Sigma DP1 Merrill vs Sony A390

In this article, we will be matching up the Sigma DP1 Merrill and Sony A390, one being a Large Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Sigma and Sony. The sensor resolution of the DP1 Merrill (15MP) and the A390 (14MP) is pretty close and they use the same exact sensor dimensions (APS-C).

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The DP1 Merrill was unveiled 19 months later than the A390 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Sigma DP1 Merrill being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony A390 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving in to a full comparison, below is a concise summary of how the DP1 Merrill scores versus the A390 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

The following is a preview of the gallery images for Sigma DP1 Merrill and Sony Alpha DSLR-A390. The full galleries are viewable at Sigma DP1 Merrill Gallery and Sony A390 Gallery.

For those who are going to carry your camera frequently, you will need to factor in its weight and size. The Sigma DP1 Merrill features outer dimensions of 122mm x 67mm x 64mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.5") and a weight of 330 grams (0.73 lbs) and the Sony A390 has specifications of 128mm x 97mm x 86mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 3.4") having a weight of 549 grams (1.21 lbs).

See the Sigma DP1 Merrill and Sony A390 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you use at that time. Below is the front view scale comparison of the DP1 Merrill vs the A390.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the DP1 Merrill and A390 is 82 and 66 respectively.

Normally, it is hard to visualise the difference in sensor sizing merely by viewing a spec sheet. The photograph here will provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the DP1 Merrill and A390.

As you can see, both of those cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same MP. You should expect the Sigma DP1 Merrill to result in extra detail having an extra 1MP. Higher resolution will let you crop shots a little more aggressively. The fresher DP1 Merrill will have a benefit in sensor technology.