The Japanese camera and lens manufacturer Sigma Corporation has announced that it has acquired Foveon, Inc., the company that developed the famous three-layer Foveon X3 image sensor. [img=right]/uploaded/18/sigmafoveon.jpg[/img=right]
Tight relationship
Ever since Sigma started working together with Foveon in 2000, the two companies have strengthened their working relationship, and Sigma has incorporated the Foveon sensor into several digital cameras.
Both the latest DLSR, the SD14, and the compact DP1 camera have this sensor and additionally, the Polaroid X530 also uses this type of sensor.
On the Photokina Sigma announced two additional Foveon-equipped cameras to be released in 2009 - the SD15 and DP2. [bimg=right]/uploaded/18/123foveonx3.jpg[/bimg=right]
According to Sigma, the acquisition will further the development of new types of image sensors and provide better integration between the cameras and X3 sensor, while lowering development costs at the same time.
Securing Foveon ?
Another thought behind the acquisition might be that Sigma wanted to make sure that the Foveon sensor technology is not lost to the competition.
Also, Foveon's sole source of income is the development and sales of their sensor technology. As Foveon has only two customers - Sigma and Polaroid - Sigma might have realised that this business model poses a risk for the future of Sigma's 'pigheaded' image quality approach.
While the other players in the market seem to focus only on megapixels, features and high ISO, Sigma and Foveon have tried to focus more on dynamic color range capturing for image quality.
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