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Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony RX100 VA

Portability
83
Imaging
56
Features
33
Overall
46
Sigma DP3 Merrill front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V(A) front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
77
Overall
63

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony RX100 VA 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
  • Previous Model is Sigma DP2 Merrill
Sony RX100 VA
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-70mm (F1.8-2.8) lens
  • 299g - 102 x 58 x 41mm
  • Revealed July 2018
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Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony RX100 VA Overview

Its time to look a bit more closely at the Sigma DP3 Merrill versus Sony RX100 VA, both Large Sensor Compact digital cameras by companies Sigma and Sony. There is a sizable difference between the resolutions of the DP3 Merrill (15MP) and RX100 VA (20MP) and the DP3 Merrill (APS-C) and RX100 VA (1") use different sensor dimensions.

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The DP3 Merrill was introduced 6 years earlier than the RX100 VA and that is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Large Sensor Compact).

Before going in to a more detailed comparison, below is a concise overview of how the DP3 Merrill matches up vs the RX100 VA when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sigma DP3 Merrill over the Sony RX100 VA

 DP3 Merrill RX100 VA 

Reasons to pick Sony RX100 VA over the Sigma DP3 Merrill

 RX100 VA DP3 Merrill 
RevealedJuly 2018January 2013More recent by 67 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1229k920kCrisper screen (+309k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Sigma DP3 Merrill and Sony RX100 VA

 DP3 Merrill RX100 VA 
Focus manually Very precise focus
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony RX100 VA Physical Comparison

When you are intending to lug around your camera frequently, you will want to factor in its weight and size. The Sigma DP3 Merrill comes with external measurements of 122mm x 67mm x 59mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.3") along with a weight of 330 grams (0.73 lbs) whilst the Sony RX100 VA has specifications of 102mm x 58mm x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6") along with a weight of 299 grams (0.66 lbs).

Look at the Sigma DP3 Merrill versus Sony RX100 VA in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are employing at that moment. Following is the front view size comparison of the DP3 Merrill compared to the RX100 VA.

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony RX100 VA size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the DP3 Merrill and RX100 VA is 83 and 89 respectively.

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony RX100 VA top view buttons comparison

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony RX100 VA Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very difficult to imagine the contrast between sensor measurements merely by going over specs. The graphic here should provide you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the DP3 Merrill and RX100 VA.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The DP3 Merrill with its bigger sensor is going to make getting bokeh less difficult and the Sony RX100 VA will deliver extra detail using its extra 5 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop shots far more aggressively. The older DP3 Merrill is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony RX100 VA sensor size comparison

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony RX100 VA Screen and ViewFinder

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony RX100 VA Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sigma DP3 Merrill as a Portrait photography camera
Sony RX100 VA as a Portrait photography camera
73
has manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (15MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
66
manual focus
above average flash sync (1/2,000s)
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
has face detect focusing
supports RAW files
cannot use external flash
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Sigma DP3 Merrill as a Street photography camera
Sony RX100 VA as a Street photography camera
65
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
86
tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is nice (1")
supports RAW files
lighter than competition in class (299 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sigma DP3 Merrill Sports photography advice
Sony RX100 VA Sports photography advice
44
sensor resolution is decent (15 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
focal length is fixed (75mm)
max fps very slow (4.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect AF
70
quiet shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
fast shooting (24.0 fps)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
has tracking focus
comes with phase detect AF
bad battery pack (220 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Sigma DP3 Merrill
Travel photography with Sony RX100 VA
54
sensor resolution is decent (15 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
76
lighter than competition in class (299 grams)
good MP (20MP)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
relatively wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
does not have Time Lapse mode
bad battery pack (220 per charge)
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Landscape Comparison

Sigma DP3 Merrill Landscape photography details
Sony RX100 VA Landscape photography details
55
has manual focus
nice screen size (3")
sensor resolution is decent (15MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
focal length is fixed (75mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
no image stabilization
missing Time Lapse mode
66
manual focus
relatively wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
supports RAW files
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
bad battery pack (220 CIPA)
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sigma DP3 Merrill Vlogging details
Sony RX100 VA Vlogging details
22
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video resolution low (640 x 480 pixels)
missing mic support
81
relatively wide (24mm)
great maximum aperture (f1.8)
display is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focusing
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (299g)
does not have mic support
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Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony RX100 VA Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sigma DP3 Merrill and Sony RX100 VA
 Sigma DP3 MerrillSony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V(A)
General Information
Manufacturer Sigma Sony
Model Sigma DP3 Merrill Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 V(A)
Class Large Sensor Compact Large Sensor Compact
Released 2013-01-08 2018-07-13
Physical type Large Sensor Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Dual TRUE II engine Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS (Foveon X3) BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1"
Sensor dimensions 24 x 16mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area 384.0mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 15 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4704 x 3136 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 125
RAW format
Min enhanced ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points - 315
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 75mm (1x) 24-70mm (2.9x)
Largest aperture f/2.8 f/1.8-2.8
Macro focus range - 5cm
Focal length multiplier 1.5 2.7
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 920 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.59x
Features
Min shutter speed - 30 seconds
Max shutter speed - 1/2000 seconds
Max quiet shutter speed - 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames per second 24.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 10.20 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash options no built-in flash Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Rear Sync, Flash Off
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/2000 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution 640x480 3840x2160
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) NP-BX1 lithium-ion battery & USB charger
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 330 gr (0.73 lb) 299 gr (0.66 lb)
Dimensions 122 x 67 x 59mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.3") 102 x 58 x 41mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 220 photographs
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-BX1
Self timer - Yes
Time lapse recording
Type of storage - SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $1,353 $998