Drop an .X3F file from your Sigma SD Quattro and get the exact shutter actuation count instantly — processed entirely in your browser, never uploaded anywhere. X3F is fully supported in shuttercount.app — no extra tools needed.
Check Shutter Count →The Sigma SD Quattro (2016) is an interchangeable-lens mirrorless camera built around Sigma’s unique Foveon X3 Quattro APS-C sensor. Unlike Bayer sensors that interpolate colour from a single-colour mosaic, the Foveon X3 captures all three colours (red, green, blue) at every pixel location using three stacked silicon photodiode layers — eliminating demosaicing entirely. The Quattro architecture uses full resolution for the top layer and reduced resolution for the two lower layers, improving processing speed while preserving the sensor’s characteristically sharp, aliasing-free rendering. The SD Quattro uses Sigma’s SA mount (with EF adapter support) and writes X3F RAW files, which embed the shutter count in EXIF data readable in shuttercount.app.
Sigma does not publish an official shutter rating for the SD Quattro. The estimated mechanical lifespan is approximately 150,000 actuations.
| Model | Release | Sensor | Est. Shutter Life | RAW Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sigma SD Quattro | 2016 | 29 MP effective APS-C Foveon X3 Quattro | ~150,000 | X3F |
| Sigma SD Quattro H (APS-H sibling) | 2016 | 51 MP effective APS-H Foveon X3 Quattro | ~150,000 | X3F |
| Sigma fp (L-mount successor) | 2019 | 24.6 MP full-frame CMOS (electronic shutter only) | no mechanical | DNG |
| Actuation Count | % of Est. Life | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 5,000 | 0 – 3 % | Near new — very low use |
| 5,000 – 40,000 | 3 – 27 % | Light to moderate use |
| 40,000 – 100,000 | 27 – 67 % | Moderate to heavy use |
| 100,000 – 130,000 | 67 – 87 % | High use — negotiate price |
| 130,000 + | 87 %+ | Near or past estimated life |
The Foveon X3 Quattro sensor in the SD Quattro has 19.6 megapixels in the top layer (R) and approximately 4.9 megapixels in each of the lower two layers (G, B). Sigma claims 29 megapixels of effective resolution based on the combined colour data. In practice, the spatial resolution of fine detail is closer to a 20 MP Bayer camera, but with no demosaicing artefacts and exceptional per-pixel colour accuracy at low ISO.
No. High ISO performance is the Foveon sensor’s primary weakness. Noise becomes significant above ISO 400–800, and the camera is primarily suited to controlled lighting, landscape, and studio photography where ISO 100–400 is achievable. The Bayer-based Sigma fp and fp L are far superior for high-ISO and low-light work.
Yes, but only at 1080p at up to 30 fps, and video quality from the Foveon sensor is significantly below what contemporary Bayer mirrorless cameras offer at the same resolution. The SD Quattro was designed exclusively for still photography — video was included as a secondary function.
Only a Sigma authorised service centre can reset the hardware shutter counter. Always verify from an original X3F file — not from a screenshot or seller-provided number.