For those favoring the Canon brand they have today anounced their newest digital SLR: EOS 400D / digital Rebel XTi.

Ten mega pixel and NO spot metering! Go figure. That alone would break the deal for me.

This week Sigma has anounced that they will anounce, at the big Photokina photography confab in Germany in September, a new digital SLR: The SD14.

They have set up a teaser website here at: www.sigma-sd14.com. They are not giving up much info, but from the name you might conclude that this will be a 14 mp camera. They also say that this will be a "full color capture direct image sensor." I'm not sure just what that means, but from the tease they suggest that all other camera pixels capture just one color per pixel, implying that this new sensor will capture more.

I don't know much about Sigma cameras but it seems that the pixel race has not yet tired. Of course price is always a consideration, but if what they imply comes close to reality then imagine a camera with more than double the horsepower of a Nikon D70, and each of those horses with additional color capture capability. Yikes!

After a little more research regarding the Sigma camera referenced above I have come up with the following:

It appears that this new Sigma camera will employ an updated "Foveon" sensor which was first introduced in 2002 and then improved in '04.

With standard sensors such as the CCD and CMOS, which appear in other digital cameras, each pixel can capture only one color. The cameras logic goes through some algorithms in an attempt to interpret what is the real color. This method will come up with some amount of color artifacts and image blurring. With the Foveon sensor there are three colors per pixel: red, green and blue. It is written that this is pretty much the 'holy grail' of digital image sensors. It should mean ultra sharp, detailed images with full color single pixel resolution. At least that is the claim.

HI Mike -

Thanks for the info. I've been doing a lot of research and have finally ordered my first digital SLR today. I went for the Sony DSLR A100 and I can hardly wait to try it out!

One deciding factor for me was the anti-shake factor. My lower end digital cameras have that feature: it makes all the difference when I'm trying to photograph a child because I don't have to necessarily keep the camera on the tripod for my shots.

It also has a better range lens (18-70 mm) than many kit lens, AND the price is within my reach :) .

Once I get a chance to try it out, I hope to report back.

Hi Mike,

You know, it all depends on how they count those pixels for marketing purposes! The Sigma SD10 is actually more like a 3-1/2 megapixel camera, but since each Foveon pixel captures full color, it is marketed as a virtual 10 megapixel camera. Actually I believe it has the meager imaging resolution of a 3-1/2 megapixel camera compared to your much sharper D70. That said, I would expect about 4-1/2 megapixel resolution from the SD14, which I don't expect to particularly wow me. Thanks for the news anyway.

Julie: Congratulations on your new camera order! Give us some anti-shake test pictures and report when it arrives.

Garth

Well Julie, that Sony does sound like a real fine camera. I'll be interested in seeing some of your efforts. You may be the first on our block to post an image from a 10 mp camera.

Things seem to be changing pretty rapidly and as usual whatever you decide on will soon be obsolete. However, I think a camera like yours could serve you well for a very long time. After you get to this level of technology and sophistication it will be pretty hard to make really meaningful advances. At least to the point that you would want to ditch your Sony and make another camera purchase for the additional image quality.

I'm hoping this camera will last me a good LONG time.

Dear Mike, and all,

Sheesh, all this cutting edge camera talk has made me succumb to my worst weaknesses! Last night I went out and picked up a Nikon D200. I am still evaluating whether it was a purposeful purchase or not; but the test results look pretty promising so far.

It's one of the 10.2 megapixel generation of DSLR cameras out now. With a generously sized magnesium body, it's pretty hefty (much more than my D100), and with it's ergonomics, no-nonsense controls and finish, it screams "professional" at you. The new D80 is a lightweight plastic bodied version, smaller and more consumer friendly at a better price; however I preferred the more professional feel and customizable functionality of the D200. The D80 feels too slight to me; I know that's highly subjective, as the picture quality has got to be very similar if not the same.

In some respects, I have a renewed appreciation for my old D100 (which just turns four this weekend). It is so much simpler in scope of functionality, however, due to that it is difficult to come up with the finely nuanced results the new D200 can acheive. One apparent surprise: images compress better for the web with the new camera. I suppose the images being less grainy and cleaner, account for that.

I have been attempting to compare apples to apples with test picture comparisons between the two cameras. It might be better to just write that the D200 has better rendering of color, with four years of evolution on its side.

This afternoon, I shot a picture of Lesser Apotheoun, and got the best results ever. To me the photo looks just like the painting. The head detail is from the same shot. I did adjust it very slightly in Photoshop, but I was mostly splitting hairs on some imperceptable nuances. These images are subtle, like the painting.

Edit: It's a bit more murky in the darks, in these images (back to the drawing room).

Yikes, this camera may completely undo my marriage!

Julie: Did you get your camera yet???? Your brand new Sony has got to be very comparable to the D200. Send us a picture!

Another edit: I just lightened the images slightly.....

Garth

Well Julie, Garth beat you to it.

Garth,

I just noticed your previous post regarding the Sigma. I've since read those same comments. It may be that those 14 mp's will actually be spit by a 1/3 as you suggest. It does, however, seem like they have had several years to best their previous efforts by more than just that. The anticipation is for something more than the 1/3's which would be a let down for most I think.

If they do bring out a 14 mp with each carrying the possibility of one of three colors (effectively multiplied by three) then that would really be something to see. We'll know in just a few more days. It won't matter much to me either way, I'm locked in for several more years with my D70. Not a terrible place to be.

That must be one fine camera that you've got your hands on. The eye can only perceive so much goodness, I wonder how much farther down the pixel road we can go before the difference becomes imperceptible.

Mike,

(Yes, Julie should have been first; sorry!)

I was probably a bit too harsh in my Sigma comments above. The Sigma SD10 makes respectable images, and has certainly better resolving power of test patterns and fine lines, at least compared to my 6 megapixel D100 in an online Dpreview analysis. I'll shut-up!

Garth