In the past we received some rumors about Olympus testing Foveon sensors on their cameras. The Foveon sensor creates its RGB color output for each photosite by combining the outputs of each of the stacked photodiodes at each of its photosites. Anyaway this are really unreliable rumors. What’s true is that Sigma is releasing the new SD15 camera wich uses such a sensor. It will be very interesting to see how the new and improved Foveon sensor will perform.
The leaked camera has been found inside nothing else than BHphoto (click here to see the picture and read the specs)!
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The SD15 was announced in September 2008 and still hasn’t been delivered.
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Sigma/sigma_sd15.asp
Just sit tight. Reports have it that Sigma has partnered some way or another with Olympus / Panasonic / Fujifilm (recent) and are onto something big. I would expect that the interest in the Foveon sensor would relate directly to the Trine CCD array which has generated some interesting views. This kind of partnership would make sense considering Sigma sell next to no camera bodies. If true, with the likes of Panasonic, Olympus, Fuji and Sigma batting on the same team the photography world will need to brace itself. All of these companies have been playing it quite for some time now. Looking into rumor dates and possible partnerships alongside product launches and predictions I wouldn’t be surprised. Sigma have also increased their 4/3rds lens range substantially over the past year or so.
But, if Sigma keep Foveon too close to home without the finances to develop it the SD15 will be another nail its coffin.