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Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony W290

Portability
57
Imaging
56
Features
45
Overall
51
Sigma SD1 Merrill front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290 front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
28
Overall
32

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony W290 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
  • Launched April 2012
  • Succeeded the Sigma SD1
Sony W290
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.3-5.2) lens
  • 167g - 98 x 57 x 23mm
  • Introduced February 2009
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Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony W290 Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Sigma SD1 Merrill versus Sony W290, former is a Advanced DSLR while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by rivals Sigma and Sony. There is a noticeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the SD1 Merrill (15MP) and W290 (12MP) and the SD1 Merrill (APS-C) and W290 (1/2.3") possess different sensor dimensions.

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The SD1 Merrill was revealed 3 years after the W290 which is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Sigma SD1 Merrill being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony W290 being a Compact camera.

Before getting straight into a full comparison, below is a concise summary of how the SD1 Merrill grades vs the W290 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sigma SD1 Merrill over the Sony W290

 SD1 Merrill W290 
IntroducedApril 2012February 2009More modern by 39 months
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W290 over the Sigma SD1 Merrill

 W290 SD1 Merrill 

Common features in the Sigma SD1 Merrill and Sony W290

 SD1 Merrill W290 
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony W290 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry around your camera regularly, you have to factor in its weight and size. The Sigma SD1 Merrill enjoys exterior dimensions of 146mm x 113mm x 80mm (5.7" x 4.4" x 3.1") and a weight of 790 grams (1.74 lbs) whilst the Sony W290 has specifications of 98mm x 57mm x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") along with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Examine the Sigma SD1 Merrill versus Sony W290 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are employing at that moment. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the SD1 Merrill compared to the W290.

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony W290 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the SD1 Merrill and W290 is 57 and 94 respectively.

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony W290 top view buttons comparison

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony W290 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its hard to imagine the difference in sensor sizes just by looking through specifications. The pic here will provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the SD1 Merrill and W290.

Plainly, each of these cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The SD1 Merrill having a bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF less difficult and the Sigma SD1 Merrill will result in extra detail because of its extra 3 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop photographs far more aggressively. The fresher SD1 Merrill should have a benefit with regard to sensor technology.

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony W290 sensor size comparison

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony W290 Screen and ViewFinder

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony W290 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sigma SD1 Merrill Portrait photography info
Sony W290 Portrait photography info
65
you can focus manually
good resolution (15 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no liveview feature
27
focusing manually
no manual mode
external flash not possible
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Sigma SD1 Merrill Street photography information
Sony W290 Street photography information
57
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Sigma SD1 Merrill
Sports photography with Sony W290
61
good resolution (15MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
environment sealing
has phase detect autofocus
no liveview feature
lack of image stabilization
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second low (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
low resolution (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Sigma SD1 Merrill as a Travel photography camera
Sony W290 as a Travel photography camera
54
environment sealing
good resolution (15 megapixels)
no Timelapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
57
built-in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse function
low resolution (12 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sigma SD1 Merrill Landscape photography advice
Sony W290 Landscape photography advice
63
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sigma SA mount)
good sized screen (3")
good resolution (15MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
environment sealing
no liveview feature
lack of image stabilization
no Timelapse function
41
focusing manually
fairly wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
no manual mode
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sigma SD1 Merrill
Vlogging with Sony W290
9
no video shooting
28
fairly wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not have a selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external mic support
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Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony W290 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sigma SD1 Merrill and Sony W290
 Sigma SD1 MerrillSony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
General Information
Company Sigma Sony
Model type Sigma SD1 Merrill Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W290
Class Advanced DSLR Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2012-04-10 2009-02-17
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Dual True II -
Sensor type CMOS (Foveon X3) CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 24 x 16mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 384.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 15 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4800 x 3200 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens support Sigma SA fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-140mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.3-5.2
Macro focusing range - 10cm
Number of lenses 76 -
Focal length multiplier 1.5 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 460 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) None
Viewfinder coverage 96% -
Viewfinder magnification 0.64x -
Features
Min shutter speed - 2 seconds
Max shutter speed - 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shutter rate - 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 3.90 m
Flash options no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1280x720
Video data format - MPEG-4
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 None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 790 grams (1.74 pounds) 167 grams (0.37 pounds)
Dimensions 146 x 113 x 80mm (5.7" x 4.4" x 3.1") 98 x 57 x 23mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I, UDMA compatible) Memory Stick Duo / Pro Duo, Internal
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $2,339 $230