The Sigma SD10 is a digital single-lens reflex camera (DSLR) manufactured by the Sigma Corporation of Japan. It was announced on October 27, 2003, and is an evolution of the previous SD9 model, addressing many of the shortcomings of that camera. The Sigma SD10 is unique amongst DSLRs in that it uses a full-colour Foveon sensor (Instead of one with a Colour Filter Array) and that it only produces raw format images that require post-processing on a computer.
Foveon X3 image sensor
Like its predecessor, the SD10 uses a sensor with the unique Foveon X3 sensor technology. The 10.2-million-pixel raw file generated from this sensor is processed to produce a 3.4 megapixel size image file. Although the image file is smaller than images from competing 10 megapixel cameras, it is made from the same number of measured data values because the Foveon sensor detects full-colour data (three values) at each photosite; the actual resolution contained in its 3.4 MP images is about the same as a conventional Bayer filter sensor of 7–9 MP.1 Sigma and Foveon count each red, green, and blue sensor as a pixel, and state the camera has 10.2 million pixels; similarly, companies selling Bayer filter cameras also count each single-colour sensor element as a pixel.
Raw output only
Unlike other DSLR cameras marketed concurrently, the SD10 performs no in-camera processing to common image formats such as JPEG and TIFF. Instead, it saves images in its own .X3F format, which retains all the information the camera captured. Processing on a computer is required to use these files. Sigma provides the Foveon-written SIGMA Photo Pro application for this purpose; in addition, Adobe Photoshop CS2 supports the format, as do several other image-processing applications.
Shooting modes
The camera supports single-shot, continuous, 2 or 10 second self-timer, mirror lock-up, and auto exposure bracketing.
Exposure modes
Four different exposure modes are supported: aperture priority (A), shutter speed priority (S), manual (M) and program automatic (P).
Lens availability
The SD10 supports only Sigma SA mount lenses. Only Sigma produces lenses to fit this mount. Third-party converters exist for a number of other lens mounts, although no automatic features are supported. Many Canon EF mount lenses can be converted to SA mount while retaining autofocus and camera controlled aperture settings, however optical stabilisation will not work.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sigma SD10 and Taken with Sigma SD10.- Official Sigma SD 10 Page
- Official Sigma SD10 Page (outdated)
- Official Sigma SD10 FAQ (outdated)
- Foveon.com, the maker of the X3 sensor used in the SD10
- DPReview.com Reviews the SD10
- SD10 user image galleries
- Sigma SLR Talk Forum on dpreview.com
- CNET Specs
- SD10 Manual in PDF
References
"DPReview studio test of Sigma SD10". Sigma SD10 studio test. DPReview. http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sigmasd10/page16.asp ↩