Photography News Issue 37

Photography News | Issue 37 | absolutephoto.com

Camera test 48

Sigma sd Quattro

Specs

Price £799.99

Sensor 29.5 effective megapixels, Foveon X3 with Dual TRUE III processor Sensor format APS-C 23.5x15.6mm ISO range 100-6400 Shutter range 30secs to 1/4000sec Drivemodes Up to 3.6fps in continuous shooting Metering system Multi, centre-weighted, spot Exposuremodes PASM Exposure compensation +/-5EV in 0.3EV steps Monitor Fixed 3in LCD with 1620k dots Focusing Contrast- and phase-detect, multi- area, centre, selective single point, tracking Focus points Nine, Free move focus Video No Connectivity USB3.0, mini HDMI Storagemedia SD/SDHC/SDXC Dimensions (wxhxd) 147x95x91mm Weight 625g body and battery Contact sigma-imaging-uk.com

Sigma is the only camera maker using the Foveon direct image sensor where every pixel records all colours of visible light. The sd Quattro is the latest offering using this technology

Two versions of the sd Quattro are available, the standard model featured here with a 23.5x15.6mm sensor and an effective resolution of 29.5 megapixels and the sd Quattro H which has a sensor measuring 26.7x17.9mm and a resolution of 38.6 megapixels. Both bodies are the same size and the H is 5g heavier. The sd Quattro has a very distinctive body shape quite unlike anything else on the market. The body is taller in the lens mount region or, if you prefer, the hand grip is not as tall as the main part of the camera body. Turning the camera on and off is done from the switch on the raised lens plinth, the depth of which can be explained by the fact that full- frame Sigma SA-fit lenses can be used on the sd. That means there is plenty of choice when it comes to focal lengths but only from Sigma. Take off the lens and you’ll see the easily accessible low-pass filter. If you fancy some infrared photography, pop this filter out, fit an IR filter on the lens and you’ll get some very effective results.

Words by Will Cheung

Sigma has been using Foveon sensors in its digital cameras from the beginning eschewing the mosaic sensors used by all other brands. Think about it and the theory makes perfect sense. Essentially, every pixel in a Foveon sensor can record visible light of all colours vertically whereas the Bayer mosaic and Fujifilm X-Trans sensor types have colour-filter covered pixels that record red, blue or green wavelengths, but can’t capture all three simultaneously. The sd Quattro uses the latest Foveon sensor, the X3 Quattro which features a ratio of 1:1:4 ratio of red, green and blue pixels at each pixel site. The four blue pixels on the top layer collect luminance as well as colour data while the single pixels below collects colour data only. Enough of the theory – if you want more see Sigma’s website – and let’s focus on the practical and see how the sd Quattro stands up to the competition.

The sd Quattro has a very distinctive body shape quite unlike anything else on the market

Unusual the body shapemight be, but it does fit the hand very nicely and it has a solid feel. In terms of weight, the sd Quattro body weighs in at 625g, so heavier than the APS-C Fujifilm X-T2 (507g) and lighter than the full frame Canon EOS 5D Mark IV (800g). The viewfinder eyepiece is offset to the right of the lens when viewed from behind and can be set to eye- activated auto switchover from the rear monitor. Its positioning, if you are used to a central eyepiece or one that is located far left, takes a little getting used to. The EVF image itself is good and well informed too with key camera information clearly laid out against a plain background that sits outside the image area.

What information is on show is customisable and there are four custom settings available. The sd Quattro does not offer much in the way of user- customisable function buttons but there are a few things you can do. For example the front and rear dials’ function and rotation direction can be varied for each exposure mode and the eight menu options that pushing the QS (Quick Set) button brings up can be customised. The camera rear is cleanly laid out with a significant area for the fixed, non-touch-sensitive monitor. This is not all image and an area of it is reserved for camera data. Neatly, next to the info item is the dedicated button to that function.

Images While its design is slightly unconventional the sd Quattro does stand out and plenty of buttons make the camera easy to set up and use.