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Sigma

sd Quattro

Foveon APS-C body delivering exceptional per-pixel detail for stills purists.

$999

Released Feb 2016

vs

Sigma

sd Quattro H

Foveon sensor APS-H body with unique color rendering for stills purists.

$1,299

Released Mar 2016

Released within a month of each other.

Wins

0categories

sd Quattro

WildlifeTravel

Wins

1categories

sd Quattro H

WildlifePortrait

17 categories tied

TL;DR — Key differences

sd Quattro wins 0 categories·sd Quattro H wins 1 categories
  • Bsd Quattro H has higher Resolution (44.8 MP vs 29.5 MP)

Key specs at a glance

sd Quattrosd Quattro H
Resolution29.5 MP44.8 MP
SensorAPS-CAPS-C
ISO max25,60025,600
Burst15 fps15 fps
4K60 fps60 fps
IBIS6-stop6-stop
Weight520 g520 g
Battery640 shots640 shots

Size and weight, to scale

sd Quattro

138 × 98 × 88 mm

520 g (1.15 lb / 18.34 oz)

sd Quattro H

138 × 98 × 88 mm

520 g (1.15 lb / 18.34 oz)

sd Quattro and sd Quattro H share virtually identical body dimensions.

sd Quattro and sd Quattro H weigh the same.

Depth (front-to-back): 88mm sd Quattro · 88mm sd Quattro H

Sensor size, to scale

sd Quattro

23.5 × 15.6 mm · APS-C

367 mm² area

sd Quattro H

23.5 × 15.6 mm · APS-C

367 mm² area

Use-case scoring

Which one for what?

Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class

Use casesd Quattrosd Quattro H
Portrait
6.5Good
7.5Good✓ wins
Sports & Action
6.0Good
6.0Good
Video & Hybrid
6.0Good
6.0Good
Landscape
5.0Fair
6.5Good✓ wins
Travel
8.5Excellent✓ wins
7.5Good
Wildlife
9.0Excellent
9.0Excellent
Vlogging
7.0Good
7.0Good

Why pick one over the other

Reasons to choose

sd Quattro

No major advantages on measured specs.

Reasons to choose

sd Quattro H

  • Resolution

    44.8 MP vs 29.5 MP — higher is better

Both cameras share

  • ISO min (native)Both 100
  • ISO max (native)Both 25,600
  • AF points / zonesBoth 49
  • AF frame coverageBoth 90 %
  • Eye AFBoth support eye af
  • Animal / bird AFBoth support animal / bird af

Pros & cons at a glance

Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.

sd Quattro

Pros

  • Unique Foveon color
  • High acutance
  • Distinct rendering

Cons

  • Slow
  • Poor high ISO
  • SA mount limited

sd Quattro H

Pros

  • Unique Foveon color
  • High detail per pixel
  • Distinct look

Cons

  • Slow operation
  • Poor low light
  • Limited lens range

Full specifications

= category winner

sd Quattro
sd Quattro H
Resolution
29.5 MP
44.8 MP+52%
Sensor type
APS-C CMOS
APS-C CMOS
Sensor size
23.5 × 15.6 mm
23.5 × 15.6 mm
AA filter
No
No
sd Quattro
sd Quattro H
AF system
Phase-detect AF
Phase-detect AF
AF points / zones
49
49
AF frame coverage
90 %
90 %
AF low-light limit
-5 EV
-5 EV
Eye AF
Yes
Yes
Animal / bird AF
Yes
Yes
Subject recognition
Human, Animal, Bird, Vehicle
Human, Animal, Bird, Vehicle
sd Quattro
sd Quattro H
Burst (mechanical)
6 fps
6 fps
Burst (electronic)
15 fps
15 fps
Pre-Capture / Pre-Release
Yes
Yes
RAW buffer depth
60 frames
60 frames
sd Quattro
sd Quattro H
Max resolution
4K UHD
4K UHD
4K max frame rate
60 fps
60 fps
Max video bit rate
150 Mbps
150 Mbps
Internal RAW video
No
No
Log profile
Standard profiles
Standard profiles
Codecs
H.265, H.264
H.265, H.264
sd Quattro
sd Quattro H
Weight
520 g
520 g
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
138 × 98 × 88 mm
138 × 98 × 88 mm
Weather sealing
Yes
Yes

Frequently asked

Quick answers generated from verified specs.

Which is better for landscape, sd Quattro or sd Quattro H?

sd Quattro H scores 6.5/10 versus 5.0/10 for sd Quattro — 44.8MP — excellent for prints up to 24×36".

What's the resolution difference between the sd Quattro and sd Quattro H?

sd Quattro is 29.5 MP and sd Quattro H is 44.8 MP, so the sd Quattro H captures more detail for cropping and large prints.

Do the sd Quattro and sd Quattro H have in-body image stabilization?

sd Quattro has 6-stop in-body image stabilization, while sd Quattro H has 6-stop in-body image stabilization.

Which shoots faster bursts — the sd Quattro or the sd Quattro H?

sd Quattro reaches 15 fps electronic. sd Quattro H reaches 15 fps electronic.

What's the weight difference between the sd Quattro and sd Quattro H?

Both bodies weigh roughly 520 g.

Do the sd Quattro and sd Quattro H record 4K video?

sd Quattro: 4K up to 60p. sd Quattro H: 4K up to 60p.

Are the sd Quattro and sd Quattro H weather sealed?

sd Quattro: Yes. sd Quattro H: Yes.

Which has better battery life?

Rated battery life is 640 shots (CIPA) for the sd Quattro and 640 shots for the sd Quattro H, giving the sd Quattro H the edge.

How much does each cost?

sd Quattro launched at $999 and sd Quattro H at $1,299. The sd Quattro is $300 less.

Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.