To compress or to uncompress? That is the question. Since I starting shooting with the RX1rII I’ve always had the format firmly set to uncompressed RAW on the (not unreasonable) assumption that though my memory cards might now hold only half the images, my disk drive is constantly full, and my post-processing time is twice as long, for an IQ gain, however marginal, it has to be worth it, right? But for my upcoming trip to Nepal and 10 day trek to Everest Base Camp, I’ll need 

The Sigma 18-300mm Travel Zoom A few years ago I threw all my zoom lenses under a bus and become a prime man, preferring to zoom in and out using one of the best, recent (in geological terms), innovative advances, human feet. The zooms had become too heavy and unwieldy and I never once regretted my decision. But lately, with a three day voyage to the Lofoten Islands looming, I was becoming more concerned. Zooming with my feet was all well and good on dry land, but if you’re o

Driving around Lofoten I had plenty of time to muse on the email I’d received from Sigma UK that morning, announcing the new SD Quattros, especially the H. Where the heck did that come from??? As I was carrying around an SD1, 2 Merrills and a Quattro, my first thought to dump them all in a lake, hire a plane, fly to Japan and snatch one from the secret Sigma lab. The H, combined with a fast Art prime or two, wouldn’t that be the thing? I was genuinely, nurdishly, excited; a b

The comparisons of the Sigma Merrill and Quattro have remained by far the most popular posts on this website throughout 2014 and 2015, with the test shot of Leeds (below) the most clicked upon. The two shots below, taken a few days ago, complete the set with a comparison of the Sigma DP1 Merrill and Sigma DP0 Quattro.  Both shots were hand held. Both have been post processed in SPP and Lightroom, using the same settings. Both shots were taken at ISO100 at f5.6. On both the co

I’ve finally put my money where my mouth is and bought the Sigma DP0 Quattro. Unfortunately, since it arrived, the North of England has been shrouded in mist, fog and rain, perhaps not the Quattro’s natural element. But I couldn’t resist taking the camera out just after dawn around Sheriff Hutton, near York, when we stayed at Polly’s cottage (www.ascotcottage.co.uk) last weekend. Sheriff Hutton | Sigma DP0 Quattro | http://www.richardjwalls.com Sheriff Hutton | Sigma DP0 Quat

In the last of series of 3 posts on Sigma’s DP0 Quattro I couldn’t resist a cheeky comparison against the Sigma DP1 Merrill. … But first let’s get the disclaimer out of the way! Anyone looking for a technical, scientifically rigorous, thorough, review should look away now! Ok, so now we’re rid of those pesky pixel peaking folks, for those still curious let’s press on with the comparison. Sigma DP1 Merrill Sigma DP0 Quattro Sigma DP1 Merrill Sigma DP0 Quattro Sigma DP1 Merrill

River Tees Sunset | Sigma DP0 Quattro | http://www.richardjwalls.com I’ve been lucky enough to have the loan of a Sigma DP0 Quattro over the last couple of weeks. Sadly  a combination of work and poor weather limited the time I was able to dedicate to the camera, and to understanding how to make the most of it’s capabilities. High Force, River Tees | Sigma DP0 Quattro | http://www.richardjwalls.com Nevertheless Staithes, high up on Yorkshire’s East Coast, and Teasdale, just a

Human invention is littered with the weird and the crazy. Take for example the one wheeled motorbike, or the amphibious bicycle, or more recently the Segway, a device so technically advanced it’s capable of moving at walking pace whilst remaining upright! In the world of photography perhaps the current champion of oddness is the Sigma Quattro range of cameras. Despite every other camera manufacturer, from high-end Hasselblad to lowbrow Kodak, being just fine with Bayer sensor

Owl | Sony RX1 | http://www.richardjwalls.com A few days ago I snapped away at the owl using the Sony RX1 and the Sigma DP3. The result, for me, is a great example of the strengths of both cameras. Having to get up close with the RX1 combined with f2.0 equals really shallow DoF,  and I love the the creamy background. Owl | Sigma DP3 Merrill | http://www.richardjwalls.com The Sigma on the other hand, taken a few steps back and at f2.8 … well could you ask for more resolution? 

Gaping Gill | Sony RX1 | http://www.richardjwalls.com With a trip to the Lofoten penciled in for this winter, I’ve been reluctantly (but increasingly) tempted by the “see in the dark” Sony A7s. The problem is that a new purchase would mean the sale of my beloved Sony RX1. Before I could bring myself to draft the eBay listing I needed to test the RX1’s low light capability one more time, and where better than 330 feet down a hole in Yorkshire. Once a year the Bradford Potholin

With the nights growing lighter and the RERF inner workings quickly being clad in wood and plastic, it was time take time out and capture it glowing the in the twilight, lit by street lamps and internal lights. I’d not used the Merrill’s before for night time shooting so was interested in their capability, and in general I’m happy with the results though I need to work out how better to control glare.  Shots were taken with 2 – 5 second exposures @ ISO100. As always the Merri

With the 2015 Photography Show just around the corner it’s time for a quick retrospective. This time last year I’d Ebayed my D800 and collection of heavy Nikon glass I’d built up over the years. Photography had ceased to be fun; the lenses were too heavy to drag around; the high resolution sensor was, in my hands, over sensitive to camera shake; and the results, to my eye, lacked a certain magic compared with the superb D700. Like so many I’d fallen into the pixel peeper trap

I know from the heat of the debate when the DP2 Quattro was released how opinion quickly divided between those favouring the Quattro and those favouring the Merrill. Blackburn Mercury Monoplane | Sigma DP1 Merrill | http://www.richardjwalls.com I know that the Quattro is a huge step forward as a camera, though the funky look is not to everyone’s taste. Concrete Works, Leeds | Sigma DP1 Quattro | http://www.richardjwalls.com I know I looked forward to the Quattro’s release as

In this final comparison I took the DP1 Quattro and DP1 Merrill to the Yorkshire Dales. Along with the DP3 Merrill. Again the Quattro proved to be by far the better camera … but this comparison is purely about image quality … and as beauty is in the eye of the beholder I’ll let you make your own minds up. This first view was from our bedroom window at Simonstone Hall. Not a bad scene to wake up to! Yorkshire Dales | Sigma DP1 Quattro | http://www.richardjwalls.com Yorkshire D

The Yorkshire Air Museum (http://www.yorkshireairmuseum.org) is a great place to go, and a great place to try out cameras. The aircraft below, the Blackburn Mercury Monoplane (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackburn_Mercury) built in Leeds, my home town, is perhaps my favourite, and the light is wonderfully captured by the Merrill DP1. Blackburn Mercury Monoplane | Sigma DP1 Merrill | http://www.richardjwalls.com In the comparisons below as ever the Quattro proved to be the fa

A repeat of the comparison between the DP2 Quattro and DP3 Merrill but this time with the DP1 Quattro and  DP1 Merrill. As ever the Quattro is by far the better camera. This comparison is purely about image quality … and as beauty is in the eye of the beholder I’ll let you make your own minds up. Ossett War Memorial | Sigma DP1 Quattro | http://www.richardjwalls.com Ossett War Memorial | Sigma DP1 Merrill | http://www.richardjwalls.com Ossett War Memorial | Sigma DP1 Quattro

A repeat of the comparison between the DP2 Quattro and DP3 Merrill but this time it’s the  DP1 Merrill V DP1 Quattro. As ever the Quattro is by far the better camera. This comparison is purely about image quality and as beauty is in the eye of the beholder I’ll let you make your own minds up. Sigma DP1 Quattro | http://www.richardjwalls.com Sigma DP1 Merrill | http://www.richardjwalls.com Quattro – Merrill Detail | http://www.richardjwalls.com Quattro – Merrill Detail | http:

A repeat of the comparison between the DP2 Quattro and DP3 Merrill but this time it’s the  DP1 Merrill V DP1 Quattro. As ever the Quattro is by far the better camera. This comparison is purely about image quality and as beauty is in the eye of the beholder I’ll let you make your own minds up. Clocks & Green | Sigma DP1 Quattro | http://www.richardjwalls.com Clocks & Green | Sigma DP1 Merrill | http://www.richardjwalls.com Clocks & Green Detail | Quattro – Merrill | http://www

Victoria & Hunslet Mills have laid unused since the late sixties / early seventies, a poignant reminder of the inevitability of the 2nd law of thermodynamics, but luckily an interesting subject at which to point the Sigma DP1 Quattro Victoria & Hunslet Mills | Sigma DP1 Quattro | www/richardjwalls.com This shot was taken by pushing the lens through the metal fence that surrounds the site. Very little chance for good composition! Aperture is F8 as opposed to the Sony’s F16 bel

Back to the bridge to take the same old test shot as previous comparisons. The day was dull and coming to an end but with a tripod there was just enough light. Leeds Panoramic | Sigma DP1 Quattro | http://www.richardjwalls.com Leeds Panoramic | Sony RX1 | http://www.richardjwalls.com Leeds Panoramic Clock Detail| Sony – Sigma | http://www.richardjwalls.com The first thing I look for is the detail on the clock face. Given the range it’s a remarkable effort from both cameras an