Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A7
57 Imaging
56 Features
45 Overall
51
78 Imaging
70 Features
80 Overall
74
Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A7 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 15MP - APS-C Sensor
- 3" Fixed Display
- ISO 100 - 6400
- No Video
- Sigma SA Mount
- 790g - 146 x 113 x 80mm
- Launched April 2012
- Superseded the Sigma SD1
(Full Review)
- 24MP - Full frame Sensor
- 3" Tilting Screen
- ISO 50 - 25600
- 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Sony E Mount
- 474g - 127 x 94 x 48mm
- Revealed January 2014
- Newer Model is Sony A7 II
Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A7 Overview
Let's take a deeper look at the Sigma SD1 Merrill and Sony A7, former being a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Pro Mirrorless by competitors Sigma and Sony. There exists a large gap among the image resolutions of the SD1 Merrill (15MP) and A7 (24MP) and the SD1 Merrill (APS-C) and A7 (Full frame) feature different sensor size.
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created ImagesThe SD1 Merrill was released 21 months before the A7 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Sigma SD1 Merrill being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony A7 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.
Before diving in to a full comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the SD1 Merrill grades versus the A7 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.
Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A7 Gallery
The following is a preview of the gallery images for Sigma SD1 Merrill & Sony Alpha A7. The complete galleries are provided at Sigma SD1 Merrill Gallery & Sony A7 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Sigma SD1 Merrill over the Sony A7
SD1 Merrill | A7 |
---|
Reasons to pick Sony A7 over the Sigma SD1 Merrill
A7 | SD1 Merrill | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Revealed | January 2014 | April 2012 | More recent by 21 months | |
Screen type | Tilting | Fixed | Tilting screen | |
Screen resolution | 1230k | 460k | Clearer screen (+770k dot) |
Common features in the Sigma SD1 Merrill and Sony A7
SD1 Merrill | A7 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Focus manually | Dial precise focusing | |||
Screen sizing | 3" | 3" | Equivalent screen size | |
Selfie screen | Lack of selfie screen | |||
Touch screen | Lack of Touch screen |
Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A7 Physical Comparison
For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera frequently, you will have to factor its weight and size. The Sigma SD1 Merrill has outside dimensions of 146mm x 113mm x 80mm (5.7" x 4.4" x 3.1") along with a weight of 790 grams (1.74 lbs) while the Sony A7 has specifications of 127mm x 94mm x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9") having a weight of 474 grams (1.04 lbs).
Check the Sigma SD1 Merrill and Sony A7 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have attached during that time. Underneath is the front view dimensions comparison of the SD1 Merrill vs the A7.
Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SD1 Merrill and A7 is 57 and 78 respectively.
Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A7 Sensor Comparison
Typically, its tough to imagine the difference in sensor measurements purely by seeing technical specs. The graphic here may provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the SD1 Merrill and A7.
As you have seen, both of the cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The SD1 Merrill because of its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF more challenging and the Sony A7 will produce more detail as a result of its extra 9 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The older SD1 Merrill will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.
Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A7 Screen and ViewFinder
Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison
Street Comparison
Sports Comparison
Travel Comparison
Landscape Comparison
Vlogging Comparison
Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A7 Specifications
Sigma SD1 Merrill | Sony Alpha A7 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Make | Sigma | Sony |
Model type | Sigma SD1 Merrill | Sony Alpha A7 |
Category | Advanced DSLR | Pro Mirrorless |
Launched | 2012-04-10 | 2014-01-22 |
Physical type | Mid-size SLR | SLR-style mirrorless |
Sensor Information | ||
Processor | Dual True II | Bionz X |
Sensor type | CMOS (Foveon X3) | CMOS |
Sensor size | APS-C | Full frame |
Sensor dimensions | 24 x 16mm | 35.8 x 23.9mm |
Sensor area | 384.0mm² | 855.6mm² |
Sensor resolution | 15 megapixel | 24 megapixel |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | - | 3:2 and 16:9 |
Highest resolution | 4800 x 3200 | 6000 x 4000 |
Highest native ISO | 6400 | 25600 |
Minimum native ISO | 100 | 50 |
RAW photos | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
Touch to focus | ||
Continuous AF | ||
Single AF | ||
Tracking AF | ||
Selective AF | ||
AF center weighted | ||
AF multi area | ||
AF live view | ||
Face detect AF | ||
Contract detect AF | ||
Phase detect AF | ||
Total focus points | - | 117 |
Cross type focus points | - | 25 |
Lens | ||
Lens mount type | Sigma SA | Sony E |
Available lenses | 76 | 121 |
Crop factor | 1.5 | 1 |
Screen | ||
Display type | Fixed Type | Tilting |
Display diagonal | 3 inch | 3 inch |
Resolution of display | 460k dots | 1,230k dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch display | ||
Display technology | - | Xtra Fine LCD |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | Optical (pentaprism) | Electronic |
Viewfinder resolution | - | 2,359k dots |
Viewfinder coverage | 96 percent | 100 percent |
Viewfinder magnification | 0.64x | 0.71x |
Features | ||
Lowest shutter speed | - | 30 seconds |
Highest shutter speed | - | 1/8000 seconds |
Continuous shooting rate | - | 5.0 frames/s |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Manually set exposure | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Custom WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash distance | no built-in flash | no built-in flash |
Flash options | no built-in flash | no built-in flash |
External flash | ||
AE bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Highest flash synchronize | - | 1/250 seconds |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment metering | ||
Average metering | ||
Spot metering | ||
Partial metering | ||
AF area metering | ||
Center weighted metering | ||
Video features | ||
Video resolutions | - | 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) |
Highest video resolution | None | 1920x1080 |
Video format | - | MPEG-4, AVCHD |
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 | ||
Environment sealing | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 790g (1.74 lb) | 474g (1.04 lb) |
Dimensions | 146 x 113 x 80mm (5.7" x 4.4" x 3.1") | 127 x 94 x 48mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 1.9") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around rating | not tested | 90 |
DXO Color Depth rating | not tested | 24.8 |
DXO Dynamic range rating | not tested | 14.2 |
DXO Low light rating | not tested | 2248 |
Other | ||
Battery life | - | 340 shots |
Type of battery | - | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | - | NP-FW50 |
Self timer | Yes | Yes (2 or 10 sec; continuous (3 or 5 exposures)) |
Time lapse recording | With downloadable app | |
Type of storage | Compact Flash (Type I, UDMA compatible) | SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo |
Card slots | One | One |
Cost at launch | $2,339 | $798 |