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Pentax K-1 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill

Portability
55
Imaging
76
Features
82
Overall
78
Pentax K-1 front
 
Sigma SD1 Merrill front
Portability
57
Imaging
56
Features
45
Overall
51

Pentax K-1 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Key Specs

Pentax K-1
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 204800
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 1010g - 137 x 110 x 86mm
  • Released February 2016
  • Replacement is Pentax K-1 II
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
  • Introduced April 2012
  • Older Model is Sigma SD1
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Pentax K-1 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Overview

Let's look much closer at the Pentax K-1 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill, both Advanced DSLR cameras by competitors Pentax and Sigma. There is a huge difference among the resolutions of the K-1 (36MP) and SD1 Merrill (15MP) and the K-1 (Full frame) and SD1 Merrill (APS-C) enjoy different sensor measurements.

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The K-1 was manufactured 3 years later than the SD1 Merrill and that is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before delving through a more detailed comparison, below is a quick summation of how the K-1 grades versus the SD1 Merrill with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-1 over the Sigma SD1 Merrill

 K-1 SD1 Merrill 
IntroducedFebruary 2016April 2012Fresher by 47 months
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display sizing3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1037k460kClearer display (+577k dot)

Reasons to pick Sigma SD1 Merrill over the Pentax K-1

 SD1 Merrill K-1 

Common features in the Pentax K-1 and Sigma SD1 Merrill

 K-1 SD1 Merrill 
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Pentax K-1 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry your camera regularly, you will have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Pentax K-1 comes with outer dimensions of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") accompanied by a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs) while the Sigma SD1 Merrill has measurements of 146mm x 113mm x 80mm (5.7" x 4.4" x 3.1") accompanied by a weight of 790 grams (1.74 lbs).

Examine the Pentax K-1 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are employing during that time. Underneath is the front view physical size comparison of the K-1 and the SD1 Merrill.

Pentax K-1 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the K-1 and SD1 Merrill is 55 and 57 respectively.

Pentax K-1 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-1 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Sensor Comparison

Often, its difficult to imagine the difference in sensor sizing just by looking through a spec sheet. The photograph below will help provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the K-1 and SD1 Merrill.

As you can see, each of the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The K-1 because of its larger sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field easier and the Pentax K-1 will render greater detail due to its extra 21 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics a little more aggressively. The more modern K-1 provides a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Pentax K-1 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill sensor size comparison

Pentax K-1 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-1 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax K-1
Portrait photography with Sigma SD1 Merrill
85
focusing manually
high MP (36 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
includes face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
65
has manual focus
MP count decent (15MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
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Street Comparison

Pentax K-1 Street photography features
Sigma SD1 Merrill Street photography features
70
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
saves RAW files
environment proof
above average ISO range (204,800)
heavier than others (1,010g)
57
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-1 Sports photography features
Sigma SD1 Merrill Sports photography features
76
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
high MP (36MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
includes tracking focus
environment proof
supports phase detect autofocus
slow continuous shooting (4.4 fps)
terrible battery (760 CIPA)
61
MP count decent (15MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
environment proofing
has phase detect auto focus
doesn't have liveview
lack of image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-1 as a Travel photography camera
Sigma SD1 Merrill as a Travel photography camera
53
environment proof
high MP (36MP)
terrible battery (760 per charge)
heavier than others (1,010g)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
54
environment proofing
MP count decent (15MP)
does not have Time Lapse mode
does not offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-1 Landscape photography factors
Sigma SD1 Merrill Landscape photography factors
81
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a decent size (3.2")
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
high MP (36 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
no anti aliasing filter
above average ISO range (204,800)
saves RAW files
environment proof
two card slots
terrible battery (760 per charge)
63
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sigma SA mount)
decent sized screen (3")
MP count decent (15 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
doesn't have liveview
lack of image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-1 as a Vlogging camera
Sigma SD1 Merrill as a Vlogging camera
31
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
includes face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
comes with mic socket
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
heavier than others (1,010 grams)
9
can't record video
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Pentax K-1 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-1 and Sigma SD1 Merrill
 Pentax K-1Sigma SD1 Merrill
General Information
Manufacturer Pentax Sigma
Model type Pentax K-1 Sigma SD1 Merrill
Category Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Released 2016-02-17 2012-04-10
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Dual True II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS (Foveon X3)
Sensor size Full frame APS-C
Sensor dimensions 35.9 x 24mm 24 x 16mm
Sensor surface area 861.6mm² 384.0mm²
Sensor resolution 36MP 15MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 -
Max resolution 7360 x 4912 4800 x 3200
Max native ISO 204800 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 33 -
Cross type focus points 25 -
Lens
Lens mount type Pentax KAF2 Sigma SA
Amount of lenses 151 76
Focal length multiplier 1 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3.2 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 1,037k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 96 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.7x 0.64x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs -
Fastest shutter speed 1/8000 secs -
Continuous shutter rate 4.4 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash options Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync no built-in flash
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/200 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Built-in None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 1010 grams (2.23 lbs) 790 grams (1.74 lbs)
Dimensions 137 x 110 x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") 146 x 113 x 80mm (5.7" x 4.4" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 96 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 25.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 14.6 not tested
DXO Low light rating 3280 not tested
Other
Battery life 760 photographs -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID D-LI90 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom) Yes
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I) Compact Flash (Type I, UDMA compatible)
Card slots Dual One
Launch pricing $1,499 $2,339