Sigma Reviews

It's hard to get decent color with this camera and its software. Skin tones come out too yellow. Resolution is good.

Well, this camera is something special and I have been compelled write this review because of couple of reasons. For the first, here the reasons. I read many bad , negative reviews of this camera and in the same time all those people who actually used it told how much they have being amazed by the picture quality it produces. So I've decided to try. The camera's images are not amazed they are stunned. The image quality is so high that it left me speechless for the first.
I'm just wandering about those who left negative reviews about it? The CNET review, that named it "mediocre SLR camera" is just a plain lie. In my opinion they giving point for those who gives more money, it's it. Another interesting "review", I read from Ken Rockwell (really gifted photo artist!, no questions!), who reviewed this camera without even try it!
So let start. First of all, it is NOT 3.5M camera. It is AT LEAST 10M camera, but megapixels in the traditional meaning just are not applicable here. This camera produces NEGATIVES. This negative is result of 10M photo elements. In the same time any of 6M cameras has HALF OF THEM GREEN and ONLY 25% red and another 25% blue. If we speak about "image quality" using this kind of "resolution" , this camera produces 14M images. In the same time the "real" resolution of those "6M" cameras stand about 1.5M, the everything else is a pure deceiving interpolation. I see that Cannon and NIkon, aren't happy to see this Sigma on the market, since it MUCH SUPERIOR to any camera they make they started to discredit it.
I do not say it is an ideal, but it close. Much closer than everything else that feels like SLR.
This Sigma produces PHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGES. I mean it. There's full range of amazing continuos beautiful halftones as you can see on the best reversible films. The pictures are spectacular.
Since it is real photographic tool, you come back to the true that photography and it is about light. Your raw pictures will normally produce 3000 by 4500 huge images that is not interpolating, they just "enlargements" from digital negative. It reviles as many details that ANY other camera can't produce. There are 14M cameras on the market, but they DO NOT MUCH this SIgma in the meaning of photography. I can blow my raw image 4 times more and it still looking better than those from 14M Canon. By the way, those image from Cannon show horrible color reproduction, especially in the red. For example two closely colored redish colors coming out the same!
This Sigma saves colors! It saves the real colors, not the estimations, not the interpolations but the real thing. Camera has just the everything that it has to have, including the high speed synchronization up to 1/6000 !!!
The lens from Sigma just as good(or better) as any other lenses from Nikon , Cannon or Minolta. Even cheap $100 tag slow glass is of very good optical quality. Yes/ for $100 you're getting slow lenses, but it almost distortion free and high contrast! But fro $300 you can get perfectly fast, noticeably bright zoom that at least as good as any lens from "leading companies".
Camera is very well constructed, it handles as it should be, the focusing system is fast, the screen is bright and clear, all controls location are very clever and logical. I like this camera and you're going to like it too. No boundaries anymore. You can print image as large as you need, no questions. In two, three years Foveon will overcome. I

Given reasonable light, this DSLR bests all others in overall image quality with its 10.2M sensors and astounding sharpness. The best digital portrait camera in existence.

Don't be fooled by the camera's 3.5MP rating--that is non-interpolated--all other digital camera manufactures, including all DSLRs, list only interpolated resolutions as their MP rating. This inflates other cameras' MP rating by a factor of 3 times relative to the SD-9, since they count each Red, Green, and Blue sensor as a sigle "pixel." The SD-9 counts a full set of three sensors, one Red, one Green, and one Blue, as a single "pixel." Foveon.com claims the SD-9's image quality bests film for any given capture area, and approaches medium format film quality for enlargements up to 40 inches. Some report that sharp enlargements up to 8 feet on the long side are possible from the SD-9's interpolated 14MP output files. The camera's software is the best available. The SD-9 always works losslessly, so be sure to compare only RAW mode specs when comparing to other DSLR's operating speed and convenience of workflow.

Price is amazingly low for a DSLR with so many sensors, now below [$$$]...Hopefully Amazon.com will match them soon.

Not the best DSLR for low light--low light noise is a weakness. Still, can produce very fine low light/night pics with experience.

Perhaps the most annoying thing about using the SD10 is that there is no straightforward answer to the seemingly simple question, "How many megapixels?" Purists claim that it has only 3.4, and Sigma claims 10.2, counting all three colors at each of the 3.4M locations. When people ask (and when they see my prints, they DO ask), I sometimes just say 3.4, leaving them to wonder how I do it. The way I figure, when you save the file at double size, you're getting 13.7 megapixels with the same amount of interpolation on the red and blue channels as a normal camera, and more interpolation on the green channel. However you figure, the resolution is stunning, and with a little care you can make 12" by 18" prints that are as sharp as most eyes can tell.

Pros:

1. The software, especially the "fill light" function will let you quickly massage even your badly exposed pictures.

2. The great resolution.

Cons (I'm spending more space on these because Sigma's text waxes eloquent on most the pros (and they're not lying)):

1. The software. The SD10's only format is a proprietary RAW format, so you need to run everything through their raw converter before you do anything else with it.

2. The kit lenses are OK, but not great. The 18-50 in particular is vulnerable to a lot of chromatic aberration. If you're going to shoot with EX-series lenses (and you really should), you might as well just buy the body.

3. Low light performance is not stellar. ISO 800 is practically unusable, and ISO 400 is dicey.

4. The buffer is not huge, and the write speed is slow. The camera will take only 6 high-resolution shots in burst mode, and after that it can take more than a minute for the camera to recover.

All in all, however, this is a great camera, and if you get it you're likely to one-up all those folks buying digital rebels.

Sigma has a winner with the Foveon chip. Excellent images and far superior to ordinary chip cameras. The best feature of the camera itself, in my opinion, is the ease to which to operate the controls. The controls are very intuitive compared to the other 4 or 5 digitals I have owned or operated. Simplicity is the secret, not a lot of "junk" that will never or rarely be used. I was a professional photographer in the 80's and 90's and always found other digitals too complex even for someone with a comfortable knowledge of photography. The only negative I have found in the month and half I have owned the SD-10 is battery usage. You have the option of using rechargable AA or the CRV-3 batteries. With the AA, I get intermittent operation, something Sigma stated was characteristic of Metal Hydride batteries, especially if new. I'm a little skeptical of that assessment. I did just purchase the CRV batteries to try them. The only other issue I have is that I try to use the camera in a professional setting and there is not a way to get the flash off the camera. I purchase the Sigma DG 500 Super, which is a great flash if you don't need it off the camera. I bought the pc adapter and use it with a Metz 60ct2 flash. It would be nice if they (or someone) would produce a TTL cable or compatable flash. Overall I'm very happy with the camera and hope that more compatable accessories follow.

First off I want to say this is an Amazing Digital SLR.. the picture quality is outstanding.. if your in the market for a pro level digital slr you can't go wrong especially with the 2 lenses that were designed for this camera..

On another note.. amazon's features list is wrong.. the camera doesn't accept xd memory and it doesn't come with a 32 meg card.. its a compact flash format camera.. i'd recommend a 512 meg or higher CF card as it fills up quickly at its highest resolution.. my old 64 meg CF card can take about 6 pictures on its highest resolution.. i've ordered a 1 gig card i'm just waiting for it to ship now..

Perhaps the most annoying thing about using the SD10 is that there is no straightforward answer to the seemingly simple question, "How many megapixels?" Purists claim that it has only 3.4, and Sigma claims 10.2, counting all three colors at each of the 3.4M locations. When people ask (and when they see my prints, they DO ask), I sometimes just say 3.4, leaving them to wonder how I do it. The way I figure, when you save the file at double size, you're getting 13.7 megapixels with the same amount of interpolation on the red and blue channels as a normal camera, and more interpolation on the green channel. However you figure, the resolution is stunning, and with a little care you can make 12" by 18" prints that are as sharp as most eyes can tell.

Pros:

1. The software, especially the "fill light" function will let you quickly massage even your badly exposed pictures.

2. The great resolution.

Cons (I'm spending more space on these because Sigma's text waxes eloquent on most the pros (and they're not lying)):

1. The software. The SD10's only format is a proprietary RAW format, so you need to run everything through their raw converter before you do anything else with it.

2. The kit lenses are OK, but not great. The 18-50 in particular is vulnerable to a lot of chromatic aberration. If you're going to shoot with EX-series lenses (and you really should), you might as well just buy the body.

3. Low light performance is not stellar. ISO 800 is practically unusable, and ISO 400 is dicey.

4. The buffer is not huge, and the write speed is slow. The camera will take only 6 high-resolution shots in burst mode, and after that it can take more than a minute for the camera to recover.

All in all, however, this is a great camera, and if you get it you're likely to one-up all those folks buying digital rebels.

Sigma has a winner with the Foveon chip. Excellent images and far superior to ordinary chip cameras. The best feature of the camera itself, in my opinion, is the ease to which to operate the controls. The controls are very intuitive compared to the other 4 or 5 digitals I have owned or operated. Simplicity is the secret, not a lot of "junk" that will never or rarely be used. I was a professional photographer in the 80's and 90's and always found other digitals too complex even for someone with a comfortable knowledge of photography. The only negative I have found in the month and half I have owned the SD-10 is battery usage. You have the option of using rechargable AA or the CRV-3 batteries. With the AA, I get intermittent operation, something Sigma stated was characteristic of Metal Hydride batteries, especially if new. I'm a little skeptical of that assessment. I did just purchase the CRV batteries to try them. The only other issue I have is that I try to use the camera in a professional setting and there is not a way to get the flash off the camera. I purchase the Sigma DG 500 Super, which is a great flash if you don't need it off the camera. I bought the pc adapter and use it with a Metz 60ct2 flash. It would be nice if they (or someone) would produce a TTL cable or compatable flash. Overall I'm very happy with the camera and hope that more compatable accessories follow.

First off I want to say this is an Amazing Digital SLR.. the picture quality is outstanding.. if your in the market for a pro level digital slr you can't go wrong especially with the 2 lenses that were designed for this camera..

On another note.. amazon's features list is wrong.. the camera doesn't accept xd memory and it doesn't come with a 32 meg card.. its a compact flash format camera.. i'd recommend a 512 meg or higher CF card as it fills up quickly at its highest resolution.. my old 64 meg CF card can take about 6 pictures on its highest resolution.. i've ordered a 1 gig card i'm just waiting for it to ship now..

The last time I purchased a 35MM SLR was 35 years ago: a Canon FTb-all manual. The only battery needed was for the light meter. This SA-9 does everything electronically and does it well. In program mode, the shutter speeds are "stepless", i.e.: the exact speed needed for the exposure. My first test roll was impressive. Night shots, day shots, sync flash in sun, etc. They all turned out great. The auto focus is just a tad bit slow, but I can live with it. I was reluctant about the proprietary choice of accessories, but Sigma makes great lenses and also a great flash (my next purchase). I'm shocked at all the features for the price. The new Sigma digital camera coming out has the new "X3" three layer CCD and is cutting edge. Sigma is a young company compared to the majors: only 40 years making lenses and 7 years making cameras. Amazon had a great price for a really good camera. Thanks again.

STUDENTS THIS IS THE BEST BET! DONOT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON ALL THOSE FANCY NIKONS,CANONS OR WHAT EVER!
Most of the reviewers miss the this camera as a good starting camera for a STUDENT! let me emphasize this, that you need to have some interest in learning photography. It is a simply NO NON SENSE camera for a budget user. I have seen rantings about the single AF sensor it has but, most often people use only 1 AF sensor, simply put that is what is pratically usable! most of the pros who have 45 of them (canon) find it painful that the AF is not on the subject but some thing of either nearer or brighter and all the cameras have only the center sensor more sensitive than others. why 4/5 its ability in low light is slightly on the lower side, but it will not limit a person with basic knowledge (just read the small user guide with it) on photography from taking good photos. No other camera at this price offers you more. i would love to see focusing screens but it is ok. i have had it for OVER a YEAR & HALF. sigma has enough lenses that you can afford and difference between 40-45 (sigma) and 50 (canon) lenses does not make any difference. if you want to use it as a point and shoot it is a NONO. the commads are very intutive and the alignment is classic. it may not have the fastest AF! but for the price you pay it is way beyond the canon rebels, N55,65,70 and may be even N80.Oh btw the viewfinder was the brightest that i could find (may be comparable to F100).and the camera feels solid! the flash is really powerful! Sigma lenses are very good too! i have not found any "short commings". I like the 2CR5 battery as it is more lighter than carrying arround 4-8 AAs and it lasts much longer. i thought of 'upgrading' to nikon F100 or canon EOS 3/7NE but really did not feel the need.Reselling value is low? i have no idea ! as long it is good why sell it anyway? i should also tell you that i am an advanced amateur and by no means a pro. but i have read extensively on photography through correspondense courses, books etc. a good review of it is at popphoto.com in the cams & lenses section

All you need is a certain practical frame of mind to like sigma products!

After doing a lot of research in trying to find the perfect entry level slr- I decided to go with this camera. The only thing that makes this camera entry level is the price. As far as features go- it is in a higher class. Despite it's large variety of features, I found this camera extremely easy to operate. It is a very cut and dry layout- and considering my overall lack of knowledge when it comes to manual exposure settings- I have found that this camera makes the whole process much easier than I would have originally thought. I think Sigma did a real good job with the users manual- one thing I thought that might be lacking on this. Sigma to most people is a "chance" buy- mostly because you are limited to purchasing only Sigma lenses, as well as Sigma Flash units. But how many people buy every single lense available for Nikon, or Canon? Sigma currently has 40 very good lenses for the SA-9, as well as 2 real good flash units, one of which can be used wirelessly. For Amateur photographers that want to save some money- you can't go wrong with this camera.

An excellent combination, the Sigma SA-7 and the Sigma 28-200mm zoom lens. This is a well built camera expecially considering the price range. I've used Canon, Pentax and Fuji SLR 35mm cameras and the lower priced Sigma SA-7 gives just as good results and saves you money for an extra lens etc. Metering system performs as good as the name brands (actually Sigma is a well known lens manufacturer, just not known for their cameras since they are fairly new in that field). Auto Focusing slightly slower than some others but as accurate and is not a problem for me. Well made and completely "FUN" camera and lens. And it actually has some features found only on more expensive cameras. You'll fall in love with it right off and save a lot of money in the process. What more could you want!!!

I have shot several rolls of "test film" with this camera and I am very pleased with the results. I used to use a basic manual 35mm slr for several years, then went to point and shoots for awhile and finally decided it was time to get a "real" camera. I spent many weeks researching the different brands and models on the manufacturers web sites, photo magazine articles and photo shops. I chose the Sigma SA7 because I want to explore photography more and wanted a camera that is a little more sophisticated than some of the other "entry level" 35 slr's but without being intimidating, the SA7 is just that. It feels comfortable in the hand, it's easy to use and it gives you lots of options in your photo taking. It has excellent build quality (100% Made in Japan, camera and lens, an added value at this price level)and comes with a great compact hyperzoom macro 28-200mm lens. I chose this lens because I did not want to carry around several lenses and I was impressed with it's aspherical design (smaller and lighter than other 28-200 lenses, with no focal loss or distortion) and since most of my shooting will be of my children, family, sports, nature etc., I felt this lens would probably cover about 85-90% of my photo taking. The kit includes: camera, lens with dust cap, strap, batteries, lens hood and carry bag (some of these items cost extra with other brands). The instruction manual is well written. The autofocus is sometimes a bit slow to "lock on" but I think that is due to it's sensitve nature (I'm used to manual focus)and you learn to compensate for that. I did purchase the Tiffin 62mm filter kit with this camera (uv, polarizing,inside lighting filter)and have gotten great results. I would like to see Sigma offer a battery pack for the SA7. If you want a well made, easy to use camera that you can grow with the Sigma SA7 is it.