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Pentax X-5 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill

Portability
65
Imaging
39
Features
50
Overall
43
Pentax X-5 front
 
Sigma SD1 Merrill front
Portability
57
Imaging
56
Features
45
Overall
51

Pentax X-5 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Key Specs

Pentax X-5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 22-580mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 595g - 119 x 86 x 107mm
  • Revealed August 2012
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
  • Announced April 2012
  • Succeeded the Sigma SD1
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Pentax X-5 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Overview

Here is a complete analysis of the Pentax X-5 versus Sigma SD1 Merrill, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by competitors Pentax and Sigma. The resolution of the X-5 (16MP) and the SD1 Merrill (15MP) is relatively well matched but the X-5 (1/2.3") and SD1 Merrill (APS-C) posses different sensor dimensions.

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The X-5 was revealed 5 months later than the SD1 Merrill so they are both of a similar generation. Both the cameras have different body design with the Pentax X-5 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sigma SD1 Merrill being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a simple summation of how the X-5 scores versus the SD1 Merrill for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Pentax X-5 over the Sigma SD1 Merrill

 X-5 SD1 Merrill 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Reasons to pick Sigma SD1 Merrill over the Pentax X-5

 SD1 Merrill X-5 

Common features in the Pentax X-5 and Sigma SD1 Merrill

 X-5 SD1 Merrill 
AnnouncedAugust 2012April 2012Similar generation
Manually focus Dial accurate focus
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing
Screen resolution460k460kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Pentax X-5 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to carry your camera often, you need to consider its weight and volume. The Pentax X-5 features physical measurements of 119mm x 86mm x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2") accompanied by a weight of 595 grams (1.31 lbs) whilst the Sigma SD1 Merrill has sizing of 146mm x 113mm x 80mm (5.7" x 4.4" x 3.1") along with a weight of 790 grams (1.74 lbs).

See the Pentax X-5 versus Sigma SD1 Merrill in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you select at that moment. Below is a front view size comparison of the X-5 vs the SD1 Merrill.

Pentax X-5 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the X-5 and SD1 Merrill is 65 and 57 respectively.

Pentax X-5 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill top view buttons comparison

Pentax X-5 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its hard to imagine the contrast between sensor sizing just by looking at specs. The visual underneath may provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the X-5 and SD1 Merrill.

All in all, both of those cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The X-5 using its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF trickier and the Pentax X-5 will give extra detail because of its extra 1MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop photographs a bit more aggressively.

Pentax X-5 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill sensor size comparison

Pentax X-5 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Pentax X-5 as a Portrait photography camera
Sigma SD1 Merrill as a Portrait photography camera
43
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
features face detection autofocus
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
65
you can focus manually
MP count good (15 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no liveview feature
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Street Comparison

Pentax X-5 Street photography highlights
Sigma SD1 Merrill Street photography highlights
50
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
more heavy than competition in class (595g)
57
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Pentax X-5 Sports photography features
Sigma SD1 Merrill Sports photography features
52
amazing zoom range (22-580mm 26.4 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
61
MP count good (15 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
environment sealing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
no liveview feature
lack of image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Pentax X-5 Travel photography information
Sigma SD1 Merrill Travel photography information
53
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (22mm)
long zoom (580mm)
lack of Timelapse function
more heavy than competition in class (595g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
54
environment sealing
MP count good (15MP)
missing Timelapse recording
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax X-5 Landscape photography features
Sigma SD1 Merrill Landscape photography features
47
manual focus
pretty wide (22mm)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
lack of Timelapse function
63
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sigma SA mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
MP count good (15 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
environment sealing
no liveview feature
lack of image stabilization
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax X-5 as a Vlogging camera
Sigma SD1 Merrill as a Vlogging camera
26
pretty wide (22mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of external microphone port
more heavy than competition in class (595 grams)
9
no video
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Pentax X-5 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax X-5 and Sigma SD1 Merrill
 Pentax X-5Sigma SD1 Merrill
General Information
Brand Pentax Sigma
Model type Pentax X-5 Sigma SD1 Merrill
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2012-08-22 2012-04-10
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - Dual True II
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS (Foveon X3)
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 24 x 16mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 384.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 15 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 -
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4800 x 3200
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sigma SA
Lens zoom range 22-580mm (26.4x) -
Maximum aperture f/3.1-5.9 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Available lenses - 76
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 460k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder resolution 230k dots -
Viewfinder coverage - 96 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.64x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s -
Highest shutter speed 1/1500s -
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames per sec -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 9.10 m no built-in flash
Flash settings - no built-in flash
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) -
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 None
Video data format Motion JPEG -
Microphone port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 595g (1.31 lb) 790g (1.74 lb)
Physical dimensions 119 x 86 x 107mm (4.7" x 3.4" x 4.2") 146 x 113 x 80mm (5.7" x 4.4" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 330 photographs -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID 4 x AA -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC Compact Flash (Type I, UDMA compatible)
Card slots One One
Retail cost $230 $2,339