As a somewhat Foveon-skeptic (not about the merits of the technology but rather its implementation), I should chime in here to say that the DP2M has just blown me away.
Michael used the 'Merrills' almost exclusively on our recent outing, whereas I lugged the D800E kit. Simply put, the accutance of the DP2M files blew me away (it's so true I said it twice in two successive paragraphs).
I've seen the absolute goodness an 800E is capable of, but I have also seen some not-so inspiring things - the same things I have seen crop up at times with every digital cam to date, namely mushy detail at closer-to-infinity distance in landscape. ( Save for the Phase on an Alpa -- others' not mine, I have neither the time nor the patience).
I can safely say that the DP2M (and only the DP2M - not necessarily the DP1 or the SD1) is a true rival to the very best 35mm CMOS cameras. You have to see the files to understand.
My sense is that this is the result of a superb (because it is so simple) lens matched perfectly to the sensor. The same sensor on the SD1 simply didn't produce results quite like this in our shoot-out last fall. Similarly, while the DP1 is very good, it is not quite to the standard of its brother. Indeed, on Sigma's website some of the DP1 landscape shots show some pretty mushy detail, whereas the DP2 shots are all cracklingly sharp.
In a way, the DP2M is kind of like a mini tech-cam, the little-brother of a an IQ back with a perfectly matched Rody Digitar. And it's only slightly less annoying to use
(kidding).
That said, I find the design of the DPs brilliant, but they kind of suck as cameras.
Best analogy I have found to date is to the "Texas Leicas" - the Fuji 690s, which came in virtually identical focal lengths. Those were my favourite landscape cameras for many years, so perhaps a pair of DPs might not be such a bad way to go!
Happy shooting!
- N.
