In the beginning, I want to show you the front page of Sigma DP1. It contains with 14 million pixel and 2.5" LCD. Although it is a little big for a compact camera, it's still a small one comparing with a DSLR(Digital Single Lens Reflector). I really love this stylish and simple outlook.
DP1 has many aspects of breakthrough in the camera innovation. The first challenge for the Sigma's engineers is how to install a DSLR sensor to a compact camera. Unlike most of the compact camera nowadays choose 1/1.8" sensor, DP1 install a DSLR size senor which provide better quality of clarity and noise-reduction. So, we can easily understand that Sigma's main idea is to create a compact camera with high performance. DP1's main customer will be those who has enough budget to buy a entry level DSLR, but doesn't satisfy with DSLR's large.
This achievement is good, but not impressive enough.....
I think the most incredible part of DP1's senor is their new Foveon X3. It's a complete different idea of sensor design. Below I would like to use some pictures from DPReview to explain how Foveon works.
Traditional Sensor:
Traditionally, a monochromatic (b&w) image sensor uses individual color filters over each photodetector. Therefore, each photodetector can only detect one of either red, green or blue light. Then the algorithm will compensate for a near color to the neighborhood gray pixel. If we look the RGB channel separately, we would see this picture.
Foveon X3 sensor:
For Sigma's engineers, they kept thinking how to avoid the algorithm compensate for neighborhood pixels. Can we just let the colors show itself?? Yes, we can.
Eventually, the engineers use multi-layered filter at each pixel location. This new design meant we can see the full color in our picture rather than the computed color. From the picture below, you can find how much different to the picture above. It's more colorful, bright and clear.
I believe this new design may set a new standard for the camera industry which has been long adopted to use Mosaic sensor. DP1 is a breakthrough product, however, there are some weakness of it. It's reaction is slow and the shutter is sluggish. If you have to shot some sport or rapidly moving subject, DP1 doesn't fit your needs. On the other hand, if you always have plenty of time to take photos, DP1 will be your first choice.
This achievement is good, but not impressive enough.....
I think the most incredible part of DP1's senor is their new Foveon X3. It's a complete different idea of sensor design. Below I would like to use some pictures from DPReview to explain how Foveon works.
Traditional Sensor:
Traditionally, a monochromatic (b&w) image sensor uses individual color filters over each photodetector. Therefore, each photodetector can only detect one of either red, green or blue light. Then the algorithm will compensate for a near color to the neighborhood gray pixel. If we look the RGB channel separately, we would see this picture.
Foveon X3 sensor:
For Sigma's engineers, they kept thinking how to avoid the algorithm compensate for neighborhood pixels. Can we just let the colors show itself?? Yes, we can. Eventually, the engineers use multi-layered filter at each pixel location. This new design meant we can see the full color in our picture rather than the computed color. From the picture below, you can find how much different to the picture above. It's more colorful, bright and clear.
I believe this new design may set a new standard for the camera industry which has been long adopted to use Mosaic sensor. DP1 is a breakthrough product, however, there are some weakness of it. It's reaction is slow and the shutter is sluggish. If you have to shot some sport or rapidly moving subject, DP1 doesn't fit your needs. On the other hand, if you always have plenty of time to take photos, DP1 will be your first choice.
No comments:
Post a Comment