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Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony a5000

Portability
83
Imaging
56
Features
33
Overall
46
Sigma DP3 Merrill front
 
Sony Alpha a5000 front
Portability
89
Imaging
62
Features
62
Overall
62

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony a5000 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
  • Succeeded the Sigma DP2 Merrill
Sony a5000
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 63 x 36mm
  • Introduced January 2014
  • Superseded the Sony NEX-3N
  • Refreshed by Sony a5100
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Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony a5000 Overview

Here, we will be evaluating the Sigma DP3 Merrill and Sony a5000, former is a Large Sensor Compact while the latter is a Entry-Level Mirrorless by competitors Sigma and Sony. There is a substantial difference among the resolutions of the DP3 Merrill (15MP) and a5000 (20MP) but both cameras offer the identical sensor size (APS-C).

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The DP3 Merrill was launched 12 months prior to the a5000 which means that they are of a similar age. The two cameras feature different body design with the Sigma DP3 Merrill being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony a5000 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving into a in depth comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the DP3 Merrill scores vs the a5000 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sigma DP3 Merrill over the Sony a5000

 DP3 Merrill a5000 
Screen resolution920k461kClearer screen (+459k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony a5000 over the Sigma DP3 Merrill

 a5000 DP3 Merrill 
IntroducedJanuary 2014January 2013More modern by 12 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Sigma DP3 Merrill and Sony a5000

 DP3 Merrill a5000 
Focus manually More exact focusing
Screen size3"3"Same screen size
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony a5000 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry around your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Sigma DP3 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) and the Sony a5000 has proportions of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Examine the Sigma DP3 Merrill and Sony a5000 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the DP3 Merrill vs the a5000.

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony a5000 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the DP3 Merrill and a5000 is 83 and 89 respectively.

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony a5000 top view buttons comparison

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony a5000 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be difficult to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes just by seeing a spec sheet. The picture below may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the DP3 Merrill and a5000.

As you can see, each of these cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit not the same megapixels. You can expect the Sony a5000 to provide more detail utilizing its extra 5 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop photographs way more aggressively. The more aged DP3 Merrill will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony a5000 sensor size comparison

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony a5000 Screen and ViewFinder

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony a5000 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sigma DP3 Merrill Portrait photography details
Sony a5000 Portrait photography details
73
you can focus manually
decent MP (15 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
70
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports face detection autofocus
saves RAW files
cannot use external flash
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Sigma DP3 Merrill as a Street photography camera
Sony a5000 as a Street photography camera
65
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
78
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sigma DP3 Merrill Sports photography information
Sony a5000 Sports photography information
44
decent MP (15 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
fixed focal length (75mm)
max frames per second very slow (4.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
has no phase detect autofocus
59
megapixel count decent (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
good battery (420 CIPA)
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sigma DP3 Merrill Travel photography highlights
Sony a5000 Travel photography highlights
54
decent MP (15MP)
does not have Time Lapse function
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
78
good battery (420 shots)
megapixel count decent (20MP)
built-in flash
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Sigma DP3 Merrill
Landscape photography with Sony a5000
55
you can focus manually
screen size is decent (3 inches)
decent MP (15 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (75mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
does not have image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse function
77
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
megapixel count decent (20MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
good battery (420 shots)
lack of image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Sigma DP3 Merrill Vlogging advice
Sony a5000 Vlogging advice
22
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video resolution low (640 x 480 pxls)
does not have external mic jack
32
supports face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have external microphone jack
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Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony a5000 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sigma DP3 Merrill and Sony a5000
 Sigma DP3 MerrillSony Alpha a5000
General Information
Make Sigma Sony
Model Sigma DP3 Merrill Sony Alpha a5000
Category Large Sensor Compact Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2013-01-08 2014-01-07
Body design Large Sensor Compact Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Dual TRUE II engine Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS (Foveon X3) CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 24 x 16mm 23.2 x 15.4mm
Sensor surface area 384.0mm² 357.3mm²
Sensor resolution 15MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4704 x 3136 5456 x 3632
Maximum native ISO 6400 16000
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
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
Crop factor 1.5 1.6
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 920 thousand dot 461 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech - TFT LCD with 180 upward tilt
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed - 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed - 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 4.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 4.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes no built-in flash Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 1920 x 1080 (60i/24p), 1440 x 1080 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone 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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 330g (0.73 lbs) 269g (0.59 lbs)
Physical dimensions 122 x 67 x 59mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.3") 110 x 63 x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 79
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.0
DXO Low light score not tested 1089
Other
Battery life - 420 shots
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FW50
Self timer - Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom)
Time lapse shooting With downloadable app
Type of storage - SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Launch pricing $1,353 $448