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Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony A7

Portability
83
Imaging
56
Features
33
Overall
46
Sigma DP2 Merrill front
 
Sony Alpha A7 front
Portability
78
Imaging
71
Features
80
Overall
74

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony A7 Key Specs

Sigma DP2 Merrill
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 50mm (F2.8) lens
  • 330g - 122 x 67 x 59mm
  • Introduced February 2012
  • Previous Model is Sigma DP1 Merrill
  • Updated by Sigma DP3 Merrill
Sony A7
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 50 - 25600
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 474g - 127 x 94 x 48mm
  • Launched January 2014
  • Successor is Sony A7 II
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Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony A7 Overview

In this article, we are comparing the Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony A7, former being a Large Sensor Compact while the other is a Pro Mirrorless by competitors Sigma and Sony. There exists a large gap among the image resolutions of the DP2 Merrill (15MP) and A7 (24MP) and the DP2 Merrill (APS-C) and A7 (Full frame) feature different sensor measurements.

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The DP2 Merrill was brought out 23 months before the A7 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Sigma DP2 Merrill being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony A7 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a concise summation of how the DP2 Merrill grades against the A7 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sigma DP2 Merrill over the Sony A7

 DP2 Merrill A7 

Reasons to pick Sony A7 over the Sigma DP2 Merrill

 A7 DP2 Merrill 
LaunchedJanuary 2014February 2012More recent by 23 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1230k920kSharper display (+310k dot)

Common features in the Sigma DP2 Merrill and Sony A7

 DP2 Merrill A7 
Manually focus More exact focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony A7 Physical Comparison

If you're going to lug around your camera regularly, you will need to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Sigma DP2 Merrill features exterior dimensions of 122mm x 67mm x 59mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.3") accompanied by a weight of 330 grams (0.73 lbs) while the Sony A7 has dimensions of 127mm x 94mm x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9") having a weight of 474 grams (1.04 lbs).

Examine the Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony A7 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are working with at that time. Below is the front view overall size comparison of the DP2 Merrill and the A7.

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony A7 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the DP2 Merrill and A7 is 83 and 78 respectively.

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony A7 top view buttons comparison

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony A7 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's hard to visualize the contrast in sensor measurements purely by going through specs. The graphic here should give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the DP2 Merrill and A7.

All in all, both of those cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The DP2 Merrill because of its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field more difficult and the Sony A7 will produce more detail having its extra 9 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop images a little more aggressively. The older DP2 Merrill will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony A7 sensor size comparison

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony A7 Screen and ViewFinder

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony A7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sigma DP2 Merrill Portrait photography advice
Sony A7 Portrait photography advice
73
focusing manually
good megapixels (15MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
82
you can focus manually
good resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
supports face detection focus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sigma DP2 Merrill
Street photography with Sony A7
65
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
79
screen tilts
sensor size is large (Full frame)
exports RAW files
environment proof
lighter than competition in class (474g)
above average high ISO (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sigma DP2 Merrill Sports photography highlights
Sony A7 Sports photography highlights
44
good megapixels (15 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
can't change focal length (50mm)
continuous shooting slow (4.0 fps)
no image stabilization
no phase detect AF
66
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
good resolution (24MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
environment proof
has phase detect auto focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery power (340 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Sigma DP2 Merrill Travel photography features
Sony A7 Travel photography features
54
good megapixels (15MP)
does not have Time Lapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
69
lighter than competition in class (474g)
environment proof
good resolution (24MP)
not so great battery power (340 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Sigma DP2 Merrill Landscape photography information
Sony A7 Landscape photography information
55
focusing manually
screen size is good (3 inches)
good megapixels (15 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
can't change focal length (50mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
no image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse mode
76
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
good sized screen (3")
good resolution (24MP)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
above average high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW files
environment proof
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery power (340 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Sigma DP2 Merrill as a Vlogging camera
Sony A7 as a Vlogging camera
22
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low res video (640 x 480 pxls)
does not have external mic socket
36
supports face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external mic socket
lighter than competition in class (474 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
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Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony A7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sigma DP2 Merrill and Sony A7
 Sigma DP2 MerrillSony Alpha A7
General Information
Brand Sigma Sony
Model Sigma DP2 Merrill Sony Alpha A7
Type Large Sensor Compact Pro Mirrorless
Introduced 2012-02-08 2014-01-22
Physical type Large Sensor Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Dual TRUE II engine Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS (Foveon X3) CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor dimensions 24 x 16mm 35.8 x 23.9mm
Sensor surface area 384.0mm² 855.6mm²
Sensor resolution 15 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4704 x 3136 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 6400 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 50
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 117
Cross focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 50mm (1x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.8 -
Amount of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 920k dots 1,230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology - Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Lowest shutter speed - 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed - 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames/s 5.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash modes no built-in flash no built-in flash
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 640x480 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 330 grams (0.73 lb) 474 grams (1.04 lb)
Dimensions 122 x 67 x 59mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.3") 127 x 94 x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 90
DXO Color Depth score not tested 24.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 14.2
DXO Low light score not tested 2248
Other
Battery life - 340 shots
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FW50
Self timer - Yes (2 or 10 sec; continuous (3 or 5 exposures))
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Type of storage - SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $931 $798