Sigma SD1 Merrill

The Sigma SD1 Merrill probably isn't the first D-SLR camera that comes to mind when you think of a high-end shooter, but it is the one that's the most different from others in its class. It ships without a lens, so you'll have the option of pairing it with glass that suits your shooting style.

The Sigma SD1 Merrill is a tough camera to fall for. I couldn't handle its time-consuming workflow, which I found necessary to get the results I wanted. What's worse, other cameras were able to produce images that I adored from a color and detail perspective, without having to edit in two applications.

This colorful New Jersey storefront was shot using the SD1 and the Sigma 17-50mm zoom lens.

I shot this spider using the SD1 Merrill and Sigma 105mm Macro lens.

To get the most out of the SD1, forget about shooting JPG. Just pretend that the camera isn't capable of recording in that format. That leaves you with a Raw workflow that is, well, it's not fun.

Our standard test scene, as captured by the SD1 Merrill and 17-50mm lens.

This 100 percent crop of our test scene was shot with the 17-50mm lens at 17mm f/5.6.

I shot the same red barn with it and the Pentax 645D. The front of the barn was in shadow, with a bright blue sky behind it. I was able to bring out the blue in the sky with the SD1 using the Sigma software—without giving it an overdone HDR look. Try as I might in Lightroom, I just can't get the sky to be as blue in the shot from the Pentax–and yes, the exposure was identical for both photos.