Sigma DP3 Merrill with full range of creative shooting modes

If you want a digital camera with excellent image quality at lower ISOs you can choose Sigma DP3 Merrill. This camera also has very sharp lens, simple interface and solid build quality. You can enjoy better high ISO image performance than previous cameras but still can’t keep up with most other modern sensors. The cameras have always exhibited exceptional low ISO abilities and some extremely detailed and chromatically-rich RAW files.

Sigma DP3 Merrill. Image: luminous-landscape.com

Sigma, with its long history of making lenses for other manufacturers' cameras and more recently its own DSLRs, has developed this lens specifically for the DP3 Merrill. The Sigma DP3 uses a new 50mm f/2.8 prime lens, which -- after accounting for the 1.5x focal length crop of its APS-C image sensor -- is the equivalent of a 75mm optic on a 35mm camera. The lens design features 10 elements in eight groups, and there's a seven-bladed aperture diaphragm. Focusing is possible to as close as 8.9 inch (22.6cm), and maximum magnification be 1:3 (0.33x). 

 

Foveon X3 CMOS image sensor

This camera is equipped with 15.4 megapixel Foveon X3 CMOS image sensor as seen in both previous fixed-lens Merrill’s, as well as the Sigma SD1 DSLR and its rebranded variant, the SD1 Merrill. Like all Foveon sensors, this captures full color information at every pixel location.

The Sigma DP3 Merrill, the newest iteration of the company's enthusiast large sensor compact camera. The Sigma DP3 Merrill also armed with Dual TRUE II image processing engine, 3-inch TFT color monitor with 920,000 dots, and full range of creative shooting modes, manual focus ring, external hotshoe, RAW format support and Quick Set button. You can maximize this camera to make many creative photos.

Utilizing an aluminum alloy body, the Sigma DP3 Merrill is an exceedingly well built camera. If you'd wish using an optical viewfinder to frame your images, Sigma offers the optional VF-21 viewfinder. Sigma's viewfinder solution offers a large, bright view of the scene in front of you. Just like a DSLR, the DP3 Merrill offers both JPEG and RAW recording formats. There are 3 different JPEG compression levels, and a choice of four sizes including a 16:9 widescreen mode. 

The Sigma DP3 Merrill is a compact camera with a large APS-C sized sensor, as used in larger and heavier compact system camera and DSLR models and therefore promising finer image quality than other compact cameras. This camera can also be used to make a movie or a video clip. 

Sigma DP3 Merrill a brilliant compact camera. Image: steves-digicams.com

The main rival of this camera are: Fujifilm X100S promises to be a faster version of  the X100, The Leica X1 a premium camera with a premium price-tag US$1995 is a lot to ask for a compact camera, albeit one with a large APS-C sensor, the Canon PowerShot G1 X is a serious compact camera with a large 1.5-inch image sensor, also Olympus XZ-2 is a serious compact that's aimed at the enthusiast and professional user, Ricoh GXR a truly innovative modular system, where you swap both the lens and the image sensor at the same time, the Pentax MX-1 with tilting 3-inch LCD screen and an appealingly retro design, and also Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 is the first ever compact camera with a 35mm full-frame sensor.

Is Sigma DP3 can compete in the market in terms of features and price? The lens on this camera is capable of producing sharp pictures and satisfying, but you are entitled to choose a camera of any brand according to the needs, style and other factors that could be your consideration before selecting a camera for a variety of needs.

Pentax K-3 with dual SD memory card slots and HDR feature

Pentax K-3. Image: iphotozine.com

The Pentax K-3 is an interesting camera that feels very solid in the hand because this DSLR camera sealed with magnesium allloy. You can bring Pentax K3 wherever you go in any seasons, wet and dry,  snowy and warm conditions. The Pentax K-3 DSLR Camera is a sophisticated DSLR featuring a 23.35MP APS-C CMOS sensor and PRIME III image processor to produce high-resolution still imagery and full HD 1080i/p video with high low-light sensitivity to ISO 51200.

You can enjoy full-resolution continuous shooting is supported up to 8.3 fps for 22 consecutive RAW frames, with a top shutter speed of 1/8000 sec., and the SAFOX11 autofocus system utilizes 27 focus points, with 25 cross-type points, to maintain sharp focus in a quick and accurate manner. PENTAX K-3 will set your photography free with the new standard of imaging performance and unsurpassed user-flexibility.

 

New users may well appreciate the “photographic feel” of this camera, with its well-designed menu interface and ergonomic layout. Pentax K3 is the world’s first selectable anti-aliasing filter, giving the user the ability to easily toggle anti-aliasing functionality on or off, for supreme resolution and zero limitation.

This camera is also designed  with SAFOX11 autofocus module maximizes 27 AF sensors and a vast light sensitivity range of –3EV to +18EV.  You can create fantastic images with this camera because Pentax K3 has improved in-camera HDR image capture features more blending options and better pixel registration for easier operation without a tripod.

If you are an enthusiast photographer Pentax K3 is great for you because this camera equipped with Dual SD card slots allow for greater memory card flexibility, for separation of JPG and RAW files, and for use with Eye-fi card and new FLU card technology. You can create movie or video clip with full HD movie capture in the H.264 format (60i/50i/30p/24p), also including the ability to switch from still image to video recording with the flip of a dedicated switch.   

Don’t forget to maximize a redesigned SAFOX11 autofocus module has been integrated into the K-3 and employs 27 focus points in order to deliver a metering range of -3 to +20 EV. 25 of the 27 sensors are cross-type, in order to gain the highest precision while focusing, and three of the sensors are dedicated to low-light performance.

 

Pentax K-3 with other DSLR camera. Image: cameraegg.org

You can make creative pictures because Pentax K3 already equipped with  Custom Image Modes such as: Portrait; Landscape; Bright; Natural; Vibrant; Radiant; Muted; Bleach Bypass; Reversal Film; Monochrome; Cross Processing; HDR: Auto, HDR1, HDR2, HDR3; Exposure Bracket Value adjustable; and Automatic composition correction function. You also can utilized special Digital Filters in this camera: Toy Camera, Retro, Extract Color, High Contrast, Shading, Invert Color, Unicolor Bold, and Bold Monochrome. You can maximize all creative features in Pentax K3 without install digital image processing software in your PC or your laptop.

Pentax K3 specifications:

• 23.35MP APS-C CMOS Sensor
• 3.2" 1,037k-Dot LCD Monitor
• Full HD 1080i/p Video Recording
• PRIME III Image Processor
• User-Selectable Anti-Aliasing Filter
• Optical 0.95x Mag. Pentaprism Viewfinder
• Continuous Shooting up to 8.3 fps
• In-Camera Shake Reduction Stabilization
• Dual SD Memory Card Slots
• Weather-Sealed Magnesium Alloy Body
• 27 AF points, 25 cross type
• Weather resistant construction with 92 seals
• 17 Digital filters
• DNG/PEF RAW format
• Eye-Fi Card compatible
• Flucard Compatible
• Shutter tested to 200,000 cycles
• MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 Movie Format

Pentax K3 is great for everyone who need a new DSLR camera for daily activities, family event, holiday and adventure. You can buy this camera with amount of US $ 1,296.95 (body only). Pentax K3 is a breath-taking array of features on offer. Before you decide to buy this strong camera, don’t forget to compare Pentax K-3 with Canon EOS 70D and Nikon D7100.