Never has Sigma published so many sample images and so much informative material at the launch of a new camera as they have now for the launch of the DP0 Quattro. All three reports (slash/New York, slash/Nostalgic Japan, slash/Structure) have already been published on the website of Sigma Japan. As is the standard nowadays, all sample images are available for download in full resolution.
Furthermore, a few days ago the article „Inside Stories of Development“ was published, which allows a glimpse behind the curtain of the development of the camera and the unusual lens. It is interesting to know that the DP0 was originally planned as a fourth Merrill model, but that the project was ultimately abandoned. According to the article, the time was not yet deemed right for such a camera. The project was only picked up again after the DP2Q had been announced.
Reading the afore-mentioned article, one can hardly escape getting the impression that all involved are rather proud of the 14mm f/4 fixed lens. A view at the ambitious optical construction also explains why: the designers went to great lengths to correct imaging errors like distortion and CAs without compromising edge sharpness. Featuring eleven lenses, almost three quarters of which are made of a special glass, it is, to my knowledge, Sigma’s most complex fixed wide angle lens ever.
I am not a wide angle fan, however, I am still delighted that the DP0Q’s imaging performance achieved such good results in the tests published so far.
- photographyblog.com
- ephotozine.com
- rockymountainsplendor.com
- wimarys.com
- focus-numerique.com
- dc.watch.impress.co.jp
Maybe the lens designers will be encouraged to experiment and take risks even more often. 🙂