Tech Stuff by Porter
Sigma SD14
Sigma is still impressing me!
Jun 24th
I have a Sigma SD14 (Foveon sensor DSLR) that I like very much, for all its limitations. Some of you may remember that I had a lot of frustration with the system early on, because of some significant problems with the required workflow to convert the huge/complex X3F raw format into something that can be properly used by standard image editing tools. Well, Sigma has been refining and improving their conversion software constantly, with big improvements in each generation, and with the release of Sigma Photo Pro 4.0 I think they've finally matured it into something truly fantastic. It's what I consider "digital developing", to a level that's well beyond what is normally seen in the Canon and Nikon tools, or even in Adobe Camera Raw.
The new version is (finally) able to fully harness the wide dynamic range and huge color space of the Foveon X3F output and allow some really compelling photographic results from the sensor. It is also now capable of directly outputting full-gamut ProPhotoRGB colorspace images in several formats including 16-bit TIFF, which is fantastic if the next step is a ProPhoto native tool like Lightroom or PS CS4+. Take a look at an example of the kind of conversion control this thing can do, in this case using a very overexposed shot in hazy conditions…
Update on SD14 saturation issue
Jul 14th
Email to Sigma America
Dear Mr. @@@@,
Thanks for taking the time to speak with me today. As we discussed, I have made a few small discoveries since our original discussions several months ago, that may shed some light on the red channel overexposure that I have experienced in certain situations using my SD14. Rather than a capture problem in the camera, I have discovered that the issue may be related to the color-space conversion performed by the Sigma Photo Pro software during X3F import.
I have attached two versions of an image, one that illustrates the color issue that I have experienced in scenes that push the limits of the color space (gamut) used in the current Sigma Photo Pro 2.5 software. The difference between these images is obviously intended to represent a worst case scenario, so please don’t regard the “original” over-saturated image as the work of a talentless hack — it is purely for illustration purposes!
Click to read on –> More >
Sigma SD14 Saturation Problem
Apr 30th
From: Jason Porter
Date: Thu, May 1, 2008 at 12:14 AM
Subject: SD14 Problem – Unusual Saturation
To: info@sigmaphoto.com
Cc: support@sigma-photo.co.jp
Attn: @@@@@ at Sigma America
@@@@@,
As we discussed on the phone, I am writing to document my new SD14 camera’s unusual red saturation problem and provide raw X3F samples for your review.
Before I explain, here are the details of my particular unit and configuration:
Sigma SD14
serial no. [redacted]
firmware revision 1.07
Sigma 18-50mm F/2.8 EX Macro
serial no. [redacted]
Using Sigma Photo Pro 2.5 in Windows XP, using a color-corrected display (Spyder2Express calibrated).
