Sigma DP1 Prestige compact camera
£549.00
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Sigma’s new prestige compact camera, the DP1, packs a lot of sensor into a small body. It’s well-placed to appeal to Digital SLR users wanting a camera that gives total control over exposures and fine detail in images within a diminutive frame. Here’s our first impressions of this interesting addition to the Sigma camera range.
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The DP1 is a solid compact that feels extremely sturdy and well made. The design will appeal to enthusiast photographers, rather than those who would usually buy a compact camera for its point-and-shoot simplicity.
There’s a vague retro element to the design but it’s balanced well against making sure the camera is modern too. The front is as plain and simple as a camera can be – just a body and a lens.
Instead of the standard 1/1.8in size sensor that most compact cameras have, the DP1 has an APS-C sized sensor (20.7mm x 13.8mm). It’s the same X3 Foveon sensor as found on the SD-14, Sigma’s latest D-SLR and also a fixed focal length of 28mm rather than a zoom lens. While this focal length is great for some shots, such as grand landscape vista but it can be really limited for many others and there is plenty of barrel distortion when you get close up to your subject.
The DP1 will produce amazingly sharp results that are equal to those from a D-SLR although you may not want to set the ISO rating above 200 unless you are shooting in black & white as the lack of colour is disappointing. The camera is extremely expensive for a compact but if you want top results for landscapes in bright conditions, the DP1 won’t disappoint.
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