>>3213809>the DP2M is crazy sharp. 100% looks just as sharp as web resolutions)Exactly, that's the major selling point of all Foveons, no loss of sharpness and great colour resolution (no colour bleed/fringing) at 100% since there's no interpolation at all.
>I still maintain that it's not *so* much better that it justifies the extra hassle involved in taking and editing pictures.Yeah maybe. Especially now that you can get significantly higher resolution bayer sensors (36mp, 42mp, 50mp) so you could just downsize and get the same sharpness as foveons if not more.
Foveon sensors impose a (slide) film like workflow.
ISO 100 is great, very sharp and amazing colour. ISO 400 is fine but a step down. ISO800 and over is a big compromise with apparent deterioration just so you can get a shot, at any cost, possibly convert to B&W.
Dynamic range is limited so you need to nail exposure. When you do, you're rewarded with great colour and contrast.
Your number of shots are limited (by the battery), and this along with the narrow latitude forces you to compose and meter carefully before you press the shutter, just like with film.
And then you have to use special software (SPP), just like you'd use Silverfast or Vuescan, before continuing on to Photoshop for the final edit.
That's why I'd easily recommend the camera to a film shooter, because they're already accustomed to this style of shooting.
Anyway, Foveons are a huge missed opportunity. It's amazing that a crop sensor from 5 and a half years ago (an eternity for electronics) can outresolve current crop sensors and provide very pleasing results when it comes to colour and contrast. And this is for a technology that very, very limited R&D money was invested in compared to bayers, since sigma controls all the patents and their budget is limited.
Imagine what a full frame foveon would look like, with 5-year cumulative investment by giants like Sony, Fuji and Canon.
