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Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A580

Portability
57
Imaging
56
Features
45
Overall
51
Sigma SD1 Merrill front
 
Sony Alpha DSLR-A580 front
Portability
64
Imaging
56
Features
82
Overall
66

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A580 Key Specs

Sigma SD1 Merrill
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • No Video
  • Sigma SA Mount
  • 790g - 146 x 113 x 80mm
  • Revealed April 2012
  • Superseded the Sigma SD1
Sony A580
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Expand to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 599g - 137 x 104 x 84mm
  • Introduced May 2011
  • Older Model is Sony A100
Photography Glossary

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A580 Overview

Here, we will be analyzing the Sigma SD1 Merrill versus Sony A580, one being a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Sigma and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SD1 Merrill (15MP) and the A580 (16MP) is pretty close and both cameras offer the identical sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The SD1 Merrill was brought out 11 months later than the A580 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Sigma SD1 Merrill being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony A580 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before we go into a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the SD1 Merrill scores vs the A580 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sigma SD1 Merrill over the Sony A580

 SD1 Merrill A580 
IntroducedApril 2012May 2011Fresher by 11 months

Reasons to pick Sony A580 over the Sigma SD1 Merrill

 A580 SD1 Merrill 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution922k460kCrisper screen (+462k dot)

Common features in the Sigma SD1 Merrill and Sony A580

 SD1 Merrill A580 
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A580 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to carry your camera, you should factor in 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") accompanied by a weight of 790 grams (1.74 lbs) and the Sony A580 has specifications of 137mm x 104mm x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 599 grams (1.32 lbs).

Take a look at the Sigma SD1 Merrill versus Sony A580 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you use at that time. Below is a front view physical size comparison of the SD1 Merrill versus the A580.

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A580 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the SD1 Merrill and A580 is 57 and 64 respectively.

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A580 top view buttons comparison

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A580 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is hard to picture the gap in sensor sizing simply by researching specs. The visual underneath will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the SD1 Merrill and A580.

All in all, both of those cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit different megapixels. You should expect the Sony A580 to provide you with greater detail having its extra 1MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop photographs way more aggressively. The newer SD1 Merrill provides a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A580 sensor size comparison

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A580 Screen and ViewFinder

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A580 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sigma SD1 Merrill Portrait photography highlights
Sony A580 Portrait photography highlights
65
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (15MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no liveview feature
73
focusing manually
MP count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features face detection focus
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sigma SD1 Merrill Street photography features
Sony A580 Street photography features
57
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
environment sealing
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
75
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sigma SD1 Merrill Sports photography advice
Sony A580 Sports photography advice
61
decent sensor resolution (15 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
environment sealing
has phase detect AF
no liveview feature
no image stabilization
78
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking autofocus
good battery (1,050 shots)
has phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sigma SD1 Merrill as a Travel photography camera
Sony A580 as a Travel photography camera
54
environment sealing
decent sensor resolution (15 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
60
good battery (1,050 shots)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Sigma SD1 Merrill Landscape photography advice
Sony A580 Landscape photography advice
63
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sigma SA mount)
decent sized screen (3")
decent sensor resolution (15MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
environment sealing
no liveview feature
no image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse recording
73
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
good battery (1,050 CIPA)
2 card slots
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sigma SD1 Merrill Vlogging info
Sony A580 Vlogging info
9
no video shooting
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
has external microphone support
display isn't selfie friendly
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Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A580 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sigma SD1 Merrill and Sony A580
 Sigma SD1 MerrillSony Alpha DSLR-A580
General Information
Make Sigma Sony
Model Sigma SD1 Merrill Sony Alpha DSLR-A580
Type Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Revealed 2012-04-10 2011-05-26
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Dual True II Bionz
Sensor type CMOS (Foveon X3) CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 24 x 16mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 384.0mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 15 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4800 x 3200 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Max boosted ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mounting type Sigma SA Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 76 143
Focal length multiplier 1.5 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 922 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage 96% 95%
Viewfinder magnification 0.64x 0.53x
Features
Slowest shutter speed - 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed - 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate - 7.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range no built-in flash 12.00 m
Flash modes no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 29.97 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 790 grams (1.74 pounds) 599 grams (1.32 pounds)
Physical dimensions 146 x 113 x 80mm (5.7" x 4.4" x 3.1") 137 x 104 x 84mm (5.4" x 4.1" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 80
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.3
DXO Low light score not tested 1121
Other
Battery life - 1050 shots
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I, UDMA compatible) SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One Dual
Retail pricing $2,339 $848