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Sigma SD15 review

Our Rating :
Price when reviewed : £789.99
inc VAT

Sigma's SD15 is an interesting, but slightly flawed camera. Picture quality can be something of a mixed bag - especially at higher ISOs - and its quirkiness will frustrate some users. It’s a love-hate DSLR.

Specifications

20.7×13.8mm 4.7-megapixel sensor, zoom (N/A equivalent), 680g

http://www.cliftoncameras.co.uk

Sigma’s SD15 is only the company’s fourth digital SLR since 2002 when it introduced the SD9 and was first announced almost two years ago at Photokina 2008. It was since delayed and has only recently made it onto retailers’ shelves.

At just under £800 body only, the SD15 is aimed at keen amateurs who are looking to get a bit more serious about their photography. Its highlight is the unique Foveon X3 sensor, which is the same as the one in the Sigma DP2s we reviewed recently.

It’s an 20.7×13.8mm APS-C sized sensor similar to the size of the sensors in mid-range and entry-level DSLRs, but unlike conventional CCD or CMOS sensors used in almost every digital camera that isn’t made by Sigma, the Foveon X3 captures full RGB colour in every photocell on the sensor. Conventional sensors can capture only one primary colour per photocell and employ a Bayer Mask Filter to estimate RGB values for each photocell. The X3 achieves this by using three receptors stacked on top of each other at different depths that correspond to the frequency of the light – one each for Red, Green and Blue.

Sigma SD15 (no lens)

This unfortunately does come at a cost as the SD15’s images have a measly resolution of 2,640×1,760 pixels. It equates to roughly 4.7 megapixels, which is much lower than a typical DSLR’s resolution, but the Foveon X3 records three times as much data which means it’s producing the same amount of depth and detail as a 14.1 megapixel sensor.

The SD15 feels strong and fits comfortably into your hand thanks to the large textured hand grip, but some of the controls are slightly unconventional if you’re used to a Canon or Nikon system. There is a pair of dials on the top which control the drive mode (left) and shooting mode (right) – the left hand dial also doubles as the power switch.

The shooting mode dial is quite empty with only PASM controls (program, aperture priority, shutter priority and manual) – there are no fancy intelligent auto or scene modes that are normally found on DSLRs of a similar price. More unusual is the command dial’s location: it surrounds the shutter button which at first felt a little strange, but it was easy to get used to and quickly change settings.

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Basic Specifications

Rating ***
CCD effective megapixels 4.7 megapixels
CCD size 20.7×13.8mm
Viewfinder optical
Viewfinder magnification, coverage 0.9x, 98%
LCD screen size 3.0in
LCD screen resolution 460,000 pixels
Articulated screen No
Live view No
Zoom 35mm equivalent N/A
Image stabilisation optical, lens based
Maximum image resolution 2,640×1,760
Maximum movie resolution N/A
Movie frame rate at max quality N/A
File formats RAW, JPEG

Physical

Memory slot SDHC
Mermory supplied none
Battery type 7.2V, 1,500mAh Li-ion
Battery Life (tested) 250 shots
Connectivity USB 2.0 Hi-Speed
HDMI output resolution n/a
Body material Magnesium Alloy
Lens mount Sigma
Focal length multiplier 1.7x
Kit lens model name 18-50mm F2.8 EX
Accessories USB cable, Sigma RAW conversion software
Weight 680g
Size 107x144x81mm

Buying Information

Warranty 1 year parts and labour
Price £790
Supplier http://www.cliftoncameras.co.uk
Details www.sigmaphoto.com

Camera Controls

Exposure modes Program Auto, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, Manual, Bulb
Shutter speed 30 to 1/4,000 seconds
Aperture range lens dependent
ISO range (at full resolution) 50 to 3200 (3200 in RAW only)
Exposure compensation +/-3 EV
White balance auto, 6 presets, manual
Additional image controls contrast, saturation, sharpness
Manual focus Yes
Auto-focus modes multi, centre, point (single shot, continuous AF)
Metering modes 77 segment evaluative metering, spot metering, centre metering, centre weighted average
Flash Auto, Red-eye reduction
Drive modes single, continuous, self-timer, bulb

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Reviews | DSLRs