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

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This is a photographers camera. If you shoot in green mode, shoot casually, spray-and-pray when you take photos, or want an all-rounder camera to take on vacation, shoot photos of your kids, and maybe a landscape or two, this is certainly not the camera for you. However, if you find yourself in manual mode often, enjoy slowing down and getting a few keeper shots, enjoy developing from RAW, shoot film, or are obsessed with sharpness, this is the camera for you. Sigma cameras are niche cameras. If you arent sure you want a Sigma camera, I can tell you that you do not. The Foveon sensors in Sigma cameras are a completely different engineering paradigm. This means that the strengths and weaknesses of this camera are different than a run-of-the-mill Canon or Nikon (or Sony, Pentax, Fuji, Leica, or anything else). The camera is slow. Write times feel endless. The noise in the shadows feels like it is 1990 all over again. Dont even think about going above ISO 800. Probably not even ISO 400. The headroom in RAW isnt terrible, but it isnt great, either. So, why five stars? One word: sharpness. The sensor in this camera delivers incredible sharpness. Even at 100% resolution, images from this camera look good. There is a fidelity to reality that this camera captures that other cameras do not. I read the reviews, read about "breathtaking images," and was critical. So, I rented this camera for a week to see for myself. I uploaded the first photo to my computer, and well, I gasped. So sharp. So detailed. So many variations in color. So true. Using this camera is a lot like getting a new pair of glasses or contacts - you do not know what you are missing until you see better. If you dont believe me, check it out for yourself. A few small things: The JPEGs out of this camera are respectable. Not as good as RAW, but better than most cameras besides Fuji. The ability to record RAWs in DNG is groundbreaking. Do it. Unfortunately, you cant record DNG+JPEGs. Maybe Sigma will fix this in a future firmware update. Many people complain about the EVF in this camera. I found it sufficient and enjoyable to use. Focus peaking rocks. Learn to manual focus with focus peaking, and a new world of vintage lenses opens up to you. A Pentax m42 to K-mount converter will let you use m42 lenses. Also, some Pentax lenses will work with little modification (and in manual focus). The IR filter is easily removable, so if you are interested, you can investigate IR photography. The black and white images from this camera are very, very good. Perhaps second only to the Leica Monocrom (yes, seriously). This camera is so sharp, you will notice things that you may not have noticed otherwise - lens quality, and camera motion. This camera screams for the best lenses you can find, and to shoot on a tripod. That said, the Sigma 30mm lens in this kit is respectable. The edge resolution wide open isnt quite as good as I expected for a Sigma Art lens. I like the lens a lot, though. Is this for you? If you are still curious, then this camera may be. Certainly, a camera worth consideration. Think of this this way: most digital cameras in the world operate using the same sensor technology. In fact, Sony makes most sensors. And if they are not made by Sony, the sensor is based on the same fundamental design. Foveon sensors in Sigma cameras are different. Shooting with this camera is like changing to a different type of film. It is just different. For some applications, it may be a lot better. It is like shooting landscapes in Provia for years, and then trying Velvia. Whoa. I heard a quote that was to the effect of: "It is one think to look, and something else entirely to see." Try this camera and start seeing.

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Yes, it is an unusual camera, and it is a niche product, as a landscape and abstract photographer it offers a number of advantages: 1. Excellent resolution and color, I do not care how folks measure this, you can debate all you want, this camera has very high fidelity for the price. 2. Large JPEGS - in this case I do not work with RAW for a number of reasons. 3. Im not what people call a technical photographer and focus on composition, so it has enough bells and whistles to meet my unique needs. 4. I ordered a number of other lenses - this option was the sell for me. 5. Build quality is REALLY unbeatable, I am tough on equipment and spend a lot of time in the field this camera is manufactured to a level of build quality you just do not see in other main stream cameras. I agree, you focus (takes forever) you take the picture - have some coffee and eventually it writes to the memory card - I use ultra fast cards, makes little difference yes, it is not an action camera - patience with this unit is truly a virtue. The results are splendid though. I confess, people who debate technology really annoy me, Im not that technical, but I do not have to be - if you cannot compose an image or capture the story - the BEST camera in the world will not make you a decent photographer - stay with an iPhone - the many, many articles on sensor designs and performance mean nothing if you cannot produce an image that meets a commercial or artistic need! This was an experiment for me - but for a certain type of perfectionist - a great buy.

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December 2016 update - Still loving this camera! The below review still applies. HOWEVER, If you are interested in this camera... consider what lens you want to shoot with, Ive barely used the kit lens included and instead purchased an addition 17-70mm Sigma lens. - This is a very particular camera, and if youre looking at this camera Im sure youve heard that over and over about the Sigmas. Why 5 stars? Let me take you back... Im a Ricoh GR shooter. My primary subject is architecture / street photography usually in bright light. I became addicted to the sharpness the Ricoh lens/sensor provided, but, its a fixed lens. So I wanted to keep or upgrade the sharpness while being able to do more with different lenses. I made the reasonable choice to pick up a Sony a6000, at 24mp I thought it had to be on par or better than the Ricoh. However it wasnt nearly as sharp. Maybe this could have been improved with a prime lens, but after doing a bit more research I found the Ricoh is just very sharp. That brought me to Sigma. These are SHARP cameras with excellent lenses. This is exactly what I was looking for when upgrading from the GR to take architecture shots. Im returning the Sony tomorrow! I can deal with the other issues such as the occasional lock-up or fast batter drainage. The resolution and color is amazing if youve got a steady hand and keep the ISO around 100. Finally Im in love with the industrial design of the Sigma. Minimal, brutal, unique. Feel great in the hand if a bit heavy. The SR-1 Blackbird of cameras in my opinion. Im a big fan of old Braun products and this has the same minimalist feel. Really happy they have gone in their own direction. Finally, I hope that Adobe Lightroom will support the file format that Sigma/Foveon is using. According to the CEO of Sigma its up to them to support their format in their software. Will update this review with pics in a few days!

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I have been using a Sigma DP1 since 2008, indeed pretty slow camera compare to other PS! But the image quality is just like Slide Film…that’s why I got hooked with Sigma; since then, I have been own SD14, etc.…finally I got the SD Quatto. For those who are consider the image quality, and have to view the image from the LCD patiently. I would recommend this camera. SD Quattro is new, a lot faster compare to SD14, but it’s still slow compare to the Nikon, Canon and Sony cameras. Therefore SD Quattro is not the action camera; this camera is for landscapes and portrait. The Sigma 30mm F1.4 Art lens is pretty sharp lens; regarding about the colors, I would rate this SD Quattro = #1, Fuji = #2. That is my feedback after using about 3 weeks.

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I am in love with this camera, it produces fantastic images. I knew what i was buying as i read every review and watched the video reveiws. This is no action camera or even a point and shoot. This is a photographer tool and a technical one at that. you have to carefully compose and check your lighting. You do not shoot past iso 400, at iso 100 you get beautiful almost mf quality files. The .x3f can easily be converted to tiff to be processed in lightroom and sigma photo pro isnt really bad tbh. The camera and lens combo are great, my only qualm with the lense is the chromatic aberration in high contrast settings, but that is only a button click in lightroom. The build quality is simply fantastic. 5 out of 5

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Its a niche camera for sure. Its not for everyone and deserves its rights to be one of the best camera out there. If you are a landscape photographer this is it. I love this camera. Try it out give it a chance. Dont read the negative reviews.

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Meh. Been shooting a few days with QSD and 30mm f1.4 Art lens provided with kit. I shoot less than 1000 photos a week. Keen DSLR and u-43 user. Heres quick rundown— Build quality is superb for both camera and lens. There is nothing "plasticky" about the camera, which is built of metal with solid chassis and tough impact resistent grip. The battery compartment is secure and well constructed. Grip is tacky. Camera is weight forward and not balanced. This is not a compact camera and I find myself using hand to support lens. The EVF is abysmal and the worst I have seen on any modern camera in the last 2 or 3 years. I do like position as I am left eye dominant. Menus are intuitive, well thought out. Weird placement of sliders and buttons are ok. Takes a bit to get used to on/off slider on lens mount. I like the review button in lower left corner. Nice heft. Feels like a durable product. My camera runs hot on the left side opposite the battery. The battery gets depleted from 100% to 85% almost immediately (50 shots). Autofocus is slow. Comparable to an Olypus EP1 slow. Not for sports or wildlife. Image output can be extraordinary and there is definite learning curve in appreciating the Foveon sensor. There is a fine graininess upon close pixel peeping. I am wondering if my lens copy might be a lemon as there is stark chromatic aberration when shooting a dark object against a light background. Disappointing oddity and not a refinement of Foveon technology. Update- Camera overheats and locks up. I will try new firmwear update now available. The is quirky and unusual camera. I had a half dozen people come up to me asking about it. It does attract attention, which is a negative In my opinion. Update 9/18/16. Firmware UpdateVer.1.02. According to Sigmas website. It has improved the AF focusing speed and accuracy. It has corrected the phenomenon where Auto Bracketing or SFD Mode does not work properly when Custom Mode is selected. It has corrected the phenomenon that the camera sometimes cannot be turned off or go to sleep even when Power Switch or LOCK Switch are operated during image processing after shooting. It has corrected the phenomenon that the camera could freeze depending on the timing at which the monitor display changes to another display. It has corrected the phenomenon that images do not appear when looking into the viewfinder and turning Power Switch on, while LCD Monitor Display is set to Viewfinder Mode or LCD Off Mode and Monitor Select Switch is set to FINDER or AUTO. It has changed the specification to initially display selectable languages when all camera settings are reset to factory defaults with “Reset Settings”

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I love this camera

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