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Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony A7R

Portability
83
Imaging
56
Features
33
Overall
46
Sigma DP2 Merrill front
 
Sony Alpha A7R front
Portability
78
Imaging
74
Features
76
Overall
74

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony A7R 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
  • Released February 2012
  • Replaced the Sigma DP1 Merrill
  • Renewed by Sigma DP3 Merrill
Sony A7R
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 465g - 127 x 94 x 48mm
  • Released February 2014
  • Replacement is Sony A7R II
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Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony A7R Overview

Lets look a little more closely at the Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony A7R, one being a Large Sensor Compact and the other is a Pro Mirrorless by rivals Sigma and Sony. There is a crucial difference between the sensor resolutions of the DP2 Merrill (15MP) and A7R (36MP) and the DP2 Merrill (APS-C) and A7R (Full frame) boast totally different sensor sizes.

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The DP2 Merrill was released 24 months earlier than the A7R making them a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras have different body design with the Sigma DP2 Merrill being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony A7R being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving right into a in depth comparison, here is a short overview of how the DP2 Merrill scores vs the A7R in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Sigma DP2 Merrill over the Sony A7R

 DP2 Merrill A7R 

Reasons to pick Sony A7R over the Sigma DP2 Merrill

 A7R DP2 Merrill 
ReleasedFebruary 2014February 2012More recent by 24 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1230k920kCrisper display (+310k dot)

Common features in the Sigma DP2 Merrill and Sony A7R

 DP2 Merrill A7R 
Manually focus Dial precise focusing
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch display Neither has Touch display

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony A7R Physical Comparison

For those who are going to lug around your camera regularly, you will need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Sigma DP2 Merrill has outer 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 A7R has dimensions of 127mm x 94mm x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9") with a weight of 465 grams (1.03 lbs).

Check the Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony A7R in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are employing during that time. Here is a front view dimension comparison of the DP2 Merrill compared to the A7R.

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony A7R size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the DP2 Merrill and A7R is 83 and 78 respectively.

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony A7R top view buttons comparison

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony A7R Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its hard to envision the contrast between sensor measurements merely by reading through technical specs. The visual underneath should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the DP2 Merrill and A7R.

As you can tell, both of those cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The DP2 Merrill because of its tinier sensor will make getting shallow DOF more difficult and the Sony A7R will give you greater detail as a result of its extra 21 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop images more aggressively. The older DP2 Merrill is going to be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony A7R sensor size comparison

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony A7R Screen and ViewFinder

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony A7R Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sigma DP2 Merrill Portrait photography highlights
Sony A7R Portrait photography highlights
73
focusing manually
MP count good (15MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
84
has manual focus
MP count fantastic (36 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
features face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sigma DP2 Merrill Street photography information
Sony A7R Street photography information
65
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
80
has a tilting screen
sensor size is great (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
lighter than competition (465 grams)
great high ISO (25,600)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sigma DP2 Merrill Sports photography highlights
Sony A7R Sports photography highlights
44
MP count good (15 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
focal length is fixed (50mm)
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
no phase detect auto focus
62
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
MP count fantastic (36MP)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
environment proof
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery life (340 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sigma DP2 Merrill
Travel photography with Sony A7R
54
MP count good (15MP)
missing Time Lapse recording
does not posses selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
70
lighter than competition (465 grams)
environment proof
MP count fantastic (36MP)
terrible battery life (340 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Sigma DP2 Merrill Landscape photography details
Sony A7R Landscape photography details
55
focusing manually
screen is a good size (3 inch)
MP count good (15 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
focal length is fixed (50mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
lack of image stabilization
missing Time Lapse recording
78
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is decent (3 inches)
MP count fantastic (36 megapixels)
sensor size is great (Full frame)
doesnt have low pass filter
great high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
environment proof
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery life (340 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Sigma DP2 Merrill Vlogging features
Sony A7R Vlogging features
22
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not posses selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
low res video (640 x 480 pxls)
missing external mic socket
36
features face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have external microphone support
lighter than competition (465g)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
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Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony A7R Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sigma DP2 Merrill and Sony A7R
 Sigma DP2 MerrillSony Alpha A7R
General Information
Brand Name Sigma Sony
Model type Sigma DP2 Merrill Sony Alpha A7R
Type Large Sensor Compact Pro Mirrorless
Released 2012-02-08 2014-02-13
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 measurements 24 x 16mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 384.0mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 15 megapixel 36 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4704 x 3136 7360 x 4912
Maximum native ISO 6400 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 25
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 50mm (1x) -
Largest aperture f/2.8 -
Amount of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 920k dots 1,230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech - Xtra Fine LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Minimum shutter speed - 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed - 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash options no built-in flash no built-in flash
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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 data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 330 grams (0.73 pounds) 465 grams (1.03 pounds)
Physical 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 Overall rating not tested 95
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 25.6
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 14.1
DXO Low light rating not tested 2746
Other
Battery life - 340 pictures
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID - 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 release $931 $1,898