Sigma SD10
Encyclopedia
The Sigma SD10 is a digital
SLR
camera produced by the Sigma Corporation
of Japan
. It was announced on October 27, 2003 and is an evolution of the previous SD9
model, addressing many of the shortcomings of that camera. The Sigma SD10 cameras are unique in the digital SLR
field in using full-color sensor technology, and in that they only produce raw format images that require post-processing on a computer.
and TIFF. Instead, it saves images in its own .X3F format, which retains all the information the camera captured. Processing on a computer is required to use these files. Sigma provides the Foveon-written SIGMA Photo Pro application for this purpose; in addition, Adobe Photoshop
CS2 supports the format, as do several other image-processing applications.
lenses. Only Sigma produces lenses to fit this mount, although their range is fairly broad. Third-party converters exist for a number of other lens mounts, although no automatic features are supported. Many Canon EF mount based lenses can be converted to Sigma AF
mount retaining autofocus and camera controlled apterture setting, however optical stabilisation will not work.
Digital photography
Digital photography is a form of photography that uses an array of light sensitive sensors to capture the image focused by the lens, as opposed to an exposure on light sensitive film...
SLR
Single-lens reflex camera
A single-lens reflex camera is a camera that typically uses a semi-automatic moving mirror system that permits the photographer to see exactly what will be captured by the film or digital imaging system, as opposed to pre-SLR cameras where the view through the viewfinder could be significantly...
camera produced by the Sigma Corporation
Sigma Corporation
is a Japanese company founded in 1961, manufacturing cameras, lenses, flashes and other photographic accessories. All Sigma products are produced in the company's own Aizu factory in Bandai, Fukushima, Japan...
of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. It was announced on October 27, 2003 and is an evolution of the previous SD9
Sigma SD9
The Sigma SD9 is a digital SLR camera produced by the Sigma Corporation of Japan. The camera was launched at the Photo Marketing Association Annual Show on February 18, 2002. It was Sigma's first digital camera, and was the first production camera to use the unique Foveon X3 image sensor, which...
model, addressing many of the shortcomings of that camera. The Sigma SD10 cameras are unique in the digital SLR
SLR
The initialism SLR can refer to:* Satellite laser ranging* Scalable Linear Recording Tape Drive Backup* Self-Loading Rifle, see semi-automatic rifle.** The UK version of the Belgian FN FAL select fire battle rifle, the L1A1 SLR.* Semi-linear resolution...
field in using full-color sensor technology, and in that they only produce raw format images that require post-processing on a computer.
Foveon X3 image sensor
Like its predecessor, the SD10 uses a sensor with the unique Foveon X3 sensor technology. The 10.2-million-pixel raw file generated from this sensor is processed to produce a 3.4 megapixel size image file. Although the image file is smaller than images from competing 10 megapixel cameras it is made from the same number of measured data values because the Foveon sensor detects full color data (three values) at each photosite; the actual resolution contained in its 3.4 MP images is about the same as a conventional Bayer/CFA sensor of 7–9 MP. Sigma and Foveon count each red, green, and blue sensor as a pixel, and state the camera has 10.2 million pixels; similarly, companies selling Bayer sensor cameras also count each single-color sensor element as a pixel.Raw output only
Unlike other digital SLR cameras marketed concurrently, the SD10 performs no in-camera processing to common image formats such as JPEGJPEG
In computing, JPEG . The degree of compression can be adjusted, allowing a selectable tradeoff between storage size and image quality. JPEG typically achieves 10:1 compression with little perceptible loss in image quality....
and TIFF. Instead, it saves images in its own .X3F format, which retains all the information the camera captured. Processing on a computer is required to use these files. Sigma provides the Foveon-written SIGMA Photo Pro application for this purpose; in addition, Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop is a graphics editing program developed and published by Adobe Systems Incorporated.Adobe's 2003 "Creative Suite" rebranding led to Adobe Photoshop 8's renaming to Adobe Photoshop CS. Thus, Adobe Photoshop CS5 is the 12th major release of Adobe Photoshop...
CS2 supports the format, as do several other image-processing applications.
Shooting modes
The camera supports single-shot, continuous, 2 or 10 second self-timer, mirror lock-up and auto exposure bracketing.Metering modes
4 different metering modes are supported: aperture priority (A), shutter speed priority (S), manual (M) and program automatic (P).Lens availability
The SD10 supports only Sigma SA mountSigma SA mount
The Sigma SA mount is a design of lens mount designed by the Sigma Corporation of Japan for use on their single-lens reflex camera designs. The SA mount uses a bayonet mount which is physically similar to the Pentax K mount but uses a flange focal distance of 44 mm, identical to that of the Canon...
lenses. Only Sigma produces lenses to fit this mount, although their range is fairly broad. Third-party converters exist for a number of other lens mounts, although no automatic features are supported. Many Canon EF mount based lenses can be converted to Sigma AF
Autofocus
An autofocus optical system uses a sensor, a control system and a motor to focus fully automatic or on a manually selected point or area. An electronic rangefinder has a display instead of the motor; the adjustment of the optical system has to be done manually until indication...
mount retaining autofocus and camera controlled apterture setting, however optical stabilisation will not work.
Pros and cons
The SD10 is an unusual camera with both advantages and disadvantages compared to most other digital SLRs, and tends to polarise opinion. It has a fiercely loyal base of support and some rather vocal detractors. Commonly cited advantages and disadvantages of the camera include the following:Pro
- Excellent color in daylight and good light.
- Excellent detail, comparable to 6.5 MP Bayer-sensor DSLR cameras.
- Noise-free images at low ISO speeds.
- Pixel sharpness achievable.
- Moiré effects less visible when photographing high-detail patterns compared to Bayer senor based cameras; thus no need for sharpness-degrading antialiasing filters to reduce moiré effects.
- High-quality PC software allows images to be tuned easily to the best quality.
- Takes easily-obtained AA or CR-V3CR-V3A CR-V3 battery is a type of disposable high-capacity 3-Volt battery used in various electronic appliances, including some digital cameras. It has the shape and size of two side-by-side AA batteries. This allows CR-V3 batteries to function in many devices originally designed only for AA batteries...
batteries instead of proprietary format. - Dust protector stops dust entering the mirror box while changing lenses.
- Sports finder allows viewing area outside picture area, letting photographer see if a better composition could be made by zooming out.
- Inexpensive when it can still be found, late 2005.
- Shooting-priority user interface means always ready to shoot.
- Unique histogram feature shows distribution of RGB values in zoomed-in area of image.
- Simple and intuitive menu system
- Mirror lock up on dial
- Removing the dust protector converts the SD10 into an infraredInfraredInfrared light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength longer than that of visible light, measured from the nominal edge of visible red light at 0.74 micrometres , and extending conventionally to 300 µm...
-sensitive camera
Con
- Does not produce JPEG files in-camera.
- Fewer photographs per image card because no JPEG mode available. RAW files are compressed to about 8 MBMegabyteThe megabyte is a multiple of the unit byte for digital information storage or transmission with two different values depending on context: bytes generally for computer memory; and one million bytes generally for computer storage. The IEEE Standards Board has decided that "Mega will mean 1 000...
per image. - Slow to clear the shot buffer.
- Originally expensive, listing at $1599 in U.S.
- Only takes Sigma lenses; no third party support except via adapters.
- Poor low-light performance; high-ISO modes produce noisier images.
- Image quality degrades in long exposures (over 4 seconds).
- No built-in flash.
- Single autofocus sensor instead of three or more in competition.