Ronkonkoma, NY—Sigma Corporation of America’s DP3 Merrill point-and-shoot camera began shipping in March with a suggested retail price of $999. As the final camera in the Sigma DP Merrill lineup, the DP3 Merrill features a 50mm f/2.8 lens (75mm equivalent) and is equipped with the Foveon X3 direct image sensor, which produces 46 megapixels of resolution.
“The trio of DP Merrill cameras is a complete compact camera tool set,” said Mark Amir-Hamzeh, president of Sigma Corporation of America. “While the DP1 Merrill and DP2 Merrill cameras are known for their wide angle and standard range, respectively, the DP3 Merrill delivers impressive optical performance for mid-telephoto and macro shooting.”
The DP3 Merrill’s dual, Three-layer Responsive Ultimate Engine (TRUE) II image-processing engine is dedicated to Foveon X3 direct image sensors to improve the processing speed and overall quality of the final image. The supplied image-processing software, Sigma Photo Pro 5.5, converts RAW data quickly, rendering the full, 46MP data. Moreover, the new monochrome mode makes it possible to generate monochrome images by fully optimizing the Foveon X3 direct image sensor capabilities.
The camera’s lens uses special low-dispersion (SLD) glass, which works with aspherical lens elements to compensate for a variety of aberrations and allow for a more compact size. The superior telecentric optical design is said to improve image quality throughout the frame and add depth to the image. The lens has a minimum focusing distance of 8.9 inches and a maximum magnification ratio of 1:3.
Additionally, the DP3’s autofocus system employs a nine-point select mode to set the desired focusing point from nine different frames, and free move mode can move the desired focus point. Also, manual focus is available when autofocus or focus lock is not desired.
Other features include: new face detection AF, which prioritizes focus on the face of the subject when detected by the sensor; AF limit mode, which can adjust the range of autofocusing; shutter priority AF for faster focus adjustments; and AF+MF mode, which adjusts the focus manually after verifying the AF by rotating the focus ring. sigmaphoto.com
