The crops are taken from the original images, saved as High Quality JPEGs in Photoshop CS2 and presented here at 100%. Each number represents 100 lines per picture height (lpph), so a figure of 20 means a resolution of 2000 lpph.

Note: just before going to press with this review, Sigma released firmware revision 1.03 which added a new LOW 50 ISO option, so we reshot this test and have presented the results below – although in terms of resolved detail, it was no different to the 100 ISO shot.

The Sigma DP1’s relatively low 4.69 Megapixel output is responsible for the larger than average area shown in the crops below, but there’s still a respectable degree of detail in the image. You’ll also notice that while there are patches where the converging lines become blurred, the DP1’s Foveon X3 sensor avoids the moiré patterns associated with conventional Bayer pattern sensors as they approach their limiting resolution.

These blurred portions actually start as low as 1400 lpph, but are followed by patches of perfectly resolved detail. So we’re giving the DP1 the benefit of the doubt and scoring it here at the last point you can resolve the lines as being separate: this gives the DP1 1750 lpph of horizontal and vertical resolution respectively.

This is unsurprisingly lower than the other cameras shown here as their higher pixel density allows them to achieve a higher spatial resolution. But when it comes to colour resolution and avoiding colour artefacts, the DP1’s X3 sensor technology is superior. Either way though, not a bad result for a camera outputting 4.69 Megapixel images.

As explained on the previous page, the DP1 comes with RAW processing software which offers an interpolated mode with 13.9 Megapixels, so to see how this measures-up, scroll down to the bottom of the page. Alternatively if you can’t wait to see how it’s sensitivity performance compares, head straight over to our DP1 noise results page.