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Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony A3000

Portability
83
Imaging
56
Features
33
Overall
46
Sigma DP2 Merrill front
 
Sony Alpha A3000 front
Portability
69
Imaging
63
Features
54
Overall
59

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony A3000 Key Specs

Sigma DP2 Merrill
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 50mm (F2.8) lens
  • 330g - 122 x 67 x 59mm
  • Revealed February 2012
  • Earlier Model is Sigma DP1 Merrill
  • Refreshed by Sigma DP3 Merrill
Sony A3000
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 411g - 128 x 91 x 85mm
  • Introduced August 2013
  • Successor is Sony a3500
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Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony A3000 Overview

Lets take a closer look at the Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony A3000, one being a Large Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Sigma and Sony. There exists a huge gap between the image resolutions of the DP2 Merrill (15MP) and A3000 (20MP) but they use the same exact sensor measurements (APS-C).

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The DP2 Merrill was introduced 18 months earlier than the A3000 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Sigma DP2 Merrill being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony A3000 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving in to a more detailed comparison, below is a brief summary of how the DP2 Merrill scores vs the A3000 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sigma DP2 Merrill over the Sony A3000

 DP2 Merrill A3000 
Screen resolution920k230kClearer screen (+690k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A3000 over the Sigma DP2 Merrill

 A3000 DP2 Merrill 
IntroducedAugust 2013February 2012More recent by 18 months

Common features in the Sigma DP2 Merrill and Sony A3000

 DP2 Merrill A3000 
Manually focus More exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony A3000 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to lug around your camera frequently, you have to factor its weight and measurements. The Sigma DP2 Merrill comes with outside measurements of 122mm x 67mm x 59mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.3") along with a weight of 330 grams (0.73 lbs) and the Sony A3000 has proportions of 128mm x 91mm x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") along with a weight of 411 grams (0.91 lbs).

Compare the Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony A3000 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you choose during that time. Underneath is the front view measurements comparison of the DP2 Merrill vs the A3000.

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony A3000 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the DP2 Merrill and A3000 is 83 and 69 respectively.

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony A3000 top view buttons comparison

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony A3000 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's tough to visualize the contrast between sensor measurements merely by checking specs. The visual here may provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the DP2 Merrill and A3000.

All in all, the two cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different resolution. You should count on the Sony A3000 to give you more detail using its extra 5 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The older DP2 Merrill is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony A3000 sensor size comparison

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony A3000 Screen and ViewFinder

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony A3000 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sigma DP2 Merrill
Portrait photography with Sony A3000
73
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (15 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
77
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has face detect focusing
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sigma DP2 Merrill Street photography info
Sony A3000 Street photography info
65
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
57
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than others in class (411 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sigma DP2 Merrill Sports photography info
Sony A3000 Sports photography info
44
megapixel count decent (15MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
can't change focal length (50mm)
max frames per second very slow (4.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
lack of phase detect AF
60
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking focus
great battery power (470 per charge)
max frames per second very slow (3.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sigma DP2 Merrill Travel photography details
Sony A3000 Travel photography details
54
megapixel count decent (15 megapixels)
no Timelapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
60
great battery power (470 CIPA)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
missing Timelapse recording
more heavy than others in class (411g)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Sigma DP2 Merrill as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A3000 as a Landscape photography camera
55
has manual focus
screen size is decent (3")
megapixel count decent (15MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
can't change focal length (50mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
lack of image stabilization
no Timelapse recording
70
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
great battery power (470 per charge)
lack of image stabilization
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sigma DP2 Merrill Vlogging info
Sony A3000 Vlogging info
22
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution (640 x 480 pixels)
no microphone socket
26
has face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
missing microphone jack
more heavy than others in class (411g)
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Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony A3000 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sigma DP2 Merrill and Sony A3000
 Sigma DP2 MerrillSony Alpha A3000
General Information
Brand Name Sigma Sony
Model type Sigma DP2 Merrill Sony Alpha A3000
Class Large Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2012-02-08 2013-08-27
Body design Large Sensor Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Dual TRUE II engine BIONZ image
Sensor type CMOS (Foveon X3) CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 24 x 16mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 384.0mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 15 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4704 x 3136 5456 x 3632
Maximum native ISO 6400 16000
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 50mm (1x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.8 -
Total lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 920 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.47x
Features
Lowest shutter speed - 30 secs
Highest shutter speed - 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 4.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 6.00 m (at ISO200 / 4m at ISO100)
Flash modes no built-in flash Flash off, Auto flash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync.
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 640x480 1920 x 1080
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG AVCHD, H.264, MP4
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 330 grams (0.73 lbs) 411 grams (0.91 lbs)
Dimensions 122 x 67 x 59mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.3") 128 x 91 x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 78
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.8
DXO Low light rating not tested 1068
Other
Battery life - 470 images
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FW50
Self timer - Yes (2-sec. or 10-sec. delay)
Time lapse feature
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $931 $398