Sigma DP2 Merrill Experiences

[idillic]

I am enjoying rediscovering black and white photographs.  Many years ago I shot only on FP4 & developed it in a very dilute pyro developer & the results were often wonderful.  Some day I would like to replicate that digitally via photoshop or lightroom.
The image below is a cropped B&W version of the wind farm. I never used a red filter with my old Rollei, but it works ok here.

[kmeyers]

I exported it to Silver Efex Pro. I tend to use the coffee toner quite a bit.

[kmeyers]

Valle Chiesa-Italy

Taking a stroll with the DP2 Merrill this afternoon.

[Foveonic]

Very nice....

[BernardLanguillier]

Two more. A small game... can anyone guess how the workflow differed btwn these 2? 





Cheers,
Bernard

[NikoJorj]

can anyone guess how the workflow differed btwn these 2? 

Use of a ladder for the 1st one?

[Adam L]

My guess is the second shot is a focus stitch

[TMARK]

I don't have one (yet), but I will say that I think it is great that the Sigma generates so much excitement.  People are posting actual photographs!  Keep it up!

[Tohohum]

To those looking for a viewing aid: the  tripod socket model of the Clearviewer as recommended by Michael for the NEX 3 works O.k. for the DP2m.
It isn't perfect (decentered to the right ca. 5mm related to the LCD, and unfolded a tad too close to the screen) and certainly doesn't help you to prolongue battery life like an OV -- but it is rather unobtrusive (certainly smaller than a Hoodman), affordable, doesn't block your hotshoe, and really helps if one dislikes to shoot at arms length.
Maybe the maker of the Clearviewer could be convinced to produce a dedicated model for the DP2m if there is enough interest?

Otherwise with the original DP1 and a DP2x as reference points, I find the DP2m

• rather large
• much more ergonomic (scroll wheel, internal focus lens)
• the AF can see in the dark and is much faster than with all other Sigma cameras I had (including SD14 and SD15)
• slower -- write times seem to be even worse than with the older sensors
• TTL flash capable with an EF-530 DG Super flash gun (don't laugh, I have it written from Sigma Germany that the DP2x couldn't do this)

[Tiger1]

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 

I think you will find that the DP2 Merrill is quite a bit smaller to the M9.  Don't forget the thickness measurement includes the lens in the sigma while the M9 has no lens.  So the M9 is significantly bigger, with even it's smallest lens on, in every dimension.  And it would be much heavier than the sigma!

[neways]

A few new images shot with DP1M and DP2M.

[penso4]

mine did the same thing when i updated to version 1.01.  tried to format, it hung, had to pull battery out.  camera got real warm.  i was scared i fried something

[usathyan]

Here is a test image from yesterday.
100% crop

Thank you forum for all the encouragement and inspiration! This camera just blows me away in terms of quality of the pixels!

[BernardLanguillier]

A few images captured with the DP2m in Aizu, Fukushima this weekend.







Enjoy.

Cheers,
Bernard

[BernardLanguillier]

A few more:







The first 2 are panoramic stitches.

Cheers,
Bernard

[AlfSollund]

I think you will find that the DP2 Merrill is quite a bit smaller to the M9.  Don't forget the thickness measurement includes the lens in the sigma while the M9 has no lens.  So the M9 is significantly bigger, with even it's smallest lens on, in every dimension.  And it would be much heavier than the sigma!

Sorry, cant resist nitpicking  . Actually with my smallest M lens the M9 is thinner with lens than the DP2. Add 14mm for the Perar 28/4 lens, that will make total M9  thickness 14 + 37 = 51 mm (+ 6,5mm for hood). The DP2 is 59,2mm thick  . Perar weight: 45g, 55g with hood.

Again, sorry for slight OT. Please keep more relevant info and great photos coming.

[BernardLanguillier]

OK, having shot with the DP2m for a bit more than 2 weeks now, here are my current views:

- The image quality is indeed remarkable, better than I had thought at first, but the envelope of usage is pretty narrow.
  - ISO 100 is amazing, very sharp, very nice colors, decent DR (although shadow feel noisy compared to the D800),
  - Up to ISO400 is OK but some risk of banding noise - it can be cleaned pretty well with a bit of tweaking,
  - Higher is poor
  - Auto WB is very accurate
- The battery life is still too short, but shortening the time out helps significantly,
- The AF is slow but very accurate, at least in good to moderate light
- The overall usability is OK, but there are many little things that I'd like to see improved
  - Histogram is a bit small,
  - No RGB histogram,
  - Lack of histogram in M mode,
- The usability of the raw conversion software is poor
  - No ordering of sub-folders... this is a nightmare when you have several orders of folders you need to go through,
  - ...

Anyway, overall the DP2m is a very nice tool and a welcome addition to my set up.

You've got to wonder how good a full frame next generation 30+ megapixels Foveon sensor could be... I guess Zeiss would start to manufacture lenses in Sigma mount.  

Cheers,
Bernard

[inglis]

Bernard
magical shots, love the leaves. Are you doing panos by hand or are you using a tripod?
If using a tripod, are you using anything special or just relying on software?
I am wondering about best ways to shoot panos with the Sigma DP2M,
John

[BernardLanguillier]

Bernard
magical shots, love the leaves. Are you doing panos by hand or are you using a tripod?
If using a tripod, are you using anything special or just relying on software?
I am wondering about best ways to shoot panos with the Sigma DP2M,
John

Hi John,

Thanks. Those were shot handheld in fact.

I did shoot a few using my usual RRS pano set up also, but still need to process them. This was more for testing purpose since that set up is way overkill for the DP2m, I had it around for the D800 and just gave it a try.

Cheers,
Bernard

[Tiger1]

It's a little unfair comparing a 28mm F4 lens with an f2.8 equivalent lens! That is the 19mm F2.8. It gets even worse for Leica if you add a lens equivalent to 45mm F2.8!

So remember try to compare like with like!

Forget about the weight too, as the difference is huge!