Last update (Aug 25, 2009): PC Magazine — the Sigma DP2 is not for everyone.
This post is a compilation of Sigma DP2 14MP FOVEON, CMOS Sensor digital compact camera professional and user reviews, owner opinions and experiences, tests, conclusions, ratings and feedback.
Full attribution is given by linking to the source and where available, the author’s homepage or photo gallery.
Reviews
Recently added
In PC Magazine’s Sigma DP2 review, PJ Jacobowitz notes that the image quality from the camera rivaled what you’d get from heavier and bulkier DSLR cameras such as the Canon EOS Digital Rebel T1i / 500D / Kiss X3 and Nikon D5000, and concludes:
If you’re a pro looking for D-SLR-quality photos from a camera with a compact body, the Sigma DP2 is definitely an option—heavy hitters like Canon and Nikon have yet to deliver a product like this. But with significant speed issues, no optical zoom, and other limitations, the DP2 isn’t the right choice for everyone. While $50 more expensive, the Olympus E-P1 will be a much better fit for most. With it you get beautiful images, plus the other features you’d expect from a D-SLR including faster operation, interchangeable lenses, face detection, and HD video capture, in a body only slightly larger than the DP2.
DP2 review by Jack Howard at Adorama — “There is not a compact camera in market today that has a better feature set and image quality for the serious High Dynamic Range Photographer than the Sigma DP2. Throw in the fast superwide 24.6mm f/2.8 prime glass, a rock-solid build with right-angle sides and bottom to turn any table or semi-level surface into a stable shooting platform for aligned images from bracket bursts and the Sigma DP2 is truly in a class of its own. If image quality trumps all else for you, the Sigma DP2 is simply amazing.”
Sigma DP2 Review at TrustedReviews, by Joanne Carter — “Trying to judge focus accuracy on the LCD screen is a bit of a hit or miss affair, as it lacks both detail and clarity. Refresh rates are low too, meaning the screen can appear blurred or even lockup momentarily if the camera is moved during composition”.
My Photography With The Sigma DP2 by Jim Radcliffe
This article is beautifully written. Not too much gear talk — just the basics, and whether the DP2 is the camera for you or not.
Jim likes the DP2 and says:
Yes, I do like the camera and more importantly I like the images it produces. It’s not perfect but I can’t think of a single compact camera that can deliver what the DP2 can in IQ and DR.
IQ and DR in the quote stands for Image Quality and Dynamic Range, respectively.
You might like to read Jim’s related forum discussion.
How fast is the DP2’s shot-to-shot time?
Pictures speak louder than words, and Carl Rytterfalk’s method shows that the DP2, in RAW mode, takes about two to three seconds before you can fire off the next shot.
Sigma DP2 review at PhotoReview Australia
Margaret Brown, the reviewer, has assigned an overall rating score of 8.0 / 10.0 to the DP2, and she writes:
Performance
Not surprisingly, many aspects of the DP2 were the same as (or very similar to) the DP1. Like the DP1, the new model is not designed for point-and-shoot photographers but for photographers who are prepared to spend a fair amount of time adjusting camera settings before shooting — and also on their computers processing the image files afterwards.
Sigma DP2: An in-depth review, Part 1
Peter gives an extensive rundown of the pros and cons of the DP2 in this user review, and says:
The depth of field allowed by the large sensor accounts for some of that, but the fact that it doesn’t exhibit the terrible noise, chromatic abberation, or that hard-to-put-a-finger-on-it-graininess/smudgy/harsh quality that plagues small-sensored cameras is key here. The colors are smooth, the edges are crisp, and it’s often difficult to tell a DP2 image from a 40D image while side by side.
Sigma DP2 Review Part 1 — Interface and First Impressions
Lensist focuses on the UI (user interface), menus and settings in this review, and lists the Pros (fantastic per-pixel sharpness, no shutter lag when focused) and Cons (terrible LCD, weak low-light AF / autofocus) of the DP2.
References
Sigma DP2 Accessories Gallery
This set of photos should help give you some idea about the add-ons you can purchase for the DP2.