Sigma prices DP2 Merrill, preps for delivery
posted Friday, June 29, 2012 at 12:00 AM EST
Sigma Corp. has today revealed pricing and availability for its Sigma DP2 Merrill digital camera, a pretty major update to the previous DP2 model. Announced last February, the Sigma DP2 M has a new APS-C image sensor and processors, all inherited from the impressive Sigma SD1 Merrill digital SLR.
Output resolution from the full-color Foveon image sensor soars from 4.64 megapixels in the DP2, DP2s, and DP2x, to 14.8 megapixels in the DP2 Merrill. (That's derived from stacked red, green, and blue photosensors at every pixel location, for a total of 46 million photosensors. In our testing of the SD1, we felt the Foven sensor actually resolved about as well as a 20-25 megapixel sensor with a conventional Bayer filtered layout.) The sensor data is then handled by dual True-II image processors.
The Sigma DP2 Merrill is a normal focal length camera, with a 45mm equivalent f/2.8 prime lens. Compared to the DP2x, it also has a reworked control layout, and a larger LCD display with significantly higher resolution.
Available from July 12th in the US market, the Sigma DP2 Merrill will be priced at just around US$1,000. More details in our Sigma DP2 Merrill preview.
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Sigma's DP2 Merrill digital camera. Photo provided by Sigma Corp. |
Press Release
Sigma Corporation announces pricing and availability of Sigma DP2 Merrill
New generation compact camera to hit US shelves in July for street price of $999
Ronkonkoma, NY, June 29, 2012 – Sigma Corporation of America (www.sigmaphoto.com), a leading researcher, developer, manufacturer and service provider for some of the world's most impressive lines of lenses, cameras and flashes, has announced that the Sigma DP2 Merrill compact digital camera will be available in the United States on July 12 for the street price of $999.
This upgraded, high-resolution, compact digital camera with a fixed lens is named in honor of Richard “Dick” Merrill, the co-creator of the Foveon X3 Direct Image Sensor technology that powers Sigma’s unique lineup of cameras. It differs from its predecessor, the DP2x, because its resolution has grown by moving from Foveon’s 14.6-megapixel APS-C size image sensor to the 46-megapixel APS-C image sensor found in the company’s flagship SLR, the Sigma SD1 Merrill. The full-color Foveon X3 direct image sensor ensures outstanding resolution, richly gradated tones and images with a three-dimensional feel. A focus ring and custom Quick Set (QS) mode also improve the user interface.
“We are very proud of the engineering and design involved in the upgrade of the DP2 Merrill, and we are especially pleased to honor Dick Merrill with its name,” said Mark Amir-Hamzeh, president of Sigma Corporation of America. “The addition of the 46-megapixel sensor and the continued use of Foveon’s unique three-layer design results in images that can’t be reproduced by other cameras on today’s market.”
The Sigma DP2 Merrill boasts an exclusively designed, high-performance, telecentric 30mm F2.8 lens, which is the equivalent to a 45mm lens on a 35mm SLR camera. The camera is compact and lightweight, and has Super Multi Layer Coating to reduce flare and ghosting.
Other features of the Sigma DP2 Merrill camera include:
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A dual, three-layer responsive ultimate (TRUE II) engine that now incorporates two TRUE II processors to improve the processing speed and overall quality of the final image
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RAW and JPEG format recording to retain the full image detail of the utmost quality captured through the direct image sensor, as well as a JPEG recording format for convenience
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Sigma Photo Pro processing software to convert RAW data quickly and easily
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Manual focus for use when autofocus or focus-lock is not desired
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Easy-to-use auto focus with a “nine-point select mode” which can select the desired focusing point from nine different frames, and a “free move mode” that allows shooters to select their desired focusing point
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An advanced user interface complete with a custom QS menu and the metallic command dial to improve usability
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Continuous shooting capabilities to capture up to seven RAW images per sequence
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A large, highly visible, three-inch TFT color LCD monitor for great visibility
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A hot shoe for the use of the dedicated external flashgun EF-140 DG (optional)
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Movie mode for movie recording with VGA (640×480) size, with 30 shooting frames per second
For information about Sigma Corporation of America or information about the companies cameras and lenses, visit www.sigmaphoto.com.
About Sigma Corporation
For more than 50 years, Sigma Corporation’s expertise and innovation has driven the company’s core philosophy of “knowledge, plus experience, plus imagination,” with an emphasis on producing high-quality, high-performance photographic technology at moderate prices. This family-owned organization is the largest, independent SLR lens manufacturer in the world, producing more than 40 lenses that are compatible with most manufacturers, including Sigma, Canon, Sony, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic and Pentax. Sigma Corporation also produces digital SLR cameras and high-definition digital compact cameras. The company is headquartered in Japan, with offices strategically located throughout Europe, Asia and North America. For information, please visit www.sigmaphoto.com.