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Canon 5D MII vs Sigma SD1 Merrill

Portability
56
Imaging
65
Features
70
Overall
67
Canon EOS 5D Mark II front
 
Sigma SD1 Merrill front
Portability
57
Imaging
56
Features
45
Overall
51

Canon 5D MII vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Key Specs

Canon 5D MII
(Full Review)
  • 21MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400 (Increase to 25600)
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Canon EF Mount
  • 850g - 152 x 114 x 75mm
  • Announced February 2009
  • Earlier Model is Canon 5D
  • Newer Model is Canon 5D MIII
Sigma SD1 Merrill
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • No Video
  • Sigma SA Mount
  • 790g - 146 x 113 x 80mm
  • Released April 2012
  • Previous Model is Sigma SD1
Photography Glossary

Canon 5D MII vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Overview

Lets take a more detailed look at the Canon 5D MII vs Sigma SD1 Merrill, both Advanced DSLR cameras by companies Canon and Sigma. There exists a considerable gap among the resolutions of the 5D MII (21MP) and SD1 Merrill (15MP) and the 5D MII (Full frame) and SD1 Merrill (APS-C) offer totally different sensor dimensions.

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The 5D MII was revealed 4 years prior to the SD1 Merrill which is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras feature the same body design (Mid-size SLR).

Before we go right into a more detailed comparison, here is a quick summary of how the 5D MII matches up versus the SD1 Merrill with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon 5D MII over the Sigma SD1 Merrill

 5D MII SD1 Merrill 
Screen resolution920k460kClearer screen (+460k dot)

Reasons to pick Sigma SD1 Merrill over the Canon 5D MII

 SD1 Merrill 5D MII 
ReleasedApril 2012February 2009Newer by 38 months

Common features in the Canon 5D MII and Sigma SD1 Merrill

 5D MII SD1 Merrill 
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Canon 5D MII vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Physical Comparison

If you are planning to travel with your camera regularly, you will have to factor in its weight and size. The Canon 5D MII has external dimensions of 152mm x 114mm x 75mm (6.0" x 4.5" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 850 grams (1.87 lbs) whilst the Sigma SD1 Merrill has specifications of 146mm x 113mm x 80mm (5.7" x 4.4" x 3.1") with a weight of 790 grams (1.74 lbs).

Contrast the Canon 5D MII vs Sigma SD1 Merrill in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are working with at that time. The following is a front view measurement comparison of the 5D MII and the SD1 Merrill.

Canon 5D MII vs Sigma SD1 Merrill size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the 5D MII and SD1 Merrill is 56 and 57 respectively.

Canon 5D MII vs Sigma SD1 Merrill top view buttons comparison

Canon 5D MII vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it can be difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor dimensions merely by viewing specifications. The pic underneath will help give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the 5D MII and SD1 Merrill.

To sum up, both of the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The 5D MII having a bigger sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field easier and the Canon 5D MII will render more detail because of its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs way more aggressively. The more aged 5D MII will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon 5D MII vs Sigma SD1 Merrill sensor size comparison

Canon 5D MII vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Screen and ViewFinder

Canon 5D MII vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon 5D MII
Portrait photography with Sigma SD1 Merrill
79
you can focus manually
good megapixels (21MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
supports face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
65
focusing manually
MP count good (15 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
does not have liveview
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Street Comparison

Canon 5D MII Street photography information
Sigma SD1 Merrill Street photography information
59
sensor size is big (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
no moving screen
no image stabilization
57
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Canon 5D MII Sports photography details
Sigma SD1 Merrill Sports photography details
70
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
good megapixels (21 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
supports tracking autofocus
environment proofing
sensor has phase detect AF
low frames per second (4.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
61
MP count good (15 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
weather sealing
sensor has phase detect AF
does not have liveview
lack of image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Canon 5D MII Travel photography highlights
Sigma SD1 Merrill Travel photography highlights
55
environment proofing
good megapixels (21 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
54
weather sealing
MP count good (15MP)
lack of Timelapse mode
does not offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Canon 5D MII as a Landscape photography camera
Sigma SD1 Merrill as a Landscape photography camera
70
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Canon EF mount)
screen size is good (3")
good megapixels (21MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
no image stabilization
lack of Timelapse recording
63
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sigma SA mount)
screen is a good size (3")
MP count good (15MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
does not have liveview
lack of image stabilization
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon 5D MII as a Vlogging camera
Sigma SD1 Merrill as a Vlogging camera
29
supports face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external microphone socket
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
9
no video
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Canon 5D MII vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon 5D MII and Sigma SD1 Merrill
 Canon EOS 5D Mark IISigma SD1 Merrill
General Information
Company Canon Sigma
Model type Canon EOS 5D Mark II Sigma SD1 Merrill
Type Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Announced 2009-02-13 2012-04-10
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 4 Dual True II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS (Foveon X3)
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor measurements 36 x 24mm 24 x 16mm
Sensor area 864.0mm² 384.0mm²
Sensor resolution 21 megapixel 15 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 -
Max resolution 5616 x 3744 4800 x 3200
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Max enhanced ISO 25600 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Minimum enhanced ISO 50 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount type Canon EF Sigma SA
Number of lenses 250 76
Crop factor 1 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 920 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech TFT liquid-crystal color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 98% 96%
Viewfinder magnification 0.71x 0.64x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s -
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000s -
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash settings no built-in flash no built-in flash
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/200s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video file format H.264 -
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 850 grams (1.87 lb) 790 grams (1.74 lb)
Physical dimensions 152 x 114 x 75mm (6.0" x 4.5" x 3.0") 146 x 113 x 80mm (5.7" x 4.4" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 79 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 23.7 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.9 not tested
DXO Low light rating 1815 not tested
Other
Battery life 850 photographs -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery ID LP-E6 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA, Microdrive Compact Flash (Type I, UDMA compatible)
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $1,190 $2,339