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Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony A350

Portability
83
Imaging
56
Features
33
Overall
46
Sigma DP2 Merrill front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A350 front
Portability
62
Imaging
53
Features
47
Overall
50

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony A350 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
  • Launched February 2012
  • Replaced the Sigma DP1 Merrill
  • Successor is Sigma DP3 Merrill
Sony A350
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 674g - 131 x 99 x 75mm
  • Introduced June 2008
  • Refreshed by Sony A380
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Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony A350 Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Sigma DP2 Merrill and Sony A350, one is a Large Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by companies Sigma and Sony. The image resolution of the DP2 Merrill (15MP) and the A350 (14MP) is pretty well matched and both cameras have the same sensor sizes (APS-C).

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The DP2 Merrill was announced 3 years after the A350 which is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Sigma DP2 Merrill being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony A350 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a simple view of how the DP2 Merrill grades vs the A350 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sigma DP2 Merrill over the Sony A350

 DP2 Merrill A350 
IntroducedFebruary 2012June 2008Newer by 45 months
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kClearer screen (+690k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A350 over the Sigma DP2 Merrill

 A350 DP2 Merrill 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Sigma DP2 Merrill and Sony A350

 DP2 Merrill A350 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony A350 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to travel with your camera, you are going to need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Sigma DP2 Merrill features physical dimensions of 122mm x 67mm x 59mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.3") having a weight of 330 grams (0.73 lbs) while the Sony A350 has proportions of 131mm x 99mm x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") along with a weight of 674 grams (1.49 lbs).

Take a look at the Sigma DP2 Merrill and Sony A350 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have during that time. Following is a front view dimension comparison of the DP2 Merrill and the A350.

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony A350 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the DP2 Merrill and A350 is 83 and 62 respectively.

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony A350 top view buttons comparison

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony A350 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is difficult to imagine the difference between sensor dimensions merely by reading through a spec sheet. The image underneath will help offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the DP2 Merrill and A350.

As you can see, both the cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different MP. You should expect the Sigma DP2 Merrill to resolve more detail with its extra 1MP. Higher resolution will also help you crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The more recent DP2 Merrill provides an edge with regard to sensor innovation.

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony A350 sensor size comparison

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony A350 Screen and ViewFinder

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony A350 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sigma DP2 Merrill as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A350 as a Portrait photography camera
73
has manual focus
good MP (15 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
71
manual focus
decent megapixels (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sigma DP2 Merrill Street photography information
Sony A350 Street photography information
65
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
66
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
more heavy than average (674g)
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Sports Comparison

Sigma DP2 Merrill Sports photography info
Sony A350 Sports photography info
44
good MP (15MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
focal length is fixed (50mm)
continuous shooting slow (4.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
lacks phase detect auto focus
66
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect auto focus
max frames per second very slow (3.0 frames per second)
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Travel Comparison

Sigma DP2 Merrill Travel photography info
Sony A350 Travel photography info
54
good MP (15 megapixels)
no Timelapse function
does not posses selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f2.8)
51
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse recording
more heavy than average (674g)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Sigma DP2 Merrill Landscape photography details
Sony A350 Landscape photography details
55
has manual focus
screen size is good (3")
good MP (15MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
focal length is fixed (50mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
lack of image stabilization
no Timelapse function
64
manual focus
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (14MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
small screen (2.7 inch)
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sigma DP2 Merrill
Vlogging with Sony A350
22
slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not posses selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
video res low (640 x 480 resolution)
no external microphone socket
9
lack of video recording
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Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony A350 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sigma DP2 Merrill and Sony A350
 Sigma DP2 MerrillSony Alpha DSLR-A350
General Information
Company Sigma Sony
Model Sigma DP2 Merrill Sony Alpha DSLR-A350
Type Large Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2012-02-08 2008-06-06
Body design Large Sensor Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Dual TRUE II engine -
Sensor type CMOS (Foveon X3) CCD
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 24 x 16mm 23.6 x 15.8mm
Sensor surface area 384.0mm² 372.9mm²
Sensor resolution 15 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4704 x 3136 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 50mm (1x) -
Max aperture f/2.8 -
Total lenses - 143
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 2.7 inch
Screen resolution 920 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.49x
Features
Lowest shutter speed - 30s
Highest shutter speed - 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options no built-in flash Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain, wireless
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640x480 -
Highest video resolution 640x480 None
Video data format Motion JPEG -
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 330g (0.73 lbs) 674g (1.49 lbs)
Physical dimensions 122 x 67 x 59mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.3") 131 x 99 x 75mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 65
DXO Color Depth score not tested 22.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.5
DXO Low light score not tested 595
Other
Self timer - Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media - Compact Flash (Type I or II), Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, UDMA Mode 5, Supports FAT12 / FAT16 / FAT32
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $931 $600