British Journal of Photography - 30th April 2008
'Sigma’s Foveon X3 CMOS image sensor has long been admired for producing clean and highly detailed images capable of large scale reproduction, and for the DP1, the first class quality is evident on the pages of its brochure.’
‘Seven to 12 times larger than others in its class, it is this factor combined with advanced lens design which enables exceptionally high technical image quality for the camera size. There is no other camera with a similar specification or capability.’
   
Amateur Photographer - 3rd May 2008
‘In summery, the DP1 feels solidly built and nicely put together. It looks like the ‘serious’ camera that Sigma set out to build. In addition, it isn’t likely to attract attention and is therefore ideal for documentary or street photography.’ ‘Although image quality from the GR Digital II is very good when the sensitivity is kept below the maximum value, it doesn’t quite meet that from the DP1. So if image quality is your primary concern, then the DP1 is the better choice….it is a camera that I would like to own.’
   
Ephotozine - May 2008
’With its 14mp Foveon sensor, the same as in the SD14 SLR, the camera can produce some stunning results for a compact. The dedicated lens, designed especially for the camera is sharp from the widest aperture of f/4 right through to the smallest aperture of f/16, a good range for a compact.’ ‘With a prime lens dedicated to the camera and no possibility of dust reaching the sensor, image quality is easily a match for most APS DSLR cameras on the market today and what the DP1 lack in gizmos it more than makes up for in the output department!’
   
Digital Camera - June 2008
’The absence of a bayer filter does make the images look sharp and the dynamic range produced by the chip is awesome. The DP1’s images have an analogue quality that really does seem to bring colour to life. Even the noise levels are good.’
   
What Digital Camera - June 2008
’I like the basic design of the camera. It’s small enough to fit in the pocket and has a traditional look and solid feel. It’s very much a purist’s camera, with few bells and whistles, but everything you need to take pictures.’
‘There’s a richness to the colour of the images from the DP1… Personally I like the general look of the images produced.’ The 16.6mm lens is a cracker and, combined with the larger sensor, does produce the goods in terms of both detail and sharpness.’
   
Master Photo Digital - May 2008
‘The DP1’s pictures are evocative of early Leica cameras with a three dimensional quality to the images that simply isn’t feasible with a smaller sensor area. By using a single, optimised lens, the Foveon – already renowned for delivering sharp results – is delivering the best possible results.’ ‘It is a very compelling second camera and an ideal introduction to Foveon’s colour accuracy, dynamic range and sharpness – both physically, and in terms of the results delivered, you would not be disappointed if you bought this for unobtrusive candid shots at weddings, especially for daylight work.’
   
Professional Photographer - June 2008
’The DP1 has the most comprehensive level of manual and semi-automatic control we’ve seen in a digital compact camera. A big plus is that manual focus is also available via a thumb wheel on the rear of the camera.’ ‘Sigma has put some really nice glass in here. Barrel distortion is minimal from the 16mm f/4 optic and images display a pleasing level of sharpness. At ISO 100 the results are silky smooth and of high quality, showing off the ability off the DP1’s optics.
   
  Digital Photo - June 2008
’The command dial is quick for switching modes, the 2.5in LCD is clear, and being able to magnify to full screen for manual focusing is fantastic.’ ‘…shots were taken at varying apertures to asses the ability of the lens to resolve fine details. All images were printed at A3 and examined under a loupe. However, it was apparent before the loupe came out that the larger Sigma sensor was producing superior quality, with pin-sharp detail and smoother Noise at high ISO settings than its rivals and their smaller 1/1.7in sensors.’
   
Practical Photography - June 2008
’The Sigma DP1 is a solid little compact that feels extremely sturdy and well-made. Manual focus is much easier than on most compacts offering this facility, as the main command dial is actually a focusing dial with a distance scale. The results at ISO 100 and 200 are great with plenty of saturation.’
   
Digital Photo Pro - July 2008
’The colour delivered by the DP1 was accurate and pleasing, and the image quality was excellent: assessed on-monitor, the resolution was far superior to that of a conventional compact camera… In short, this is a camera that delivers what it promises.’ ‘And here is the real strength of the DP1: it really does do what it says on the tin, namely knock the spots off any other digital compact out there on the market, at least in terms of the files you can achieve. If image quality is what you are looking for – and as a professional that’s usually taken as read – this is the only compact that will deliver these kind of results.
   
HotShoe - June/July 2008
’I was impressed with the sharpness of the dedicated lens, an equivalent to a 28mm, and seemingly sharp from the widest aperture of f/4 down to the smallest aperture of f/16. To sum up: this is a smart little compact digital camera, with a cracking prime lens, and no possibility of dust reaching the sensor, means that the image quality is fast approaching a match for most professional digital SLR cameras. Now that is new.
   
Photography Monthly - July 2008
’The DP1 is indeed capable of outstanding quality in Raw mode. Images are vivid and lifelike with a look and feel similar to film. Sigma has endowed the DP1 with a fixed 16.6mm f/4-11, which is a 28mm equivalent. It’s pin-sharp right up to the edges of the picture and is capable of fine resolution and low distortion and vignetting.’
   
Outdoor Photography - August 2008
‘Against my new 10 million pixel EOS 40D, [the DP1] fared even better with, to my eyes, finer outright resolution without any sharpening. As far as I could see, there is better colour details straight out of the box too. In comparison to the other two digital cameras I had at my disposal, its bigger sensor quite simply leaves these cameras and others like them in the ‘also-ran’ category as far as RAW image quality is concerned… the sheer clarity of the DP1 at actual pixel level, combined with its greater dynamic range, to say nothing of the beautiful colour rendering, moves it into a league of its own.’ This is the digital high-end compact Ricoh and Canon should have made, so full marks to Sigma for having the courage to pursue it first.’
   
Digital Photographer - Issue 72
’In all honesty, the Foveon sensor never ceases to amaze. We were gobsmacked at the level of detail this camera can deliver and it seems that Sigma has managed to push the diminutive DP1 up and over the bar. Sigma images have quite a unique look about them. Printed properly, they will rival any current 12 MP camera for detail. Sigma, it would seem, has made a good choice on optics too, as equally impressive was the lack of distortion and chromatic aberration in any of our images. Although the DP1 only has a fixed focal length optic, the results are truly breathtaking across the entire frame.’
   
Digital Camera Buyer - Issue 74
’The detail in a Foveon image should, in principle, be better than that of a conventional digital camera. And it is, to a pretty spectacular degree.’ ‘For the first time, you can buy a compact camera that really can match the performance of a digital SLR.’
   
RPS Journal - September 2008
’A near perfect relationship between lens and sensor results in unparalleled sharpness at this budget. The DP1 is one of those marvellous rarities that is the result of a design philosophy without compromise. If you want a sturdy, elegant camera, that will fit in your pocket, and yet deliver the kind of image quality that we would traditionally have associated with medium format, then this is it.’
   

 
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