Sigma: A Point-and-Shoot with 14 Megapixels? Why Not!

Sigma DP1 Digital Camera

Sigma Corporation has launched the Sigma DP1 high-end compact camera featuring a large sensor that packs 14 megapixels. The reasoning is that a larger sensor can take advantage of larger pixels, which in turn translates into better and truer photos.

The Sigma DP1 image sensor is 12 times larger than the 1/2.5-inch sensor used in ordinary point-and-shoot cameras. It uses three silicon embedded layers of photo sensors that can absorb red, green and blue light at different depths.

If all this is beginning to sound familiar, yes, the Sigma DP1 uses the same Foveon X3 direct image sensor used by the Sigma SD14 Pro DSLR. Sigma says this ensures that the DP1 capture full and complete color.

The company also debuts what it calls TRUE DSP (Three-layer Responsive Ultimate Engine Digital Signal Processor) in the DP1 for high-speed image processing. The technology was jointly developed with Fujitsu.

The Sigma DP1 compact digital camera sports a 16.6mm F4 lens with a wide-angle field of view equivalent to 28mm on a 35mm film camera. It’s lightweight at just 240g and features a 2.5-inch display.

[Via: Sigma Imaging UK]

Published by Chris Malinao

Chris teaches Lightroom as workflow software to photography students at the FPPF, Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation. He also teaches smartphone photography.