can't trust my eyes on the optical viewfinder. I shoot with manual focus exclusively on my X-T3, but it also has good focus aids like focus peaking and punch in, which is why I'm considering the Quattro, but I have not been able to find a good comparison of the two directly.
I actually don't have any experience with the SD1...yet. I can tell you that, if you are used to manually focusing on a mirrorless camera, you will do fine with the sdQ. Keep in mind that it is going to inherit some of the slowness of the SD1 in general, but not be quite as bad (going off what I read).
@@forgottencameras Thanks for your thoughts. I know that the Quattro still isn't going to be amazing in terms of auto focus, but I should be able to land more shots in focus with it. I was curious about how the camera's compare in other aspects because as of right now Quattros aren't cheap enough for me to buy just to improve my hit rate. I hope you do get your hands on an SD1 someday, it is a very cool camera and I'd like to see how you think they compare.
Hey, great vid… question for you - wondering what your process is when dealing with Color. I’ve been shooting with the Merrills for a long time now but skin tones have always been iffy. Sometimes they look great some times they look muddy. Would love to hear your thoughts.
Hooboy.
It's a lot of fidgeting with the skin-tone tool in Capture One; a lot of flailing around and trial-and-error. I actually start with color before anything else in C1; often just cutting the levels down individually helps A LOT right off the bat.
Also, I find that shooting in X3F gives more accurate color overall than DNG. SPP is a pain to work with when color is way off, though.
Depending on the person and lighting, the skin tone is either fantastic or terrible and needs a lot of work, it's a problem with the Quattros too. Natural light is tougher, flash is easy and comes out fairly accurate most of the time.
Could make a whole video on that topic alone.
I have the DP1 and keeping it.
Seroiusly considering getting one. How would it perform in scenarios with
I really enjoyed both videos on the Sigma sd Quattro. I am always looking to improve image quality within financial restraints, which is why I have been using Pentax. I have been seriously looking at the Quattro and for my kind of shooting I don't think I would mind it's unusual quirks. However maybe you could provide a little more information that I cannot seem to find. I shoot RAW and the Quattro has the X3F and DNG available, with the X3F being proprietary and from what I have gleaned the DNG losing some of the magic image quality. I probably won't ever get to using Davinci as yourself, so for now I use Lightroom. So without Davinci what is the best choice in the Quattro RAW, X3F or DNG and software for post processing? Sigma software for X3F, dng in LR. I use xrite for accurate colors, is it even necessary with the Quattro? Also what about those details for using the Quattro for monochrome? Thanks and I would love to see a video covering these aspects of the camera. I am really leaning toward getting it, just need a little more info to help me before buying. I am waiting for the 30mm kit. Have you used the Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4 DC Macro with IS for handheld shooting at the 100 ISO?
As a landscape a fine art print photographer who needs a kit to match the results I am getting with an entry level Nikon DSLR (D3500) - this is my next move. Any thoughts on the Quattro H versus this one? I read the quality is even more pronounced. Thanks, TJN
Thanks for your Videos ! I have a Sigma FP + Sigma lenses, and Fuji + Fuji Lenses. I am very interested for the Faveon Sensor. Can i get really a benefit from this Faveon Sensor, or can the same result with my FP or Fuji Cameta in Post editing 🤔 Wich Sigma Faveon Camera is the best ? & Can I use my L mount Lenses on them ?
I am a lighting designer and photograph my work in very low light (obviously)- has anyone tried this camera in very low light, locked off on a tripod at base ISO with longer shutter speeds in the 15-20 second range? Wondering how well it would do in low light situations. I’m using great Nikon Z gear now and it works great, but I am always curious and experimenting with other sensors for fun and to seek different mouse traps. Thanks
Can you recommend an entry level sigma foveon camera? I have a bunch of cameras already and want a taste before I sell stuff and really buy in.
Cant wait for the fp full frame foveon...whenever that will be lol
hi. thanks for the videos. just subbed. i have a question, i've been thinking about this for some time... would a zeiss lens fit the quattro? i think the foveon 3d effect with the zeiss pop would theoretically make really good looking images. thoughts?
M42 Zeiss
Very very interesting.
I'm having a problem with the color of the pictures taken from this camera. Can you make a tutorial to have the best color ...
Hi! Do I got this camera recently. It is slow and takes great shots. I have 2 questions : how do you handle low light situations? (night markets, sunrise/sunset). What lenses are actually compatible? (I can't make sense of the sjgmalens list... Most people selling sigma have Canon or Nikon mount. How to find something compatible with SA mount?) thank you!
Low Light: For sunrise/sunset, the camera needs to be either on a tripod or braced on something. As far as hand-held in darker areas, it is just the wrong tool for the job. When I carry this thing, I also carry another body that can handle low light.
SA-mount lenses: despite being discontinued, you can still buy some of them new from Adorama/B&H/etc., but the best way is used, since pricing is so low for them. There is just so little demand, you can pick up really nice lenses for bargain prices. That coupled with an E- or L-mount adapter so you can use them on a less specialized camera, and you're good. Just be careful, since the AF system doesn't play well with older lenses (pre-Art), with a few exceptions, including the 17-50 and 50mm f1.4 EX.
What is the reason that this camera produces images with terrible purple hue overcasting, when using old glass?
Cosplay photos
I enjoy shooting expired slide film, so anything above 25 iso seems really simple.
Take a look at the fp; with that you can shoot at ISO 6.
I have a SD Quattro with the 30mm f1.4 but I want some kind of zoom lens, What is your opinion about the sigma 17-70 mm f2.8-4?
I haven't used it personally, but I know the autofocus should be better than the 17-50 since it is a newer design. BUT, the 17-50 is still more expensive, BUT the 17-70 is a newer design in a newer series (EX vs Global Vision Contemporary) with probably better IQ.
Key word is probably. I can't justify the purchase of a 17-70 because I already have a 17-50.
I would lean toward the 17-70, just because it is newer and is supposed to actually have fully compatible AF with the Quattro. See if you can find some test shots and make sure it is acceptable to your eyes.
As an alternative, I'd look at the 18-35 f1.8 (used) if you plan on using it wide more often. That thing will cost about $550 USD for a good used copy and is in another league IQ-wise.
@@forgottencameras Thanks for the advice!
If you can deal with a shorter zoom range, the 18-35mm f/2.8 DC HSM Art is the best choice. Remember that this camera is basically stuck at base ISO, so you really need as wide of an aperture as you can get, and what's the point of a special camera like this if you're going to attach non-Art (less sharp) lenses to it? Just my thoughts. I don't have experience, but I've read loads of reviews.
Did you take infrared photos with this camera?
In all the time I've had it, not yet.
Can you open the file in an iPad?
How good it is for b&w image?
Very good, actually. The video I am working on now will also be exploring that.
Oh, and please do cheap, digital P&S cameras.
On it, and just released a new one. Maybe stretching the definition of a P&S a little, but still fits the bill.
May be if you are looking to produce pictures that stay relevant to modern cameras you should have got a Quattro H.
Getting a Quattro DP1 as a second camera. As much as the sd Quattro and the H sound nice, I already have a Fuji XH2, and with Fuji's already expensive ass lenses, I thought the best thing for me was to divert from the typical Fuji user buying an X100/XPro camera as a second camera and go with something way different.