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Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony A3000

Portability
83
Imaging
57
Features
33
Overall
47
Sigma DP3 Merrill front
 
Sony Alpha A3000 front
Portability
69
Imaging
63
Features
54
Overall
59

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony A3000 Key Specs

Sigma DP3 Merrill
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 75mm (F2.8) lens
  • 330g - 122 x 67 x 59mm
  • Announced January 2013
  • Replaced the Sigma DP2 Merrill
Sony A3000
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 411g - 128 x 91 x 85mm
  • Introduced August 2013
  • New Model is Sony a3500
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Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony A3000 Overview

Its time to take a deeper look at the Sigma DP3 Merrill versus Sony A3000, one is a Large Sensor Compact and the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by companies Sigma and Sony. There is a crucial difference among the sensor resolutions of the DP3 Merrill (15MP) and A3000 (20MP) but they feature the same exact sensor dimensions (APS-C).

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The DP3 Merrill was brought out 7 months before the A3000 which means that they are of a similar generation. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Sigma DP3 Merrill being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony A3000 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a concise summation of how the DP3 Merrill grades versus the A3000 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sigma DP3 Merrill over the Sony A3000

 DP3 Merrill A3000 
Screen resolution920k230kSharper screen (+690k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A3000 over the Sigma DP3 Merrill

 A3000 DP3 Merrill 
IntroducedAugust 2013January 2013More modern by 7 months

Common features in the Sigma DP3 Merrill and Sony A3000

 DP3 Merrill A3000 
Focus manually More precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony A3000 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry around your camera often, you should factor in its weight and proportions. The Sigma DP3 Merrill provides 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) and the Sony A3000 has measurements of 128mm x 91mm x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") having a weight of 411 grams (0.91 lbs).

Compare the Sigma DP3 Merrill versus Sony A3000 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 use during that time. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the DP3 Merrill versus the A3000.

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony A3000 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the DP3 Merrill and A3000 is 83 and 69 respectively.

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony A3000 top view buttons comparison

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony A3000 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's tough to visualise the gap in sensor sizes merely by checking out a spec sheet. The picture underneath will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the DP3 Merrill and A3000.

As you can see, the two cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same resolution. You should count on the Sony A3000 to show greater detail having its extra 5MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The more aged DP3 Merrill will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony A3000 sensor size comparison

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony A3000 Screen and ViewFinder

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony A3000 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sigma DP3 Merrill as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A3000 as a Portrait photography camera
74
has manual focus
decent megapixels (15 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
77
manual focus
decent MP (20MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sigma DP3 Merrill Street photography features
Sony A3000 Street photography features
65
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
no moving screen
no image stabilization
57
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
fixed screen
no image stabilization
heavier than competitors (411g)
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Sports Comparison

Sigma DP3 Merrill Sports photography features
Sony A3000 Sports photography features
45
decent megapixels (15 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
focal length is fixed (75mm)
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
no phase detect AF
60
decent MP (20MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking focus
good battery pack (470 CIPA)
very slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
no image stabilization
does not have phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Sigma DP3 Merrill as a Travel photography camera
Sony A3000 as a Travel photography camera
54
decent megapixels (15 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
60
good battery pack (470 shots)
decent MP (20MP)
has built in flash
missing Time Lapse function
heavier than competitors (411g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Sigma DP3 Merrill as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A3000 as a Landscape photography camera
56
has manual focus
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
decent megapixels (15 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
focal length is fixed (75mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
no image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse function
70
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
decent MP (20MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
good battery pack (470 per charge)
no image stabilization
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sigma DP3 Merrill Vlogging features
Sony A3000 Vlogging features
22
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video quality not great (640 x 480 pxls)
does not have mic jack
26
provides face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
missing mic socket
heavier than competitors (411g)
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Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony A3000 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sigma DP3 Merrill and Sony A3000
 Sigma DP3 MerrillSony Alpha A3000
General Information
Company Sigma Sony
Model Sigma DP3 Merrill Sony Alpha A3000
Class Large Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2013-01-08 2013-08-27
Physical type Large Sensor Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Dual TRUE II engine BIONZ image
Sensor type CMOS (Foveon X3) CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 24 x 16mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 384.0mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 15 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4704 x 3136 5456 x 3632
Max native ISO 6400 16000
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 25
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 75mm (1x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.8 -
Total lenses - 121
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Screen resolution 920k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.47x
Features
Min shutter speed - 30 secs
Max shutter speed - 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 6.00 m (at ISO200 / 4m at ISO100)
Flash modes no built-in flash Flash off, Auto flash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync.
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 1920 x 1080
Max video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG AVCHD, H.264, MP4
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 330g (0.73 lb) 411g (0.91 lb)
Dimensions 122 x 67 x 59mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.3") 128 x 91 x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested 78
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.8
DXO Low light score not tested 1068
Other
Battery life - 470 photographs
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FW50
Self timer - Yes (2-sec. or 10-sec. delay)
Time lapse shooting
Card slots One One
Price at release $1,353 $398