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Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony QX30

Portability
83
Imaging
56
Features
33
Overall
46
Sigma DP3 Merrill front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30 front
Portability
91
Imaging
45
Features
37
Overall
41

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony QX30 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
  • Revealed January 2013
  • Superseded the Sigma DP2 Merrill
Sony QX30
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • " Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.3) lens
  • 193g - 68 x 65 x 58mm
  • Introduced September 2014
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Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony QX30 Overview

Its time to look closer at the Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony QX30, former being a Large Sensor Compact while the latter is a Lens-style by manufacturers Sigma and Sony. There is a considerable difference between the image resolutions of the DP3 Merrill (15MP) and QX30 (20MP) and the DP3 Merrill (APS-C) and QX30 (1/2.3") boast different sensor sizing.

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The DP3 Merrill was released 20 months earlier than the QX30 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Sigma DP3 Merrill being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony QX30 being a Lens-style camera.

Before going straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a brief view of how the DP3 Merrill matches up against the QX30 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sigma DP3 Merrill over the Sony QX30

 DP3 Merrill QX30 
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Screen dimensions3""Bigger screen (+3")
Screen resolution920k0kSharper screen (+920k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony QX30 over the Sigma DP3 Merrill

 QX30 DP3 Merrill 
IntroducedSeptember 2014January 2013More recent by 20 months
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Sigma DP3 Merrill and Sony QX30

 DP3 Merrill QX30 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony QX30 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to lug around your camera regularly, you're going to have to take into account its weight and size. The Sigma DP3 Merrill provides exterior measurements of 122mm x 67mm x 59mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.3") with a weight of 330 grams (0.73 lbs) whilst the Sony QX30 has specifications of 68mm x 65mm x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3") with a weight of 193 grams (0.43 lbs).

Analyze the Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony QX30 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Underneath is a front view overall size comparison of the DP3 Merrill compared to the QX30.

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony QX30 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the DP3 Merrill and QX30 is 83 and 91 respectively.

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony QX30 top view buttons comparison

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony QX30 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be hard to picture the gap between sensor measurements only by checking specifications. The photograph underneath might offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the DP3 Merrill and QX30.

To sum up, both cameras have different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The DP3 Merrill because of its bigger sensor is going to make getting bokeh easier and the Sony QX30 will give extra detail as a result of its extra 5 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The older DP3 Merrill is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony QX30 sensor size comparison

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony QX30 Screen and ViewFinder

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony QX30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Sigma DP3 Merrill
Portrait photography with Sony QX30
73
manual focus
megapixel count good (15MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
38
resolution is good (20MP)
offers face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
external flash not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sigma DP3 Merrill Street photography information
Sony QX30 Street photography information
65
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
62
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with focus by touch
no articulating screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sigma DP3 Merrill Sports photography information
Sony QX30 Sports photography information
44
megapixel count good (15 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
can't change focal length (75mm)
max fps very slow (4.0 fps)
no image stabilization
lacks phase detect AF
47
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (20MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (200 per charge)
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sigma DP3 Merrill Travel photography highlights
Sony QX30 Travel photography highlights
54
megapixel count good (15MP)
missing Time Lapse recording
does not have selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
65
comes with focus by touch
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
decently wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
terrible battery power (200 shots)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Sigma DP3 Merrill Landscape photography highlights
Sony QX30 Landscape photography highlights
55
manual focus
screen size is good (3")
megapixel count good (15MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
can't change focal length (75mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
no image stabilization
missing Time Lapse recording
39
decently wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (20 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
tiny screen ( inches)
no manual control
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW format
terrible battery power (200 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sigma DP3 Merrill Vlogging features
Sony QX30 Vlogging features
22
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not have selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
low video resolution (640 x 480 pxls)
missing mic jack
35
decently wide (24mm)
touchscreen capability
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
does not have mic support
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Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony QX30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sigma DP3 Merrill and Sony QX30
 Sigma DP3 MerrillSony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
General Information
Brand Name Sigma Sony
Model type Sigma DP3 Merrill Sony Cyber-shot DSC-QX30
Class Large Sensor Compact Lens-style
Revealed 2013-01-08 2014-09-03
Physical type Large Sensor Compact Lens-style
Sensor Information
Processor Dual TRUE II engine Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS (Foveon X3) BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 24 x 16mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 384.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 15MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4704 x 3136 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 75mm (1x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8 f/3.5-6.3
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches -
Resolution of display 920 thousand dots 0 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed - 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed - 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash options no built-in flash None
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 330g (0.73 pounds) 193g (0.43 pounds)
Physical dimensions 122 x 67 x 59mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.3") 68 x 65 x 58mm (2.7" x 2.6" x 2.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 - 200 photographs
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-BN,
Self timer - Yes (2, 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage - microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC, Memory Stick Micro
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $1,353 $348