Sigma DP3 Merrill Avis | 108 Données comparées

This review from Luminous Landscape highlights the Sigma DP3 Merrill as a highly specialized, niche compact camera built around the powerful Merrill Foveon sensor and an atypical fixed 50mm f/2.8 Macro lens (75mm full-frame equivalent). The reviewer notes that this iteration represents a swift "evolution" for Sigma, bringing major internal and color profile enhancements over previous models like the DP2 Merrill. The camera excels in controlled settings like a studio for product, fabric, and beauty photography, provided it is mounted on a light tripod or monopod to steady its longer focal length. Key Pros and Cons Pros: Exceptional Lens Sharpness: The 50mm f/2.8 Macro lens is described as "damn sharp" and dispels rumors of poor optical quality. Improved Color Accuracy: Auto White Balance (AWB) is highly accurate, and the standard/vivid color modes capture gorgeous, realistic tones (especially skin tones and landscape greens) compared to older, over-saturated generations. Upgraded Ergonomics: Features better-gripping plastic on the knobs and wheels, an aluminum focus ring, and a highly functional, reversible lens hood. Studio Utility: Employs a leaf shutter and pairs seamlessly with a hot-shoe...

The Sigma DP3 Merrill is a niche compact camera praised for its exceptional image sharpness, outstanding colour depth, and innovative 46-million-pixel Foveon X3 CMOS sensor. Featuring a high-quality, fast f/2.8 500mm lens (75mm equivalent), it functions as an ideal specialty tool for portrait and macro photography. However, the review highlights significant operational drawbacks, including a restrictive fixed focal length, a three-second startup time, and a slow, hesitant autofocus system. The camera's biggest flaw is its severe low-light performance limitations, with an effective ISO range restricted to between 100 and 800. Pushing the sensitivity to ISO 1600 introduces a blue cast, while ISO 3200 and 6400 result in heavy noise, desaturation, and distinct horizontal tracking lines. Furthermore, its video capabilities are severely outdated, capping out at a tiny 640×480 resolution at 30fps. While proprietary Sigma software can partially correct color noise in RAW files, the reviewer concludes that these severe ISO and speed issues are major deterrents despite the camera's brilliant sensor quality.

Sigma DP Merrill Review Summary The Sigma DP Merrill series (comprising the DP1m, DP2m, and DP3m) features compact cameras built around a unique X3 Foveon APSC sensor that delivers medium-format-beating image sharpness and natural color rendering at base ISO 100. Reviewer Ben Evans notes that each model utilizes a phenomenal fixed f/2.8 prime lens matched to its sensor, eliminating the risk of sensor dust and offering silent shooting via a specialized leaf shutter that allows for rapid flash sync speeds up to 1/2000s. The distinct focal lengths serve specific purposes: the wide-angle DP1m (28mm equivalent) serves as a discreet walk-about or travel camera; the standard DP2m (45mm equivalent) matches the perspective of human eyes; and the short telephoto DP3m (75mm equivalent) is exceptional for portraits, macro photography, and stitching multi-image panorama mosaics. However, these niche cameras require a highly methodical shooting style and come with severe operational limitations. Their biggest drawback is abysmal battery life, often yielding fewer than 125 shots per charge, which requires users to carry multiple spares. Low-light performance is highly uncompetitive, with severe noise and a...

The Sigma DP3 Merrill is a niche compact camera defined by its 46-megapixel APS-C Foveon X3 image sensor paired with a fixed, sharp 50mm f/2.8 macro lens, delivering medium-format-level image detail. Pros include superior image quality at base ISO, a solid build, and an efficient Quick Set menu, making it excellent for tripod-based photography. YouTube ·B&H Photo However, the camera is hampered by severe cons, specifically slow operational speeds with a 47-second buffer clear time, poor high ISO performance, and massive 50MB RAW files. Other limitations include a mandatory, slow post-processing workflow, lack of an EVF, and an antiquated 480p maximum video resolution.

The Sigma DP3 Merrill is a highly specialized compact camera designed around a 46-megapixel APS-C Foveon X3 image sensor and a fixed 50mm f/2.8 lens (75mm full-frame equivalent). In his review for PCMag, Jim Fisher highlights that the camera is capable of capturing exceptionally sharp images because its three-layer sensor records independent color channels and lacks a low-pass filter, completely eliminating the threat of moiré. Key advantages include a sharp 1:3 macro focusing capability that resolves intricate detail as close as 8.9 inches, a robust, minimalist block-style body, and an intuitive Quick Set (QS) user interface coupled with a crisp 3-inch 920k-dot rear LCD screen. PCMag UK However, the reviewer emphasizes that the DP3 Merrill is far from a mainstream option due to several critical performance limitations. The camera suffers from a slow autofocus system and lacks video capture capabilities beyond basic VGA resolution, meaning it completely misses out on HD video support. Additionally, its physical design does not accommodate an electronic viewfinder (EVF). One of the biggest obstacles for photographers is the cumbersome Raw image workflow. The unique Foveon...