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Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A7R II

Portability
57
Imaging
56
Features
45
Overall
51
Sigma SD1 Merrill front
 
Sony Alpha A7R II front
Portability
68
Imaging
76
Features
84
Overall
79

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A7R II Key Specs

Sigma SD1 Merrill
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • No Video
  • Sigma SA Mount
  • 790g - 146 x 113 x 80mm
  • Announced April 2012
  • Replaced the Sigma SD1
Sony A7R II
(Full Review)
  • 42MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600 (Raise to 102400)
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 625g - 127 x 96 x 60mm
  • Released June 2015
  • Old Model is Sony A7R
  • Renewed by Sony A7R III
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Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A7R II Overview

Its time to take a closer look at the Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A7R II, one is a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Pro Mirrorless by manufacturers Sigma and Sony. There is a huge difference between the sensor resolutions of the SD1 Merrill (15MP) and A7R II (42MP) and the SD1 Merrill (APS-C) and A7R II (Full frame) posses different sensor dimensions.

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The SD1 Merrill was brought out 4 years earlier than the A7R II which is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Sigma SD1 Merrill being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony A7R II being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a simple overview of how the SD1 Merrill matches up vs the A7R II with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sigma SD1 Merrill over the Sony A7R II

 SD1 Merrill A7R II 

Reasons to pick Sony A7R II over the Sigma SD1 Merrill

 A7R II SD1 Merrill 
ReleasedJune 2015April 2012More modern by 38 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1229k460kSharper display (+769k dot)

Common features in the Sigma SD1 Merrill and Sony A7R II

 SD1 Merrill A7R II 
Focus manually More precise focusing
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch display Neither provides Touch display

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A7R II Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you'll have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Sigma SD1 Merrill provides outside measurements of 146mm x 113mm x 80mm (5.7" x 4.4" x 3.1") accompanied by a weight of 790 grams (1.74 lbs) and the Sony A7R II has proportions of 127mm x 96mm x 60mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.4") accompanied by a weight of 625 grams (1.38 lbs).

Contrast the Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A7R II in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have during that time. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the SD1 Merrill compared to the A7R II.

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A7R II size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the SD1 Merrill and A7R II is 57 and 68 respectively.

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A7R II top view buttons comparison

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A7R II Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be hard to picture the difference between sensor sizes only by reading technical specs. The image underneath will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the SD1 Merrill and A7R II.

As you have seen, each of the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The SD1 Merrill because of its tinier sensor is going to make achieving bokeh harder and the Sony A7R II will offer you extra detail having its extra 27MP. Greater resolution will help you crop pics a bit more aggressively. The more aged SD1 Merrill is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A7R II sensor size comparison

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A7R II Screen and ViewFinder

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A7R II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sigma SD1 Merrill Portrait photography highlights
Sony A7R II Portrait photography highlights
65
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (15 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
no liveview feature
85
you can focus manually
MP count fantastic (42MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
provides face detect focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sigma SD1 Merrill Street photography advice
Sony A7R II Street photography advice
57
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
environment proof
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
81
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
environment proofing
great high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sigma SD1 Merrill
Sports photography with Sony A7R II
61
decent sensor resolution (15 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
environment proof
supports phase detect autofocus
no liveview feature
no image stabilization
76
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count fantastic (42 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
provides tracking focus
environment proofing
has phase detect auto focus
continuous shooting slow (5.0 frames/s)
not so great battery pack (290 per charge)
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Travel Comparison

Sigma SD1 Merrill Travel photography advice
Sony A7R II Travel photography advice
54
environment proof
decent sensor resolution (15MP)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
62
environment proofing
MP count fantastic (42 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (290 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Sigma SD1 Merrill Landscape photography advice
Sony A7R II Landscape photography advice
63
manual focus
change lenses (Sigma SA mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
decent sensor resolution (15 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
environment proof
no liveview feature
no image stabilization
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
82
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is decent (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
MP count fantastic (42 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
does not have low pass filter
great high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
environment proofing
not so great battery pack (290 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Sigma SD1 Merrill Vlogging advice
Sony A7R II Vlogging advice
9
lack of video recording
37
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
provides face detect focus
high res video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
has microphone support
screen is not selfie friendly
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Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A7R II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sigma SD1 Merrill and Sony A7R II
 Sigma SD1 MerrillSony Alpha A7R II
General Information
Manufacturer Sigma Sony
Model type Sigma SD1 Merrill Sony Alpha A7R II
Class Advanced DSLR Pro Mirrorless
Announced 2012-04-10 2015-06-10
Physical type Mid-size SLR SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Dual True II Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS (Foveon X3) BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C Full frame
Sensor measurements 24 x 16mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 384.0mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 15 megapixel 42 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4800 x 3200 7974 x 5316
Highest native ISO 6400 25600
Highest enhanced ISO - 102400
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Minimum enhanced ISO - 50
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 399
Lens
Lens mount type Sigma SA Sony E
Available lenses 76 121
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 1,229 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage 96% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.64x 0.78x
Features
Min shutter speed - 30 secs
Max shutter speed - 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate - 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance no built-in flash no built-in flash
Flash modes no built-in flash no built-in flash
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution None 3840x2160
Video data format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone 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 790 grams (1.74 pounds) 625 grams (1.38 pounds)
Physical dimensions 146 x 113 x 80mm (5.7" x 4.4" x 3.1") 127 x 96 x 60mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 98
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 26.0
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.9
DXO Low light rating not tested 3434
Other
Battery life - 290 pictures
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec; continuous (3 or 5 exposures))
Time lapse shooting 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
Launch cost $2,339 $2,913