Click on each question to link down to the answers.
1. How many pixels does the Sigma SD10 camera have?
2. How big is the image sensor in the SD10? What is the multiplying factor of the sensor?
3. What is the resolution of the SD10 sensor?
4. How big is the file size of Sigma’s new digital SLR camera?
5. Does the Sigma digital SLR camera use IEEE 1394 interface to download images?
6. Is the SD10 compatible with Mac computers?
7. Can I use my Canon EOS lenses on the SD10 digital camera?
8. How fast can I take pictures with the SD10 camera?
9. If dust gets on the SD10 dust protector, will it appear in the image?
10. What is this feature called Sports finder which I’ve read about?
11. What kind of metering system does the SD10 camera use?
12. Does the SD10 camera have a depth-of-field preview?
13. Can I pre-lock the mirror on the SD10 camera to minimize vibration?
14. Who makes the SD10 camera?
15. I wish to use an SD10 digital camera to photograph lightning. What is the shutter release lag time for this camera?
Does Sigma make a remote triggering device for Sigma cameras enabling photography of lightning?
Answers
1. How many pixels does the Sigma SD10 camera have?
The X3 image sensor in the SD10 camera has 10.2 million pixel sensors
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2. How big is the image sensor in the SD10? What is the multiplying factor of the sensor?
The image sensor is 20.7mm x 13.8mm and has a cropping factor of 1.7X.
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3. What is the resolution of the SD10 sensor?
The SD10 features three levels or resolution: High: 2268X1512, Medium: 1512x1008, and Low: 1134x756.
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4. How big is the file size of Sigma’s new digital SLR camera?
At the highest resolution the SD10 produces files of about 8 megabytes, in RAW format. Medium resolution produces about 4 megabyte files, and the lowest resolution about 2 megabyte files.
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5. Does the Sigma digital SLR camera use IEEE 1394 interface to download images?
The Sigma SD10 features both IEEE 1394 (Firewire) and USB capability for downloading images. Also there is a video output for viewing images on a video monitor (NTSC and PAL capable).
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6. Is the SD10 compatible with Mac computers?
The SD10 will operate with Sigma’s Photo Pro software for downloading and manipulating the images. This software is PC and Mac compatible.
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7. Can I use my Canon EOS lenses on the SD10 digital camera?
The Sigma SD10 uses Sigma’s exclusive SA lens mount, the same as used on Sigma’s 35mm SLR cameras. There is a full array of lenses available, from 8mm Circular Fisheye to 800mm APO telephoto, including three 1:1 macro lenses; and zoom lenses from 10-20mm to 300-800mm. By the way the SD10 features a stainless steel camera mount , and all lenses for it feature metal lens mount.
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8. How fast can I take pictures with the SD10 camera?
The SD10 can shoot approximately maximum 1.9 frames per second in bursts of up to 6 frames at high resolution, approximately maximum 2.4 frames per second in bursts of up to 14 frames at medium resolution, and approximately maximum 2.5 frames per second in bursts of up to 30 frames at low resolution mode.
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9. If dust gets on the SD10 dust protector, will it appear in the image?
No, the dust protector in the SD10 camera is located near the camera’s lens mount, at the front of the camera, so it is far away from the image sensor. Any dust or debris on the dust protector will never come into sharp focus at the image plane. The dust protector virtually seals the entire mirror box, protecting not only the image sensor, but also the reflex mirror and the viewing screen as well.
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10. What is this feature called Sports finder which I’ve read about?
The SD10 digital SLR camera has a unique feature pertaining to its viewfinder. It allows the finder to show 130% of the picture area. This is very useful, as it enables you to see what is happening outside the picture area, allowing you to anticipate people or objects entering the picture. This can be especially desirable for action photography, like sports, etc. The active picture area is visible at normal brightness, while the peripheral areas are masked with neutral density, making it easy to differentiate the two.
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11. What kind of metering system does the SD10 camera use?
The SD10 camera actually has three metering systems, an eight-zone evaluative system, plus center-weighted averaging and center area (about 7.5%). Users can select any metering system while in any exposure mode.
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12. Does the SD10 camera have a depth-of-field preview?
Yes, like Sigma 35mm SLR cameras, the SD10 digital SLR features an electronic depth-of-field preview button, which can be used in any exposure mode.
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13. Can I pre-lock the mirror on the SD10 camera to minimize vibration?
The SD10 digital SLR camera has mirror lock-up capability. This can be very useful to minimize image-degrading vibration, when using long lenses or longer shutter speeds. Once this function is turned on, the mirror can be locked-up by simply depressing the shutter release button fully. Pressing the button a second time fires the shutter and returns the mirror to the normal viewing position. The mirror also can be locked up, and then the shutter fired remotely, if the optional RS-21 remote controller is used. This sequence can be repeated indefinitely, until the function is turned off.
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14. Who makes the SD10 camera?
Sigma makes all of our own products, lenses, flash units and cameras, in Sigma’s own factory, in Japan. However, the X3 image sensor in the SD10 is made in America, by Foveon.
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15. I wish to use an SD10 digital camera to photograph lightning. What is the shutter release lag time for this camera?
Does Sigma make a remote triggering device for Sigma cameras enabling photography of lightning?
The shutter release lag time has be estimated to be about 58 milliseconds. This is comparable to the faster 35mm SLRs, so the SD10 should be well suited capturing images of lightning. Sigma (and other camera makers) does not offer a remote triggering device, suitable for this application; however, such devices are offered by other independent companies. One such company is Stepping Stone Products, in Colorado ( www.lightningtrigger.com). They can also be reached at (800)452-4167 for more information.
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