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Pentax K-5 II vs Sigma SD1 Merrill

Portability
60
Imaging
57
Features
82
Overall
67
Pentax K-5 II front
 
Sigma SD1 Merrill front
Portability
57
Imaging
56
Features
45
Overall
51

Pentax K-5 II vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Key Specs

Pentax K-5 II
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Push to 51200)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 760g - 131 x 97 x 73mm
  • Announced June 2013
  • Succeeded the Pentax K-5
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
  • Introduced April 2012
  • Old Model is Sigma SD1
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Pentax K-5 II vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Overview

Lets look closer at the Pentax K-5 II vs Sigma SD1 Merrill, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by rivals Pentax and Sigma. The resolution of the K-5 II (16MP) and the SD1 Merrill (15MP) is relatively similar and they feature the exact same sensor measurements (APS-C).

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The K-5 II was unveiled 14 months after the SD1 Merrill which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before we go through a complete comparison, below is a concise summary of how the K-5 II matches up vs the SD1 Merrill in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax K-5 II over the Sigma SD1 Merrill

 K-5 II SD1 Merrill 
IntroducedJune 2013April 2012More modern by 14 months
Screen resolution921k460kClearer screen (+461k dot)

Reasons to pick Sigma SD1 Merrill over the Pentax K-5 II

 SD1 Merrill K-5 II 

Common features in the Pentax K-5 II and Sigma SD1 Merrill

 K-5 II SD1 Merrill 
Manual focus More exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Pentax K-5 II vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to carry around your camera, you'll need to consider its weight and size. The Pentax K-5 II offers exterior dimensions of 131mm x 97mm x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") accompanied by a weight of 760 grams (1.68 lbs) while the Sigma SD1 Merrill has specifications of 146mm x 113mm x 80mm (5.7" x 4.4" x 3.1") along with a weight of 790 grams (1.74 lbs).

Analyze the Pentax K-5 II vs Sigma SD1 Merrill in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you select at that time. Underneath is the front view over all size comparison of the K-5 II vs the SD1 Merrill.

Pentax K-5 II vs Sigma SD1 Merrill size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the K-5 II and SD1 Merrill is 60 and 57 respectively.

Pentax K-5 II vs Sigma SD1 Merrill top view buttons comparison

Pentax K-5 II vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be difficult to imagine the contrast between sensor sizes just by reviewing a spec sheet. The picture here will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the K-5 II and SD1 Merrill.

As you can see, each of the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit different MP. You can count on the Pentax K-5 II to offer greater detail having an extra 1 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The more modern K-5 II should have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Pentax K-5 II vs Sigma SD1 Merrill sensor size comparison

Pentax K-5 II vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax K-5 II vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax K-5 II Portrait photography factors
Sigma SD1 Merrill Portrait photography factors
74
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection focus
supports RAW files
65
you can focus manually
good megapixels (15 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
doesn't have liveview
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Pentax K-5 II as a Street photography camera
Sigma SD1 Merrill as a Street photography camera
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
weather proof
screen does not articulate
57
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
environment proof
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Pentax K-5 II as a Sports photography camera
Sigma SD1 Merrill as a Sports photography camera
78
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
weather proof
comes with phase detect auto focus
61
good megapixels (15MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
environment proof
sensor has phase detect AF
doesn't have liveview
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Pentax K-5 II Travel photography info
Sigma SD1 Merrill Travel photography info
65
weather proof
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
built-in flash
screen isn't selfie friendly
54
environment proof
good megapixels (15MP)
lack of Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax K-5 II as a Landscape photography camera
Sigma SD1 Merrill as a Landscape photography camera
78
focusing manually
swap lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
weather proof
63
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sigma SA mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
good megapixels (15 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
environment proof
doesn't have liveview
no image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax K-5 II as a Vlogging camera
Sigma SD1 Merrill as a Vlogging camera
33
image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have external microphone support
screen isn't selfie friendly
9
can't record video
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Pentax K-5 II vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax K-5 II and Sigma SD1 Merrill
 Pentax K-5 IISigma SD1 Merrill
General Information
Make Pentax Sigma
Model Pentax K-5 II Sigma SD1 Merrill
Type Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Announced 2013-06-04 2012-04-10
Body design Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Prime II Dual True II
Sensor type CMOS CMOS (Foveon X3)
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 23.7 x 15.7mm 24 x 16mm
Sensor surface area 372.1mm² 384.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 15 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 -
Full resolution 4928 x 3264 4800 x 3200
Max native ISO 12800 6400
Max boosted ISO 51200 -
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Minimum boosted ISO 80 -
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 11 -
Cross focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Pentax KAF2 Sigma SA
Amount of lenses 151 76
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 921 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology TFT LCD monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage 100% 96%
Viewfinder magnification 0.61x 0.64x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s -
Maximum shutter speed 1/8000s -
Continuous shooting speed 7.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 13.00 m (at ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, High speed, Rear curtain and Wireless no built-in flash
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (25 fps), 1280 x 720 (25, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (25, 30 fps) -
Max video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video format Motion JPEG -
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 760 grams (1.68 pounds) 790 grams (1.74 pounds)
Dimensions 131 x 97 x 73mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 2.9") 146 x 113 x 80mm (5.7" x 4.4" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 82 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 23.8 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 14.1 not tested
DXO Low light score 1235 not tested
Other
Battery life 980 images -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery model D-LI90 -
Self timer Yes ( 2 or 12 seconds) Yes
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC Compact Flash (Type I, UDMA compatible)
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $830 $2,339