Sigma DP2 Merrill Experiences

[BernardLanguillier]

Now seriously, do you think anyone here is capable of being objective ?

Bernard you're a highly accomplished photographer. You lost objectivity about equipment years ago or you wouldn't have the portfolio that you do. You, like all of us with years of experience, have strong preferences and biases based on that experience. And thankfully so.

Sure, you are of course correct.

My point was merely that the DP2m is a new camera to me, I am privately and publicly neutral about it and have no agenda at all. I didn't spend that much money on it but still enough money that I would like it to deliver value. I like the form factor, but have at least 2 alternatives that work well for me also.

Now, I do indeed have experience using a wide variety of equipment and I have come to assume certain characteristics as granted. Some is my personal preference, some is simply a measure of the level reached by other cameras.

In the end the only thing that really matters is my satisfaction in terms of being able to produce images I am happy about in a reasonnable amount of time.

Previous comments had led me to think that this thread was about that, but I got a lot more answers to my mention of short battery life than to the post where I linked to 3 high res images... So I am not that certain anymore.

Cheers,
Bernard

[ndevlin]

Bernard, I think you, like me, may have found a new friend in this little camera.

Yup, the battery life sucks/is a joke, but we will all make due around that.

Cheers,

- N.

ps. gee, I wish I were in japan...it's so lovely there in the fall.

[idillic]

I had a drive in the country yesterday & late in the afternoon I took this with the DP2M.  I quite liked the paddock with the rapeseed flowers on the ridge line.
There are quite a few bald hills around this area north west of Ballarat.  The 100% crop with the magpie & the sheep in the distance gives one an idea of the scale.

[BernardLanguillier]

Bernard, I think you, like me, may have found a new friend in this little camera.

Yup, the battery life sucks/is a joke, but we will all make due around that.

Cheers,

- N.

ps. gee, I wish I were in japan...it's so lovely there in the fall.

Yes, exactly. 

Cheers,
Bernard

p.s.: yep, still a bit early in Tokyo overall, but it seems that the Japanese Alps got some of the best fall colors in the last century... and I couldn't go... 

[Foveonic]

 Wish I were in Japan too...

[Hulyss]

Nice Windows background screen dear idillic

Death and the Maiden - Again at ISO 1000, hand held.

At first I did this photo with my D700 + Zeiss glass ... but I did the same just after with the DP2 Merrill, as a test at High ISO. This photo have for me the same charm as the other. It is different, more pictural, already deteriorated by a natural grain.

I think you should try High ISO with the M. It have something, for real.





At 1600 by my assistant :

[idillic]

Another Wind ows background ...this one was earlier in the day with the DP1M

[Hulyss]

It is not just you I see it. Look like the stone man in Fantastic Four. A stone troll !

The DP2 Merrill is an esoteric camera !

[Rand47]

Point Lobos, CA

[AlfSollund]

First thanks a lot for sharing your photos and other information about the DP2! Although I do not have a DP2 I am very interested in learning more of this camera, and this thread is impressive.

My very small contribution, and NB its not entirely positive  : I finally got my hands on a DP2 in a not-so-local photo shop and was very surprised about the huge size. To be honest I was expecting something like the old FF Minox camera. Yeah, I know, DP2 delivers incredible IQ, but for me its not a compact. Here is a comparison with a M9, the M9 being just a tad larger:
http://camerasize.com/compare/#293,213

Sorry if I'm a partybreaker, but others than me might have unrealistic expectations 

[mikecalif]

...
 Here is a comparison with a M9, the M9 being just a tad larger:
http://camerasize.com/compare/#293,213
...

Here is a comparison with the Sony RX-1, which is a more comparable camera (single focal length, non-interchangeable lens, larger sensor):

http://camerasize.com/compare/#293,376

and the Fuji X100:

http://camerasize.com/compare/#293,133

But, that is a good question, though  the LCD would have to be smaller, and I assume that's a main part of the reason.

On a side note, is there an alternate to using the Sigma LH2-01 hood?  Would anyone recommend using something like the 49mm adapter tube and hood for the Leica X1 in place of the LH2-01 hood -- which is a bit hard to find.

Edit: Whoops, sorry! Looks like the DP2M doesn't need a tube like the X1 does, so any 49mm hood that covers 45mm-equivalent view should work.  I know some have recommended the B+W #900 rubber hood, but is there a significant difference between that model and other rubber collapsible hoods?

[BernardLanguillier]

I finally got my hands on a DP2 in a not-so-local photo shop and was very surprised about the huge size. To be honest I was expecting something like the old FF Minox camera. Yeah, I know, DP2 delivers incredible IQ, but for me its not a compact.

You are correct, the DP2m cannot really be called a compact camera. It doesn't fit into a pocket easily and can also not be called discrete.

It really is a poor substitute to a camera like the Sony RX100, but it should not be considered one. They are just very different cameras, both of them offering best in class image quality when taking their form factor into account.

The bulk was in fact the main reason why I was not really attracted by the DP2m until recently. I believe that companies like Nikon, Sony or Canon with better engineering would have been able to make the DP2m significantly smaller everything else being equal.

But after using one for a few days, the size is OK when shooting. So it really is a matter of figuring out whether a camera this bulky can fit into your shooting patterns. I personally did find a way to make that happen.

Cheers,
Bernard

[BernardLanguillier]

Point Lobos, CA

Very nice image, thanks for sharing.

The micro contrast in the rocks and water really help here as well as the low distortion of the lens on the horizon.

Cheers,
Bernard

[BernardLanguillier]

Two more from today, the first one is a 28mp hand held pano stitch.





Cheers,
Bernard

[Hulyss]

Wow guys, I'm sure you got pleasure working those photos

Faust - The return.

[Foveonic]

Nice architectural shots.....

[Hulyss]

More conventional shoot now, the last ones was at High ISO and the last at 6400. Let's return to 100

Trees



Chrono's Shoe

[kmeyers]

Still new to this camera. Not in love with it yet, but getting there 

[Foveonic]

Very nice.....I love it.

[macti]

Kenneth: how did you achieve the toning? within SPP?