Drop an X3F RAW file from your Sigma dp3 Quattro to check the shutter count — processed entirely in your browser, never uploaded anywhere. The dp3 Quattro features a fixed 50mm f/2.8 Macro lens (75mm equivalent) with 1:3 magnification and the Foveon X3 Quattro sensor — purpose-built for portrait and fine-art photography.
Check Shutter Count →The Sigma dp3 Quattro (2015) is the telephoto model in Sigma's dp Quattro series, pairing a fixed 50mm f/2.8 Macro lens (75mm full-frame equivalent) with the unique Foveon X3 Quattro sensor. The 75mm perspective is ideal for portrait, product, and fine-art photography, while the macro capability (1:3 magnification, 22.6 cm minimum focus distance) extends its utility to close-up and botanical subjects. Sigma does not publish an official shutter life rating for the dp3 Quattro.
| Model | Release | Lens (equiv.) | Macro | Est. Shutter Life |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sigma dp3 Quattro | 2015 | 50mm f/2.8 (75mm) | 1:3 (0.33×) | ~100,000 (est.) |
| Sigma dp2 Quattro | 2014 | 30mm f/2.8 (45mm) | No | ~100,000 (est.) |
| Sigma dp1 Quattro | 2014 | 19mm f/2.8 (28mm) | No | ~100,000 (est.) |
| Sigma dp0 Quattro | 2016 | 14mm f/4 (21mm) | No | ~100,000 (est.) |
| 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 dp3 Quattro tends to accumulate shutter counts even more slowly than its siblings — portrait and macro photography is deliberate work, and the camera's macro focus accuracy demands careful shot-by-shot review. Also check the lens barrel closely for signs of wear or fungus, which can develop if the camera has been stored in humid conditions.
The dp3 Quattro uses the Foveon X3 Quattro sensor at APS-C size (23.5×15.7 mm), with 19.6 MP at the top silicon layer and 4.9 MP at the two deeper layers (29 MP effective total). The 50mm f/2.8 Macro lens provides genuine macro capability to 1:3 magnification at a 22.6 cm minimum focus distance — unique among fixed-lens compact cameras with a premium APS-C sensor. The background separation at 75mm equivalent and f/2.8 aperture, combined with the Foveon's micro-contrast rendering, produces a distinctive quality in close-up work that no Bayer compact can replicate.
The dp3 Quattro shares the same elongated horizontal body design as all dp Quattro models. The camera's weight distribution is notably different from the dp0/dp1/dp2 due to the longer lens protrusion; handheld shooting is most comfortable with the left hand supporting the lens barrel.
Yes. Drop the X3F file from your dp3 Quattro into shuttercount.app and the actuation count is displayed immediately. This works for all Sigma dp Quattro cameras, as Sigma consistently embeds the shot counter in the X3F EXIF block.
In macro photography, the Foveon X3 Quattro's freedom from demosaicing artifacts is particularly valuable. Bayer sensors can produce false colour and moiré patterns in fine textured subjects at close range — insect scales, fabric weave, plant structures. The Foveon captures all three colours at every pixel location through stacked photodiode layers, eliminating these artifacts entirely. Combined with the dp3 Quattro's 75mm equivalent perspective, the result is close-up images with three-dimensional character and colour fidelity not achievable from any Bayer compact.
Yes. The 75mm equivalent focal length provides flattering perspective compression for product shots, while the 1:3 macro capability fills the frame with smaller objects. The Foveon sensor's exceptional fine-detail rendering at base ISO shows surface textures, engravings, and material finishes with clinical precision. For controlled studio use with a copy stand or product table, the dp3 Quattro's high-ISO limitations are irrelevant — flash or LED panels at ISO 100 produce superb results.
The dp3 Quattro shares the limitations of all dp Quattro cameras: poor high-ISO performance (ISO 400 is the practical upper limit for most subjects), slow autofocus, minimal continuous shooting capability, very slow X3F file write speed, and large file sizes. In macro mode, the autofocus is particularly slow and unreliable. The camera demands a deliberate, patient shooting approach and is not suited to fast-moving subjects, events, or low-light handheld work.
The SD Quattro (interchangeable-lens) with a Sigma 50mm f/2.8 Macro EX lens covers similar photographic territory but allows lens swapping and delivers a higher estimated shutter life (~150,000 actuations vs ~100,000 on the dp3). However, the dp3 Quattro is more compact, lighter, and the integrated lens is optically optimised specifically for the Foveon sensor. For dedicated macro or portrait use, the dp3's fixed-lens integration often produces marginally sharper results at close focus distances.