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

Product Information

types ( Standard, Vivid, Neutral, Portrait, Landscape, Monochrome, Cinema*, Sunset Red*, Forest Green*, FOV Classic Blue*, FOV Classic Yellow* ) The sd Quatro H has a new option which helps open possibilities: DNG files. All of us using raw file editing programs can rejoice and not have to worry about conversions. However, the format has a lower bit depth than the .X3F format. 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.

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 The Sigma sd Quattro H'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 H'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. Sigma and Foveon continue to claim that this 3-layer approach results in better looking colour images straight out of the camera when compared to a more conventional CCD/CMOS sensor. Whilst this may be true, from the user's point of view the final image is 5,440x3,616 pixels in size, which limits how big you can print or crop the native image without interpolating it in Adobe Photoshop or another application. We as a staff collectively find, even above and beyond all of Foveon's shortcomings, that the biggest hurdle to using Sigma cameras is their very own software. Even now, in the year 2017, Sigma Photo Pro is just painfully slow and unstable.

In Use...

But having said that, the SD Quattro’s high ISO performance is still not very good. Below are samples took at various ISO. Left is the full image, and right is the 100% cropped 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. The Sigma sd Quattro H camera is a mixed bag with a specific audience. They have made strides in shooting speed and buffering over time (the first iterations of their Foveon sensor cameras were quite slow, almost to the point of uselessness) and that has helped bring up overall usefulness.

One nice touch is a large switch beside the eyepiece that allows you to select between viewing
with the EVF or LCD or changing between the two automatically using an eye sensor. It’s much more intuitive and satisfactory than having to cycle between modes by pressing a button, and I wish more camera makers would follow suit. When using the EVF, the rear screen can be set to display the camera’s detailed status, or turned off completely
to conserve power. The DP Quattro range has a very unusual design but I enjoyed it. The strangely reversed grip isn’t the most comfortable but you do get used to it. The menus are the same on the SD Quattro and the DP range – responsive, sensibly laid out, attractively colour-coded and with a big clearly legible font. Scotelly. Shooting for free? Well I would disagree with the economics there. Digital full frame cameras are expensive. Most people shoot less than 50,000 frames before deciding that they need an upgrade. This equates to about 30- 40 cents a shot for you average full frame camera based on a shutter rating of 100,000. I can shoot film for around that price per shot and I get a physical consequence (much better for learning) and a far more enjoyable experience.

However, the camera does have a Focus Peaking option which allows live view focusing with a digital zoom for accomplishing precision focus in manual focus mode.