In the last post I mentioned the Sigma DP Merrill cameras (of which there are now three: a 28mm equivalent, a 45mm equivalent and a just-released 75mm equivalent). Having been more than a bit impressed (read: gobsmacked) by the sample images online, I used some points which I had accumulated with a local camera store and managed to get the 45mm equivalent for not a lot of cash. I thought I would see what all the fuss is about. Some of the reviewers out there have suggested, directly or otherwise, that this little point-and-shoot-looking thing can match the top DSLRs for resolution, and some have even used the "MF" (Medium Format) words. I've never shot MF, but I've used a fair few DSLRs, including the top or near the top of the line from Canon and Nikon. I also have a Leica M8.2, which is no slouch on the resolution front, as it has no AA filter on it.

I was already aware of the Sigma's weak points before buying it (terrible battery life, no good at high ISO, slow AF), and I can work around the AF and ISO issues (the AF is certainly not fast, but it's reasonably accurate and the camera also has a perfectly usable manual focus system. As for the ISO, if I'm going to shoot it at night I leave it on ISO 100 and stabilise it on whatever happens to be around). The battery thing is a drag, but the batteries are cheap and small. Not really an issue. And it's so light that you can sling it over your shoulder or even fit it in a reasonably large pocket and almost forget that it's there.

But how's the image quality?

Well, not to put too fine a point on it, my M8.2 is now sitting on an auction site looking for a new home. The files from the Sigma are absolutely phenomenal, especially from such a small body. The sharpness and detail are superior to any camera I've used thus far, and I've used quite a few.

Here's one of the first shots I took with it: Nagoya's TV tower from a slight distance. The bigger you can view this, the more detail you'll see. When I opened it up for the first time and zoomed it in to 100 per cent, I think I actually uttered an obscenity (for all the right reasons).

When you get exposed to this much power in such a small package, you start shooting things you would not normally consider shooting just to open it up and stare at the details. It does give you some interesting compositional ideas. Like a rock covered with blue mesh.

It has reasonably nice bokeh too

Log, from the top.

Bad high ISO performance doesn't have to mean that you can't shoot at night. The Merrill is very light and doesn't suffer the problem that some cameras do when the lens overbalances the body. As long as you can keep the camera still, you can balance it on something, stay at a low ISO and let the shutter speed go right down into the over-1-second range to get some nice night shots. I'm not entirely sure what the lines in the sky are: going by the pattern I'm assuming that they are connected to the lights in the ferris wheel (this was a three second exposure, so the lights would have been moving, even if rather slowly). Kind of a cool effect though, whatever it is).

Also, staying at ISO 100 gives you a slow shutter speed at night, which makes for some interesting experimental pictures:

Ghost people

Closing the lens down gets you even longer exposures: this was a ten second one, hence the (intentionally) silky water. I've done this kind of thing before with a Nikon D3, and to be able to get a similar result (but with no loss, and quite possibly some gain, in detail and resolution) from what looks like a compact point and shoot is pretty amazing.

I'll be taking the Merrill to Tokyo in May and I have to say that I'm looking forward to taking it up to some high vantage points and shooting with as much DOF as I can to see what kind of insane detail it can pick up.

Thanks for looking!