Sigma Sigma dp2 Quattro high iso test results

I recently picked up a Quattro.

So here are the High ISO test shots. All taken at f2.8 Aperture Priority, AWB setting. In the past everyone agreed that from 100-200 ISO was the best ISO range. So I am not posting anything from that range. The ISO range being tested starts are ISO 400 and goes to 6400 for both color and monochrome. From 3200 to 6400, I have added 1/3 stop ISO values (4000 and 5000). In general I find that there is about one stop in color and almost 2 stops in monochrome. The issue is that everyone has different opinions on what is acceptable level of noise related issues to them.

The Quattro has eliminated (grayed out the banding noise slider) vs the Merrill which still has this slider active. There is chroma and luminous noise handling for color and luminous only for monochrome now.

Anyway here u go, u judge for yourself :)

Cheers
Gary

----------------------------------------------- Color and Monochrome shots are paired by ISO ---------------------------------------

ISO 400

DP2Q-C0400.jpg
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DP2Q-M0400.jpg
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ISO 800

DP2Q-C0800.jpg
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DP2Q-M0800.jpg
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ISO 1600

DP2Q-C1600.jpg
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DP2Q-M1600.jpg
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In the past from this point on - the results were just plain horrible.. Whether u like these or not, they are much better than what I remember seeing from the Merrill.

ISO 3200
DP2Q-C3200.jpg
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DP2Q-M3200.jpg
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ISO 4000
DP2Q-C4000.jpg
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DP2Q-M4000.jpg
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ISO 5000
DP2Q-C5000.jpg
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DP2Q-M5000.jpg
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ISO 6400

DP2Q-C6400.jpg
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DP2Q-M6400.jpg
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Color starts losing it pretty significantly at 3200 - can't tell about noise, but color fidelity is only good through 1600, B&W looks good throughout. But it's really tough to say anything about noise at these sizes if you can't click through to something larger. I'm not talking about 100% pixel peeping, but something that will fill a 21 or 27" computer screen starts to give you a pretty good idea how well an image is holding up. These just tell you that if you're gonna limit yourself to small web displays, the camera is OK in color to 1600 and in B&W up through 6400...

-Ray
 
I can post 100% crops of the center and edge around the turtle if u would like Ray.

As a reference, the Merrill
- color
-- good to ok up to 400 (depends on situation)
-- noise started to be obvious at 800
-- very noticeable chroma by 1600
-- absolutely horrible from 3200 and greater
- monochrome
-- good to ok up to 800
-- noise noticeable by 1600
-- start blue filter work around depending on how bad the noise issues between 1600-2000

Gary
 
I'm not in the market for one so don't do it for me. But I think if someone is really trying to assess how this camera does at higher ISO, that's what they'd want to see. But I'm sure there are examples elsewhere online by now...

-Ray
 
I decided to do a retest.. I have lowered the lighting in the room to the point just before the AF focus will not lock. This time I have started the test at ISO 800 instead, since this is where the issues on the Merrill start to be seen in certain situations. I have included the color shots from the Merrill here as well. The order u will c in the color section is Merrill first at the reference followed by the Quattro color and then Monochrome.

As a reference the ISO 800 from the prior testing was 1/13 second at f2.8 vs the current lighting condition which is 1/3 second at f2.8 to give a relative EV info for the lighting conditions. The lighting condition is so dark that the first possible hand holdable shot is at ISO 3200 - 1/15 second wide open.

Look at the leather strap and edges of drawer, the color noise starts appearing there first and then the table itself. The Quattro AWB provides a closer to the real color of the drawer by the way.

Anyway again, u be the judge..
Gary

----------------------- Merrill Color first --- Quattro Color --- Quattro Monochrome ------------------------------------------

ISO 800 - 1/3@f2.8

Merrill Color
DP2M-SPP5-C0800.jpg
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Quattro Color
DP2Q-C0800.jpg
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Quattro Monochrome
DP2Q-M0800.jpg
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ISO 1600 - 1/8#@2.8

DP2M-SPP5-C1600.jpg
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DP2Q-C1600.jpg
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DP2Q-M1600.jpg
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ISO 3200 - 1/15@f2.8

DP2M-SPP5-C3200.jpg
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DP2Q-C3200.jpg
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DP2Q-M3200.jpg
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ISO 4000 - 1/15@f2.8

DP2M-SPP5-C4000.jpg
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DP2Q-C4000.jpg
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DP2Q-M4000.jpg
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ISO 5000 - 1/20@f2.8

DP2M-SPP5-C5000.jpg
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DP2Q-C5000.jpg
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DP2Q-M5000.jpg
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ISO 6400 - 1/25@f2.8

DP2M-SPP5-C6400.jpg
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DP2Q-C6400.jpg
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DP2Q-M6400.jpg
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So a different test - the extracted JPGs from the RAW files. Normally the embedded JPGs that are in a RAW file from other manufactures tend to be the smallest they support since it is normally just used as a preview. In Sigma's case, they have embedded the full size "FINE" jpg inside their RAW file. This is the reason that their RAW files are all over the place when it comes to the size of those files.

I believe (just my guess) the extracted JPG tells us some interesting things going on between the Merrill and Quattro:
- Improvements in the base JPG engine
- HW level noise algo improvements
- Differences in the emphasis

Note an anomaly at ISO 1600 on the Quattro where the color noise is outrageous in the JPG but is back to being fine at ISO 3200. It looks like the noise algo got interrupted based on what is seen of the next one at ISO 3200.

A surprise --> I find that the JPG engine in terms of color and saturation, some of the Quattro looks very close to the Merrill TIFF output.. This time I am only concentrating on the color shots.

Again u be the judge.. Same order - Merrill color followed by Quattro color

Gary

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

ISO 800

Merrill
DP2M-SPP5-Ext-C0800.jpg
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Quattro
DP2Q-Ext-C0800.jpg
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ISO 1600

DP2M-SPP5-Ext-C1600.jpg
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DP2Q-Ext-C1600.jpg
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ISO 3200

DP2M-SPP5-Ext-C3200.jpg
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DP2Q-Ext-C3200.jpg
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ISO 4000

DP2M-SPP5-Ext-C4000.jpg
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DP2Q-Ext-C4000.jpg
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ISO 5000

DP2M-SPP5-Ext-C5000.jpg
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DP2Q-Ext-C5000.jpg
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ISO 6400

DP2M-SPP5-Ext-C6400.jpg
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DP2Q-Ext-C6400.jpg
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