Photokina 2008: A look at the revised Sigma DP2 enthusiast's compact

[DPNow]

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Sigma has produced a Mark II version of its technically interesting DP1 enthusiasts' compact digital camera, the DP2. We've had a look at one while at Photokina and discover the key differences between it and its predecessor.

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[Ian]

Curious to know what people think of the switch from a 28mm wide angle to a 41mm focal length with the DP2?

Ian

[DTD]

I think the move to just over 40mm equivalent lens

[Ian]

Originally Posted by DTD

I think the move to just over 40mm equivalent lens

Morning David - looks like your sentence was cut short!

Ian

[DTD]

Not quite sure what happened in the post above, so I'll have another go…

I think the move to a 40mm lens model is in line with cameras in this niche such as the Leica CL/CM Minolta CLE etc. Ricoh's GRD cameras can carry a 40mm lens adaptor and Nikon 's Ti film compacts were available in 35mm and 28mm flavours, so I don't think it's an admission that the 28mm of the DP-1 was a wrong choice.

Had Ricoh had produced a 40mm version of the GR1s – I would have been first in line to buy, but as an addition not a replacement to the 28mm GR1.

I'm glad Sigma are showing a continuing commitment to the DP concept, but the flaws of the DP-1 meant I went with the Ricoh GRD2 instead.

[Bob Ross]

The 41mm focal length is the best compromise between the 35mm & 50mm favorites. Years ago Sigma ventured into the film P&S with a pair of models, one a wide angle zoom and one a normal to short tele zoom. As I recall Contax did similarly. So this is interchangeable cameras instead of interchangeable lenses. It will be interesting to see if the longer focal length is better optically, which is quite likely.
Bob

[DTD]

Can't remember the Sigmas. I'd forgot about Contax and their 45mm lens. There was a fashion for 40mm pancakes – Pentax and Olympus were two who offered such lengths. Voightlander do the same.

I'm very much a wideangle person, next lens for my Leica M6 will be a 35mm (although I think it will Voightlander rather than Leica).

[Bob Ross]

Originally Posted by DTD

Can't remember the Sigmas. I'd forgot about Contax and their 45mm lens. There was a fashion for 40mm pancakes – Pentax and Olympus were two who offered such lengths. Voightlander do the same.

I'm very much a wideangle person, next lens for my Leica M6 will be a 35mm (although I think it will Voightlander rather than Leica).

First a correction The Contax cameras I mentioned were actually the Rollei QZT/QZ35W35.
I tend to be a "short tele" person and have a lot of 85mm - 100mm lenses. In my Leica outfit I have the 35 Cron v IV and when I got the M8 I added the 28 Elmarit Asph. Wider that those I reach for an SLR/DSLR so that I can see the distortion as it happens. For me wide means getting close, rather that capturing the entire world The short tele equates to the way that I narrow my attention when I see something interesting. Normal focal lengths seem to preserve my usual usual perspective. These comments are about FOV rather than visual DOF renditions.
The CV 35s have gotten some good reports, so go for it.
Bob

[yoshi]

Originally Posted by DTD

and Nikon 's Ti film compacts were available in 35mm and 28mm flavours, so I don't think it's an admission that the 28mm of the DP-1 was a wrong choice.

Glad to know you remember the camera.
Nikon's Ti 28 (mm) was my most favorite compact film camera during the 90's. I still hang a few A3 size prints at home- I used them for our group photo exhibiton.
yoshi

[DTD]

Never used one – I think it was coming back to photography via the GR1s that first made me notice the 'super compacts' such as the Minolta TC-1. In the 1980s I used to drool over the Minolta CLE, but couldn't afford one. Maybe Micro 4/3rds might herald a resurgence in this kind of camera?