Sigma has just released the pricing of the DP3 Merrill announced in January. It is the third and final installment of their Merrill line, Sigma's high performance compact camera series. The DP3 is equipped with a 50mm f/2.8 lens and packs Sigma's 46 megapixel foveon sensor. If you're looking to complete your Merrill set, the camera will be available in March for $999.
In case you are unfamiliar or missed the announcement of the camera in January, Sigma touts the DP3 with the following highlights:
- A unique, dual, Three-layer Responsive Ultimate Engine (TRUE) II image processing engine, which is dedicated to Foveon X3 direct image sensors to improve the processing speed and overall quality of the final image, and provide high-resolution power
- The use of Special Low Dispersion (SLD) glass that is accompanied by aspherical lens elements to compensate for a variety of aberrations and allow for a more compact size. The superior telecentric optical design improves image quality throughout the frame and adds depth to the image
- A minimum focusing distance of 8.9 inches and a maximum magnification ratio of 1:3, which can offer quality macro shooting
- Easy-to-use auto focus that features a nine-point select mode to set the desired focusing point from nine different frames, and “free move mode,” which can move the desired focus point. Manual Focus is available when autofocus or focus lock is not desired
- The new Face Detection AF prioritizes focus on the face of the subject when detected by the sensor. AF Limit Mode can adjust the range of auto focusing and “Shutter Priority AF” offers faster focus adjustment by stopping the live view to increase the speed of the auto focusing. The new AF+MF mode adjusts the focus manually after verifying the AF by rotating the focus ring
- RAW+JPEG format recording
- The supplied image processing software, Sigma Photo Pro 5.5, converts RAW data quickly and easily. It renders the full, 46-megapixel data. SPP 5.5 is an easy-to-use editing software with all the necessary functions needed to process an image. Moreover, the new Monochrome Mode makes it possible to generate monochrome images by fully optimizing the Foveon X3 direct image sensor capabilities
This is a highly specialized kind of camera designed to work in tandem with the two other cameras in the Merrill series. It sort of turns the photo world upside down, suggesting you have three cameras with fixed lenses rather than one camera with three interchangeable lenses. In talking with Sigma, it is my understanding that the decision was made to keep the lenses fixed to allow for optimum performance specifically with the focal lengths tied to the bodies of the cameras.
Do any of you use the Merrill series? Would you consider it? Let us know in the comments below.
I used the DP2 Merrill on vacation in Panama recently:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/alistairhenning/sets/72157632463296789/
The image quality is in a class of its own, and the camera's performance with the latest firmware is on par in my experience with recent mirrorless cameras by Fuji and Sony.
If the DP3 Merrill's lens is anywhere close to the quality of the DP2 Merrill's, this will be a fantastic camera for portraits or anything else requiring this focal length.
These cameras are fantastic with image quality. I think people overlook them but the image quality is almost unbeatable by any dslr besides its very own sd1 merrill. Here is the kicker with the dp series that trumps all. The leaf shutter. The only way to experience a leaf shutter with this type of image quality is to use a Mamiya with a very expensive Leaf lens.