And the interesting thing is, both hands-ons offer us two different conclusions. Although the second link focuses more on the handling and physical aspects of the DP-1 and comparing it with the the Ricoh GRs and it doesn’t discuss any of the image quality at all.
Yes, you read right, some lucky soul has an online “review” of the Sigma DP1 up on the world wide web - but, but? But what? Yes, there’s a but - unfortunately it’s not in English. But - yet another but - it has quite a few sample images, and that’s really what’s most important isn’t it?
Just point your browser here. The site is a bit wonky, and the images do take awhile to load. Also, after all the sample images with all the robots, there should be more sample images featuring a lovely female model as well as some landscape shots. If you’re running Mozilla Firefox, you should see the first image with the model load - then you have to click your middle mouse button and scroll through the images. If you’re running Internet Explorer, it might need a few hits to your ‘refresh button’ to load.
Although the site seems to be more of a Sigma marketing site to me - all the images do look impressive. The Foveon X3 sensor seems to really shine when compared to the puny sensors found in most compacts. (Of course, at an MSRP of US $999 it’s not priced like any compact either) Note: Currently available for pre-order via Amazon.com for just $799!
For a more technical description of the Foveon X3 sensor click here. You can also view a flash video of how the sensor works by clicking here.
And up next for today is Sony’s new ultra-zoom camera, the DSC-H50. This 9.1 megapixel shooter features a 15x zoom lens with ED glass, full manual controls and a 3″ tilting LCD.
9.1 effective megapixels
15x zoom (31mm - 465mm equivalent)
Adjustable Noise Reduction (Low, High, Standard)
Up to ISO 3200
Super SteadyShot Optical Image Stabilization
Optical zoom usable during movie mode
Available in May for about $400
On paper not a bad super zoom from Sony here - there are other ultra-zoom camera’s with wider lenses - Fuji’s S8000 series with its 27mm - 486mm lens comes to mind as well as Panasonic’s FZ-18 with a 28mm - 504mmm equivalent lens. Although the Sony H5- does of course win out in the longer end of the zoom, but most photographers (me included) would prefer a wider zoom to a longer reach.
But this Sony is capable of using accessory lenses to further widen or extend its field of view. You can use the Sony VCL-DH0774 wide-angle accessory lens (as pictured above) to give you a new wide angle equivalence of just over 23mm or the Sony VCL-DH1774 telephoto accessory lens attachment to give you a paparazzi worthy 790mm telephoto equivalence!
Full press release and a pic of the tilting LCD after the jump.
Sony has chosen today to announce 2 new digital camera’s - and first up is the Sony W300, which their press release has dubbed as a megapixel powerhouse. And with a whopping 13.6 megapixels crammed into its 1/1.7″ CCD, it’s hard to argue with that.
The Sony W300:
13.6 megapixels
3x optical zoom (35 - 105mm equivalent)
Sony’s Super SteadyShot Optical Image Stabilization
Up to ISO 3200 (ISO 6400 available in a new ‘extra high sensitivity mode’)
2.7″ LCD and an optical viewfinder
User selectable Noise Reduction options (High, Low, Standard)
