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Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony A7S

Portability
83
Imaging
56
Features
33
Overall
46
Sigma DP3 Merrill front
 
Sony Alpha A7S front
Portability
77
Imaging
60
Features
73
Overall
65

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony A7S Key Specs

Sigma DP3 Merrill
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 75mm (F2.8) lens
  • 330g - 122 x 67 x 59mm
  • Launched January 2013
  • Older Model is Sigma DP2 Merrill
Sony A7S
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 409600
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 489g - 127 x 94 x 48mm
  • Released April 2014
  • Successor is Sony A7S II
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Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony A7S Overview

On this page, we are looking at the Sigma DP3 Merrill versus Sony A7S, one is a Large Sensor Compact and the other is a Pro Mirrorless by competitors Sigma and Sony. There is a sizeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the DP3 Merrill (15MP) and A7S (12MP) and the DP3 Merrill (APS-C) and A7S (Full frame) posses different sensor dimensions.

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The DP3 Merrill was revealed 15 months prior to the A7S making them a generation away from each other. The two cameras have different body design with the Sigma DP3 Merrill being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony A7S being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting into a in depth comparison, here is a brief summary of how the DP3 Merrill grades against the A7S when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sigma DP3 Merrill over the Sony A7S

 DP3 Merrill A7S 

Reasons to pick Sony A7S over the Sigma DP3 Merrill

 A7S DP3 Merrill 
ReleasedApril 2014January 2013More modern by 15 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1230k920kCrisper display (+310k dot)

Common features in the Sigma DP3 Merrill and Sony A7S

 DP3 Merrill A7S 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony A7S Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry around your camera, you are going to need to consider its weight and measurements. The Sigma DP3 Merrill offers external dimensions of 122mm x 67mm x 59mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.3") accompanied by a weight of 330 grams (0.73 lbs) whilst the Sony A7S has proportions of 127mm x 94mm x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9") with a weight of 489 grams (1.08 lbs).

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Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the DP3 Merrill compared to the A7S.

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony A7S size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the DP3 Merrill and A7S is 83 and 77 respectively.

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony A7S top view buttons comparison

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony A7S Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's tough to imagine the difference in sensor sizes only by going through specs. The pic underneath will offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the DP3 Merrill and A7S.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The DP3 Merrill having a smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF more challenging and the Sigma DP3 Merrill will show more detail because of its extra 3MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics more aggressively. The more aged DP3 Merrill will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony A7S sensor size comparison

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony A7S Screen and ViewFinder

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony A7S Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sigma DP3 Merrill Portrait photography info
Sony A7S Portrait photography info
73
focusing manually
decent megapixels (15 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
68
manual focus
large sensor size (Full frame)
has face detection focusing
exports RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Sigma DP3 Merrill Street photography info
Sony A7S Street photography info
65
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
76
has a tilting screen
large sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
lighter than competition (489 grams)
good high ISO (409,600)
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sigma DP3 Merrill
Sports photography with Sony A7S
44
decent megapixels (15 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
focal length is fixed (75mm)
max frames per second low (4.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
lack of phase detect auto focus
52
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
large sensor size (Full frame)
has tracking autofocus
environment proofing
painfully slow continuous shooting (5.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
low battery power (360 CIPA)
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sigma DP3 Merrill Travel photography info
Sony A7S Travel photography info
54
decent megapixels (15MP)
lack of Timelapse mode
does not feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
58
lighter than competition (489 grams)
environment proofing
low battery power (360 per charge)
low MP (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Sigma DP3 Merrill Landscape photography advice
Sony A7S Landscape photography advice
55
focusing manually
screen size is good (3 inch)
decent megapixels (15 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
focal length is fixed (75mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
lack of image stabilization
lack of Timelapse mode
66
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
large sensor size (Full frame)
good high ISO (409,600)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
does not have image stabilization
low MP (12MP)
low battery power (360 CIPA)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sigma DP3 Merrill
Vlogging with Sony A7S
22
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
video quality not great (640 x 480 resolution)
lack of microphone port
34
has face detection focusing
high res video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
comes with external mic jack
lighter than competition (489g)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
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Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony A7S Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sigma DP3 Merrill and Sony A7S
 Sigma DP3 MerrillSony Alpha A7S
General Information
Brand Name Sigma Sony
Model type Sigma DP3 Merrill Sony Alpha A7S
Category Large Sensor Compact Pro Mirrorless
Launched 2013-01-08 2014-04-06
Body design 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 dimensions 24 x 16mm 35.8 x 23.9mm
Sensor area 384.0mm² 855.6mm²
Sensor resolution 15 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4704 x 3136 4240 x 2832
Max native ISO 6400 409600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 25
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony E
Lens zoom range 75mm (1x) -
Maximum aperture f/2.8 -
Amount of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 920 thousand dot 1,230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Lowest shutter speed - 30 secs
Highest shutter speed - 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 4.0fps 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
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
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 3840 x 2160, XAVC S 1080 60p(50Mbps), 30p (50Mbps), 24p (50Mbps). 720 120p (50Mbps). AVCHD 60p (28Mbps), 60i (24Mbps/17Mbps), 24p (24Mbps/17Mbps)
Max video resolution 640x480 3840x2160
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 330g (0.73 pounds) 489g (1.08 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 All around rating not tested 87
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.9
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.2
DXO Low light rating not tested 3702
Other
Battery life - 360 photographs
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FW50
Self timer - Yes (2 or 10 sec; continuous (3 or 5 exposures))
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Storage media - SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $1,353 $1,998