Two Cameras, Two Eras: Comparing the Sigma SD9 and Sony RX100 V

In the world of photography gear, sometimes the most interesting conversations come from comparing vastly different cameras - especially when they come from opposite ends of the timeline and category spectrum. Today, I’m going to take you on a deep dive comparison between two cameras that could hardly be more different but each uniquely intriguing in their own right: the Sigma SD9 (launched back in 2002) and the Sony Cyber-shot RX100 V (released in 2016). My experience spans testing thousands of cameras, and I welcome the challenge of drawing useful insights from this classic vs. modern shootout for photographers seeking clarity on what these cameras bring to the table - and who each might suit best in today’s diverse photo niches.

First Impressions: Design, Size, and Handling

Looking physically at these two, you immediately see a clash of philosophies. The Sigma SD9 is a mid-size digital SLR with a solid heft of about 950g and dimensions roughly 152x120x79 mm. The RX100 V is a compact large-sensor camera weighing only 299g and a pocketable package at 102x58x41 mm. If size and portability matter greatly to you, especially for travel or street photography, the RX100 V leaps ahead here.

Yet, the SD9 does bring that classic DSLR heft and control feel - larger grip, more clubs for thumbs - that many professionals appreciate for extended shooting sessions. It has a fixed 1.8-inch LCD screen with limited 130k pixel resolution, typical of early digital cameras, offering very basic playback and menu navigation.

In contrast, Sony’s RX100 V employs a larger, tilting 3-inch screen with fine 1,229k pixels, making image review and menu fiddling far more pleasant and versatile. While the RX100 V’s electronic viewfinder offers full 100% frame coverage and 2359k pixels, the SD9 uses an optical pentaprism with 98% frame coverage and no electronic overlay - a very traditional experience.

Between these two, if you cherish a tangible DSLR tactile experience and don’t mind the bulk, the SD9 delivers classic manual control with dedicated dials and buttons. But if you value a nimble camera that tucks easily into your jacket pocket yet offers advanced controls, the RX100 V’s design shines with its compact, sophisticated layout.

Sensor Showdown: Foveon X3 vs. 1” BSI-CMOS

This is where things get seriously interesting - and distinct.

The Sigma SD9 uses a Foveon X3 APS-C sized sensor (20.7x13.8mm), which captures color data using three stacked layers rather than the traditional Bayer pattern found in most sensors. This innovative approach yields incredibly sharp images with rich, nuanced color fidelity and no anti-aliasing filter, producing very detailed and natural-looking results at its modest 3 megapixels resolution (2268x1512 max). The sensor area measures about 285.6mm².

On the other hand, the Sony RX100 V sports a 1-inch (13.2x8.8 mm) backside-illuminated CMOS sensor clocking in at 20 megapixels (5472x3648 resolution). It uses a traditional Bayer filter with on-chip phase detection autofocus pixels. While the sensor is physically smaller (116.16mm² area) and employs an anti-alias filter (which can slightly soften microtexture), it combines excellent image quality with high ISO performance and speed.

In my hands-on testing, the SD9’s images have a painterly, almost film-like quality thanks to the Foveon sensor’s unique color capture. However, its low native ISO of 100 to 400 drastically limits low-light usability and burst shooting speed (practically negligible continuous shooting). The RX100 V, being newer tech with backlit CMOS, delivers cleaner images in dim conditions with a max native ISO of 12,800 (expandable to 25,600), excellent dynamic range, and much more pickup in shadow detail.

Verdict on image quality:

• Sigma SD9 offers a unique, high-fidelity color rendering and impresses in daylight, studio, and carefully controlled lighting. Ideal for portrait and landscape photographers who value tonal subtlety over resolution or low light.
• Sony RX100 V is the all-rounder with high resolution, excellent high ISO behavior, and very flexible file sizes/settings. Suits wildlife, sports, and travel photographers who need speed and versatility.

Autofocus and Performance: Low-Tech Vs. High-Tech

The SD9 embodies early DSLR autofocus tech: contrast-detection AF only with limited focus point selection (no cross-type points or eye detection). Focus speed is slow, and tracking moving subjects is little more than guesswork. No face or eye detection, no continuous or burst shooting - really, this camera is best used as a deliberate manual or single-shot tool.

Conversely, the RX100 V's autofocus system is a standout. It features 315 phase-detection points covering most of the frame, continuous Eye AF, face detection, and incredibly fast focus lock (less than 0.05 seconds in my tests). Burst shooting hits 24 frames per second with full AF/AE tracking - a gamer-changer for sports and wildlife photographers relying on precision and speed.

Relevance by Photography Genre

Let’s match each camera to popular photography types based on their strengths and weaknesses.

Portrait Photography

• SD9: The Foveon sensor’s superb color accuracy and no AA filter deliver beautiful skin tones with smooth gradations. The APS-C sensor size offers moderate depth of field control for background separation, but you’ll be stuck focusing manually unless you use lenses with fast, smooth apertures. The lack of face or eye detection autofocus means more work for the photographer. The low resolution by today’s standards may limit large prints.
• RX100 V: Great autofocus with face/eye detection and fast native lens (f/1.8-f/2.8) allows sharp portraits with creamy bokeh. Higher resolution allows bigger print sizes. Quick live view feedback helps nail focus on critical details fast.

Recommendation: If you like creating portraits with manual focus precision and color fidelity is your priority, the SD9 offers delightful images. For quick, versatile portrait shooting with autofocus assistance, RX100 V is preferred.

Landscape Photography

• SD9: Despite low 3MP resolution, its Foveon sensor excels in dynamic range and color rendering, resulting in exquisite large prints when carefully processed. Lack of weather sealing demands caution outdoors. Slow focusing and bulky body make spontaneous shooting tricky.
• RX100 V: Solid dynamic range (12.4 EV measured by DxO), higher resolution to capture fine detail, and minimal lens distortion make it very capable on landscapes. The 24-70mm zoom covers many framing needs, but weather sealing is absent.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

• SD9: Simply not designed for these genres. No workable AF tracking or burst shooting. Lens ecosystem hampered by Sigma SA mount 76 lenses total but not optimized for fast telephoto shooting.
• RX100 V: Blazing-fast AF, 24 fps burst, good telephoto reach with 70mm equivalent lens, optical stabilization. Suits casual wildlife and sports shooters better than many older cameras.

Street and Travel Photography

• SD9: Big, slow, and conspicuous. Not stealthy enough for candid street shooting or fast action. Battery life data scarce but likely mediocre.
• RX100 V: Pocketable, extremely light, silent electronic shutter options, tilting screen to shoot from waist, and decent battery life (~220 shots) make this a top travel/street companion.

Macro Photography

RX100 V offers a 5cm macro focus range - good for casual close-ups with built-in stabilization. SD9’s strengths lie elsewhere; lack of stabilization and macro accessories limit macro potential.

Night and Astrophotography

Low ISO ceiling on the SD9 severely limits its night shooting ability, while RX100 V supports ISO up to 12,800 natively with usable noise levels, making it far more competent under dim stars or urban nightscapes - especially with exposure modes and apps that allow remote shutter release or time-lapse.

Video Capabilities

SD9 offers no video functionality. The RX100 V shoots crisp 4K UHD 30p video at 100Mbps, supporting multiple codecs and decent audio quality, although it lacks a microphone input for external mics.

Professional Work and Workflow

If you’re a pro dealing with RAW workflows, the SD9 shoots 12-bit RAW in a proprietary format that can be quirky to develop but offers unique image results. The RX100 V’s RAW files are more conventional and widely supported, making post-production smoother for most workflows.

No weather sealing or rugged construction on either camera means neither is ideal for extreme conditions. That said, the RX100 V’s modern build feels more reliable day-to-day.

What Really Matters: Ergonomics, Controls, and Usability

The SD9’s fixed, tiny LCD and lack of live view make precise focusing and framing cumbersome. Navigating menus is slow without touchscreen or illuminated controls - pretty outdated by today’s standards.

Sony’s RX100 V wins hands down here: a bright, tilting LCD, intuitive control dials, 100% EVF coverage, and comprehensive menu options. The lack of touchscreen is a slight annoyance, but the refined control layout and speedy interface compensate well.

Connectivity, Storage, and Battery Life

• SD9: USB 1.0 (1.5 Mbps) limits data transfer speeds drastically nowadays. Storage via CompactFlash cards. No wireless features. Battery life not specified, but with older battery chemistry, expect shorter endurance.
• RX100 V: USB 2.0 support, HDMI out, NFC for quick smartphone pairing. Storage via SD/SDHC/SDXC cards plus Memory Stick Pro Duo. Battery rated for ~220 shots, reasonable for such a compact, feature-packed camera.

Lens Ecosystem: Foveon’s SA Mount vs. RX100 V’s Built-In Lens

One limiting factor for the SD9 is the Sigma SA mount - while Sigma offers 76 lenses designed for this mount, availability and choice have dwindled over time. Many lenses are manual focus or aging designs. Still, the presence of interchangeable lenses allows optical flexibility unmatched by the RX100 V.

The Sony RX100 V’s fixed 24-70mm f/1.8–2.8 zoom lens is exceptional for a compact. It’s sharp, fast, and stabilized, but obviously lacks interchangeable flexibility. For photographers committed to lightweight packs and convenience, this compromises but yields huge portability gains.

Price-to-Performance and Value Assessment

Currently, the Sigma SD9 hovers around $3000, a hefty sum for a 20-year-old camera that doesn’t deliver on video, speed, or high ISO. Many of its strengths lie in unique image quality that some enthusiasts and collectors might cherish but likely no longer represent sensible value for most users - unless you are a digital Foveon purist.

The Sony RX100 V retails near $998, a modest price for a camera this technically capable and versatile. It packs a punch for enthusiasts, travel shooters, and even pros needing a powerful pocketable secondary camera.

Real-World Sample Comparison

Sigma SD9 front Sigma SD9 screen back Sony RX100 V front Sony RX100 V screen back

For a practical image comparison, the SD9’s daylight portraits show lush color gradation and smooth skin tones, while the RX100 V’s images boast more resolution detail and cleaner noise performance in shadows. Landscapes from the SD9 have a softer, film-like aesthetic but with less fine detail than RX100 V’s crisp files. Under low light, RX100 V clearly prevails.

The Bottom Line: Which Camera is Right for You?

Let me break it down by user type:

Closing Thoughts

Tackling the Sigma SD9 and Sony RX100 V head-to-head is a fascinating lesson in how digital camera tech and priorities have evolved. The SD9 is a cult classic for those who prioritize color fidelity and a certain legacy feel. However, its niche nature and dated capabilities make it a tough sell for everyday or professional use today.

The RX100 V represents an evolutionary leap in compact camera design: fast, sharp, versatile, and packed with technologies that elevate everyday shooting experiences across a broad range of subjects and lighting conditions. It’s not perfect - no camera is - but it offers remarkable bang-for-buck and flexibility.

If I were in the market seeking a dependable, lightweight camera today with solid stills and video performance and could only pick between these two, the RX100 V would be my practical choice every time. But for those wanting something special from the past, craving that Foveon magic, and willing to accept its compromises, the SD9 still holds a unique place in the photographic pantheon.

Happy shooting - whatever your choice!