Carl Rytterfalk "BW DP1 experiment" - Insights into the Sigma DP1

Carl Rytterfalk is posting some very interesting work on his site. He is using the Sigma SD14, which has the same Foveon sensor as the Sigma DP1. While the samples available from pre-production DP1 units (available at here at DPReview and here at LetsGoDigital) have shown impressive performance at low ISOs, the high ISO files have been criticized for "blotchy" color noise. In my experience, similar color noise from Bayer sensor-derived high ISO files typically translates into "blotchy" regions in black and white conversions. Carl's ISO 3200-12800 tests using the SD14 suggest that the same may not be the case for the latest Foveon offering. His additional high ISO tests were performed at 16mm (28mm FOV in 35mm photography terms) to simulate the expected output from the DP1. Carl recently also posted a black and white portrait from the SD14 resized from 4.6MP to 14MP. Anyone interested in the SD14 or DP1 will want to check out his excellent work. To see nearly 2,000 more examples of photos taken with the SD14, check out the SD14 group on Flickr.

The DP1 is now available for pre-order from Amazon with a release date of March 25.