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Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony TX30

Portability
57
Imaging
56
Features
45
Overall
51
Sigma SD1 Merrill front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX30 front
Portability
96
Imaging
42
Features
43
Overall
42

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony TX30 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
  • Released April 2012
  • Superseded the Sigma SD1
Sony TX30
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 26-130mm (F3.5-4.8) lens
  • 141g - 96 x 59 x 15mm
  • Introduced July 2013
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Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony TX30 Overview

In this article, we are looking at the Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony TX30, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Ultracompact by competitors Sigma and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SD1 Merrill (15MP) and the TX30 (18MP) is fairly close but the SD1 Merrill (APS-C) and TX30 (1/2.3") use totally different sensor size.

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The SD1 Merrill was brought out 15 months earlier than the TX30 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Sigma SD1 Merrill being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony TX30 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before delving in to a more detailed comparison, below is a short highlight of how the SD1 Merrill matches up against the TX30 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Sigma SD1 Merrill over the Sony TX30

 SD1 Merrill TX30 

Reasons to pick Sony TX30 over the Sigma SD1 Merrill

 TX30 SD1 Merrill 
IntroducedJuly 2013April 2012Fresher by 15 months
Display sizing3.3"3"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1229k460kSharper display (+769k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Sigma SD1 Merrill and Sony TX30

 SD1 Merrill TX30 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony TX30 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry your camera frequently, you'll need to factor its weight and size. The Sigma SD1 Merrill comes with outer 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) whilst the Sony TX30 has specifications of 96mm x 59mm x 15mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.6") along with a weight of 141 grams (0.31 lbs).

Check the Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony TX30 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the SD1 Merrill and the TX30.

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony TX30 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the SD1 Merrill and TX30 is 57 and 96 respectively.

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony TX30 top view buttons comparison

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony TX30 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very difficult to visualise the difference in sensor sizing merely by viewing technical specs. The visual here should provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the SD1 Merrill and TX30.

As you can tell, each of the cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The SD1 Merrill because of its larger sensor will make getting shallow depth of field easier and the Sony TX30 will render extra detail having its extra 3MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos a little more aggressively. The older SD1 Merrill will be behind with regard to sensor tech.

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony TX30 sensor size comparison

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony TX30 Screen and ViewFinder

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony TX30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sigma SD1 Merrill as a Portrait photography camera
Sony TX30 as a Portrait photography camera
65
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (15MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
does not have liveview
38
focusing manually
decent MP (18 megapixels)
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Sigma SD1 Merrill Street photography factors
Sony TX30 Street photography factors
57
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
weather proofing
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
64
has image stabilization (Optical)
environment proof
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sigma SD1 Merrill as a Sports photography camera
Sony TX30 as a Sports photography camera
61
decent sensor resolution (15 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
weather proofing
has phase detect AF
does not have liveview
lack of image stabilization
46
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (18 megapixels)
environment proof
no shutter priority
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sigma SD1 Merrill Travel photography advice
Sony TX30 Travel photography advice
54
weather proofing
decent sensor resolution (15 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse function
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
69
environment proof
decent MP (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
pretty wide (26mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Sigma SD1 Merrill Landscape photography factors
Sony TX30 Landscape photography factors
63
has manual focus
swap lenses (Sigma SA mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
decent sensor resolution (15 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
weather proofing
does not have liveview
lack of image stabilization
lack of Timelapse function
51
focusing manually
pretty wide (26mm)
nice screen size (3.3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (18MP)
environment proof
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual exposure
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sigma SD1 Merrill
Vlogging with Sony TX30
9
no video
34
pretty wide (26mm)
touchscreen functionality
has image stabilization (Optical)
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have mic jack
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Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony TX30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sigma SD1 Merrill and Sony TX30
 Sigma SD1 MerrillSony Cyber-shot DSC-TX30
General Information
Company Sigma Sony
Model type Sigma SD1 Merrill Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX30
Type Advanced DSLR Ultracompact
Released 2012-04-10 2013-07-26
Body design Mid-size SLR Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Dual True II -
Sensor type CMOS (Foveon X3) BSI-CMOS
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 24 x 16mm 6.16 x 4.62mm
Sensor surface area 384.0mm² 28.5mm²
Sensor resolution 15 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Full resolution 4800 x 3200 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support Sigma SA fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 26-130mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.5-4.8
Total lenses 76 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 3.3"
Screen resolution 460k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology - OLED monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 96 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.64x -
Features
Slowest shutter speed - 4s
Maximum shutter speed - 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed - 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash -
Flash options no built-in flash -
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 50 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 790 grams (1.74 lb) 141 grams (0.31 lb)
Dimensions 146 x 113 x 80mm (5.7" x 4.4" x 3.1") 96 x 59 x 15mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Self timer Yes -
Time lapse feature
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I, UDMA compatible) -
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $2,339 $230