Sigma DP1M - A User's Review

[pinholecam]

Thanks for the nice review.
Very impressive camera!

I'm interested in a few things :

1. Does it take a filter? (I'm thinking of ND filters in this case)

2. Is there a way to fire off the camera using a remote?

3. Does it do auto exposure bracketing?

4. Is there any way to get longer shutter speeds over 30s?



Thx

 

[tomcat]

Thanks for the nice review.
Very impressive camera!

I'm interested in a few things :

1. Does it take a filter? (I'm thinking of ND filters in this case)

2. Is there a way to fire off the camera using a remote?

3. Does it do auto exposure bracketing?

4. Is there any way to get longer shutter speeds over 30s?



Thx

1. Yes. 49mm filter thread.
2. No
3. Yes. 1/3 stop increments up to +/- 3
4. No

 

[pinholecam]

1. Yes. 49mm filter thread.
2. No
3. Yes. 1/3 stop increments up to +/- 3
4. No

Thanks a lot for your reply.
49mm filter thread will be very convinent.
2,4 might be a bit of problem/hassle for long exposure and exposure blending.
I'll certainly keep this camera in mind as a WA landscape option.

 

[tomcat]

Comparison tests by DSLR Magazine between Sigma DP1M, Nikon Coolpix A and Ricoh GR.

Compactas sin filtro AA - Rendimiento - DSLR Magazine

At low ISO and in RAW, the Sigma DP1M seemed to swipe the floor with the Coolpix A and the GR. Not that great at higher ISOs though as expected.

 

[longj49]

Comparison tests by DSLR Magazine between Sigma DP1M, Nikon Coolpix A and Ricoh GR.

Compactas sin filtro AA - Rendimiento - DSLR Magazine

At low ISO and in RAW, the Sigma DP1M seemed to swipe the floor with the Coolpix A and the GR. Not that great at higher ISOs though as expected.

Been seriously thinking of selling my DP1M and get either the Coolpix A or the GR, but finally decided to just keep my DP1M. I'm just simply addicted to its IQ and can't bear to part with it. For me it's a real keeper, together with my DP2M.

 

[tomcat]

Been seriously thinking of selling my DP1M and get either the Coolpix A or the GR, but finally decided to just keep my DP1M. I'm just simply addicted to its IQ and can't bear to part with it. For me it's a real keeper, together with my DP2M.

I agree. Both the Coolpix A and GR have their redeeming features but Foveon-sensor-beating image quality at low ISO is not one of them.
However, the Coolpix A and GR do make good companion cameras for DP1M & DP2M for those photo opportunities that the Sigma cameras do not excel at, especially the GR as it uses the same battery and charger as the DPxM cameras and maybe also could share the GW-3 wide-angle converter with the DP1M.

 

[longj49]

I agree. Both the Coolpix A and GR have their redeeming features but Foveon-sensor-beating image quality at low ISO is not one of them.
However, the Coolpix A and GR do make good companion cameras for DP1M & DP2M for those photo opportunities that the Sigma cameras do not excel at, especially the GR as it uses the same battery and charger as the DPxM cameras and maybe also could share the GW-3 wide-angle converter with the DP1M.

using the GW-3 converter on the DP1M sounds like an interesting idea, gonna check this out.

 

[longj49]

using the GW-3 converter on the DP1M sounds like an interesting idea, gonna check this out.

just found out that the thread mount is 43mm, so not really suited for the 49mm on the DP1M. too bad.

 

[tomcat]

just found out that the thread mount is 43mm, so not really suited for the 49mm on the DP1M. too bad.

According to dpreview's preview of the GR,
"A series of accessories is being launched alongside the GR, including an adapter (that allows use of 49mm filters) and lens hood combination (GH-3) and a wide-angle lens (the GW-3, that mounts on that adapter)."
So there's still hope... unless dpreview is wrong.

 

[longj49]

found this site selling the GH-3 adapter where the GW-3 is mounted:

http://www.ukdigital.co.uk/ricoh-gh-3-hood-adapter-ricoh-gr.html

i still hope it's an error, and it's really 49mm and not 43mm.

 

[longj49]

just checked with three of my favourite camera shops, the GW-3 and GH-3 are not available yet, and i was not given any price indication as well. ETA is likely next week according to them. i guess have to wait a bit, and also check the GR forums for any new updates.

 

[tomcat]

found this site selling the GH-3 adapter where the GW-3 is mounted:

http://www.ukdigital.co.uk/ricoh-gh-3-hood-adapter-ricoh-gr.html

i still hope it's an error, and it's really 49mm and not 43mm.

From the horse's mouth, the GH-3 takes 49mm filters.
Accessories?GR?PENTAX RICOH IMAGING

 

[longj49]

From the horse's mouth, the GH-3 takes 49mm filters.
Accessories?GR?PENTAX RICOH IMAGING

thanks for the confirmation bro, that's really a nice piece of news for us DP1M owners. am surely gonna grab one when it becomes available.

 

[tomcat]

Latest updates are now available for the DP1M, DP2M & DP3M.

Improvements for all 3 cameras with the respective updates are:

・Improves the stability of operation.
・Improves the precision of bounce flash shooting when ELECTRONIC FLASH EF-610 DG SUPER SA-STTL and ELECTRONIC FLASH EF-610 DG ST SA-STTL are used.
・When you enlarge an image, it used to enlarge the center of the image. However, the new firmware magnifies the image depending on the focusing position.
・It is possible to select the file name of the image either from “SDIM” or “DP1M” or "DP2M" or "DP3M".
・It has integrated the color tones of Custom White Balance (Sunlight, Shade, Overcast, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Flash) among the DP Merrill series.
・Corrects the phenomenon that the AEL setting goes back to default if the AEL button is set for "Central AEL + AEL", and alternate MF to AF or vice versa, while it is still displaying the operation icon.
・Corrects the phenomenon that self-timer shooting whilst using P Mode would cancel the program shift for the customized shutter speed and aperture settings if you press the release button.
・Properly displays the image according to the selected magnification percentage.
・Corrects the phenomenon that the selected exposure is not appropriately applied when an external flashgun is used with Custom Mode.
・Corrects the phenomenon that, in rare cases, images are not recorded properly when the battery level is low.
・Corrects the rare phenomenon that the recording process does not go perfectly when the camera is turned off right after taking the image.
・It displays the size of the file when you select an image and open the Image Info Screen

SIGMA DP1 Merrill, SIGMA DP2 Merrill and SIGMA DP3 Merrill Firmware download. - SIGMA CORPORATION

These 3 cameras do not work very well with the Sigma Flash EF-610 DG SUPER or DG ST. Let's hope that these firmware updates solve the problem.

 

[tomcat]

Just tested the use of the EF-610 flash on the DP3M after updating the firmware. Now the flash works perfectly in TTL mode with the camera producing properly exposed images even when bounced from the ceiling. Before the firmware update, it's hit-or-miss-anything-goes... in other words, totally unusable.

 

[tengk]

Just tested the use of the EF-610 flash on the DP3M after updating the firmware. Now the flash works perfectly in TTL mode with the camera producing properly exposed images even when bounced from the ceiling. Before the firmware update, it's hit-or-miss-anything-goes... in other words, totally unusable.

Thanks for the heads up. DId you test what's the fastest shutter speed amd aperture that you can syn the flash with at full power, half power, quarter power.
Another off camera mode i use on my nissin 866i is the Av, what i do is set the aperture on the flash , then set aperture on camera(manual). The flash detects the reflected light even in off camera mode and cuts off for the amount of light for the set aperture and ISO. Is it the same with the EF 610?
Thanks in advance.

 

[tomcat]

Thanks for the heads up. DId you test what's the fastest shutter speed amd aperture that you can syn the flash with at full power, half power, quarter power.
Another off camera mode i use on my nissin 866i is the Av, what i do is set the aperture on the flash , then set aperture on camera(manual). The flash detects the reflected light even in off camera mode and cuts off for the amount of light for the set aperture and ISO. Is it the same with the EF 610?
Thanks in advance.

No I haven't tested the flash in so many different ways.
What you are doing is using the Nissin flash in manual mode. That should work the same way for any flash including the Sigma EF-610. If that's how you want to use a flash, then there's no need to spend more money to buy a dedicated Sigma flash. I bought the EF-610 because I'm too lazy to have to think about how to set up a non-dedicated flash to shoot it manually.