Not insane, but surreal...
Hi,
Besides the crazy price tag there are many other major issues concerning the SD1:
1) Size matters
Good sensor, true, but still not full frame and this makes a LOT of difference, specially if you use wide angle lenses. More than US$ 2K in an APS-C sized camera ? Sounds not correct to me.
2) Sigma is not Leica
Okay, good sensor BUT lacks of really awesome optics. Yes, I said amesome because what else would you put in a $7000 camera ?
Besides the 70/2.8 and 105/2.8 Macros, all the other ones are so-so, including the 30/1.4 and the 20/1.8. They sucks. Honestly.
I paid a good ammount for a Vario-Elmar 35-70 F4 ROM lens, very gladly. It's awesome glass and delivers exceptional performance. It's made by Kyocera in Japan under Leica's specs.
3) Sigma is not even Canon or Nikon
Camera body is not even close than Canon's or Nikon's APS-C top end series. Not counting about optics.
4) Quality control
I had many Sigma lenses for Canon. Every single one gave me some sort of focus problem, Usually frontfocusing.
So, IMHO it doesn't matters if it has the best sensor ever made. It's overpriced and there aren't optics to match the price tag.
Don't take me wrong. I love the SD15 and the DP2. I have both. For the SD15 I still have the 70/2.8 macro (great lens) and a crappy and expensive (for the performance) 17-50/2.8 EX DC.
When I need good optics, I simply use my old good M42 lenses on it, like some good Mamiya and Fujinons-EBC.
It's something like having a Porsche engine in a Yugo. Would you pay $40.000 for the Super-Yugo ?