Sigma DP1 Digital Camera

Having read all the reviews I went ahead & bought a new DP1. I thought very carefully about what I wanted this camera to help me do: architecture & landscape. In context I have a Canon 5D & Ricoh GX100.

Here are my random thoughts:

- I was genuinely surprised that it is not only well built but feels that way too. It's a bit 'slippy' - probably because I haven't got used to holding it yet & am treating it unnecessarily carefully

- I like the simple clean styling - to my eyes it is not tacky, not showy, or boastful. I admire the design.

- The first time I clicked the flash unlock button I nearly dropped it - the loud clunk is lovely & mechanical (made me smile anyway)

- I like the way the lens cap fits on - it's the pedant in me that likes the idea that the name has to line up

- The power-on button reminds me of a long gone Canon 35mm film camera - sort of metal & big & mechanical (I like that). And mine makes a sort of endearing noise as the lens extends. A sort of 'I'm getting the lens out but it will take as long as I need'

- Outside when the sun shines the DP1 LCD is a little weak. And reviewing my shots is a little more challenging. Setting it to 'bright' looks quite washed out.

- I played around with a few of the buttons & smiled at some that were clearly labelled with white letters & others that just had a very small icon stamped into the button

- I dived into the menu & played around having paid no attention to the manual - & I did get it a bit wrong but muddled through after a short while. I got puzzled as to how to set RAW but was just being impatient & conditioned by menu structures from my other cameras

- I tried the manual focus mode - by the way I like cameras doing automatic stuff for me - which is probably why I get dissatisfied with the photos I take because I trust them much. I like the dial & the scale on the LCD - maybe I'll get to actually control my camera for a change :-) & stop being so lazy

- As has been said the DP1 is not a point & shoot compact camera - more of a 'think-point-check-think-shoot'

- Noticed a little feature - as it's about to lock focus the LCD image kinda shakes for a moment - now whether that is intentional I know not but I find it useful outside when the bleeper is turned off.

- When I did some candid shots in the shopping areas, guess what - no one noticed me & that small black box cos it doesn't shout 'I'm a camera'

- When I tried to do a bit of an action shot of a tube train coming into a station - not exactly a speedy thing as it was slowing down but I missed the moment. So no chance of taking photos of my 5 year old son then!

- My 8Gb class 6 memory card sucked up the bits quite quickly & I wasn't slowed down by the relatively long write times - you just need to be patient.

- The prime 28mm is not a limitation for me - I just move myself instead instead of having a zoom

Annoying stuff:
- First is the rubber flappy bit over the DP1 connectors - it doesn't flap back enough & I may end up biting it off in rage.

- Then there's the choice of the very mini USB connector when everything else I have uses the more usual size

- The software to convert RAW needs work - especially on my MAC where it look poor in comparison to other apps.

- RAW format is proprietary - you have to use the software provided or use JPG

The Pictures

Detailed, colourful, smooth & lovely - put some effort into the DP1 & it will reward you with the best you've ever seen from a compact camera.