Sigma SD14 (vs. Nikon D200)

Handling & ease of use

The SD14 looks and feels much better than its predecessors, with better styling, nicer balance and more robust build quality. As with all models designed for serious use, the Sigma has a good weight and the exterior feels very robust. The large handgrip has a rubberised texture that makes it easy to grip and the general layout of controls doesn't take too long to get used to. While the dials and buttons offering a positive response, they still lack the refinement of those on the Nikon D200 (and other rivals). Compared side by side, the Nikon wins in the handling/looks and feels like a far more serious proposition than the Sigma. This opinion is further enforced when looking through the viewfinder – while sharp and reasonably bright, the Sigma’s is relatively small and the exposure information along its base covers the essentials without being too in-depth. The 2.5in LCD monitor provides a clear image, although the viewing angle isn’t anywhere near as good as the Nikon. The on-screen menu system also falls short of the Nikon, with all the options found in one long menu. SCORE 20/25

Features

The main talking point of the Sigma is the Foveon X3 sensor, covered in more detail in the panel on page 114. In other respects the SD14 offers a similar specification to most SLRs aimed at serious users. Exposure modes are limited to the core four (Program, Aperture- and Shutter-Priority, and Manual) – so there are no subject-biased programs or even a 'Green' fully auto mode for newcomers. The Sigma is well covered in the two key areas (metering and AF), but falls short of what the Nikon has to offer. The metering department has three options – Evaluative (eight-segments), Center (central 8%) and centre-weighted average, with exposure compensation, AE Lock and Auto Bracketing also available. The SD14 uses five AF points located around the central area of the frame, which can be set to work together or individually. You can set it to single or continuous AF mode using the FUNC button on the rear and an AF illuminator automatically activates in low light. The SD14 features an integral flash, which has to be manually raised to allow it to fire and offers Auto and red-eye reduction modes, as well as flash exposure compensation.

Fit a Sigma flashgun to the hotshoe and additional modes, including Wireless flash, become available. There is no sensor cleaning system with the SD14, but remove the lens and you'll see a dust protector designed to keep the sensor clean. The SD14 boasts a PC connection for studio-flash and a remote release socket, but lacks a depth-of-field preview facility. There is no anti-shake system either, as Sigma has started developing lenses with Optical Stabilization (OS) systems. Finally, while it allows you to shot in Raw or JPEG, it’s not possible to shoot both formats simultaneously. SCORE 19/25

Performance

The Sigma is easy to get around and quick to use. As with the Nikon, it’s ready to use within less than a second. The autofocus is positive, although it is slower and noisier than the Nikon and also less effective at tracking moving subjects. The eight-segment Evaluative metering system performs very well, mainly having problems with backlighting and unusual shooting situations, but generally delivering the correct exposure time and again. Colours are generally saturated, which can be a bonus to lift subjects in dull, flat light, but did result in unnatural skin tones. The Auto White Balance proved a little erratic – capture the same scene seconds apart or with two different ISO ratings and the colours sometimes vary dramatically. Another concern is noise, which is noticeable at speeds of ISO 400 upwards. Image sharpness is very good, but the file size of 13.3Mb means that interpolation is required to produce larger print sizes. SCORE 20/25

FOVEON X3 SENSOR

The Foveon X3 sensor differs from other image sensors in that every pixel captures red, green and red light. With other sensors, each pixel site only captures one of the three colours. This is shown on the illustration below. The SD14’s sensor records 2640x1760 pixels on each colour layer (around 4.7-megapixels per layer), given a final resolution that equates to 14.06-megapixels. It increases the effective focal lengths by 1.5x.

IN THE BOX

SD14 body & cap;
eyepiece cup; finder cap;
li-ion battery (BP-21),
charger (BC-21) & mains
lead; USB & video cable;
Sigma Photo Pro CD;
instruction manual

Lenses

You're limited in the sense that you can only fit Sigma lenses to the SD14, but with over 40 in the range, from the 8mm fish-eye to the 800mm super-telephoto, you won’t be short of choice

Sigma SD14 specification

Sensor resolution: 14.06-megapixel Foveon X3 CMOS
Max. Image size: 2652x1768 pixels
File formats: Raw, JPEG
Exposure modes: Program, aperture- and shutter-priority, manual
Metering: Eight-segment Evaluative, Center (8%) and centre-weighted average
Autofocus: Five-point AF system with Single and Continuous AF
ISO Range: 100-800 & Hi (1600)
Shutter range: 1/4000-30sec plus Bulb. Flash sync at 1/180sec
Shooting rate: Up to three
frames-per-second
Screen: 2.5in TFT 150,000 pixels LCD
Storage media: CompactFlash
Weight: 700g
Dimensions: 144x107.3x80.5mm