However this may not be a problem for the SD 14, since its shutter mechanism is much improved. This seems to me to be a better option than internal sensor-cleaning mechanisms, since it has no moving parts, but some of the dust problems with earlier Sigma SLRs came from particles generated by wear and tear in the shutter mechanism itself, which of course is behind the filter. Any dust that accumulates on the filter can be easily cleaned off with a lens brush or blower. It is fitted with an anti-dust filter, which is a disk of glass just behind the lens mount, in front of the reflex mirror and sensor, which effectively seals the interior of the camera and prevents dust from entering. It does still have some brickish qualities to its very rectangular body, with lots of straight lines and corners, but the large rubberised handgrip feels extremely comfortable and secure, and despite its weight the camera feels well balanced for two-handed operation, although like most large SLRs it’s a bit unwieldy to use one-handed.Īs well as the unique sensor, the SD14 has another unusual feature. The two previous Sigma DSLRs had been rightly criticised for their brick-like shape and clunky handling, but the designers have obviously learned from this and the SD14 feels much more comfortable. Sigma has been making some of the best third-party lenses in the world for over 40 years, and that experience shows in the construction of the SD14. The body is high-density plastic over a metal chassis, but it is very well made with close tolerance on all joints and control mountings. Fortunately that size and weight translates into solid construction and excellent build quality. It is a bit smaller and lighter than the D200 though. ![]() It measures 144 X 107.3 X 80.5mm and weighs 750g including the battery, which is about the same size and weight as semi-pro cameras such as the Canon EOS 30D or the Pentax K10D, and much larger and heavier than any of the 10-megapixel mid-range or entry-level cameras such as the Sony A100, Nikon D40x or Canon EOS 400D. Admittedly I’ve been a little spoiled by the lightweight Olympus E-series DSLRs I’ve been using recently, but by any standards the SD14 is a substantial piece of kit. The initial impression of the SD14 is that this is a big, heavy camera. Add the superb Sigma 18-50mm F2.8 EX DC which arrived with my review camera and you’re looking at around £1,100, which is a lot of money to spend when there are several very good DSLRs on the market for under £500. It costs around £799 body only, which is about the same price as a Nikon D200, and £200 more than the Canon EOS 30D. We’ll come back to this in a while, but first let’s take a look at the camera itself. ![]() In theory the Foveon X3 sensor is capable of producing sharper pictures, more accurate colour rendition and superior dynamic range. The main advantage of the Foveon sensor is that it detects all colours at every pixel location on the sensor, whereas conventional sensors can only detect either red, green or blue at any one location, with the full-colour image being interpolated from the combined signals of several individual sensors. For a brief explanation of the Foveon sensor and how it differs from a conventional CCD or CMOS sensor see this tutorial which I wrote a few months ago. It isn’t the first one to do so, since the two previous Sigma digital SLRs, the SD9 and SD10, used earlier smaller versions of the X3 sensor, but since those cameras are no longer in production the SD14 is the only model available that uses this innovative technology. It is currently the only camera that uses a 14-megapixel Foveon X3 Direct Image CMOS sensor, which operates on a different principle to the Bayer-mask mosaic sensors used by every other digital camera on the market.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |