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Value
Sigma promises great image quality from the SD14, and unfortunately, we can't judge that in a First Impressions review, particularly when we weren't allowed to save any of our own images. It looked as though the prototypes had a serious noise problem at higher ISOs, and the sample images Sigma showed were shot at ISO 100, according to their captions.However, this may or may not represent the final production model's capabilities.
If the SD14 really produces superior color, it may well command the premium price Sigma is asking – just as Fujifilm has done well with its FinePix S3, with its extended dynamic range. The problem is, the mechanical aspect of the camera, including interface, burst capacity and auto focus performance, do not justify its price.
Who’s this Camera For?
Point and Shooters - Casual users won't like the SD14's lack of scene modes and full automation. They'll be happier, and spend less, get an entry-level camera
Budget Consumers - The SD14 charges a premium for its unique sensor, and reputed higher image quality. Not many budget users will seek out those attributes.
Gadget Freaks - The SD14's prime gadget, the Foveon X3 sensor, is buried deep inside a pedestrian camera. Most freaks want their cool features to show a little more.
Manual Control Freaks - The SD14 is a manual camera, and it promises the image quality that this group demands. If the image quality is really there, this group might be interested. We wish the controls made more sense, though.
Pros/Serious Hobbyists - Again, we expect this group to adopt the SD14 only if its image quality is something special – but most of these users will regard the camera's body as something to put up with, not an asset.
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