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Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony NEX-5N

Portability
83
Imaging
56
Features
33
Overall
46
Sigma DP3 Merrill front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
Portability
89
Imaging
56
Features
69
Overall
61

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony NEX-5N 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
  • Released January 2013
  • Old Model is Sigma DP2 Merrill
Sony NEX-5N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Revealed October 2011
  • Older Model is Sony NEX-5
  • Newer Model is Sony NEX-5R
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Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony NEX-5N Overview

Here is a complete overview of the Sigma DP3 Merrill versus Sony NEX-5N, former being a Large Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by manufacturers Sigma and Sony. The image resolution of the DP3 Merrill (15MP) and the NEX-5N (16MP) is pretty similar and both cameras provide the identical sensor measurements (APS-C).

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The DP3 Merrill was released 16 months later than the NEX-5N which makes them a generation apart from each other. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Sigma DP3 Merrill being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony NEX-5N being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a short overview of how the DP3 Merrill matches up vs the NEX-5N with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sigma DP3 Merrill over the Sony NEX-5N

 DP3 Merrill NEX-5N 
RevealedJanuary 2013October 2011Fresher by 16 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5N over the Sigma DP3 Merrill

 NEX-5N DP3 Merrill 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Sigma DP3 Merrill and Sony NEX-5N

 DP3 Merrill NEX-5N 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurements
Screen resolution920k920kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony NEX-5N Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry your camera frequently, you will need to factor its weight and size. The Sigma DP3 Merrill comes with external dimensions of 122mm x 67mm x 59mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.3") along with a weight of 330 grams (0.73 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5N has specifications of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") and a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

See the Sigma DP3 Merrill versus Sony NEX-5N in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are working with at that time. Following is a front view proportions comparison of the DP3 Merrill vs the NEX-5N.

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony NEX-5N size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the DP3 Merrill and NEX-5N is 83 and 89 respectively.

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony NEX-5N top view buttons comparison

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony NEX-5N Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very difficult to picture the difference between sensor sizing merely by reading technical specs. The graphic here might offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the DP3 Merrill and NEX-5N.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit different megapixels. You can expect the Sony NEX-5N to deliver extra detail as a result of its extra 1 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The younger DP3 Merrill should have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony NEX-5N sensor size comparison

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and ViewFinder

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sigma DP3 Merrill Portrait photography features
Sony NEX-5N Portrait photography features
73
you can focus manually
good megapixels (15 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
73
you can focus manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection focusing
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sigma DP3 Merrill Street photography factors
Sony NEX-5N Street photography factors
65
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
80
screen tilts up and down
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
features touch to focus
good ISO range (25,600)
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sigma DP3 Merrill Sports photography information
Sony NEX-5N Sports photography information
44
good megapixels (15 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
can't change focal length (75mm)
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
no phase detect AF
58
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
better than average battery power (460 shots)
lack of image stabilization
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sigma DP3 Merrill Travel photography info
Sony NEX-5N Travel photography info
54
good megapixels (15MP)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f2.8)
70
better than average battery power (460 shots)
features touch to focus
MP count good (16 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse recording
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sigma DP3 Merrill
Landscape photography with Sony NEX-5N
55
you can focus manually
screen size is good (3 inch)
good megapixels (15 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
can't change focal length (75mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have Timelapse mode
71
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
MP count good (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW files
better than average battery power (460 shots)
lack of image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sigma DP3 Merrill
Vlogging with Sony NEX-5N
22
slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have microphone socket
33
touchscreen enabled
features face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't contain selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
does not have external mic jack
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Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sigma DP3 Merrill and Sony NEX-5N
 Sigma DP3 MerrillSony Alpha NEX-5N
General Information
Manufacturer Sigma Sony
Model Sigma DP3 Merrill Sony Alpha NEX-5N
Type Large Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2013-01-08 2011-10-03
Body design Large Sensor Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Dual TRUE II engine Bionz
Sensor type CMOS (Foveon X3) CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 24 x 16mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 384.0mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 15 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4704 x 3136 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points - 25
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens Sony E
Lens focal range 75mm (1x) -
Largest aperture f/2.8 -
Number of lenses - 121
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 920 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology - Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Lowest shutter speed - 30s
Highest shutter speed - 1/4000s
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated 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
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 330 gr (0.73 lb) 269 gr (0.59 lb)
Physical 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 photographs
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - NPFW50
Self timer - Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse recording
Type of storage - SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at launch $1,353 $550