The SD1 is a camera with a solid specification, though not one that particularly stands out in the enthusiast-grade DSLR sector. In terms of size and body design, metering and autofocus systems, and external controls, it's most comparable to the likes of the Canon EOS 7D, Pentax K-5, Nikon D7000 and Sony SLT-A77. What it doesn't offer, though, are two features that have become standard over the past few years - movie mode and live view. We suspect that the omission of video capability may not lose it too many buyers amongst its target market, but for a high-resolution camera that would seem particularly suited to studio work, the lack of live view (and the critical focusing and composition it allows) could be a deal-breaker.
The other potential hurdle for the SD1 is its use of Sigma's own SA lens mount. The company builds a wide range of lenses for the mount, and many of them are very good indeed. But we ask ourselves how many people will be willing to risk spending money building up a collection of lenses for a non-mainstream mount. It's also worth noting that few of Sigma's lenses offer any form of weather sealing to match the camera body. See More Specifications
