Drop an X3F RAW file from your Sigma dp2 Quattro to check the shutter count — processed entirely in your browser, never uploaded anywhere. The dp2 Quattro uses a unique Foveon X3 Quattro sensor in a fixed 45mm equivalent lens body.
Check Shutter Count →The Sigma dp2 Quattro (2014) is the second model in Sigma's dp Quattro series, featuring a fixed 30mm f/2.8 lens (45mm equivalent on APS-C) paired with Sigma's unique Foveon X3 Quattro sensor. Unlike conventional Bayer sensors, the Foveon captures all RGB channels at every pixel location, producing distinctive rendering characteristics that have earned the camera a cult following among landscape and fine-art photographers. Sigma does not publish a rated shutter life for the dp2 Quattro.
| Model | Release | Sensor | Est. Shutter Life | RAW Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sigma dp2 Quattro | 2014 | 29 MP eff. Foveon X3 Quattro APS-C | ~100,000 (est.) | X3F |
| Sigma dp1 Quattro (19mm equiv.) | 2014 | 29 MP eff. Foveon X3 Quattro APS-C | ~100,000 (est.) | X3F |
| Sigma dp3 Quattro (75mm equiv.) | 2015 | 29 MP eff. Foveon X3 Quattro APS-C | ~100,000 (est.) | X3F |
| Sigma SD Quattro (interchangeable) | 2016 | 29 MP eff. Foveon X3 Quattro APS-C | ~150,000 (est.) | X3F |
| Actuation Count | % of Est. Life | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 5,000 | 0 – 5 % | Very low use — near new |
| 5,000 – 25,000 | 5 – 25 % | Low to moderate use |
| 25,000 – 60,000 | 25 – 60 % | Moderate use — normal for active use |
| 60,000 – 85,000 | 60 – 85 % | High use — negotiate price |
| 85,000 + | 85 %+ | Near or past estimated life |
The dp2 Quattro is often used for deliberate, tripod-mounted photography where per-session shot counts are low. A 10-year-old body with 20,000 actuations is not unusual. Focus on sensor condition (chromatic aberration, hot pixels) and lens clarity alongside the shutter count.
The dp2 Quattro uses the Foveon X3 Quattro sensor at APS-C size (23.5×15.7 mm). The Quattro architecture places full-resolution photodiodes at the top silicon layer (capturing blue-green light) and 1/4-resolution photodiodes in the deeper layers (capturing green and red). This asymmetric design allows faster processing while retaining the Foveon advantage of zero demosaicing artifacts.
The 30mm f/2.8 lens is a 7-element design optimised for the Foveon sensor's light-incidence sensitivity. The unusual horizontal body design — a wide, flat grip area extending to the left of the lens — is distinctive and polarising but offers a stable shooting platform when hand-held.
Yes. Sigma embeds a shot counter in the X3F RAW format EXIF block. ShutterCount reads this directly from the file. Drop the X3F file into shuttercount.app and the actuation count will be displayed. This is one of the few compact camera RAW formats where the shutter count is reliably embedded.
Sigma Photo Pro (free) provides the highest-fidelity rendering for X3F files. Adobe Lightroom supports X3F but uses a different demosaicing approach that does not fully exploit the Foveon architecture. darktable has limited X3F support. For critical work, Sigma Photo Pro is strongly recommended.
For photographers who specifically want the Foveon look — the characteristic colour rendering, three-dimensional rendering at base ISO, and total absence of demosaicing artifacts — the dp2 Quattro remains without a true substitute at any price. It demands patience: slow autofocus, no continuous shooting, limited video, and careful exposure at the base ISO. In exchange, it offers a completely different rendering aesthetic from any Bayer camera.
All three dp Quattro cameras share the same Foveon X3 Quattro sensor and body. The difference is the lens: dp0 Quattro (14mm f/4, 21mm equiv.), dp1 Quattro (19mm f/2.8, 28mm equiv.), dp2 Quattro (30mm f/2.8, 45mm equiv.), dp3 Quattro (50mm f/2.8, 75mm equiv.). The dp2's 45mm equivalent is considered the most versatile for general photography.