Full review
It’s been ages since we reviewed a Sigma DSLR camera, the last model being the not-so-impressive SD10. Fortunately, its replacement, the SD14 is a somewhat different beast, although it still uses a Foveon image sensor. For starters, it’s more compact and 85 grams lighter than the SD10. It’s also the first Sigma DSLR capable of shooting JPEG files as well as X3F raw files.
Sensor
The Foveon X3 direct image sensor used in the SD14 is a third-generation
unit that’s quite different from the CCD and CMOS sensors in other
cameras, although it’s built with CMOS technology. A 1.7x field-of-view
crop applies as it did with earlier Sigma DSLRs. Instead of producing
colour information by filtering photosites through a Bayer colour array,
it is structured in three layers, rather like colour film.
The layers of photosites are embedded in silicon and take advantage of
the fact that red, green, and blue light penetrate silicon to different
depths. The bottom layer records red, the middle layer records green,
and the top layer records blue. This structure allows image data for
each colour to be extracted from the related layer without requiring
filtration. In theory, it should allow the sensor to gather more colour
information, thereby producing sharper pictures, more accurate colours
and fewer artefacts (particularly moirø© patterns). And, because no
colour interpolation is required to produce the final picture, the
camera should be faster and more responsive.
Foveon’s technology has evolved since its first DSLR sensor was used in
the Sigma SD9, which was launched late in 2002. As well as delivering
higher resolution, the SD14’s sensor and image processor can produce
JPEG files This is a ‘first’ for Sigma’s DSLRs. Four JPEG recording
modes are provided: Super High (4608 x 3072 pixels), High (2640 x 1760
pixels), Medium (1776 x 1184 pixels) and Low (1296 x 864 pixels),
covering most photographers’ requirements.
In Super High mode, JPEG
images are output as 13.9-megapixel files, ranging in size between 4.5MB
and 7.6MB, depending on the amount of detail in the shot. X3F raw files
start off as three layers of 2640 x 1760 pixels with a file size of
between 14MB and 17.5MB. When converted into 16-bit TIFF images with the
bundled software, they still have dimensions of 2640 x 1760 pixels but
the file size has increased to 25-27MB. Obviously the colour
interpolation used to produce the JPEG files accounts for the difference
in pixel dimensions between the JPEG and raw image files.
Build and Design
The SD14’s body is strongly constructed with a
rubberised grip that has an indentation for the middle finger and is
big enough to suit users with large hands. With the supplied lens
attached and battery and CF card loaded, the SD14 weighs a hefty 1.275
kg. Overall, it’s a nice camera to hold and has a reassuringly solid
feel. The shutter button is well-positioned and there’s an indentation
on the rear panel to fit your thumb. An AF-assist light is located
between the shutter button and the pentaprism housing on the front
panel, while the self-timer light is right of the lens mount and the
lens release button is below it, level with the mounting flange.
The top panel carries two dials: a Mode dial with P, A, S and M settings
and a ‘D-Dial’ carrying the power-off switch, single and continuous
drive settings, 2- and 10-second self-timer modes, mirror lock-up and
auto bracketing settings. The pentaprism hump lies between these dials
and carries a pop-up flash and hot-shoe. The pentaprism itself is an
improvement on the earlier cameras, being not only larger but also
brighter – although it’s still not as bright as some competing cameras.
A slider above the viewfinder allows diopter adjustment and the
viewfinder has a wide, hard rubber eyecup. The viewfinder covers 98% of
the sensor’s field of view and has a magnification of 0.9x, which is
quite impressive. Right of the Mode dial is a small data LCD and in
front of it sits the shutter button, which is surrounded by a knurled
Command dial.
The rear panel has a pretty standard arrangement with the 2.5-inch LCD
monitor (another improvement on earlier Sigma cameras) stationed below
the viewfinder. Its resolution is relatively low for a modern DSLR and
it doesn’t do justice to the images produced by the camera. Brightness
and contrast adjustments are provided. Left of the monitor is a vertical
array of five buttons that access the Menu, Playback, Info, Modify
Images and Delete functions. A function button above this array lets
users access the metering pattern, AF mode, flash synch mode and
extended ISO settings.
To the right of the LCD monitor is the arrow pad and, above it, a Quick
Set button control that accesses the ISO, quality and white balance
settings. Pressing this button calls up four functions as a display on
the LCD. Laid out on the vertical axis are the ISO and white balance
settings, while the horizontal axis handles the file format (raw or
JPEG) and pixel dimensions. Three levels of JPEG compression are
provided – a first for a Sigma DSLR. These settings are all slow to use
because you have to toggle sequentially through several pre-sets to find
the one you want.
The Function button, which sits left of the viewfinder eyepiece, works
in a similar fashion to the Quick Set button and you have to step
through a number of adjustments and hold the button down while turning
the dial to make your selection. AE lock, exposure/aperture compensation
and AF point selection buttons plus a + and – controller cluster in the
top right corner. A rubber pad with a contoured thumb rest is located
between these buttons and the arrow pad, while the CF slot cover slides
out on the right hand side. This cover has no latch but it’s textured to
make it easy to open and locks into place quite securely (although no
environmental sealing is provided).
The rechargeable battery slots
into the camera base in a traditional fashion, while the strap lugs are
located well out of the way of users’ fingers when they are resting on
the top edge. A removable dust protector has been placed in front of
image sensor to prevent dust from reaching the imager and the new camera
boasts an easily accessible mirror lock-up control.
Controls
Instead of a single menu that accesses several pages of settings, three
ways of adjusting to camera controls are provided. Because there’s only
one Command dial and several functions require you to turn it while
simultaneously pressing a button, the SD14 can often be a bit laborious
to operate. Consequently, it’s easier to adjust the JPEG compression
settings than change the metering pattern or flash sync mode.
The Function menu.
The main menu is somewhat counter-intuitive but covers items that are mainly included in the set-up menus of other cameras. Unfortunately, its font size is small and the colours used are less visible than you would like. Some buttons, notably the Modify Images (which lets you mark, protect and rotate shots and activate slideshows) and magnification buttons only work in playback mode.
The Main menu.
Five DM (Distance Measurement) points are used by the AF system with
sensors located in the centre, left, right, top and bottom of the field
of view. The centre point has cross hairs for improved accuracy. This
arrangement is simpler than the AF systems of some competing cameras but
seems to work as well as the test camera’s AF system was fast and
accurate in bright light and only a little slower in dim conditions.
However, we had to switch to manual focus for our long exposure tests
after dark because subject contrast was too low for the AF system to
use. Manual focusing was straightforward, largely because of the
supplied lens whose focus ring moved smoothly and securely.
The SD14 also offers full manual control over exposure levels and has an
over- and under-exposure indicator. Program shift is available, along
with +/- 3EV of exposure compensation and exposure bracketing in 1/3EV
increments. Centre-weighted, evaluative and spot metering are supported
and, according to Sigma, the shutter mechanism is rated for 100,000
cycles.
White balance settings include auto plus six pre-sets (sun, shade,
cloudy, fluorescent, tungsten and flash) and a Custom mode – but no
facilities for fine-tuning settings. The sensitivity range is also
limited to ISO 100-800 with an extended setting of ISO 1600. Adjustments
can only be made in full EV steps. Shutter speeds range from 30 seconds
to 1/4000 second with a Bulb mode that is limited to 30 seconds (which
won’t suit astro-photographers). Flash synch remains at a relatively
slow 1/180 seconds.
Index playback.
Interestingly, the SD14 has more dedicated controls for reviewing shots than shooting functions. The new camera is compatible with more than 40 Sigma lenses and several dedicated Sigma flash units. And, unlike its predecessors, it comes with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which claims to support up to 500 shots per charge.
Software
The camera is supplied with Sigma Photo Pro 3.0 software, which combines
a fairly average file browser with a better-than-average raw file
converter. The browser has the usual folder tree in a narrow column on
the left side, with the rest of the desktop taken up by a lightbox-style
window containing images from the selected folder. Each image is
identified by its file name and tagged to show whether it’s a JPEG or
X3F raw file.
The desktop for Sigma PhotoPro 3.
Five thumbnail viewing options are provided: mini, small, medium, large
and thumbnails with details (which displays basic image metadata). You
can elect to view only the JPEGs, X3F raw files or TIFF images or have
all three displayed together. You can also rotate, mark and lock
selected images when you want to identify or protect shots you really
want to keep. The software also lets you delete and print images and
display slideshows in the main window. Facilities are also provided for
renaming individual shots and batch renaming as well as selecting one or
multiple images.
Image Management facilities. (Source: Sigma)
Double-clicking on an image opens the file in the editor/raw converter,
which provides three adjustment modes: X3F (for raw files) or File (for
JPEGs), Auto and Custom. With X3F selected each image is displayed as it
was captured by the camera. Moving the selector to Auto automatically
adjusts the shot while Custom allows you to make your own adjustments by
clicking on the Adjustment Controls tag at the upper right corner of
the pane.
White balance adjustments.
The Adjustment Mode window contains sliders covering exposure, contrast,
shadow and highlight detail, saturation and sharpness. These settings
can be saved for subsequent use on other raw shots but you can’t save
settings for JPEG and TIFF files. A colour wheel is provided for
tweaking image colour and an eyedropper lets you display RGB values for
any point in the image or neutralize the hue of a neutral colour with a
colour cast. There’s also a small RGB histogram and adjustments to set
the shadow and highlight values for the warning masks (which can be
turned on and off via a checkmark box).
Highlight and shadow warnings.
White balance adjustments are provided for X3F raw files, replicating the settings provided in the camera. However, the custom setting is replaced by an Original setting which restores image colours to the ‘as shot’ values. The Monochrome setting in this menu is non-destructive and you can restore colour and adjust white balance after processing an X3F file to create a B&W image. Clicking on Save Image As opens a window that allows you to select the source images, adjustments modes, processing settings (output image size, colour space, file type and JPEG quality) and the destination folder. There’s also a button on the main window that lets you replace the stored settings in an X3F file with adjusted values.
Image saving options.
Sigma Photo Pro 3.0 also provides a tool
for verifying the brightness, gamma and colour of your monitor, which
is best used as an adjunct to Adobe Gamma. It’s no substitute for proper
monitor calibration but certainly better than nothing and may help
novice users to obtain good-looking pictures on their PC screens.
Performance
Colour was the most impressive aspect of the test camera’s performance.
In all our test shots hues had a greater depth than we’ve seen from most
of the DSLRs we’ve reviewed. Tonal subtlety was also competently
recorded and there were few situations when the camera failed to capture
a full dynamic range – especially with raw shots.
Imatest produced some interesting graphs from our test files and showed
the supplied lens to suffer from slight edge softening. This defect
isn’t noticeable in shots unless they are enlarged to 200% or more,
where traces of coloured fringing become visible. Interestingly, Imatest
showed lateral chromatic aberration to be low. Colour accuracy was
average for a DSLR but high levels of saturation were recorded for reds
and yellowish-greens. Some hue shifts were also recorded.
The auto white balance setting on the test camera had the usual problems
with incandescent lighting and didn’t fare much better with fluorescent
lights. Only the custom measurement mode produced acceptable colour
reproduction. Flash performance was varied, with the best results coming
from ISO 100 and ISO 200 settings. Flash exposures taken at ISO
settings of 400 and above were generally over-exposed, suggesting some
problems with the TTL flash metering system.
Overall, the SD14’s shutter and AF systems were quite responsive.
However we measured an average capture lag of 0.4 seconds, which reduced
to less than 0.1 seconds with pre-focusing. It took approximately two
seconds to process and store a high-resolution JPEG shot and just over
nine seconds for a raw file.
In continuous shooting mode, JPEG shots
were recorded at 0.3 second intervals and raw files marginally slower.
The buffer filled after six raw files and then took just over a minute
to clear.
Conclusion
Sigma’s SD14 is an interesting camera that is most likely to appeal to
photographers who prefer to use manual controls and shoot raw files. It
will also suit photographers who want rich, eye-popping colours, subtle
pastels and delicate tonal nuances – but they’ll need to work hard to
obtain the best results. The supplied Sigma Photo Pro 3.0 software is a
good starting point for processing X3F raw files but we suspect most
users will opt for a third-party application that offers a wider range
of adjustments plus useful functions like cropping and straightening.
Relative
to other DSLRs on the market, the SD14 is pretty pricey. Potential
purchasers will need to weigh up the advantages of this camera against
the many functions that are either missing or limited when compared with
DSLRs from some other manufacturers.
IMATEST GRAPHS
SAMPLE IMAGES
Close-ups.
Strong backlighting.
Colour.
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