Image Quality for the SD14 - Why only 4MB?

I've been trying to out the big hoo-haa about the Sigma's SD14 4MB SLR - and why it sells for around £600. This sounds ludicrous, considering the expected differencein detail in a 10-12MB cam compared to a 4MB. Forget the 14MB JPEG, The only reason to buy the SD14 is the 3-layered sensor that doesn't need to interpolate the colours across pixels. Logically, if you buy the camera for image quality and colour reproduction, you wouldn't then screw up the image buy saving in JPEG.

Anyway, I didn't understand why they chose such a low resolution - I understand the "megapixels don't count" - but 4MB?

I guess this was a fantastic learning experience. I found this blog by Mike Chaney where he has blown up SD14 images to full resolution and then up further to the same resolution as his Canon 5D and the quality is shocking - especially considering the 5D is full-frame and there is no crop on the image that could possibly reduce detail, or light. On a pixel for pixel basis the colour rendition and detail is stunning - and remember the 5D price tag when you look at these pics:

from:

http://www.ddisoftware.com/sd14-5d/

Noise profile from the same shot:

5D 200% zoom

SD14 200% zoom

There are more full res crops at:

http://www.trustedreviews.com/digital-cameras/review/2007/07/31/Sigma-SD...

I would urge you to take a look Absolutely ZERO fringing on black-white edges. Stunning.

K