Sigma SD Quattro
- Original pre Merrill cameras
- The Merrill generation
- The Quattro (you're here !) still working on it.
The Foveon Quattro Sensor
The Quattro series uses a modified Foveon sensor with different resolutions for each layer.
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The new 1:1:4 structure (bottom 1: middle 1: top 4) offers higher resolution that is equivalent to 39 megapixels for conventional color filter array sensors. In addition to this ultra-high resolution, the sensor offers enhanced noise characteristics and faster processing of high-volume image data.
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According to Sigma the detail level is retained, but honestly, I don't know.
I just got an SD Quattro (not the H model).
Looks great on paper but I simply can't imagine any possible advantage over the Merrill sensors besides a smaller file size and faster processing due to two layers having 1/4 of the base resolution.
All the image samples from other people I saw before buying one were equal or inferior when compared to a Merrill, but never better. Let's do some good real-world tests and check the truth.
The Sigma Foveon Quattro Cameras
There are six camera models belonging to the Quattro series:
- DP0 - Ultra wide F4 14mm (21mm equiv.)
- DP1 - Wide F2.8 19mm (28mm equiv.)
- DP2 - Standard F2.8 30mm (45mm equiv.)
- DP3 - Mid Tele F2.8 50mm (75mm equiv.)
All the DP range have an APS size sensor with 5424x3616 pixels (19.6 MP) and also have the strange "boomerang" shaped body and they are meant to be considered as "compacts" which is, of course, almost a joke.
The lenses are top notch but they are not changeable.
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| Sigma DP Quattro range (C) Sigma Photo |
The DP Quattros have no EVF and people who used them say they are pleasable to handle.
The two other models are mirrorless, interchangeable lens cameras with an EVF.
- SD Quattro, with the same sensor of the DP Quattro range (APS 19.6 MP, 23.4 x 15.5 mm)
- SD Quattro H, with a larger APS-H sensor 6200x4152 (25.7 MP) and 26.7 x 19.9 mm.
The H has a crop factor of 1.3x and the others 1.5x. The main difference is the resolution gain.
The SDq series uses the same dSLR lenses made for the SA mount. This is one of the reasons that make them larger than most mirrorless cameras.
Well, I'll not enter into the never-ending theoretical discussion about Merrills and Quattros. I think this is completely useless and a waste of time, considering this text scope.
This analysis will be focused on the final results of real-world use of these cameras. Even better, I'll focus on my kind of use: Travel, nature, and macro. I don't shoot sports, fashion and events, then you will need to check elsewhere.
Since the Quattro I have is the SD Quattro-no-H all my comments will only be about it and will not cover any aspects of the DP Quattro range.
When I think about mirrorless cameras, usually the Fujis and micro-four-thirds pop in my mind with their small bodies. This is not the case when we're talking about the SD Quattro range. The bodies are almost the same size as a traditional dSLR. It's bigger than a Canon SL2 for example but smaller than a 7D. To keep it short, it's not a small mirrorless camera like the Olympus E-M10. It's a large camera.
The grip is extremely comfortable (like the SD1 Merrill, and unlike the DP2 Merrill). There are two things that will draw your attention: The EVF and the back LCD.
The camera has a very industrial look I like. Not fancy, but something like from the Bauhaus School, functionality over form. It remembers me the Paubel Makina 67 and some Agfa Optimas. I like it.
All controls are well placed and a joy to handle. To be honest, it's one of the best body designs I experienced.
The LCD is pretty reasonable. Actually, there are two independent LCD screens on the camera's back. A normal one on the right side and a smaller one on the right side. The large one has the usual functions like in any other camera. The small one is like that top displays found in some cameras like the EOS 5D and it's used for some settings and to show some information about modes, speed, aperture and more.
It's possible to turn on/off both independently.
The EVF is, in a word, disappointing. The hardware has a very high resolution as you can check looking at the information, grids and system-related objects, but the image from the sensor is shown in some sort of low-quality mode.
Looks like an EVF from 5 years ago, but surely it's not but it has an absolutely horrible lag.
Sigma had to make a compromise between image quality and lag. We know it's tricky and very processor-intensive to get an image from a Foveon sensor, and maybe even more from a Quattro one.
To keep this EFV talk short, Sigma did the best for the moment and I can live with it, especially for the price of this camera.
Like all other Sigma interchangeable lens cameras, it has the IR/UV cutoff filter placed in a way that it can be user-removable for doing infrared photography. Be advised that this filter is extremely thin and easy to be damaged or broken.
One thing I noticed is about the writing time to the memory card. It's way faster than any other previous camera from Sigma, even in RAW + JPEG fine.
The preliminary tests I made showed me that this camera behaves better than the SD1 Merrill in color. They are more accurate and much less prone to the red channel blow out problem. The SD Quattro light metering is top-notch.
It's perfectly usable up to ISO 400 (sounds like a joke, but it's at least an improvement) but honestly just forget anything from ISO 800 and up unless you plan to do that SD1 Merrill trick with black and white photography using just the blue layer.
The menus are well organized, clean and functional (the opposite of Olympus horrendous menus).
I have four lenses in SA mount:
18-35 F1.8 "Art"
17-70 F2.8-4 "Contemporary"
18-250 DC 3.5-6.3 Macro HSM
70mm 2.8 EX DC Macro
30mm F1.4 "Art"
The three Global Vision lenses work like a charm, fast focus with no issues, but the 18-250 and the 70 struggles when focusing, but they work and are usable.
The image quality is on par with the ones from the Merrill, maybe just a bit less of detail, but just a bit. I need to check more. Actually, I was pretty impressed.
As you can see above, detail and color are awesome, even in jpeg ! To be honest, the jpegs are excellent, one of the best ones from any other cameras I used before, like the Fuji X range.
Again, the problem is much more on the post-processing program, Sigma Photo Pro than from the camera itself.
SPP needs a serious tone curve control, with truly independent component curves and need this for ALL Foveon cameras, not just the Quattros. I hate to have to split my workflow using two programs just because Sigma decided to not enable this feature for Merrills !
The detail from the Sigma SD Quattro and the frugal 17-70 "C" lens is staggering.
About the batteries:
This camera, like all Sigma ones, are battery hunger. The original Sigma BP-61 battery is rather expensive and has an acceptable charge capacity for this camera, but it's advisable to have at least a spare one.
I would suggest you buy a third party one from Watson, model B-3640. It's a very good one and cost much less.
Some personal thoughts about the Quattro-H:
This is not a very comfortable situation when you remember that the Quattros uses the dreaded Sigma SA mount. By no means on Earth I would invest in expensive full-frame lenses on this mount. With Sigma plans to launch a new full-frame Foveon camera based on the L mount, along with Panasonic and Leica, the SA mount is officially dead for practical purposes.
The new camera will go back to the Merrill 1-1-1 sensor instead of the 1-4-4 (4-4-1 ?) from the Quattro, and Sigma said that the plan is to launch it in 2020.
Unless you get the Quattro-H with a decent discount, it would be wiser to wait for the new kid.
Continue reading:
Since the Quattro I have is the SD Quattro-no-H all my comments will only be about it and will not cover any aspects of the DP Quattro range.
When I think about mirrorless cameras, usually the Fujis and micro-four-thirds pop in my mind with their small bodies. This is not the case when we're talking about the SD Quattro range. The bodies are almost the same size as a traditional dSLR. It's bigger than a Canon SL2 for example but smaller than a 7D. To keep it short, it's not a small mirrorless camera like the Olympus E-M10. It's a large camera.
The grip is extremely comfortable (like the SD1 Merrill, and unlike the DP2 Merrill). There are two things that will draw your attention: The EVF and the back LCD.
The camera has a very industrial look I like. Not fancy, but something like from the Bauhaus School, functionality over form. It remembers me the Paubel Makina 67 and some Agfa Optimas. I like it.
All controls are well placed and a joy to handle. To be honest, it's one of the best body designs I experienced.
 |
| Sigma SD Quattro with the 30mm F1.4 Art lens |
The LCD is pretty reasonable. Actually, there are two independent LCD screens on the camera's back. A normal one on the right side and a smaller one on the right side. The large one has the usual functions like in any other camera. The small one is like that top displays found in some cameras like the EOS 5D and it's used for some settings and to show some information about modes, speed, aperture and more.
It's possible to turn on/off both independently.
 |
| Sigma SD Quattro double LCD |
The EVF is, in a word, disappointing. The hardware has a very high resolution as you can check looking at the information, grids and system-related objects, but the image from the sensor is shown in some sort of low-quality mode.
Looks like an EVF from 5 years ago, but surely it's not but it has an absolutely horrible lag.
Sigma had to make a compromise between image quality and lag. We know it's tricky and very processor-intensive to get an image from a Foveon sensor, and maybe even more from a Quattro one.
To keep this EFV talk short, Sigma did the best for the moment and I can live with it, especially for the price of this camera.
Like all other Sigma interchangeable lens cameras, it has the IR/UV cutoff filter placed in a way that it can be user-removable for doing infrared photography. Be advised that this filter is extremely thin and easy to be damaged or broken.
One thing I noticed is about the writing time to the memory card. It's way faster than any other previous camera from Sigma, even in RAW + JPEG fine.
The preliminary tests I made showed me that this camera behaves better than the SD1 Merrill in color. They are more accurate and much less prone to the red channel blow out problem. The SD Quattro light metering is top-notch.
It's perfectly usable up to ISO 400 (sounds like a joke, but it's at least an improvement) but honestly just forget anything from ISO 800 and up unless you plan to do that SD1 Merrill trick with black and white photography using just the blue layer.
The menus are well organized, clean and functional (the opposite of Olympus horrendous menus).
I have four lenses in SA mount:
18-35 F1.8 "Art"
17-70 F2.8-4 "Contemporary"
18-250 DC 3.5-6.3 Macro HSM
70mm 2.8 EX DC Macro
30mm F1.4 "Art"
The three Global Vision lenses work like a charm, fast focus with no issues, but the 18-250 and the 70 struggles when focusing, but they work and are usable.
The image quality is on par with the ones from the Merrill, maybe just a bit less of detail, but just a bit. I need to check more. Actually, I was pretty impressed.
 |
| Sigma SD Quattro sample image, processed with SPP 6.6.1 |
As you can see above, detail and color are awesome, even in jpeg ! To be honest, the jpegs are excellent, one of the best ones from any other cameras I used before, like the Fuji X range.
Again, the problem is much more on the post-processing program, Sigma Photo Pro than from the camera itself.
SPP needs a serious tone curve control, with truly independent component curves and need this for ALL Foveon cameras, not just the Quattros. I hate to have to split my workflow using two programs just because Sigma decided to not enable this feature for Merrills !
 |
| Leonardo da Vinci's house in Amboise, France Sigma SD Quattro + Sigma 17-70 F2.8-4 "C" |
About the batteries:
This camera, like all Sigma ones, are battery hunger. The original Sigma BP-61 battery is rather expensive and has an acceptable charge capacity for this camera, but it's advisable to have at least a spare one.
I would suggest you buy a third party one from Watson, model B-3640. It's a very good one and cost much less.
Some personal thoughts about the Quattro-H:
- The larger APS-H size means that APS-C lenses may not cover the entire sensor area. Most of them will probably make a severe vignetting.
- When using APS-C size lenses the camera will crop the image to the proper size to avoid the above-mentioned problem.
- There are some APS-C lenses that can be used, according to Sigma, but they're not clear about this.
- So, you may need a full-frame size lenses to take all the size advantage from the APS-H sensor.
This is not a very comfortable situation when you remember that the Quattros uses the dreaded Sigma SA mount. By no means on Earth I would invest in expensive full-frame lenses on this mount. With Sigma plans to launch a new full-frame Foveon camera based on the L mount, along with Panasonic and Leica, the SA mount is officially dead for practical purposes.
The new camera will go back to the Merrill 1-1-1 sensor instead of the 1-4-4 (4-4-1 ?) from the Quattro, and Sigma said that the plan is to launch it in 2020.
Unless you get the Quattro-H with a decent discount, it would be wiser to wait for the new kid.
Continue reading:
