Award-winning lens maker Sigma has designed another excellent autofocus SLR camera with the end user in mind. Similar to the Sigma SA-7 but with extras, including greater high-speed functionality, the dial-controlled SA-9 is a full-fledged SLR with a host of advanced features, including four exposure modes, three metering modes, single and continuous autofocus modes, built-in flash with TTL, self-timer, data back, built-in motor drive, LCD information panel, and more. The Sigma SA-9 also has a durable yet lightweight body that ensures great performance under demanding conditions. This kit comes complete with a quality 28-105mm UC-III Sigma AF zoom lens and a handsome Sigma camera bag. Please note that the SA-9 is only compatible with Sigma's SA mount lenses.
One of the camera's strongest features is its high-speed, high-precision autofocus system with hypersonic motor for ultrafast and noiseless operation. Combined with its high-speed shutter capabilities topping out at 1/8,000 of a second, you can accurately capture motion too fast for the human eye to track. For example, this allows you to freeze every drop of water as a dolphin splashes up out of the ocean, plus you can see excellent detail on the dolphin in midair. The SA-9 also offers a high-speed film advance of three frames per second for recording fluid motion--great for sports photography or breaking news events.
The SA-9's autofocus system employs a cross-sensor set at the center of the viewfinder to allow users to choose the point of focus. There are two focus modes for different purposes. In continuous-AF mode, press the shutter halfway and the camera maintains focus on a subject moving at up to 30 miles per hour. It even continuously calculates the distance the subject will cover while the shutter opens and adjusts itself to ensure sharp focus on the moving object when you take the shot. In single-AF mode, pressing the shutter button causes the camera to automatically focus on the subject and open the shutter. The camera signals you when focus is achieved with a light indicator in the viewfinder and an electronic sound.
The intuitive dial controls of the SA-9 offer the ability to go from fully automatic to manual mode with just a few quick adjustments. For manual operation, there is a shutter dial so you can set your shutter speed, either to bulb or anywhere from 1 to 1/8,000 seconds. A command dial controls various settings such as adjusting aperture when in aperture-priority auto mode. The drive dial controls fine adjustment functions, which include continuous shooting, autobracketing, mirror lock-up, and self-timer.
There are three metering modes: eight-segment evaluative metering, center metering, and center-weighted, averaging metering. Eight-segment metering mode divides the image into eight sections, measuring the light separately for each section and calculating an optimum exposure value for the whole scene. Center metering measures only about a 9mm circle in the center of the viewfinder so the photographer can make sure the immediate subject will be exposed correctly, regardless of surrounding light sources. Center-weighted, averaging is the most common form of metering. It measures the center, but also takes the brightness of the surrounding area into consideration.
The camera also boasts a diopter adjustment, preview button to confirm depth of field, midroll rewind, a total of three metering systems, four exposure modes, multiple exposure function for special effects, and integrated flash with red-eye reduction.
1 camera is fine, but the lens is dead after two year
The camera is a little heavy but well built. Layout of controls is good and it's easy to manipulate. I enjoyed this camera a lot in the first two years and got good pictures. However, autofocus of the lens had problem a year ago. At begining, it could not find focus at telephoto. The motor kept busy and you cannot press shutter down. Now it refuses to autofocus even at wide angle. So far, the lens works fine manully.
2 Best Camera at the best price...need I say more?
After doing a lot of research I discovered this camera has all the "bells & whistles" of the much higher priced cameras, but at a fraction of the cost. If you are looking for a high quality camera, but don't want to take a second mortgage on your home in order to own one, then I highly recommend this one.
3 The best 35mm SLR
Well, despite there're more brands with air-shake power, Sigma, so far is the best company in the block. This camera amaze. I bought it after having SD9, already, and I use it PROFESSIONALLY. It is the most reliable camera I had. I use it with EX 2.8 24-70 that is glory by itself. BTW, this lens + camera cost less then Nikon's body only.
I was using many "top" bodies and found Sigma to be lighter, better felt in hands and simple. It is camera that I can understand and compensate. I never could understand Nikon.
I can't define the Auto-Focus to be slow because it is FAST. I don't know how to measure "fast or super fast, but it is very responsive and I LIKE ONE SENSOR.
You should understand that marketing departments forced development to stuff cameras with extra sensors to have them more then competitors do. It is nonsense.
Who needs 45 sensors on 35-mm body? Show me that man. What is faster to reposition focus or navigate among 45 points?
This is camera for photographer, you will enjoy by having it.
4 First SLR you need to buy if you want to learn photography
STUDENTS THIS IS THE BEST BET! DONOT WASTE YOUR MONEY ON ALL THOSE FANCY NIKONS,CANONS OR WHAT EVER!
Most of the reviewers miss the this camera as a good starting camera for a STUDENT! let me emphasize this, that you need to have some interest in learning photography. It is a simply NO NON SENSE camera for a budget user. I have seen rantings about the single AF sensor it has but, most often people use only 1 AF sensor, simply put that is what is pratically usable! most of the pros who have 45 of them (canon) find it painful that the AF is not on the subject but some thing of either nearer or brighter and all the cameras have only the center sensor more sensitive than others. why 4/5 its ability in low light is slightly on the lower side, but it will not limit a person with basic knowledge (just read the small user guide with it) on photography from taking good photos. No other camera at this price offers you more. i would love to see focusing screens but it is ok. i have had it for OVER a YEAR & HALF. sigma has enough lenses that you can afford and difference between 40-45 (sigma) and 50 (canon) lenses does not make any difference. if you want to use it as a point and shoot it is a NONO. the commads are very intutive and the alignment is classic. it may not have the fastest AF! but for the price you pay it is way beyond the canon rebels, N55,65,70 and may be even N80.Oh btw the viewfinder was the brightest that i could find (may be comparable to F100).and the camera feels solid! the flash is really powerful! Sigma lenses are very good too! i have not found any "short commings". I like the 2CR5 battery as it is more lighter than carrying arround 4-8 AAs and it lasts much longer. i thought of 'upgrading' to nikon F100 or canon EOS 3/7NE but really did not feel the need.Reselling value is low? i have no idea ! as long it is good why sell it anyway? i should also tell you that i am an advanced amateur and by no means a pro. but i have read extensively on photography through correspondense courses, books etc. a good review of it is at popphoto.com in the cams & lenses section
All you need is a certain practical frame of mind to like sigma products!
5 Sigma is always sigma
My friend gave me 35mm SLR (sigma SA-7 ) with standart 28-70mm lens and 70-300mm lens standart. I have used it for the purpose of the birding and environmental photography. some of it turned out perfectly but I could not get the best image of spoting birds using 70-300mm lens. I visited the sigma homepage and found no information of which lens (high performace telephoto lens) fit the sigma SA-7 or SA-9. I only read almost hidden message about the high performace APO 80-400mm ex (hsm) OS. do sigma SA-7 and SA-9 availabe for telephoto lens?
I live in Indonesia, Bali. I don't know where to find the sigma store in Indonesia so that I write to you. I am just amateur photograper but I trust sigma camera for my future workings.
I am desperate for your help.
thank you.
6 What a great camera
I bought his camera just over a year ago for graduation i have shot nearly 50 rolls with it the only pictures to vcome out bad were pictures not meant to be. The functions are really easy to use, my favorite is the function to take rapid shots. great for taking pictures of my cousin's dog doing flybal then you can flip them like a animation. overall the best camera I have ever owned
7 Lots of Bang for Your Buck
Cameras as with most things are all about how much you want to spend. Thankfully, when researching cameras I came across the SA-9. It's an affordable quality camera with simple operation.
I couldn't be any more happy with this camera.
Although, Sigma has long been a company known for making quality lenses; they are relatively new to the camera business and therefore have competitively priced their cameras. The SA-9 has features that are similar or better than some cameras $$$ or more. This camera is capable of much more than point and shoot. Please if you buy this camera be sure to skim through the manual (as I 'finally' did) and you will soon discover how easy the many extra features are to use. I hope that makes sense to you. Anyways, multiple exposure, continuous auto-focusing, and autobracketing functions are all very simple and quick to access. The camera offers fully programmable and manual operation, however the best part is the convenient aperture priority and shutterspeed 'priority' modes. This allows manual configuration of one while the other is automatically configured. The 28-105mm lens which came with the camera is well suited for a variety of shots. If however you want to buy extra lenses, you'll probably have to buy them off the internet, as most stores don't carry lenses with sigma's sa mount. But, sigma definitely has plenty to choose from seeing how they are a lens manuracturer. Also, one last thing.. I would like to recommend the remote control which unfortunately comes separately. I hope this helps.
8 Not for Beginners
The only negative I have about this camera is my own lack of knowledge in using it. I wanted to take great pictures on my recent trip to Utah. As long as I kept it on totally autofocus I was fine. If I tried to use any of the manual features the pictures were diappointing. I didnot take the time to learn and experiment with all that comes with this camera,so it is my own fault. I hope I can help someone else to learn about shutter speed apature etc, before you spend this kind of money. I look forward to learning on this camera.
9 fast camera
This is a great camera. I had read everything on the other SLR cameras and this seem to be the best bargin. I use the point and shoot mode and I thought some of the pics may be bad, but after seeing them I was amazed at the quality. I thought for sure that the fash was too small but the pics turned out great. I still have to test the super fast shutter speed and the bulb mode. I like the bag that comes with the kit. This is better than our Pentex SLR. I am happy.
10 Solid camera with solid price.
I bought the SA-9 kit a few weeks ago, and have been impressed with the results. The image quality is excellent, the camera is easy to use, and I like the solid feel to the camera body and lens. Similarly equipped Nikon or Canon models feel [less expensive] prepared to the Sigma. You are getting a lot of camera for a good price. Only drawback (minor) is somewhat slow AF, which isn't that important to me. Overall I am very happy with my purchase and highly recommend the camera even though the brand is somewhat obscure. In my opinion, Sigma earns the right to compete with Nikon and Canon on equal playing field.
11 Great camera
The last time I purchased a 35MM SLR was 35 years ago: a Canon FTb-all manual. The only battery needed was for the light meter. This SA-9 does everything electronically and does it well. In program mode, the shutter speeds are "stepless", i.e.: the exact speed needed for the exposure. My first test roll was impressive. Night shots, day shots, sync flash in sun, etc. They all turned out great. The auto focus is just a tad bit slow, but I can live with it. I was reluctant about the proprietary choice of accessories, but Sigma makes great lenses and also a great flash (my next purchase). I'm shocked at all the features for the price. The new Sigma digital camera coming out has the new "X3" three layer CCD and is cutting edge. Sigma is a young company compared to the majors: only 40 years making lenses and 7 years making cameras. Amazon had a great price for a really good camera. Thanks again.
12 Best overall value for an slr
After doing a lot of research in trying to find the perfect entry level slr- I decided to go with this camera. The only thing that makes this camera entry level is the price. As far as features go- it is in a higher class. Despite it's large variety of features, I found this camera extremely easy to operate. It is a very cut and dry layout- and considering my overall lack of knowledge when it comes to manual exposure settings- I have found that this camera makes the whole process much easier than I would have originally thought. I think Sigma did a real good job with the users manual- one thing I thought that might be lacking on this. Sigma to most people is a "chance" buy- mostly because you are limited to purchasing only Sigma lenses, as well as Sigma Flash units. But how many people buy every single lense available for Nikon, or Canon? Sigma currently has 40 very good lenses for the SA-9, as well as 2 real good flash units, one of which can be used wirelessly. For Amateur photographers that want to save some money- you can't go wrong with this camera.
13 ALOT MORE THAN WHAT I EXPECTED
I read all kinds of reviews on 35mm slr camera's and i am just a beginner. But i must say that this is a nice Camera. I checked out all the competition, several Canon and several Minolta 35mm slr's. I only found one review on this camera, most of the other camers in this price range seem to be all plastic. including some of the (...)range of Canon, Minolta and they feel cheap. very cheap!!!!!!!!! I thought after reading the only review that i could find, i would give it a try. And i am glad that i did. Very solid feel, more features than cameras at higher prices. i just got this camera today, so as far as how well it will hold up, i have no idea. but it feels like it has a much better chance than the competition.
14 Great Camera at a Great Price!
To say this camera is loaded with features would be an understatement. It has all of the standard features included in the big four SLR cameras. It also has a few only included in their top-of-the-line (pricey) cameras. Other features not found on every camera include mirror lockup - for increased sharpness in macro photography or when using long lenses. A depth of field preview button, MIA from a number of cameras for a while, but I'm glad to see it making a comeback. Also found on the SA-9 and making a general comeback is a multiple exposure setting that allows you to expose a single frame multiple times -up to 9 separate times on the SA-9. A viewfinder diopter adjustment that allows you to adjust the viewfinder for your vision. The self timer has setting for either a two or ten second delay - useful for long exposures if you're not using a remote cable. Speaking of remote cables, forget about it with this camera. You can get an optional...3-channel wireless remote control. Metering is via an 8 segment evaluative meter and you are given a choice of 8 segment metering, average metering (center weighted), and center area metering (spot metering). The metering mode is controlled via a button on the left side of the camera and the control dial which surrounds the shutter release button.
I did have to really do some digging to get more information on this camera, but most of the major camera magazines and several websites have reviewed this camera very positively. It is definitely worth a little research time to save several hundred dollars on a quality camera. This camera feels great in the hand and takes great pictures! What more could someone ask for?
Okay, a couple of negatives. Autofocus is not super-fast, but since I am not taking magazine cover shots, no problem. Another issue I considered was lens availability since the Sigma SA-9 only uses Sigma lenses. Well, I decided since they make quite good lenses, I could live with this limitation. Not to mention, it keeps me off the auction sites buying a lens every other day.
Overall, GREAT camera at a GREAT price...and couldn't be happier. Buy it and enjoy, you won't be sorry.
