SGIMA DP2 Merrill
Review and Photo example of the SIGMA DP2 Merrill.
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Review
DP2/Merrill is the successor to DP2 and was released in 2012.The lens is new and has a focal length of 30mm, and the sensor size is a little larger with an APS-C sensor that is x1.5x, so the 35mm equivalent focal length is 45mm. becomes. The DP2 equipped with a 1.7x APS-C sensor has a diameter of 24.2mm/42mm.
The sensor, which is the core of a digital camera, is equipped with the same APS-C size 3rd generation Foveon sensor as the SD1, and the resolution is 15 million pixels x 3 layers. The battery has a Sigma model number of BP-41 and is compatible with the DB-65 used in Ricoh’s compact cameras.
The standard focal length of the DP2 was used with the LEICA M9 when this camera came out, so I didn’t use it much, so I don’t have much of an impression of the camera. Looking at the shooting records, I think I should have used it more.
The minimum shooting distance is 28cm, which is the shortest shooting distance according to the focal length, but if you attach the optional close-up lens AML-2, you can get closer to the subject.
This option also suggests that Sigma was aware that the minimum focusing distance was insufficient.
However, the successor DP2 Quattro has a minimum shooting distance of 28cm and no longer has a close-up option. The exact circumstances why AML-3 was not released are unknown, but the possible reasons are that the DP3 series, which was responsible for macros, was added to the product line, or that the AML series did not sell well.
The close-up shooting range when the option is installed has not been officially announced, but there is information about the shooting range when the option is installed in the second and third rows of the reference link.
In addition, since the AML-2 is a 49mm screw-in type, you can use any 49mm diameter lens as is, or if the diameter does not match, you can use the step-up or step-down ring to change the diameter.
The DP Merrill series was released in three models with different focal lengths: DP1 Merrill, equivalent to 28mm in 35mm format, DP2 Merrill, equivalent to 45mm, and DP3 Merrill, equivalent to 75mm. Both camera bodies have a square shape with few irregularities, making them a little difficult to hold in their original state, but this can be improved by installing a third-party aftermarket grip. All three cameras have the same dimensions other than the lens, so options such as grips can be reused. The DP1 Merrill and DP2 Merrill have almost the same lens size, and the only difference is the lens nameplate and model number.
A compact digital camera with an APS-C size high-performance sensor and a fixed lens is a good option for snapshots, etc. Unfortunately, the DP Merrill series also inherited the tradition of the Sigma compact digital camera, with a poor electrical system and poor battery life. It has the disadvantage of poor response due to the poor processing system. There was a time when I had cash back from the manufacturer after they were released, so there was a time when I had all three of them on hand, but I used them infrequently and sold them soon after.
Currently, used cars are being traded at a reasonable price, but considering the X3F’s difficulty in handling, battery life, and the end of repair support as of 2023, I think the Quattro series is better, but the portability is better than the Merrill series. The series is by far the best, and I really like the minimal and clean design.
The tonfa body of the Quattro series has an impact, but its portability is unbearable, and it is a shame that a camera equipped with the Quattro sensor was not released with the DP Merrill body.
DP Merrill’s sensor only supports X3F for image recording, so image processing is limited to SPP. I also tried using a freeware utility software that converts X3F to DNG, but with the version I used, it was difficult to achieve the same quality as SPP without extensive processing of the image after converting to DNG, so I had the impression that it was unusable. there were.
Ideally, if the image after DNG conversion could be equivalent to the SPP default image, fine-tuning it with other software would be possible, but there was no such thing as a good idea. Since the conversion software is freeware created by an individual, there is no reason for users to complain.
I found out that it can be developed using the image processing software Affinity Photo, so I tested it on this page. In order to obtain the same results as SPP, we must study adjustment methods.
Specification
| Items | DP1 Merrill | DP2 Merrill | DP3 Merrill |
| Camera Effective Pixels | Total pixels:48MP Effective pixels:46MP (4,800×3,200×3) | ← | ← |
| Lens focal length | 19mm(28mm) | 30mm(45mm) | 50mm(75mm) |
| Lens Construction | 9elements in 8groups | 8elements in 6groups | 10elements in 8groups |
| Max aperture | 2.8 | 2.8 | 2.8 |
| Min aperture | 16 | 16 | 16 |
| Leaf blade | 9 | 9 | 7 |
| Image sensor | FOVEON X3®(CMOS)・23.5×15.7mm | ← | ← |
| Back LCD | 3.0 inch /920,000 dots | ← | ← |
| View Finder | VF-11 | VF-22 | – |
| Minimum shooting distance(m) | 0.2 | 0.28 | 0.226 |
| Battery | Li-on battery(BP-41) | ← | ← |
| Size(mm) W x H x D | 122 × 67× 64 | 122 × 67 × 59 | 122 × 67 × 80 |
| Weight(g) | 360 | 355 | 400 |
| Release date | 9.14.2012 | 7.12.2012 | 2.22.2013 |
Options
- VIEW FINDER : VF-21
- LENS HOOD : LH2-01
- CLOSE-UP LENS : AML-2
- ELECTRONIC FLASH : EF-140 DG
- In addition, hand grips were released by a third party.
Reference links
- DP2 Merrill official page
- https://mawari.cocolog-nifty.com/mawariblog/2012/08/sigma-aml-2-for.html
- https://bbs.kakaku.com/bbs/K0000349522/SortID=14817706/
Update history
- 2024.03.11:Update
- 2023.04.12:First draft
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