Sigma dp3 Quattro Digital Camera {29MP}

Sigma dp3 Quattro: a 75mm Foveon prime for pure color fidelity

The dp3 Quattro pairs a fixed 50mm f/2.8 lens (75mm equivalent) with Sigma's APS-C Foveon X3 Quattro sensor, a stacked-photodiode design that reads full color data at every pixel location instead of interpolating it from a Bayer filter array. That construction avoids the color moire and false-color artifacts that plague conventional sensors, and it's paired with a TRUE III processor built to handle the layered image data. The result is a camera built around one focal length and one job: rendering color and fine detail with a level of fidelity that a mosaic sensor can't match.

Manual controls are all here for photographers who want them: aperture and shutter priority, full manual exposure, shutter speeds from 1/2000 down to 30 seconds, and exposure compensation to plus or minus 3 EV in third-stop increments. The nine-point contrast-detect autofocus system lets you reposition the focus point across the frame, with a normal focus range down to 23cm for close-up work. A 3-inch, 920,000-dot fixed LCD handles composition and review since there's no viewfinder.

ISO tops out at 6400, with the sensor's lower two layers built with fewer, larger photodiodes to help control noise in the red and green channels. There's no built-in flash, but the hot shoe accepts external units, and the body includes a standard SD/SDHC/SDXC slot and USB 2.0 for transfer. It's a camera that asks you to slow down and commit to a single perspective, then rewards that commitment with color rendering unlike anything a Bayer-sensor compact produces.

Who It's For

Portrait and studio photographers gain the most from the 75mm equivalent field of view and f/2.8 maximum aperture, a natural focal length for head-and-shoulders work paired with a lens built for close subject distances. Landscape and fine-art shooters benefit from the Foveon X3 Quattro sensor's full-color-per-pixel capture, which renders texture and tonal transition without the demosaicing artifacts of a standard color filter array. Studio and product photographers working from a tripod will appreciate the manual exposure controls, third-stop exposure compensation, and shutter speeds down to 30 seconds for controlled long exposures. Photographers who prioritize color accuracy over burst speed or video, and who don't mind working with a single prime lens, are the ones this sensor technology was built to serve.

Key Features

• Fixed 50mm f/2.8 lens with 75mm equivalent focal length on APS-C
• APS-C Foveon X3 Quattro sensor capturing full color at every pixel
• 20.0MP effective resolution with stacked-photodiode architecture
• Nine-point contrast-detect autofocus with movable focus points
• Manual, aperture priority, and shutter priority exposure modes
• ISO 100-6400 with TRUE III processor handling layered image data
• 1/2000 to 30-second shutter range with ±3 EV exposure compensation
• 3-inch fixed LCD with 920,000-dot display; no viewfinder

FAQ

What makes the Foveon X3 Quattro sensor different from a standard Bayer array?

It captures full RGB data at every pixel location instead of interpolating two-thirds of the color information from adjacent pixels. The stacked-photodiode design reads light at different wavelengths across three vertically layered channels, eliminating the color moire and false-color artifacts that demosaicing creates.

Does the dp3 Quattro have autofocus?

Yes, a nine-point contrast-detect system with freely movable focus points across the frame. It focuses as close as 23cm for close-up work and includes face detection and focus lock.

What focal length is the fixed lens?

A 50mm f/2.8 prime, equivalent to 75mm on the APS-C Foveon sensor. That's the only lens you get-the camera commits to a single perspective.

Can I shoot in full manual mode?

Yes. You have aperture priority, shutter priority, and full manual exposure control, with shutter speeds from 1/2000 down to 30 seconds. Exposure compensation runs ±3 EV in third-stop increments, and a three-frame auto-bracketing function is built in.

What's the ISO range?

100 to 6400 in 1/3 EV steps, with auto mode available. The lower two sensor layers use larger photodiodes to help control noise in the red and green channels at higher sensitivities.

Is there a viewfinder?

No. You compose and review on the 3-inch, 920,000-dot fixed LCD. There's no articulation-it's fixed to the back of the body.

Can I use an external flash?

Yes, via the hot shoe. The camera has no built-in flash, but it accepts external units through the standard hot-shoe mount.