Sigma DP3 Merrill Sample images
I’ll be reviewing the Sigma DP3 Merrill in my existing review of the DP1/DP2 Merrill.
The Sigma DP3 Merrill (75mm, equivalent) uses the true-color Foveon sensor as with its DP1 Merrill (28mm) and DP2 Merrill (45mm) siblings.
Sigma has posted 42 sample images from the DP3 Merrill. Check out #10 and #42 in particular, apply a little fine radius sharpening and if your jaw doesn’t drop in seeing the rooftop tiles and similar detail in #10 in particular, then you must be shooting a PhaseOne IQ180 or Nikon D800E. Because no conventional Bayer sensor camera can deliver that kind of per-pixel quality in a 14.75 megapixel image.
The striking technical quality of the images (even as JPEG) suggests that the 50mm f/2.8 lens is a winner, which would be no surprise based on what I’ve personally observed from its two siblings (I purchased and own the DP1/DP2 Merrill, and I make such purchase decisions not at random).
As I’ve said in my past writings and reviews, the Sigma DP Merrill cameras are not only the poor man’s Leica M, but DP Merrill users like the cameras a lot. And the DP Merrills make outstanding cameras for black and white imagery. What would be quite exciting would be a full frame version.
See also this and this and this.
Which is the serious camera, seriously?
The number and quality and resolution and presentation and photographer’s eye seen in the 42 Sigma D3 Merrill sample photos positions the DP3 Merrill as a camera for a photographer who enjoys lighting and mood and carefully crafted images.
What a striking juxtaposition to the trite Nikon D7100 samples shown with the D7100 marketing material. Not only are Nikon’s marketing samples badly presented at low quality and low resolution and with incompetent sharpening, they are damned boring. And the few larger samples have nowhere near the detail, such as the snowy hillside scene which looks downright blurred in terms of fine detail.
Nikon thus positions the D7100 for mundane, and Sigma positions its camera for artistic imagery. Of course, Nikon will sell far more cameras.
Shown below is sample image #10 from the Sigma’s DP3 Merrill sample page.