Thread: Sigma DP2 Merrill Review at The Luminous Landscape

I've always enjoyed Michael Reichmann's small camera reviews and enjoyed this one more than most. The major review sites will never recommend a camera like the DP2 Merrill because they rate cameras according to how well they will suit the average consumer. For example, the Sigma DP1 and Ricoh GRD - two of the most innovative compacts ever created - both got the "Above Average" rating from DPReview, which is pretty much the lowest rating given by that site at the time.

Potentially offensive language notwithstanding, I particularly liked M.R.'s discussion at the end about camera pu****s and camera heroes. There is an awful amount of belly aching about great cameras these days, whether we're talking about Nikon D800 autofocus, Fuji X10 orbs, or the Olympus E-M5 hum. By comparison, reports about what a given camera can do particularly well are less common.

Link: Sigma DP2 Merrill Review - Medium Format Image Quality In a Pocket Sized Camera? via 1001 Noisy Cameras

Thanks for the link. That was a very interesting review and certainly gives you a proper camera user's view on what the DP2M is like to actually use. If ultimate IQ is what is most important then this camera certainly hits the spot right between the eyes but one has to put up with it's 'problems'! You have to break eggs to make an omelette as they say!! If one can't afford a full frame DSLR or want the bulk (as they can be huge!) this has got to be the closest way of getting that high res shot that only FF seems to manage.

I liked the style of this review immensely. The camera (and the description of its qualities in the review) appeals to every bone of eccentricity (there are many) in my body; it personifies wabi sabi: no frills just quality and the instrument demands dedication and perseverance from the craftsman. If necessary, now both the GF1/20 and Nex 5N will go.

Originally Posted by Xuereb

I liked the style of this review immensely. The camera (and the description of its qualities in the review) appeals to every bone of eccentricity (there are many) in my body; it personifies wabi sabi: no frills just quality and the instrument demands dedication and perseverance from the craftsman. If necessary, now both the GF1/20 and Nex 5N will go.

You are right. It is a no frills dedicated camera for taking excellent images, something many people have been asking for for ages. It's made for 1 job and 1 job only which it does extremely well.

I wonder how much I can get one from work????

I'm a bit sad that he didn't compare with the older DP2 series. I know the DP2M is better, but is it better at equal size, or how much bigger do you need to go before the DP2M pulls ahead?

Question: Where would this camera benefit? I only put images up on the net at 1920pix 300dpi as this is my PC screen size. Most of the images that get posted on here from Flickr are added at 1024pix so the difference between any of my cameras and the DP2M would probably never be seen or noticed. If I printed large images then OK I would see the benefit i guess.

There are many reasons not to buy this camera and exclusive use of small images is one of them. If I had $1000 I'd give it a lot of thought and then buy something else. I don't' think I could make good use of this camera either. I'm still glad to see someone makes it, however.

Yeah I guess we need companies like Sigma to push the boundaries.

I still fancy a GRD4!!

There is an awful amount of belly aching about great cameras these days, whether we're talking about Nikon D800 autofocus, Fuji X10 orbs, or the Olympus E-M5 hum. By comparison, reports about what a given camera can do particularly well are less common.

A spot-on observation. It's annoying. Pointing out various strengths and weaknesses, and making a distinction between solid facts and personal preference is useful. But some of the whining about 'flaws' is incredible. Maybe we should actually make some photographs.

Originally Posted by Ghosthunter

Question: Where would this camera benefit? I only put images up on the net at 1920pix 300dpi as this is my PC screen size. Most of the images that get posted on here from Flickr are added at 1024pix so the difference between any of my cameras and the DP2M would probably never be seen or noticed. If I printed large images then OK I would see the benefit i guess.

I'd imagine you'd be able to crop more tightly with images from the DP2M than with the Nikon D7000/Pentax K-30 level cameras, at the same focal length. And, I guess, the "look" of the images.