Sigma DP2 Merrill Review 

Nice video! The first generation had 2 dps, the second 3 and the third 4. You can do high iso with the Dp Merrill cameras in B&W if you like high ISO film look with grain. One trick in SPP is to choose 100% blue in the monochrome menu. Then you use the data from the top layer and not in the lower levels. This means you get much less noise. Test by changing to 100% red to see. The light is moving through the sensor so one have drop off and noise at the bottom. This trick only work with Merrill files. For me it is always the outcome that matters most, so I don't mind it's slow operation. Photography is my zen after all.

Writing as an owner of the whole trinity of these cameras I have to declare that you nailed this review of the Sigma DP2 Merrill. Getting the most from these cameras is absolutely a painful, "grievance-laden" (as you said) proposition. But ooh-la-lah these Foveon's can produce jaw-dropping colors and resolution in the right circumstances. (I say this as someone who uses THREE medium-format digital systems regularly!) I made two of my favorite images ever with the DP3 Merrill. So thanks so much for your review. Anyone considering grabbing one of these cameras should pay very close to your words. And also thanks for producing such a really engaging channel of these old digital camera reviews. I stumbled upon you about a year ago and always welcome new presentations from you. I find your style and organization absolutely informative, entertaining and compelling. And you are quite adept with a camera. You indirectly prove the adage that skilled, talented people can, and will, make compelling images with ANY camera at-hand. I've no idea what your vocation is but it must involve professional imagery. Thanks for sharing your time and experiences.

I have had this camera since maybe 2014 or 2015 when it could be purchased new, but I have not used in a while. I just checked my old notes and found these tips on exposure: - If you have a scene that doesn't have much DR, use ISO 100, but if you have a wide range of brightness, use ISO 200 - At ISO 100, you can overexpose by 1 to 1.5 stops. At ISO 200, you can overexpose by 1.5 to 2 stops. - To restore highlights, you can add some fill light (about +0.3) and decrease the exposure slider to -1 (or more) stops until highlights are restored, export to Lightroom, and increase the exposure by +1.0 to restore darker areas.

Your images are always beautiful. Regardless of the system, you’re clearly just an extremely skilled photographer. Keep up the great videos. So many of your reviews are for items I lusted after when I was younger but can now afford. It’s great finding a community of people who appreciate this brilliant older kit!

Thank you very much for your videos. Love it. And I really enjoy your photos, compositions and development choices. I have the DP Quattro since 2017 and grace of your videos, I just recently understand better how to edit my photos in SPP (so painful to use) the right way. Thank you so much.

Very good , enjoyed that. For me the Merrill series worked when I had spare cash, spare time and enthusiasm for photography peaked. I had all 3 merrills, sold 2 and vowed never to sell the DP2M which I still have sat above my desk on a shelf waiting for the day I have the time and enthusiasm again. The images are wow from the Foveon sensor. It takes a mind set to run that camera and I think any enthusiast has it a some point in time its just mating the two together.

Oh man, this video is awesome. You are so into this camera and I'm living for it! Yes please make that video on how you use your speedlights. I'm deeply into them.

It’s not only that I could listen to you for hours, the pictures you’re showing are very enticing. And a lot of the comments here too. Will have to do some research. So glad, that YT suggested your channel!

I just bought one of these last weekend. Good timing!

Great release! As the owner of sigma dp3m I would like to add... Shooting at high ISOs is possible in VPS mode (which new cameras in IPhone and Sony have now begun to adopt). When using the viewfinder and setting the brightness level to minimum, the battery lasts twice as long (number of frames) even in winter! It is also possible to power the camera in winter from an external power bank through an original accessory! Well... we've been waiting for a full frame Foveon for many years!!! Many thanks to the author for the review! And great photos!!! per aspera ad astra , Ali!

as an owner of a DP2m for almost 5 years now, this review still taught me something i should know, love that! Good work!

Terrific video! I absolutely love my DP2 and DP3 merrils.

The second you pulled that out of your bag i was hooked!

Awesome video! Also love the Jason and Caleb cameo!

Nice review. You've nailed the exquisite torture of using Sigma cameras. For all their many quirks and flaws, they have an uncanny ability to produce (quite literally) jaw dropping images - usually only revealed when the files are viewed on the computer (which makes that stage all the more rewarding). I've had examples of the last three sensor generations and still have the three dp Merrills and an Sd1 (definitely worth a look). Using these cameras is like learning to drive in a VW Beetle - it's not easy but you come out a better driver/photographer. The unforgiving dynamic range, for example, means that you just have to get better at exposure. And the Sigma experience also makes you better appreciate your other gear - my main body is an A7r2 and it's often criticised for poor battery life, but alongside a dp Merrill its batteries seem to last forever. One very useful workaround I've found for the appalling battery life is to track down the AC adaptor (a battery shaped insert with a cable). It's great for studio work, but where it shines is that you can relatively easily connect it to one of those portable phone chargers for outdoor use. A bit more stuff to lug around but it gives you the luxury of using the camera without watching the bars on the battery meter disappear before your eyes. One final thing - and a segue to another camera you should seek out if you haven't already - the dp Merrill batteries work in the ricoh gx100 (which, in terms of usability, is everything the Merrills are not, and also happens to take very nice pics).

Excellent video and wonderful images! Big yes on the strobe flash video idea!! 🙌🏼

Thank you for keeping knowledge of Sigma cameras alive. I have Dp1x, Dp2, Dp 1, 2, 3 Merrill, Dp0 Quattro, SD Quattro. I use Sigma WR Filter instead of lens cap too. ISO 100 is best, but in low light I frequently handhold Merrill and Quattro at 1/13 or even 1/10 with high success. You can do TTL with Cactus V6II trigger and Cactus RF60X Flash. The flash is discontinued but can still be found used. Works on Merrill and Quattro.

Loved the shots in this one

Never stop making these videos!

Thanks for the DP2M review! I used to have one of these, and from what I can recall, this camera produces fantastic B&W photos, thanks to Sigma's SPP software Monochrome capabilities - they are huge! I had never seen anything close to DP2M in terms of BW performance.

This is gold! Thank you for sharing your editing process. I have been thinking about selling my DP2 and DP3 for a while now and now I will give them another chance. I just find editing of those files the very frustrating so even though I know the IQ can be outstanding, I just never pick it up when going outside.

It's the only digital film camera and together with the merrill dp3 my go to travel cams since release, I love them. :D I also use it for festivals and birthday parties, with an old small flash of ebay (from the 70s) the images look so unique and vintage. But I've never thought of having "lens options" will try that, thank you. 👍👍 Great Video!

A really compelling, entertaining and informative review of one of my favorite cameras of all time, got it twice and only sold it when I finally managed to stumble into a "good" sample of SD1M (in terms of AF reliability I mean), then of course missed the reduced footprint of the DP but decided to give the DP3M a try and boy, its lens it's even a tad sharper than the one of the DP2M, it truly can squeeze out the tiniest detail out of that Foveon sensor (I think Sigma also slightly tweaked the colors, they look more pleasing to my eyes vs the DP2M files OCC). I really like your channel and your style, keep up the good work! Cheers

My favourite camera ever. Sigma has to remake this for sure!

I don't believe Sigma will ever produce the full frame Foveon camera. It's been in development hell since 2019, and IF it does release, it will be extremely expensive to cover the development costs. The last interview with the CEO didn't sound promising. The Merrill generation, which I've owned all of including the SD1, are by far the best Foveon cameras, with the DP2 having the most superior optics. These are the only cameras I've ever owned that when reviewing the images I've audibly gasped and said "Wow". In the right conditions, they are nothing short of magic. I've been dreaming of a full frame version for a decade.

This camera looks gorgeous!

I have this camera and have for a good while. What I've learned from using it: Black and White is wonderful and you can push ISO more here than in color.

Thank you for this great video. I love my DP2 Merril!

Add another camera to my wish list... About to go out to shoot the Canon G11 for my next video. Would love to try out some older digital medium format. Great breakdown and you got some incredible photos! The one of your credenza by the window was 🙌🙌🙌

I use the Sigma LVF-11 LCD viewfinder on my Sigma fp - just like what you're showing - and it's wonderfully immersive. I also keep my DP2M at ISO 100. Yep, terrible battery life. But great results when it all comes together. I sometimes use the small flash designed for it, from Sigma. Great review! -Tom

So grateful for your Sigma videos, Ali, the cameras have been on my radar for a long time but in general information is kind of sparse and especially sample pictures have been rare. Which is weird, considering how nice the pictures look-although obviously a lot of that is that I like your style of photography. That grip looks like it would be comfortable, I found with the Leica T that despite it looking mostly flat, it’s strangely ergonomic to hold. Great portrait of Jason, I guess Caleb missed out on his shot :) The thing where the picture looks out of focus when you first shoot it, I experience that on my Pentax Q10 (and TL2 when adapting lenses). I guess it’s probably a processor speed thing where it would take too long if it had to fully render it before image playback, so it just does the bare minimum for framing review and then concentrates on writing the file. Also, just want to say, good on Wasabi for sponsoring you. They make products I use every day, and they’re supporting channels like yours and Snappiness, which is awesome. Anyway sorry for the long comment but I guess I haven’t mastered the art of distilling my thoughts on a half hour video down to one sentence. All the best! -Chris

Wonderful review. I in fact just posted my very first RU-vid video about these Merrill DP cameras. Kind of a review, but really more of a showcase of photos I’ve taken over the years with all 3. I agree with everything you’ve said about them. They are addictive, intoxicating, and frustrating all at the the same time.

I am still convinced and optimistic at the same time that Sigma will make a non "black sheep" camera in the future that is actually updated to today's standard and creates good competition with other manufacturers. Amen🙏🏻🤔

Well done. I use a loupe as well but if I'm not shooting street but rather landscape or macro, I hook up my DP Merrills to a field monitor. It totally gets away from the issues with the weak lcd. You get a much crisper view and you can use features like focus peaking with manual focus for critical work and you expand your exposure controls with zebras. It's basically like adding firmware. As you mentioned, the slow process with Foveon bodies is like large format so I'll occasionally invert the monitor view for the OG LF experience, lol. If you have the cable that came with the DP2M, just find a monitor with RCA inputs, they're pretty cheap. Grab a magic arm and bolt it to your tripod and you're good to go.

Excellent explanation of this little beast. Thanks for this review 😊👍

This is THE BEST review of this genial camera. Very sad that they dont develop it. They at least could improve the battery life, speed of work and create smth like Sigma merrill 2 mark ii;)

I have the DP3 Merrill, and will continue to hold on to it. I use it mostly for close up photography, and I often use a black felt background when doing flower still life photos (like you mentioned, the blacks looks amazing somehow on this camera). The detail is still impressive, and the colors can be amazing with the right subject. I also agree, that it is not a good portrait camera... it is too sharp and shows to much skin detail.

This was good, tryin to find one of these new and having no luck...lots of drawbacks but id deal for the chip.. thanks!

Great video channel, Really love my dp1m and dp2m (more so the dp2m)

Dp merrils are fantastic serie! I collected all of them and enjoying enormously with them

My fav camera. Was told by my professor that my images were too artsy for commercial photography. I dont have a desktop and travel, so i rely on jpegs. Love b&w on this camera. I need a DP0 Merrill to go with this camera. Going to try your Ricoh wide angle lens. Learned so much from your video. Thanks!

the shot at 9:46 is art!! such a nice review

Okay, heading on vacation next week and had the two cameras selected, then your video may have just argued a Foveon back into the mix. 😜

I buy Wasabi batteries for all of my digital cameras. I love them and recommend them every chance I have.

A few resources that may be helpful for flash photography. Strobist with David Hobby. The gold stqandard for off camera flash and free. Tangents, off camera flash. great newsletter. Flash Zebra for all the cords adaptors for old and new flash. Also, most inexpensive wireless flash triggers will work. You can use a canon to trigger Fuji and Nikon. Just use manual flash setting.

I just loved spending times watching this. I just bought a camera, so no,money left but those are really interesting !

I would LOVE a strobe breakdown!

So nice to see the DP2 Merrill again... I still own the whole trinity of the DP Merrills since I just couldn't let them go. Too bad that it's just a pain to process those marvelous RAW files in Sigma Photo Pro. Even on a beefy machine it takes the fun out of it since it's so slow. Lately I learned that Affinity Photo is able to process these RAW files but just doesn't get you the same level of control. Nonetheless it makes working with the files a lot easier.

Thank you for using and sharing🎉😊

And great video, too, as always. Must use the Merrill again! :-)

But I like using the LCD! And I’m happy with the AF too - it works just fine (with the focus limiter on). I take a lot of photographs from a coracle (a small flat-bottomed boat), so I’m used to the scenery shifting around when I let go of my paddle and pick up the Merrill. Holding the camera away from me is proving more practical and photographically much more interesting than having my eye clamped on a VF - compositionally, for instance, I’ve learnt to let go of fine detail and concentrate on structural relationships between darks and lights. The 3x3 grid is great for that (and the annoying glare off the LCD is a problem no longer!) Works well for me off the water too.

Cool. Love a Foveon camera. I don't ever see anyone using them tho.

I enjoyed your video. Thanks for the inspiration. I haven't touched my DP2M for a while. I miss these files even if the process is very slow (I also shoot 120 rolls sometimes so not that slow); making B&W is also amazing (as mentioned in another comment). Your tips about the Sigma PhotoPro are very useful (I forgot how to use it) and I also use a viewfinder (by Kamerar). At some point, I'm sure I'd try to find a DP3M (the lens looks beautiful and the colors doesn't look as cold). A shame that the manual focus is so bad.

You should make that your permanent outro. Loved the raw honesty of your review. Seems like a niche quality camera that would be fun to shoot for those who can afford. What is the non-Merrill version? Is that a different sensor? Do you think the Samsung cameras have similar output?

I'd love a video on manual strobe...And thanks for this one. I have mixed feelings about my dp1 merrill partly because I don't like 28mm as much as I thought I did, but largely of course because of the huge massive downsides to these cameras. Special files though.

DP Merrill is a great camera. And yes, it is very slow moving camera but it got its own charm for being slow. But I just couldn't stand SPP. I have moderately, probably very much top of the line workstation for digital artist and it still is unbearably slow. I get out from the software by exporting to tiff file as soon as I can and move on to other editing software. But if you can some how be patient enough to not give up until that point, it sure gives you amazing result that is second to none.

The Merrill’s ans the à Quattros are the best portable cameras ever produced in terms of IQ. The apsc and apsh sensors provide film like image quality with extreme resolution.

The Foveon sensors are also superb for B&W...

I got take out my dp 2 quattro . Haven't used it in awhile but it's finally summer!! Ric Flair Wooo !!!! The jpgs are just fine.

Nice, I have a loupe too, but didn't know they had retractable ones! have to look into that, such a space saver :-) I also have a small cage that will improve grip but makes the camera more bulky (I use it when on longer trips). ps: ISO I use 100 till 200 but pref 100 to 160 max. (Higher ISO's maybe for B&W) And about 4-5 batteries , it depends on the weather. hha for a very short trip, maybe 2 ...

Got one, new when the prices dropped back in the day. All said here about it ... Never messed with the software, I just use it as an replacement of a 50mm 35mm camera. It's quite like that, and I think it's the idea behind the product. It does like a camera from the 80s, including the need for sunshine. I like the concept of fixed focus, the natural view. I run it from a 18650, made a custom battery handgrip. Experimented with a flash too, indoor pictures are so sharp, compared to pocket cameras. Note these are prone to dust. They came with visible particles inside the lens out of the box. No problem at this point, but the camera should be handled accordingly. I always keep it in a zip bag.

Loved your street shots! As much as I love the images you were able to get out of this camera, I would be one of the ones that would be super frustrated by all the camera’s downsides, instead of embracing the process.

Great review, thank you, and completely on the button. I have both the DP1M and DP3M, a conscious decisions on both, and I agree that these cameras should come with a bit of a “User Beware” notice - the processing has to be seen as part of the whole experience. But the results … can be amazing. I wouldn’t part with mine.

That’s Bananas 🍌! I would love to have one ☝️. Thanks for the great review Ali 📸 J from 🇿🇦

I own A Hasselblad X2D 100mp medium format camera, yet its the Merrills, particularly the DP2M, that I prefer to use for many purposes, including travel photography. The DP2M is also the perfect camera to use for stitched panoramas and if you do want even more resolution, try Topaz Gigapixel AI. Utterly brilliant camera.

Love this camera so much I had to say another thing: if shooting RAW, expose to the right (ETTR) when using a Merrill. There is SO much dynamic range in the RAW highlights. You can cram the histogram way over to the right, to the point where it looks badly clipped on the LCD, and then drop the exposure 1-2 stops in SPP. And then use Fill Light/highlight/shadow tools for a fine result. The extra light will also reduce foveon color blotching in the shadows. I'd been exposing to protect the highlights like I would any other digital camera for ages and was so frustrated by high contrast scenes. But hard ETTR + exposure reduction in post gives amazing results with a Merrill. The Sigma Quattros will clip like crazy though; you have to protect the highlights with them.

The tricolour Foveon sensor at base ISO provides so much colour information that providing there is no clipping of highlights, it looks to me that you can razz the files to where any photographer would want to go. This is a camera I am very interested in. Thank you for the video.

Gosh that’s so awesome I love itttt you are awesome

Now I want a camera with this type of sensor!

Thank you for your first class review. Especially your tip to use the Ricoh Converter GW-3 I found exciting. I have ordered one, but unfortunately everything remains blurred. Even with manual focus. Can it be that one must also use the adapter Ga-1 for this? In the video you only have the GW-3 screwed on. What mistake am I making. Thank you very much, Christian

The DP1 Merrill and DP2s are my Sigma Fovean cameras, and I love them both - the DP2s being more compact than the DP1 Merrill. For the DP1 Merrill, I use and old external 28mm viewfinder from Voigtländer attached to the hot shoe. I works, because the little "warning" light on top of the camera is visible in my field of view just below the external viewfinder. I only shoot in RAW - and sometimes, I use the option to save in double the original size when processing in Sigma PhotoPro. The thing is, the TIFF files resulting from that are huge, but so is the resolution. I hope to do more testing of the DP1 Merrill for street photography this summer, because I do agree with you - it's an outdoors camera (that just loves light). Seems like I might have to keep an eye out for the DP2 Merrill too with what you just shared here.

Does the Kamerar CVF-1 External Viewfinder fit well on your Ricoh GRIII? (hopefully you've tried it out) ... reason be is that my eyesight is terrible. Of course, I'd only be using it sometimes in the outdoors in the bright sun. a bit of landscape etc. since it's such a tiny compact camera wit a 3-inch screen the size is just right for the device. I'd really like to know if it fits properly with the straps nice and snug (and not loose) on the GRIII/x body or is it just not worth the hassle. thanks for your videos btw subbed!

This camera was such a pain to use. Was so happy to get rid of it. Image quality is good, but you really have handle it as medium format film camera.

I love my Foveons, DP1 an SD Quattros. Debating getting an FP L, I know it's not foveon, i got the Swivi viewfinder ver 2 on the bay, $6.90

FYI, Canon has had program has had program shift on SLRs since the film T-90 (maybe earlier?). It even shows up on some film Canon Rebels.I'm pretty sure it's on most of their DSLRs and all of their RF mirrorless cameras. Just make sure you are on P mode and NOT on the green rectangle. I don't have a lot of Nikons, but I just tried Program Shift on the D80 and the N75 and they both have it. What manufactures are you thinking of that don't have it? Maybe you're talking about cameras other than SLRs? Great video! Someday I'll get a foveon camera. What do you think of the Sigma DSLRs?

The most frustrating part of this camera for me had been the sigma pro photo software. I could see as it loaded the raw image it would apply some sort of treatment that would clip my highlights and black values to an unusable amount completely destroying a smooth gradient into the shadows. I havent found anybody else talking about how to fix this. The only solution that worked for me was lifting the entire image and exporting it and bringing it back down in lightroom. If it wasnt for that I would almost always shoot with it. Now i have the sd quattro and edit in lightroom but i miss the camera size of the dp2.

This camera has the most film-like sensor of any digital camera. Including today's modern sensors.

Hey, thank you again for revealing your merrill editing workflow but I think you forgot to mention what kind of WB do you use.

I just found your videos and they are a GODSEND as someone who has to pick between the Sigma DP1S and Sigma DP3 Merrill in the next 48 hours! Complicated barter situation, haha. Thank you sm, and if you have any opinions on which you prefer between Merrill series and original, would love to hear-taking both for a test drive tomorrow :~)

I've been wanting to try an off-camera flash for my GR, I'd love a video about that

QS= Quick Select :) ...and everything you said I couldn't agree more. Not a camera for everyone, but everyone would love to get this kind of quality for their images. BW files are amazing, and really, ISO more than anything (since I do mostly BW) limits my use of them for street work since I can't go to f/5.6 or higher like I do on my other cameras for zone focus. But dangit, I do love my Foveons.

Your channel is so interesting and awesome! I'm looking for a REAL pocketable camera that I could carry all the time (I prefer a camera with a zoom lens). Does anyone have any recommendations?

I'm fascinated by unusual cameras. I was very interested in Sigma SD9 when it appeared. I recently bought Fuji S5Pro which is also a very interesting camera and I can get the same DR as from my Sony A7S2.

Nice intro music 😀

You have to try the DP3M! I'm sure it will be another camera that you wouldn't be able to part with! 😂

Soooo … since you dropped this video this morning , all the dp2 Merrill cameras sold out on U.K. eBay 😂 luckily I bought one days ago 😁

19:20 i was thinking about getting this tripod but then realised it would be practical to get one with a removable plate as it would reduce the time it takes the cam on or off the tripod significantly. any thoughts on that? (btw: some of these amzn links don’t seem to work anymore. bbtw: other options than amzn would be nice, because duh, amzn 🙄)

Can you suggest a Sigma camera or any other that would you suggest that gives that vintage colo/pastel look like the Leica M8. I am a filmmaker and Iam not looking for that crystal clear digital look. Just looking for creative ways to explore nostalgia. *(I shoot black and white mostly)* Thanks :)

I have an SD Quattro. Everything listed as a neg for the DP Merrill is more or less true for the SD Quattro. A really good lens is a must and once I found a Sigma 105mm Macro to mount on it the images came alive. I can live with difficulties in order to get the image quality.

I have a dp3 merill ....Love it !!…..what’s the name of viewfinder can’t find it on Amazon

Magic colors

basically a slide film upd lol now you said it in video :D

I like your B&W shot of Jason at 6:38. Did he just chug another can of Flamin Hot Mountain Dew? IMO, the B&W phots from the Sigma Foveon look better than those from Leica Monochrom. They look closer to Tri-X and Kodak DoubleX with more gradation on tonalities. Glad you enjoy the Merrill. I have the DP1 Merrill and the DP2s. Wish Leica would put one in the M rangefinder when Sigma is done with its full frame Foveon development. I am ready to sell one of my kidneys. BTW, you probably want to shoot your Merrill at ISO200 of which I 've read about being the base. ISO100 is a pull so you lose a bit of highlight headroom with its dynamic range.

Yes, video on strobes please :)

great review, please do the video about flash photography! thank you!

Will you please tell me what kind of a hood you are using, brand etc? Yours seem to have glass in it. The LH2-01 doesn't have one. Thank you.

Such a beautiful and charismatic lady! Thank you for your video, the pictures are great

Yes please to the manual strobe tutorial btw plz. I’ve never tried.

Thanks for review. Interesting camera. Any thoughts about the b&w images it produces?

There is another software to process the X3F files, called Iridient Developer. I have used it for years with the Merrill files and it works great. Only on Macs, though, I think.