Sigma DP2 Quattro Review | 108 Data compared

The ePHOTOzine review of the Sigma dp2 Quattro highlights the camera's ability to produce stunning, crisp images with outstanding pixel-level detail, driven by its 29-megapixel Foveon X3 Quattro sensor and high-quality 30mm f/2.8 lens. Key advantages include superb corner-to-corner sharpness, low chromatic aberration, a responsive menu system, and improved physical handling with dual control wheels. However, the review notes significant limitations, such as poor high ISO performance, sluggish autofocus unsuitable for fast action, slow write speeds, and an unusual, ergonomic, long body shape that necessitates two-handed operation. Additionally, the camera lacks a built-in viewfinder and features a fixed LCD screen that struggles in bright light.

Sigma DP2 Quattro The Sigma DP2 Quattro is a highly unique mirrorless camera that stands out for its unorthodox, elongated physical body design and its 29MP Foveon X3 Quattro CMOS sensor. It provides extraordinary, medium-format-like image quality, rich color gradation, and striking 3D micro-contrast directly out of camera, especially when shooting at its base ISO range of 100 to 400. The camera features a sharp, fixed 30mm f/2.8 lens (a 40mm full-frame equivalent) and an elegant, streamlined menu system. While its autofocus and card-write speeds are notably quicker than its predecessor, the DP2 Merrill, it remains a slow, specialized tool best suited for static subjects like landscapes, portraits, and urban decay rather than action photography. Key Pros & Cons Pros Cons Breathtaking Image Quality: Sharpness and color accuracy rivaling expensive medium-format systems. Poor Low-Light Performance: Dynamic range drops and nasty noise creeps in above ISO 800. Excellent JPEG Engine: Beautiful out-of-camera JPEGs that require little to no post-processing. No Viewfinder: Lacks a built-in EVF/OVF, making framing difficult in harsh, bright sunlight. Ergonomic Innovation: Despite its odd shape, the magnesium alloy...

Sigma DP2 Quattro Review Summary The Sigma DP2 Quattro features a unique, radical body design that sacrifices ergonomics for power and heat dissipation, resulting in a camera that is uncomfortable to hold due to sharp edges digging into the user's thumb. Reviewers criticized its poor physical design, noting that crucial controls like the power switch and mode buttons are unreachable with one hand. Furthermore, the rear LCD screen lacks brightness in sunlight and is highly reflective, there is no built-in electronic viewfinder (EVF), and the autofocus performance is noticeably slow. Additional operational drawbacks include poor battery life—frequently requiring three batteries for just a few hours of cold-weather shooting—the absence of lens stabilization, and a frustratingly loose rubber cover for the SD card port. Despite these heavy hardware limitations, the camera delivers brilliant, high-resolution image quality with exceptional colour differentiation, specifically when shooting at low ISOs between 100 and 400. However, capturing these results is severely hindered by the mandatory Sigma Photo Pro (SPP) RAW processing software, which reviewers described as completely dysfunctional. The software is plagued by glacial rendering times—requiring...

The ⁠Sigma DP2 Quattro is a highly unique, luxury compact camera built for photography enthusiasts who value maximum image resolution above all else. Its primary strength lies in its APS-C format Foveon X3 sensor, which stacks color-sensitive pixels vertically to capture red, green, and blue data on every pixel without needing an anti-alias filter. This design yields exceptionally sharp, noise-free images at low ISO values (100–400) that rival high-end full-frame SLRs, and delivers outstanding black-and-white performance straight from the camera. Furthermore, the review praises its sublimely finished, solid build, clear and simple menu layout, and a high-quality fixed 30mm lens that is completely free of common optical flaws. The camera package also helpfully includes a backup battery to offset high power consumption. However, the camera's specialized design comes with significant drawbacks, making it poorly suited for action or general everyday shooting. Image quality rapidly deteriorates above ISO 800, resulting in severe noise and a complete loss of color saturation at maximum levels. Additionally, its physical dimensions are unusually large and awkwardly wide, meaning it cannot fit into a standard pocket....

The Sigma DP2 Quattro is a mirrorless camera defined almost entirely by its unique 29-megapixel APS-C Foveon X3 sensor, which captures full RGB colour data vertically across three distinct layers rather than relying on traditional interpolation. This architecture yields exceptional image quality, producing stunning crispness, intricate details, and rich tonal gradations without the need for an anti-aliasing filter. The camera features a high-performance fixed 30mm f/2.8 lens (a 45mm full-frame equivalent) that exhibits zero distortion, vignetting, or significant chromatic aberration, making it highly adept at rendering both vibrant colour images and remarkably nuanced monochrome photographs. Ultimately, the review emphasizes that the ultimate value of the camera is realized when transferring these data-rich files into large-format physical fine art prints. However, the camera imposes significant compromises that force a slow, deliberate shooting workflow. Its low-light performance is a major weakness, with image quality, detail, and colour accuracy degrading heavily past ISO 800 while introducing severe banding issues. Operationally, the camera is hindered by a very basic 9-point contrast-detection autofocus system that struggles in dim lighting, a sluggish 3-second RAW file writing...

The Sigma dp2 Quattro functions much like an unconventional, compact medium-format film camera, featuring exceptional build quality and a 45mm-equivalent fixed f/2.8 lens that is optically superb. For a photographer transitioning from film, the unique Foveon sensor delivers beautiful color rendering and an excellent dedicated black-and-white raw workflow that treats files as color images flagged for monochrome processing, allowing the useful application of virtual color filters in post-production. Furthermore, its leaf shutter operates almost silently, exposure controls via the programmable dials are highly intuitive, and its raw buffer capacity of seven frames is entirely adequate for casual, deliberate shooting rather than fast-paced sports. However, the camera suffers from severe operational bottlenecks, most notably an autofocus system that is far too slow and completely incapable of tracking moving subjects. The mandatory screen-viewing loupe setup creates a bulky, odd shape that makes the camera awkward to carry and fit into standard bags. Additionally, the electronic viewfinder suffers from distracting lag, low resolution, and occasional post-shot blackouts, while the lens itself is criticized for being unnecessarily large, heavy, and too slow at f/2.8...

The Sigma dp2 Quattro stands out for its unique, elongated physical design and its exceptional build quality that utilizes durable, premium materials instead of cheap plastics. At the heart of the camera is a redesigned three-layer Foveon X3 sensor that lowers photodiodes on its lower layers to optimize light data and noise management, delivering stunningly realistic, sharp images with correct colour rendition. Further complementing its image quality is a fixed 30mm F/2.8 lens that excels in sharpness, exhibiting little to no distortion even in the corners at wide apertures. Additional pros include swift autofocus functionality, a highly representative 3-inch LCD screen, and improved battery life over its predecessor that allows for roughly 160 real-world shots per charge. However, the camera is restricted by severe shooting limitations and a frustrating post-processing workflow. It is only suitable for controlled conditions with good lighting, as its usable sensitivity tops out at ISO 800 before colour noise becomes problematic. Because mainstream editing programs do not support its proprietary RAW files, users are forced to use the slow, cumbersome Sigma Photo Pro 6 software, which...

The Sigma DP2 Quattro, as reviewed by Photo Review, is a highly specialized, advanced compact camera featuring a unique, elongated design and a redesigned APS-C Foveon X3 Quattro sensor. It delivers exceptional image quality and high resolution at base ISO, supported by a sharp, fixed 30mm f/2.8 lens with minimal distortion, along with an intuitive menu system. However, the camera suffers from poor ergonomics, a lack of image stabilization, and very slow autofocus and buffer processing. Additionally, performance deteriorates rapidly above ISO 800, and it lacks an integrated viewfinder.

The Sigma dp2 Quattro (£999.88) is a highly specialized compact camera designed around a unique 19.6-megapixel three-layered Foveon image sensor that delivers exceptional, crisp image detail at low ISO settings, rivaling the sharpness of high-end bodies like the 36-megapixel Nikon D810. It features a distinctive, panoramic-style wide body with an unconventional, backward-facing handgrip, a fixed 30mm f/2.8 prime lens (45mm full-frame equivalent), and a sharp 3-inch rear LCD. The camera's main strengths (pros) include its superb low-ISO image quality, dual control dials, an efficient Quick Set menu overlay, and a bright screen for outdoor use. However, the camera suffers from significant performance bottlenecks and design limitations (cons), earning an average 3.0-star rating. It operates slowly, taking 3.9 seconds to start and shoot, and its contrast-detect autofocus is limited to a tight cluster of nine central points. Image quality degrades rapidly above ISO 800, the lens lacks optical stabilization, and there is no video support, built-in flash, or electronic viewfinder (EVF) integration. Furthermore, the massive 55MB proprietary Raw files are unsupported by standard editors like Lightroom, forcing users to use Sigma’s...

The Amateur Photographer review of the Sigma dp2 Quattro highlights the camera as a low-ISO specialist featuring an unconventional design and a fixed 30mm f/2.8 lens that delivers superb corner-to-corner sharpness. Powered by the Foveon X3 Quattro sensor, the camera produces exceptional image quality with rich tonality, making it a standout performer in ideal, bright lighting conditions. However, the camera is limited by poor high-ISO performance, with significant noise rendering images unusable at settings above ISO 1600. Furthermore, the review notes severe performance bottlenecks, specifically slow write speeds that hamper workflow, making it unsuitable for fast-paced shooting.

The Sigma dp2 Quattro, featuring a Foveon X3 Quattro sensor and fixed 30mm f/2.8 lens, offers exceptional sharpness, high resolution, and corner-to-corner clarity, particularly at lower ISO settings. Praised for its intuitive, well-laid-out controls and bright 3-inch LCD screen, it achieved a high-resolution performance rating. However, the camera has a restrictive, bulky design that is uncomfortable for some users, along with slow autofocus in low light. Image quality declines rapidly above ISO 800, raw processing is restricted to Sigma's Photo Pro software, and the unit lacks video capabilities, making it a specialized, niche tool.

The Sigma dp2 Quattro functions like a compact medium-format film camera, offering exceptional image quality and a simple, distraction-free shooting experience tailored for purists. Photographers will appreciate its beautiful magnesium or aluminium build, highly quiet leaf shutter, and tactile programmed auto mode that allows quick exposure adjustments via anonymous control knobs. The camera excels at generating rich, "film-like" monochrome and colour files through its Foveon sensor. Furthermore, its dedicated black-and-white raw workflow lets users preview images strictly in monochrome while retaining the full color data required to apply digital lens filters during post-processing. However, the camera suffers from severe usability limitations, most notably an incredibly slow and unreliable contrast-detect autofocus system that makes tracking moving subjects nearly impossible. This flaw is compounded by a laggy, low-resolution electronic viewfinder (when using the mandatory loupe attachment) and inadequate manual focusing aids. Additionally, the camera features awkward ergonomics due to its unusual physical shape, short battery life, sluggish image processing times, and a reliance on Sigma's slow, proprietary photo editing software.

The Sigma dp2 Quattro is an unconventional, niche camera praised for its exceptional medium format-level image quality and rich, slide film-like colour rendition, powered by its unique APS-C Foveon X3 sensor. The reviewer notes that unlike traditional Bayer sensors, the Foveon tech captures full colour at each pixel location, yielding extremely sharp images and impressive tonal ranges, particularly in black and white photography. A major positive highlight is the modern support for DNG files, which seamlessly import into Lightroom with built-in camera and lens correction profiles. Additionally, the fixed lens (a 30mm lens providing a 45mm full-frame equivalent) delivers excellent performance, and the camera boast a premium, heavily-weighted build quality. However, achieving these optimal results requires navigating an extensive list of weird functional limitations and ergonomic quirks. The camera suffers from a restrictive ideal operating band, featuring a usable ISO that tops out at 800 for colour, a slow 9-point contrast-detect autofocus system, a 1/2000s top shutter speed, and zero video capabilities. It is also prone to running hot and takes a considerable amount of time to write files to...

Sigma dp2 Quattro Review Summary The Sigma dp2 Quattro stands out primarily for its unique APS-C Foveon X3 sensor design and unconventional panoramic body style. In terms of performance, the camera yields exceptionally rich, detailed 19MP RAW files and 39MP JPEGs with smooth color gradations and impressive highlight and shadow recovery that rival medium format quality. The 30mm f/2.8 fixed prime lens (a 45mm full-frame equivalent) provides sharp details and attractive bokeh when stopped down, complemented by an intuitive, award-worthy menu layout and a bright, hyper-sharp rear screen. However, the camera has significant operational limitations that confine it to a niche market. The physical body requires a two-handed grip to maintain stability, and the top shutter speed is restricted to a relatively slow 1/2000th of a second. The fixed lens suffers from distracting spherical and comma aberrations when shooting wide open at f/2.8. More critically, user feedback emphasizes that autofocus is slow, write times to the SD card are sluggish, and low-light performance is poor, with severe image degradation and grain appearing above ISO 800. Additionally, the bundled Sigma Photo...