SIGMA SD10
A review and photo example of the SIGMA SD10 digital cameras.
Table of contents
Gallery
Review
The SD10 is a Sigma SLR digital camera released in 2003.
Sigma’s single-lens reflex camera came to an end with the SA-7/SA-9/SA-7n when there were no files, and the SD9/SD10, SD14/SD15, and SD1 when it became a digital camera. SD Quattro/SD Quattro H is a mirrorless camera that will be the last model equipped with a Foveon sensor as of 2023. fp/fpL is a mirrorless camera with a Bayer sensor.
Like the SD9, the SD10 is a single-lens reflex digital camera equipped with a first-generation Foveon sensor. The successor to the SD9, the SD9 is the world’s first single-lens reflex digital camera equipped with a 3-layer sensor from Foveon (later acquired by Sigma and made a subsidiary), which Sigma did not touch.
The actual pixels are 3 million pixels x 3, but it was possible to output even higher pixels by compositing with SIGMA PhotoPro.
The viewfinder seems to have been borrowed from the film camera SA-7, and was a 35mm full-size viewfinder with the peripheral area masked, so-called a sports finder. I’ve heard some complaints about this method, but I personally found it useful to be able to see things that aren’t visible.
The unique depiction produced by the 3-layer sensor has created SIGMA enthusiasts, and I think the image quality of the SD9/SD10 is still acceptable today. In particular, when taking pictures of landscapes or birds with clear boundaries that required color separation, the unblurred images were a clear departure from the 6-megapixel images that were equipped with low-pass filters at the time.
Later, when Bayer sensors with higher pixel count and no low-pass filter came out, I started to think that I didn’t need to be so particular about Foveon, but I used all the previous Foveon sensor models.
Anyway, the SD9/SD10 requires patience in terms of operational response, and SIGMA PhotoPro is a software that requires patience in developing after shooting.
I think it’s thanks to this camera that I don’t have to worry about using a camera or software that is a little slow.
I got the SD10 on the day it was released through a camera shop in Osaka where I had purchased Sigma SA lenses. It was a store in Osaka where there was a culture of haggling, so I remember haggling until the very last minute. Now that I think about it, I think it was a benefit, but I also feel that I did something that I feel a little sorry for.
The Sigma SA mount was compatible with the Pentax-K mount in shape, although the flange back was different, and M42 mount lenses could be used via the Pentax K-M42 adapter. There is a 1.5mm difference in flange focal length between the SA mount = 44mm and the K mount = 45.5mm, but many of the old M42 mount lenses were over-inflated, so focusing was rarely a problem in practice.
I was also able to use the Penta-K mount lens with the SD9/SD10 as long as there were no interfering objects such as an aperture lever.
Shortly after the release of the SD9, a hobbyist released an SA-M42 mount adapter, which allowed you to use an M42 lens with the correct flange focal length.
Some people released SA-NikonF mount adapters.
There was also a plan to convert the SA mount of this camera to a CANON-EF mount, and I invested a small amount, but the plan fell through and my investment was returned. It was an idyllic time that is unimaginable today.
There was a genuine Sigma rechargeable CR-V3, and by using it I was able to avoid the disposable CR-V3, but since the pure battery and charger were released towards the end of the SD10 product lifespan, I rarely saw them. . Additionally, several companies have released rechargeable batteries that are compatible with the CR-V3, but since they all have a higher voltage than the SD9/SD10 requires, there is a possibility that the camera could be damaged if used. When I obtained rechargeable CR-V3 compatible batteries from several companies and measured them with a tester, the voltage varied widely depending on the battery, and some exceeded the specified voltage and others were insufficient, making me worried about using them regularly with the camera.
The recording medium was CompactFlash, and I remember that it had a large capacity of 64MB at the time. When a 4GB microdrive came out, it was expensive, but I couldn’t resist the capacity appeal, so I decided to install it, but I bought a CompactFlash (3.3V operation: average 66mW, 5V operation: average 110mW, Source: Buffalo Compact) (The power supply is 3.3V/5V, and the power consumption is 221mW at 3.3V and 360mW at 5V (both at low power idle), Source: Web-ASCII 2003 article) ), so it was a little unreasonable to use it with the SD9/SD10, which has an unstable power supply. I remember that the camera became unstable due to power consumption (this may have been due to the fact that at the time, nickel-metal hydride batteries were mainly used for cost performance reasons).
Currently, the battery used is Energizer, which is distributed by Koizumi Seiki Co., Ltd. This is 1,000 yen for 4 pieces (price changed to about 2,500 yen as of 2023).The voltage is stable and there is little spontaneous discharge, so it is very useful for the SD10 that is used only occasionally. It uses Panasonic lithium batteries, which have the same performance as of 2023. There are also concerns about how long the supply will last.
Specification and Compare
| Items | SD9 | SD10 | SD14 | SD15 |
| Camera Effective Pixels | 10.29 million pixels (2,268 x 1,512 x 3 layers) | ← | 14.06 million pixels (2,652 x 1,768 x 3 layers) | ← |
| Camera mount | SIGMA-SA baynet mount | ← | ← | ← |
| Image sensor | FOVEON X3®(CMOS) 20.7×13.8mm | ← | ← | ← |
| Back LCD | 1.8-inch Low-temperature polysilicon TFT color LCD monitor 130,000 pixels | ← | 2.5-inch 150,000 pixels | 3-inch 460,000 pixels |
| View Finder | Pentaprism type single-lens reflex viewfinder | ← | ← | ← |
| Battery | Main 2 x 3V lithium batteries (CR-V3) 4 x AA Nickel-Metal Hydride Batteries 4 AA nickel batteries Sub 3V lithium battery (CR123A type 2 pcs.) | 2 x 3V lithium batteries (CR-V3) 4 x AA Nickel-Metal Hydride Batteries 4 AA nickel batteries | Lithium-ion battery (BP-21/BP-22) | ← |
| Record Media | Compact flash Micro drive | ← | Compact flash | SD-card(SDHC) |
| Size(mm) W x H x D | 152 × 120 × 79 | ← | 144 × 107 × 81 | ← |
| Weight(g) | 805g (Ext battery) | 785g (Ext battery) | 700g (Ext battery) | 680g (Ext battery) |
| Release date | Year 2002 | Year 2003 | Sep.2007 | Jun.2010 |
Options
- vertical grip
- Release Cable
- All Sigma SA mount lenses
Reference links
Update history
- 2024.02.19:Update
- 2023.02.07:First draft
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