Sigma DP1 Update

The SIGMA DP1 prototype was shown off at Photokina in October 2006. Many people have been anxiously awaiting this camera as it would be the first compact camera to feature a much larger sensor than other compact cameras. However, in an announcement today, the COO of Sigma apologized for the delay and let everyone know that some of the DP1 specifications that were previously announced will be changing.

Originally, the DP1 was going to feature a 14 megapixel Foveon sensor (3 layers of sensors, with each layer capturing 2652 x 1768 resolution) and feature a fixed focal length 16.6mm, F4 lens (28mm equivalent). According to the announcement today, "some specifications" wil be changing.

In pre-beta development during the summer of this year, it was discovered the image quality with the DP1 was not up to Sigma's standards. After additional testing, it was found that the image processing pipeline was not going to work the way they wanted it to. So, they decided to completely change the pipeline.

To stick with their DP1 concept of: "a camera with the best still image quality in a compact body", some specifications will need to change. They don't have an announcement yet as to what the new set of specs will be, but promised that it would be made at the appopriate time. As of November 2007, they have entered alpha testing with the new design.

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