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Canon SX500 IS vs Sigma SD1 Merrill

Portability
80
Imaging
39
Features
40
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
 
Sigma SD1 Merrill front
Portability
57
Imaging
56
Features
45
Overall
51

Canon SX500 IS vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Key Specs

Canon SX500 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.4-5.8) lens
  • 341g - 104 x 70 x 80mm
  • Launched August 2012
  • New Model is Canon SX510 HS
Sigma SD1 Merrill
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • No Video
  • Sigma SA Mount
  • 790g - 146 x 113 x 80mm
  • Announced April 2012
  • Replaced the Sigma SD1
Photography Glossary

Canon SX500 IS vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Overview

In this article, we are comparing the Canon SX500 IS and Sigma SD1 Merrill, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Canon and Sigma. The resolution of the SX500 IS (16MP) and the SD1 Merrill (15MP) is very comparable but the SX500 IS (1/2.3") and SD1 Merrill (APS-C) use different sensor dimensions.

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The SX500 IS was manufactured 5 months later than the SD1 Merrill and they are both of a similar age. Both cameras offer different body type with the Canon SX500 IS being a Compact camera and the Sigma SD1 Merrill being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going in to a in-depth comparison, below is a concise summary of how the SX500 IS grades against the SD1 Merrill when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Sigma SD1 Merrill

 SX500 IS SD1 Merrill 
Display resolution461k460kSharper display (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Sigma SD1 Merrill over the Canon SX500 IS

 SD1 Merrill SX500 IS 

Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Sigma SD1 Merrill

 SX500 IS SD1 Merrill 
AnnouncedAugust 2012April 2012Same age
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither has Touch friendly display

Canon SX500 IS vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry your camera frequently, you will want to factor in its weight and measurements. The Canon SX500 IS has exterior measurements of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") accompanied by a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs) while the Sigma SD1 Merrill has proportions of 146mm x 113mm x 80mm (5.7" x 4.4" x 3.1") along with a weight of 790 grams (1.74 lbs).

Look at the Canon SX500 IS and Sigma SD1 Merrill in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are using at that moment. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the SX500 IS compared to the SD1 Merrill.

Canon SX500 IS vs Sigma SD1 Merrill size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the SX500 IS and SD1 Merrill is 80 and 57 respectively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Sigma SD1 Merrill top view buttons comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is hard to visualize the gap in sensor sizing just by going through a spec sheet. The photograph here may provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the SX500 IS and SD1 Merrill.

As you can see, the two cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The SX500 IS because of its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF tougher and the Canon SX500 IS will produce greater detail due to its extra 1MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics a little more aggressively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Sigma SD1 Merrill sensor size comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX500 IS vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Portrait photography camera
Sigma SD1 Merrill as a Portrait photography camera
46
has manual focus
great flash sync speed (1/1,600s)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
offers face detect focus
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
65
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (15 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
does not have liveview
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Street Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Street photography details
Sigma SD1 Merrill Street photography details
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
57
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
weather proof
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Sports photography features
Sigma SD1 Merrill Sports photography features
44
excellent zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
offers tracking focus
max frames per second very slow (1.0 frames per second)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
low battery pack (195 shots)
does not have phase detect auto focus
61
decent sensor resolution (15 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
weather proof
supports phase detect autofocus
does not have liveview
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Travel photography highlights
Sigma SD1 Merrill Travel photography highlights
59
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (24mm)
very long zoom (720mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
low battery pack (195 shots)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.4)
54
weather proof
decent sensor resolution (15MP)
does not have Time Lapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Sigma SD1 Merrill as a Landscape photography camera
46
has manual focus
reasonably wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
low battery pack (195 per charge)
lack of Timelapse recording
63
has manual focus
change lenses (Sigma SA mount)
screen size is good (3")
decent sensor resolution (15MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
weather proof
does not have liveview
no image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon SX500 IS
Vlogging with Sigma SD1 Merrill
28
reasonably wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focus
slow max aperture (f3.4)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of microphone jack
9
no video shooting
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Canon SX500 IS vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX500 IS and Sigma SD1 Merrill
 Canon PowerShot SX500 ISSigma SD1 Merrill
General Information
Company Canon Sigma
Model Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Sigma SD1 Merrill
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Launched 2012-08-21 2012-04-10
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 Dual True II
Sensor type CCD CMOS (Foveon X3)
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 24 x 16mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 384.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 15 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4800 x 3200
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 1 -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sigma SA
Lens focal range 24-720mm (30.0x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.4-5.8 -
Macro focus range 1cm -
Total lenses - 76
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 461 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 96%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 seconds -
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds -
Continuous shooting speed 1.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.00 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync no built-in flash
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/1600 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Max video resolution 1280x720 None
Video data format H.264 -
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 341 gr (0.75 pounds) 790 gr (1.74 pounds)
Dimensions 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") 146 x 113 x 80mm (5.7" x 4.4" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 195 pictures -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model NB-6L -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC Compact Flash (Type I, UDMA compatible)
Storage slots One One
Launch price $299 $2,339