Sigma Foveon-based Cameras

[xpatUSA]

Sigma Aizu Japan did acquire but then shut down the U.S.-based Foveon Company but, presumably, have retained their intellectual property while trying to develop a full-frame 1:1:1 "Foveon" three-layer sensor for about the last ten years to the general disappointment of Foveonistas worldwide. Hoping for some activity in this thread which I intend to be specifically about the thread Title, neither about their 'fp' or 'BF' non-Foveon cameras nor about their lenses now that their SA mount is dead.

I have owned most of the Foveon-based models, except the 1:1:4 Quattro series which I regard as impure three-layer sensors with their mixed layer MP: the lower two layers being half-size. Some time ago, I reduced my camera-count quite severely and now only own the raw-only 3.4MP models SD9 and SD10, having 0.54 and 0.71 fill-factors respectively.

Feel free to browse my website where there is a whole directory dedicated to Foveon sensors:

http://kronometric.org/phot/sensor/Foveon/

 

[JimFox]

How interesting, so I wonder if Sigma will do something with that tech?

I will have to check out that link later today.

 

[xpatUSA]

Feel free to browse my website where there is a whole directory dedicated to Foveon sensors:

http://kronometric.org/phot/sensor/Foveon/

For what it's worth, the only other Company to produce a Foveon-based hand-held camera was Polaroid - the x530 model, made in China. I had one for a short while, came cheap new-in-box from the Ukraine. Wasn't bad as a point-and-shoot model.

http://kronometric.org/phot/sensor/Foveon/Old Lyon Presentation.pdf

Another Company tried to sell a Foveon-based surveillance camera with little success.

 

[AlanLichty]

I always thought the premise of the Foveon technology sounded like it had promise but never saw any cameras based on it that made me want to buy one. Nice to hear someone is still keeping the torch lit.

 

[DES]

I considered Foveon imagery to be notably superior at the outset and followed the early developments, though never made the purchase. I have been assuming that Foveon technology, for whatever reason, couldn't compete when very high ISO's became the benchmark for each new generation of sensors. I personally haven't seen a need for either the high ISO's (>3200) or for very high resolution sensors (satisfied with 12 - 20 MP) and there are days I do a brief online search for one of the early cameras, but always stop short of buying.