In a recent interview with Dpreview, Sigma CEO Kazuto Yamaki reiterated his company's commitment to Foveon and confirmed that they are now almost at the final stage of technology development. Here is the recap of the interview:
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Sigma’s Commitment to Foveon: Sigma CEO Kazuto Yamaki confirms ongoing development of a full-frame Foveon sensor, despite slow progress, emphasizing his dedication to the project.
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Development Challenges: The project was moved from the US to Japan, requiring a restart from scratch, which has extended the timeline significantly.
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Market Stability Concerns: Yamaki notes the camera market appears stable but warns that positive sales figures may mask long-term issues.
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Foveon Sensor Benefits: Yamaki highlights the unique image quality of Foveon sensors, particularly in color gradation due to crosstalk between RGB layers, which he believes offers a distinct advantage over Bayer sensors.
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Limitations Acknowledged: Foveon sensors face challenges with noise and low-light performance compared to Bayer sensors, making them less user-friendly and not suitable for all photographers.
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Niche Appeal: Yamaki acknowledges that even a successful Foveon sensor may not lead to high sales volumes but believes it will still hold significant value for a niche audience.
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Sigma BF Philosophy: The interview touches on the Sigma BF camera, inspired by the philosophy of "beautiful foolishness," reflecting a design focus on joy and aesthetics in photography.
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Industry Context: The article mentions other camera industry developments, such as the Nothing Phone 3a’s camera features and a new 50MP OmniVision sensor, but these are not directly tied to Sigma’s efforts.