276°
Posted 20 hours ago

Sigma SD Quattro Digital Camera with 30mm F1.4 DC HSM

£9.9£99Clearance
ZTS2023's avatar
Shared by
ZTS2023
Joined in 2023
82
63

About this deal

If we want to make a comparison between the two tech: 1:1:1 structure layer and 1:0.25:0.25 structure layer of Quattro is like: previous Foveon is vinyl disc played on a class A tube amplifier and Quatto is how to put transistors in the output stage of the amplifier and Sigma claim that with their latest tech (Quattro) they still have the same sound... While there are only nine focus points, arranged in a standard 3×3 grid, Sigma does give you the capability to change the size of the focus points in three steps, with the larger size covering a decent 60% of the viewing area. You can also select individual points instead of using all nine. This combination allows for a fair amount of control for wide-open scenes down to a need to focus on an individual stamen on a flower. However, and this gets into the technical side of things, the DNG file has already had some processing done to it in its creation. There is evidence that the color balance of the original X3F file is easier to accomplish using Sigma’s PhotoPro software than working with the DNG file. This is because of the camera’s need to convert the information it collects from the sensor and craft a DNG file.

types (Auto, Auto (Lighting Source Priority), Daylight, Shade, Overcast, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Color Temperature, Flash, Custom 1, Custom 2, Custom 3) That said, landscape shooting does tend to reward a patient approach to picture taking, so neither this need to take extra care, nor the considerable delay as the camera writes its huge DNGs were of particular concern. We suspect most people will be happy enough with the image quality to overcome the occasional hurdle placed in your path. The SD Quattro isn't for everyone and it isn't even likely to be many people's 'only camera.' Focus is slow. There's no movie mode. It's only really useable in good light or with strobes and, even then, the dynamic range isn't great. We also have some concerns about its ability to distinguish between yellow and orange. Yet despite this, we think it provides something unique and attractive. It's a very specific tool, but one with few direct alternatives, especially for the price. On paper, the sd Quattro has a bang up-to-date viewfinder
and screen. Its EVF uses a 2.36-million-dot panel and offers a magnification equivalent to 0.73x. The 3in rear screen has a 1.62-million-dot resolution, although it’s fixed rather than articulated and not touch-sensitive. One nice feature is the addition of a small OLED sub-monitor alongside the LCD that displays key settings such as shutter speed, aperture, metering mode, ISO and exposure mode.

Quattro DP range

ABOVE: The window at Foto-Braune in Berlin, one of my favourite photographic haunts Quattro improvements The Sigma sd Quattro's image quality is outstanding when shooting in the RAW format, with great results from ISO 100-1600. Curiously the quality drops off noticeably when shooting JPEGs, with only ISO 100-400 worth using thanks to a lot of noise and colour desaturation at the higher ISOs, so our advice would be to always use the sd Quattro's RAW mode if possible (despite the so-so Sigma Photo pro software and the huge file sizes). The night photograph was very good, with the maximum shutter speed of 30 seconds allowing you to capture enough light for the majority of after-dark situations. A bayer sensor is a bit like pixel-binning and line-skipping for colour. A Foveon sensor is a full pixel readout for colour. The live-view mode is rather pixilated and although the EVF glass and panel are high specced, the overall EVF experience suffers from the lower resolution live-view feed too. The Sigma sd Quattro H has a high-resolution 2.36 megapixel electronic viewfinder, which offers near-100% coverage and a 0.96x magnification ratio. There's a dedicated switch next to the viewfinder which toggles between displaying the image in the viewfinder, the monitor, or the Auto mode, where the camera automatically switches to the viewfinder display when the user is looking through it and to the monitor when they're not.

It wouldn't be my first choice for travel, since you rarely know what you're going to get the chance to shoot, but it acquitted itself well when I stumbled on a classic car show. The Sigma sd Quattro H comes with two control wheels on the top of the camera. When shooting in Manual mode, the different dials, as expected, control shutter speed and aperture for easy shooting. The rear dial does not stand out too far and has just the right amount of tactile response when functioning. These functions can be switched around in the camera menu. But if you love shooting landscape photos and would quite often carry your tripod with you, or maybe you also shoot in the studio quite a bit, then despite all its flaws, this is probably one of the best camera you can find in the market right now. ISO is selectable between 100-6400, not quite the range we’re accustomed to with modern DSLR bodies. Further, noise becomes quite notable around ISO 800, making it difficult to get used to the higher ISO limits. It does have the ability to use Auto ISO and to limit the range, which I find useful. All of the sample images in this review were taken using the High JPEG setting, which gives an average image size of around 13Mb.types ( Standard, Vivid, Neutral, Portrait, Landscape, Monochrome, Cinema*, Sunset Red*, Forest Green*, FOV Classic Blue*, FOV Classic Yellow* ) In 2014 Sigma released the Quattro DP series with the new Quattro Foveon X3 APS-C CMOS sensor. I particularly liked shooting with the Sigma Quattro DP3 from which the image above is from.

The Sigma sd Quattro has a high-resolution 2.36 megapixel electronic viewfinder, which offers near-100% coverage and a 1.09 magnification ratio. There's a dedicated switch next to the viewfinder which toggles between displaying the image in the viewfinder, the monitor, or the Auto mode, where the camera automatically switches to the viewfinder display when the user is looking through it and to the monitor when they're not.

Update History

The X3 Quattro sensor is at the heart of what makes the SD Quattro H interesting and is, far more than any physical difference, the thing that most sets this camera apart from all its rivals. Dynamic range on the Sigma SD Quattro is comparable with the X Pro2 and other high-end APS-C cameras but not quite up there with Sony’s best full frame sensor. There is quite a sudden burn in the highlights, so be careful exposing the camera. DNG raw benefits Foveon purists may be concerned about the color resolution that the Quattro design gives up, but in practise it's able to give ground on that front and still deliver images that are distinctly un-Bayer-like in their appearance. And, since Bayer sensor output is what most people think of, when they think about digital photography, this is something akin to saying distinctly un-digital.

Asda Great Deal

Free UK shipping. 15 day free returns.
Community Updates
*So you can easily identify outgoing links on our site, we've marked them with an "*" symbol. Links on our site are monetised, but this never affects which deals get posted. Find more info in our FAQs and About Us page.
New Comment