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Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony a1

Portability
83
Imaging
56
Features
33
Overall
46
Sigma DP2 Merrill front
 
Sony Alpha a1 front
Portability
61
Imaging
81
Features
93
Overall
85

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony a1 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
  • Launched February 2012
  • Succeeded the Sigma DP1 Merrill
  • Updated by Sigma DP3 Merrill
Sony a1
(Full Review)
  • 50MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 32000 (Raise to 102400)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 7680 x 4320 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 737g - 129 x 97 x 70mm
  • Revealed January 2021
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Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony a1 Overview

Its time to look a bit more closely at the Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony a1, one is a Large Sensor Compact and the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by brands Sigma and Sony. There exists a crucial gap between the sensor resolutions of the DP2 Merrill (15MP) and a1 (50MP) and the DP2 Merrill (APS-C) and a1 (Full frame) boast different sensor sizes.

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The DP2 Merrill was manufactured 10 years before the a1 which is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Sigma DP2 Merrill being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony a1 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the DP2 Merrill scores vs the a1 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Sigma DP2 Merrill over the Sony a1

 DP2 Merrill a1 

Reasons to pick Sony a1 over the Sigma DP2 Merrill

 a1 DP2 Merrill 
RevealedJanuary 2021February 2012Newer by 109 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1440k920kSharper screen (+520k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Sigma DP2 Merrill and Sony a1

 DP2 Merrill a1 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen dimensions
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony a1 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to travel with your camera regularly, you need to factor in its weight and size. The Sigma DP2 Merrill features outer 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 a1 has specifications of 129mm x 97mm x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8") having a weight of 737 grams (1.62 lbs).

Contrast the Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony a1 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you use during that time. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the DP2 Merrill against the a1.

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony a1 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the DP2 Merrill and a1 is 83 and 61 respectively.

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony a1 top view buttons comparison

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony a1 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, its hard to visualize the contrast between sensor dimensions purely by reading technical specs. The picture here should provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the DP2 Merrill and a1.

As you have seen, each of these cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The DP2 Merrill due to its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF tougher and the Sony a1 will offer greater detail due to its extra 35MP. Higher resolution will help you crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The more aged DP2 Merrill is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony a1 sensor size comparison

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony a1 Screen and ViewFinder

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony a1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sigma DP2 Merrill as a Portrait photography camera
Sony a1 as a Portrait photography camera
73
focusing manually
MP count good (15 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
88
you can focus manually
flash sync speed is above average (1/400s)
resolution is high (50MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
supports face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sigma DP2 Merrill as a Street photography camera
Sony a1 as a Street photography camera
65
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
fixed screen
no image stabilization
79
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
great sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
offers focus via touch
environment proofing
very good high ISO (32,000)
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Sports Comparison

Sigma DP2 Merrill Sports photography details
Sony a1 Sports photography details
44
MP count good (15 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
focal length is fixed (50mm)
slow fps (4.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
no phase detect autofocus
90
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
quiet shooting (1/32,000s)
fast shooting (30.0 fps)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is high (50 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
supports tracking autofocus
environment proofing
great battery pack (530 shots)
sensor has phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sigma DP2 Merrill
Travel photography with Sony a1
54
MP count good (15 megapixels)
no Timelapse recording
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
73
great battery pack (530 CIPA)
environment proofing
has bluetooth
offers focus via touch
resolution is high (50MP)
display is not selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Sigma DP2 Merrill Landscape photography features
Sony a1 Landscape photography features
55
focusing manually
screen is a good size (3 inches)
MP count good (15MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
focal length is fixed (50mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
no image stabilization
no Timelapse recording
88
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
resolution is high (50 megapixels)
great sensor size (Full frame)
very good high ISO (32,000)
supports RAW formats
environment proofing
great battery pack (530 CIPA)
has double storage slots
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Vlogging Comparison

Sigma DP2 Merrill Vlogging advice
Sony a1 Vlogging advice
22
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
video resolution low (640 x 480 resolution)
no external microphone support
36
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detection focusing
high res video (7680 x 4320 pixels)
includes external microphone port
display is not selfie friendly
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Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony a1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sigma DP2 Merrill and Sony a1
 Sigma DP2 MerrillSony Alpha a1
General Information
Manufacturer Sigma Sony
Model type Sigma DP2 Merrill Sony Alpha a1
Category Large Sensor Compact Pro Mirrorless
Launched 2012-02-08 2021-01-26
Body design Large Sensor Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Dual TRUE II engine -
Sensor type CMOS (Foveon X3) BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor measurements 24 x 16mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor area 384.0mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 15 megapixel 50 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4704 x 3136 8640 x 5760
Highest native ISO 6400 32000
Highest enhanced ISO - 102400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Minimum enhanced ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 759
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 50mm (1x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.8 -
Amount of lenses - 133
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 920k dot 1,440k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 9,437k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.9x
Features
Min shutter speed - 30 seconds
Max shutter speed - 1/8000 seconds
Max quiet shutter speed - 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames/s 30.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash settings no built-in flash Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync., Red-eye reduction, Wireless, Hi-speed sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/400 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 640x480 7680x4320 (30p, 25p, 23.98)
Highest video resolution 640x480 7680x4320
Video file format Motion JPEG XAVC S, XAVC HS, H.264, H.265
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) Yes
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 330 gr (0.73 pounds) 737 gr (1.62 pounds)
Physical dimensions 122 x 67 x 59mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.3") 129 x 97 x 70mm (5.1" x 3.8" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 530 photographs
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FZ100
Self timer - Yes
Time lapse recording
Type of storage - Dual SD/CFexpress Type A slots (UHS-II supported)
Storage slots 1 Dual
Retail cost $931 $6,498