Camera with a huge number of compromises

POSITIVE:
+ Excellent image quality up to ISO 250 (1 / 3EV), conditioned to absorb in different depths silicon layers by the ability of the Foveon sensor, different wavelengths of light. That this will no longer low-pass filter is required and each pixel does not need more pixels next door. The image is as sharp as one would expect from seeing. Nothing interpolated pure image quality.
+ Excellent, sharp F2.8 fixed focal length lens with distortion-normal focal length (30mm DP2M is the strongest, followed by DP3M and then DP1M). The normal focal length I as opposed to DP1M chosen me for one simple reason: this camera that you know in advance is too slow for this world, so you shoot only to limited movement. It now faces the landscape, then shoots you multiple RAW images and builds them later on your PC to a 50 megapixel image + together that every medium format camera puts the fear. That's the same as if I have several cheap cameras let simultaneously photographed from different positions the subject over the network and then halve many megapixels to come little by little over full format and medium format. But go with a lens and a camera only after the other and thus mobile only for stationary subjects. Also, I've watched my user behavior and found myself that most photos are always done visually in the range of 2-5x, so the normal focal length, portrait focal length and the slight telephoto. This must necessarily everyone who be determined for this camera also interested previously. If most of the photos (> 70%) are made in a specific focal length range, then I would take the closest focal length of the three Merrill so that the camera pays at all.
+ Price now new and therefore affordable for DP2M in regions around the 400 Euro
+ Massive processing
+ Finally compared to its predecessor, a relatively light-strong allround F2,8er lens (the camera this has badly needed! Had it at F3.5 +, I would under no circumstances accept the camera)
+ Lightweight and compact
+ Easy to use
+ Finally a clever, usable, lame autofocus, the really focused automatically (had previous DP1s and there was exactly the reason for selling (terribly slow to be set focus by bescheuertem thumbwheel), together with insufficient megapixel count))
+ Finally the number of megapixels extended to about 14-15 megapixels so that cut-outs are possible (are also urgently needed, since fixed focal length)

NEGATIVE:
- Lame duck, due to the miserable ISO sensitivity up to ISO 250 for very good photos and ISO400 for OK photos in color, then only black and white up to ISO800 with film grain style acceptable, plus, whether now a CLASS 10 or Class 4 card inside infected that the write time of a photo will take unbearably long (about 7-10 seconds) and thus, together with the lack of viewfinder eats the battery power that could save otherwise. And now the worst case scenario - no image stabilizer. This of course is great, as you will use this camera more than to ISO200 and thus is the whole concept of the Axxxx because mobility through the small enclosure would be excellent, but is destroyed because it is constantly hanging a tripod to the camera, which like will be dragged along. And now do not you think "ok, enough but a light, fast monopod from ..." No, you always have to take a tripod and one thing is massive, because the smallest vibration and horizontally without image stabilization and long exposure time together with scalpel image quality revealed every possible source of error and the picture a case for the bucket is then. I knew that but by reading all Internet sources, but that it is so massive, I would not have thought.
- The camera eats batteries as fast as before the change from analog films. Say, a fully charged battery is sufficient only for 37-50 photos. And just do not even inspect the photo after shooting, then you can deduct 5-10 photos again. Off is not because writing, writing, writing to memory card takes and so the body in the field of battery is nice and warm for a long time.
- No image stabilization, almost always slipped images and the more focal length, the worse the effects of vibrations and I was zig faint cameras previously used and had therefore a seeeeehhhhrr staying power. But not sufficient in this camera.
- By the tremendous picture quality to acts much older, because here all the wrinkles of the face are recognizable. Yes, this is definitely a disadvantage, but that one can correct the image post :).
- Fixed focal length and thus be spoiled for choice or coercion, to focus on a subject
- Multimedia capabilities like video: you can forget it
- Very long post production times (4-core processor minimum, minimum 4GB RAM). At 100 images you spend a few more hours a loosely PC as usual. And the internal JPG Engine camera is ... not worth mentioning. It is crucial to take pictures with this camera in RAW and RAW file by about 100MB installation of SIGMA Photo Pro software chase (thumbnails lame until you can beabeiten lame again, then save / convert = lame + extras for large hard disks and fast , large SDHC card).
- Due to the construction of the sensor, there is the biggest disadvantage of the camera. If this disadvantage would not be, this camera would want to have any! Unfortunately, only to ISO 250-320 usable, then the noise destroys the pleasure in the images and the MP number is per ISO100 increase of 2MP back, you want to keep the image quality to ISO250 comparable. The sensor must simply electrically amplify the signal strongly, because certain wavelengths are in deeper layers of silicon and therefore no longer be directly absorbs light strongly at the surface. Thus, now is the end clear why Studio photographer full- and medium format favor because here comes the maximum speed on image quality and flexibility and therefore less risk of producing Committee. On holiday but, I have never seen anyone walking around with a medium format camera. Full size less than 5% of people, APS-C about 35%, the rest under it. And right here is the time for small Merrill. Most photographs are made in good light. And so that's to come the only, lightweight, compact form with maximum image quality home.

There are countless buyers of this camera at forums around the world that have been sold or returned disappointed this camera again, precisely from the above points. To summarize: this camera is too slow for this world, were it not for the excellent image quality. I knew that but before and have the camera much as five years pursued and yet made me at the end to this camera to buy, because I have just seen anywhere these picture quality differently for less than 2500 euros and I with this camera only as a backup, and a second camera besides my SLR (even APS-C size and without low-pass filter = quick bread & butter machine) will be used, because I also had a bright fixed focal length in front of her, but she just did not use it, since I can go to the DSLR to ISO3200 and a very patient man am, needs no ISO6400 + orgies. As always, absolutely every camera is a compromise. But the last cameras in front of her were system cameras with APS-C sensors that have just always produces only the same porridge. Slightly better they are only due to lack of low-pass filter. Full-frame images I've looked in 34MP. But were only similar to APS-C interpolated and the advantage never came into my mind. What 34MP when me completely sufficient 16-24MP to print posters?!? The combination of faster and slower DSLR, compact medium format camera is ideal because balance here the pros and cons against each other and combines the best of both worlds.

This camera polarized and I have been interestingly not seen in the retail sector, even on request in order to order it quickly became very quiet. I can not fully understand or perhaps put some sales of certain vendors behind. Had this camera faster (Bildstabi pure,
But if the user's behavior is such a "I just want to quickly, easily in large focal length range have good photos, the photos look me in the PC only to screen-scaled size and prints up to max. DIN A4 my private album", then you can run any Traveller- take clippers. By the time one wants or needs to sell a few pictures, then the tide turns. And this is where the Merrill series is then again out of place, as the main motives are the moving motifs. I can see the camera in the studio for still life, outside of architecture, landscape and to ISO250 in broad daylight on the street as a second camera for Semipro and enthusiasts, do not imply the main camera. Through the current price, this target group is but just right. If the price but as with appearance a few years ago, the camera would not be profitable. Who has been around for a second solution of 1000 euros?!? Who the motives is aware of is here can always switch between the right camera. And I hesitated long enough between picture quality / price / flexibility. I forgive the camera all the shortcomings, since the lens and the sensor are matched perfectly and I get the best image quality, which is possible at the moment for this price with this weight and this size.