After a few months of anticipation, Sigma has finally revealed pricing and ordering details for the sd Quattro Mirrorless Digital Camera, EF-630 Electronic Flash, FD-11 Flash Dock, and more. Sigma’s first foray into the mirrorless world leverages the power of its unique 29MP QPS-C Foveon X3 Quattro CMOS sensor and Dual TRUE III Image Processing Engine to create images with outstanding color fidelity and resolution. The camera also sports a Sigma SA mount, making it compatible with almost all of the company’s optics, including those from the well-regarded Art, Sports, and Contemporary lines. Alongside this camera is the EF-630 Electronic Flash, which will be available for Sigma, Nikon, and Canon cameras.
Among these new announcements is an sd Quattro Lens Kit, which bundles the camera with the 30mm f/1.4 DC HSM Art Lens for a sharp, lightweight, and fast system. The 30mm lens provides a normal equivalent focal length of about 45mm, and its fast maximum aperture of f/1.4 makes it an excellent choice for low-light imaging and creating shallow depth of field. Also, Sigma has revealed the PG-41 Power Grip, which holds up to two additional batteries in addition to the one in the camera, providing triple the shooting time without having to charge up. The dust- and splash-proof grip even enables full-fledged vertical shooting, thanks to the addition of an on/off button, two command dials, an AF/AEL button, and a function button, as well as a shutter release. Additionally, the BP-61 Li-Ion Battery, BC-61 Battery Charger, and SAC-7 AC Adapter have been revealed as replacements or extras for the sd Quattro.
Sigma’s new flagship flash, the EF-630, is powerful and capable of covering focal lengths ranging from 24-200mm on full-frame cameras, as well as 17mm when the built-in diffusion panel is used. It has full bounce functionality with tilt from -7 to 90° and 360° of rotation. Along with this, it has full TTL functionality and wireless slave capabilities and has a modeling light function and AF assist beam. In addition to these features, it supports high-speed sync with select cameras and is compatible with the FD-11 Flash USB Dock so users can install their own firmware updates.
18 Comments
Indeed what type of RAW files the camera produces? Is this again a Sigma propetary format or is directly edible in LR?
Sigma proprietary X3F file that can only be developed in Sigma Photo Pro. From there output the TIFF file to whatever other editing program you desire.
However, there is another option: A free program to convert the X3F file to a DNG file exists. One can then "develop" the DNG file in whatever RAW developer you desire. I do not know what changes in the RAW data occurs when the X3F file is converted.
Hi Giovanni,
Elliot is correct, you are going to have to rely on Sigma's Photo Pro software to "develop" the images and convert the raw data into a more compatible format.
UFRaw (open source) has the ability to work with Sigma X3f files and export to GIMP if desired. There are some things that UFRaw apparently does better, but I find it harder to use than Sigma's offering so far.
Sigma's software may not be as polished as Lightroom, but it works.
Can I use my sigma canon lenses with this camera. If not is there a adapter mount?
Hi Carlos,
You can't directly adapt your lenses to the Sigma SA mount, but you could send them in to Sigma for their Mount Conversion Service where for a fee they can physically change your lens mount. Unfornately it would mean that you wouldn't be able to use them on Canon cameras after that without getting the mount changed again.
I have read that the Sigma processing program may have compatibility issues with Lightroom. Any truth to that?
Where have you read such information Gary?
Elliot
Hi Gary,
It seems that at the moment the dp Quattro series is not supported by Adobe's Camera Raw engine. We have no idea on when or if they are coming out with support, but it would appear that Sigma's software is going to be the only option for now.
What is the lens mount?
It has the standard Sigma SA mount, so it will accept any Sigma lens. If you already understand how good Sigma lenses are, there's no need to read any further. But if not, here I go; ...
While a few well-known camera bloggers have slammed Sigma lenses, I've used them for over a dozen years, on Nikons, Canons and Sigma cameras, and they have performed very well for me in sports photography.
I've got about 30 of their lenses, and they are used in very harsh conditions, including on the ocean shooting yacht racing, as well as surfing, motocross and other forms of motor-racing. Only twice have I had to have a Sigma lens serviced for repairs, and both times the work was done quickly and inexpensively.
Yes, I realize that I sound like I either work for Sigma, or that I'm some wild-eyed fanboy, but I'm neither. I just like their products and their service, and I hate seeing good companies slammed by dopes with websites.
Why on earth would you have 30 Sigma lenses? Actually, why would you have 30 lenses period?!? While using Nikon and Canon cameras, neither of those brands lenses ever appealed to you? Are you just buying a new lens when one stops working? Very confused here.
I suspect tsince he has a variety of cameras with a variety of mounts he uses the Sigma lenses that he likes on all of his cameras. It would certainly be more convenient if one series of Sigma lenses could be used on a variety of cameras by simply using a Sigma lens adaptor on such cameras. All one would need: Adaptors for the cameras, not all of the lenses.
Hi Rudolf,
As Chuck has point out, it is the Sigma SA mount, which was found originally on Sigma's earlier DSLR models. If you already have Sigma lenses that are part of the new Global Vision line (Sports, Contemporary, Art), Sigma does offer a mount conversion service where for a fee they can physically change the lens mount for you so that your older Canon, Nikon, etc.. lens can now work with the Sigma-mount camera.
I will be very interested to see reviews of this camera, which is utilizing Sigma's "3D" Foveon sensor technology. Very interested indeed. Exciting digital imaging times we are living in.
HI Matt: I am hardly an expert in Sigma cameras and files. However, I would suspect that the image quality would be very similar to that obtained with the dpQuattro2.
Matt: I agree, and I'm very glad that Sigma has continued to improve the capabilities of the X3F Foveon sensor. The sensor provides the most amazing images I've ever seen, far better than any Bayer images. But as anyone familiar with both sensors knows, the X3F sensor has certain limitations that need to be overcome, such as low-light shooting and high-speed shutter actuations.
It may never reach the point where it's as good at all-around shooting as Bayer sensored cameras, but for 90% of shooting situations, the Foveon sensor is superior. All things considered, it looks like Sigma's new mirrorless is a step in the right direction.
... all in my opinion, of course.
Hell Matt,
As per Elliot's response, the image quality should be very similar to the dp Quattro series, which uses a very similar, if not the exact same sensor. So reading reviews and finding sample images of those cameras should do a good job of showing off what the Foveon can do.
One of our writers did take the dp2 Quattro out for a spin and you can read about it here.