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Sigma SD9 Digital CameraThe breakthrough Sigma SD9 camera features the FOVEON® X3TM image sensor which is the world's first image-sensor that features...
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The breakthrough Sigma SD9 camera features the FOVEON® X3TM image sensor which is the world's first image-sensor that features three layers of photo detectors. The layers are embedded in silicon to take advantage of the fact that red, green and blue light penetrate silicon to different depths allowing full-color to be measured at every pixel. The layers are positioned to take advantage of the fact that silicon absorbs different colors of light at different depths, so one layer records red, another layer records green and the other layer records blue, This means that for every pixel on a FOVEON® X3TM image sensor, there's actually a stack of three photo detectors, forming the first and only full-color capture system.
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7 Reviews from Shopping.com
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Best Value in Digital SLR's
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Pros: unmatched image quality, rich color, images scale well for poster output
Cons: noise high at ISO 400, AF too slow for sports, no built in flash
The Bottom Line:
Best Enthusiast Value.
The Sigma SD9 when used properly, produces the most colorful and three dimensional pictures I've seen in a camera under $4,000. Getting the best pictures requires skill with exposure and a familiarity with the camera, but many exposure errors can be corrected with the free bundled software. The main reason this camera is so cheap is it's slow AF and unacceptable noise at ISO 400. Therefore, this camera is an exceptional value for portrait and landscape photographers, but will pose a problem for sports and night photography. Still, under the right conditions, this camera takes fast, highly detailed, and color accurate pictures. The yellow color cast appears infrequently and can be eliminated with the included software. Sigma has chosen a RAW only approach to preserve the immense detail output from the foveon chip. For example, a 6mp conventional camera has only 2/3rds the receptors as the Sigma, and additionally must guess at the blank spots to create the full 6mp image. The Sigma with 10 million photosites aligned to eliminate the guessing can produce an image that would compare to an 8-14mp conventional image depending on the color content of the scene.
In all, I thoroughly enjoy this camera! Just remember to buy a flash, lithium crv3's on ebay, and a 1gb microdrive to complete your kit.
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