p.4 #6 · Sigma DP2 Merrill: Have any of you tried it?
fuzzy wuzzy was a bear
fuzzy wuzzy had no hair
one day came a boy
with the new sigma meriil toy
on it went with a beep
but auto focus was so slow
fuzzy wuzzy fell asleep
but seriously great thread--lots of leads to follow.
p.4 #7 · Sigma DP2 Merrill: Have any of you tried it?
But it's one of the flavours of this month so the forum hysteria runs high.
+1. The camera gear-addled masses periodically transfer their frenzy from one new piece of equipment to another. The Sigma DP2 Merrill happens to be their current obsession.
p.4 #10 · Sigma DP2 Merrill: Have any of you tried it?
Hey now! I likez the Killerz! Really, I do, they write snazzy hookz. Mr. Flowers doez have an affected accent when singing, but hey, when performing, are we not performerz?
Speaking of which I think they are to burp out a new disc soon. I'll buy it, I admit it.
When you finally get "Merrilized" let's hang out. I mean, I don't mind talking with/to you but I really just wanna touch your DP2(M).
That's crazy good IQ...the sort of sharpness, color and tonality that's reminiscent of a nice big piece of chrome film on a light table. I don't think there is anything else digital that gives that look practically out of camera. It's also clearly noticeable at any size. For this type of use, these DP Merrill cameras are probably unbeatable.
p.4 #15 · Sigma DP2 Merrill: Have any of you tried it?
Sure it's digital. The DP2 is limited of course. Mainly in the area of longer than normal lenses. For wider you can always stitch. And you can get more dynamic range by bracketing then using Photomatix. Bracketing is set up very easily though it will only do up to +/- 2 stops plus a normal exposure.
I also have a Hasselblad H4D-31 and it isn't all that much better. Of course there's a lot more versatility including lens choices.
p.4 #16 · Sigma DP2 Merrill: Have any of you tried it?
Those who are trying to find best between SLRs and Sigma DP-series should just pick one from AMAZON (great return policy).. and use for a month (Sigma )
The results are totally mind blowing and different (I am talking about 1st gen Sigma-Foveon combo). The waters (waves esp) and clouds were never so good...
I have modded my Sigma DP-1s to IR (full spectrum), and its going full throttle there too...
Set of my captures with Sigma.. http://www.flickr.com/photos/asbalyan/sets/72157624733446099/with/7975098631/
Seems like, time to move to Merrill ... may after one price drop...
p.4 #17 · Sigma DP2 Merrill: Have any of you tried it?
FlyPenFly wrote:
Hmmm is it just me or does this look very digital. Like a digital maze pattern.
I don't know that it is in the rocks without seeing them in person as that look is not uncommon with the texture I recall when seeing these sort of rocks in the past with fossilized type surfaces. That said, it's a fairly decent bet that the crunchiness in the brush is caused by sharpening, which would also accentuate the texture in the rock. With the Sigma raw software, even when it's set to 0, it still sharpens so many who use it set it to -1 or -2 to completely turn sharpening off and then sharpen with the better tools in PS.
p.4 #18 · Sigma DP2 Merrill: Have any of you tried it?
Tariq Gibran wrote:
I don't know that it is in the rocks without seeing them in person as that look is not uncommon with the texture I recall when seeing these sort of rocks in the past with fossilized type surfaces. That said, it's a fairly decent bet that the crunchiness in the brush is caused by sharpening, which would also accentuate the texture in the rock. With the Sigma raw software, even when it's set to 0, it still sharpens so many who use it set it to -1 or -2 to completely turn sharpening off and then sharpen with the better tools in PS....Show more →
Doug can chime in himself on this, but having been to Joshua Tree many times myself, I can attest that the rocks do indeed look like this in person. They have a notable surface texture, with many small quartz (and feldspar) crystals about 2mm to 4mm across. It's rather famous for rock climbing.
(and now I want a dp2m... but I need a new desktop...)
Interesting note on the sharpening. Thanks for that heads-up, Tariq.
p.4 #19 · Sigma DP2 Merrill: Have any of you tried it?
I'm with FPF. I'm seeing short perfectly horizontal and vertical lines (both in the rock texture and the bushes) that can only be artifacts, but ofc. this is pixel peeping of the worst kind. The sky is also pretty blotchy and posterized, but jpeg compression probably contributed to that. I agree that the tonality is very nice though.
The fuss is about the lack of fuzz(iness). 
