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Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony NEX-5N

Portability
83
Imaging
55
Features
33
Overall
46
Sigma DP2 Merrill front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
Portability
89
Imaging
56
Features
69
Overall
61

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony NEX-5N 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
  • Previous Model is Sigma DP1 Merrill
  • Successor is Sigma DP3 Merrill
Sony NEX-5N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Revealed October 2011
  • Superseded the Sony NEX-5
  • Updated by Sony NEX-5R
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Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony NEX-5N Overview

Lets look more closely at the Sigma DP2 Merrill and Sony NEX-5N, former being a Large Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Sigma and Sony. The sensor resolution of the DP2 Merrill (15MP) and the NEX-5N (16MP) is very comparable and they come with the exact same sensor size (APS-C).

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The DP2 Merrill was introduced 5 months later than the NEX-5N and they are both of a similar age. Both cameras come with different body type with the Sigma DP2 Merrill being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a quick view of how the DP2 Merrill grades vs the NEX-5N with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sigma DP2 Merrill over the Sony NEX-5N

 DP2 Merrill NEX-5N 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Sigma DP2 Merrill

 NEX-5N DP2 Merrill 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Sigma DP2 Merrill and Sony NEX-5N

 DP2 Merrill NEX-5N 
RevealedFebruary 2012October 2011Same age
Manually focus Very exact focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display size
Display resolution920k920kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony NEX-5N Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry your camera, you need to factor its weight and volume. The Sigma DP2 Merrill features physical measurements 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 NEX-5N has sizing of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Take a look at the Sigma DP2 Merrill and Sony NEX-5N in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you use at that time. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the DP2 Merrill against the NEX-5N.

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony NEX-5N size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the DP2 Merrill and NEX-5N is 83 and 89 respectively.

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony NEX-5N top view buttons comparison

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony NEX-5N Sensor Comparison

Usually, its hard to see the contrast in sensor sizing just by going through specs. The graphic underneath will give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the DP2 Merrill and NEX-5N.

All in all, the two cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but not the same resolution. You can expect to see the Sony NEX-5N to provide more detail using its extra 1 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also let you crop images much more aggressively.

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony NEX-5N sensor size comparison

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and ViewFinder

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sigma DP2 Merrill Portrait photography information
Sony NEX-5N Portrait photography information
73
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (15MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
73
has manual focus
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
includes face detect autofocus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sigma DP2 Merrill as a Street photography camera
Sony NEX-5N as a Street photography camera
65
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
80
screen tilts
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
comes with focus via touch
great high ISO (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sigma DP2 Merrill Sports photography information
Sony NEX-5N Sports photography information
44
sensor resolution is decent (15MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
focal length is fixed (50mm)
slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
does not have phase detect AF
58
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
good battery (460 shots)
no image stabilization
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sigma DP2 Merrill Travel photography details
Sony NEX-5N Travel photography details
54
sensor resolution is decent (15 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse mode
does not have a selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
70
good battery (460 shots)
comes with focus via touch
decent MP (16 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Sigma DP2 Merrill Landscape photography factors
Sony NEX-5N Landscape photography factors
55
manual focus
nice screen size (3 inch)
sensor resolution is decent (15MP)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
focal length is fixed (50mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
lack of image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse mode
71
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
great high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW files
good battery (460 CIPA)
no image stabilization
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sigma DP2 Merrill Vlogging highlights
Sony NEX-5N Vlogging highlights
22
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
video res low (640 x 480 pxls)
does not have external mic support
33
touch screen
includes face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
lack of microphone support
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Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sigma DP2 Merrill and Sony NEX-5N
 Sigma DP2 MerrillSony Alpha NEX-5N
General Information
Brand Sigma Sony
Model Sigma DP2 Merrill Sony Alpha NEX-5N
Type Large Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2012-02-08 2011-10-03
Physical type Large Sensor Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Dual TRUE II engine Bionz
Sensor type CMOS (Foveon X3) CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 24 x 16mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 384.0mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 15MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4704 x 3136 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 6400 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 50mm (1x) -
Highest aperture f/2.8 -
Available lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 920 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech - Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic (optional)
Features
Slowest shutter speed - 30s
Maximum shutter speed - 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 12.00 m
Flash settings no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640x480 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
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 lbs) 269 grams (0.59 lbs)
Dimensions 122 x 67 x 59mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.3") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 77
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.6
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.7
DXO Low light score not tested 1079
Other
Battery life - 460 pictures
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - NPFW50
Self timer - Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Storage type - SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Launch cost $931 $550