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Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony A99

Portability
83
Imaging
57
Features
33
Overall
47
Sigma DP3 Merrill front
 
Sony SLT-A99 front
Portability
57
Imaging
70
Features
88
Overall
77

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony A99 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
  • Launched January 2013
  • Older Model is Sigma DP2 Merrill
Sony A99
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 812g - 147 x 111 x 78mm
  • Released December 2012
  • Earlier Model is Sony A900
  • Renewed by Sony A99 II
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Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony A99 Overview

Its time to examine more closely at the Sigma DP3 Merrill versus Sony A99, former being a Large Sensor Compact while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by manufacturers Sigma and Sony. There exists a sizable gap between the sensor resolutions of the DP3 Merrill (15MP) and A99 (24MP) and the DP3 Merrill (APS-C) and A99 (Full frame) use totally different sensor dimensions.

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The DP3 Merrill was launched within a month of the A99 and they are both of a similar age. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Sigma DP3 Merrill being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony A99 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before we go straight into a complete comparison, below is a simple summary of how the DP3 Merrill grades vs the A99 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sigma DP3 Merrill over the Sony A99

 DP3 Merrill A99 

Reasons to pick Sony A99 over the Sigma DP3 Merrill

 A99 DP3 Merrill 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen resolution1229k920kCrisper screen (+309k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Sigma DP3 Merrill and Sony A99

 DP3 Merrill A99 
ReleasedJanuary 2013December 2012Similar age
Manually focus More exact focusing
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony A99 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera, you have to think about its weight and volume. The Sigma DP3 Merrill offers exterior 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) and the Sony A99 has sizing of 147mm x 111mm x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1") accompanied by a weight of 812 grams (1.79 lbs).

Analyze the Sigma DP3 Merrill versus Sony A99 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you choose during that time. Underneath is the front view physical size comparison of the DP3 Merrill against the A99.

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony A99 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the DP3 Merrill and A99 is 83 and 57 respectively.

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony A99 top view buttons comparison

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony A99 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is tough to visualise the contrast between sensor measurements just by reviewing specs. The photograph below might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the DP3 Merrill and A99.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The DP3 Merrill because of its tinier sensor will make shooting shallower DOF harder and the Sony A99 will offer you more detail utilizing its extra 9 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs somewhat more aggressively.

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony A99 sensor size comparison

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony A99 Screen and ViewFinder

Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony A99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sigma DP3 Merrill Portrait photography advice
Sony A99 Portrait photography advice
74
has manual focus
resolution is good (15 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
82
manual focus
decent MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
provides face detect focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sigma DP3 Merrill Street photography info
Sony A99 Street photography info
65
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
75
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
great high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sigma DP3 Merrill Sports photography factors
Sony A99 Sports photography factors
45
resolution is good (15 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
focal length is fixed (75mm)
max frames per second low (4.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
does not have phase detect autofocus
78
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000s)
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (24 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
provides tracking focus
weather proof
comes with phase detect auto focus
low battery life (500 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Sigma DP3 Merrill Travel photography details
Sony A99 Travel photography details
54
resolution is good (15MP)
no Time Lapse mode
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f2.8)
60
weather proof
decent MP (24MP)
display is selfie friendly
doesn't have Time Lapse function
low battery life (500 CIPA)
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Landscape Comparison

Sigma DP3 Merrill as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A99 as a Landscape photography camera
56
has manual focus
nice screen size (3 inch)
resolution is good (15MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW files
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
focal length is fixed (75mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
lack of image stabilization
no Time Lapse mode
75
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (24MP)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
great high ISO (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
2 card slots
low battery life (500 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sigma DP3 Merrill Vlogging advice
Sony A99 Vlogging advice
22
slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution (640 x 480 pxls)
no external mic support
76
display is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have mic support
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Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony A99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sigma DP3 Merrill and Sony A99
 Sigma DP3 MerrillSony SLT-A99
General Information
Manufacturer Sigma Sony
Model type Sigma DP3 Merrill Sony SLT-A99
Class Large Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Launched 2013-01-08 2012-12-12
Physical type Large Sensor Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Dual TRUE II engine Bionz
Sensor type CMOS (Foveon X3) CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor dimensions 24 x 16mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor area 384.0mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 15 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4704 x 3136 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 6400 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points - 19
Cross type focus points - 11
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 75mm (1x) -
Maximal aperture f/2.8 -
Total lenses - 143
Crop factor 1.5 1
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 920k dots 1,229k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology - TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Minimum shutter speed - 30s
Fastest shutter speed - 1/8000s
Continuous shutter rate 4.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash modes no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize - 1/250s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 330g (0.73 lb) 812g (1.79 lb)
Dimensions 122 x 67 x 59mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.3") 147 x 111 x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 89
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 25.0
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 14.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 1555
Other
Battery life - 500 photographs
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FM500H
Self timer - Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type - Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD, SDHC and SDXC
Card slots Single Two
Pricing at release $1,353 $1,998