Canon XC10 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill

Following is a comprehensive analysis of the Canon XC10 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill, one is a Large Sensor Compact and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Canon and Sigma. The image resolution of the XC10 (12MP) and the SD1 Merrill (15MP) is relatively well matched but the XC10 (1") and SD1 Merrill (APS-C) come with different sensor sizing.

Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

The XC10 was revealed 3 years after the SD1 Merrill which is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Canon XC10 being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sigma SD1 Merrill being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going straight into a complete comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the XC10 grades versus the SD1 Merrill when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Canon XC10 and Sigma SD1 Merrill. The full galleries are provided at Canon XC10 Gallery and Sigma SD1 Merrill Gallery.

For anyone who is planning to carry around your camera regularly, you'll have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Canon XC10 has exterior dimensions of 125mm x 102mm x 122mm (4.9" x 4.0" x 4.8") with a weight of 1040 grams (2.29 lbs) whilst the Sigma SD1 Merrill has measurements of 146mm x 113mm x 80mm (5.7" x 4.4" x 3.1") and a weight of 790 grams (1.74 lbs).

Check out the Canon XC10 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have at the time. Here is the front view scale comparison of the XC10 against the SD1 Merrill.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the XC10 and SD1 Merrill is 54 and 57 respectively.

Typically, it is hard to imagine the contrast between sensor sizes only by checking technical specs. The image below might give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the XC10 and SD1 Merrill.

As you can tell, both of those cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The XC10 having a tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF more difficult and the Sigma SD1 Merrill will give you greater detail because of its extra 3 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs far more aggressively. The more recent XC10 provides an advantage in sensor innovation.