Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A55

Let's look a little more closely at the Sigma SD1 Merrill versus Sony A55, former being a Advanced DSLR while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Sigma and Sony. The sensor resolution of the SD1 Merrill (15MP) and the A55 (16MP) is very well matched and they feature the same exact sensor size (APS-C).

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The SD1 Merrill was brought out 20 months later than the A55 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Sigma SD1 Merrill being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony A55 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight into a detailed comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the SD1 Merrill grades vs the A55 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Sigma SD1 Merrill & Sony SLT-A55. The entire galleries are provided at Sigma SD1 Merrill Gallery & Sony A55 Gallery.

If you are intending to carry your camera often, you need to consider its weight and proportions. The Sigma SD1 Merrill comes with physical 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 A55 has measurements of 124mm x 92mm x 85mm (4.9" x 3.6" x 3.3") and a weight of 500 grams (1.10 lbs).

Analyze the Sigma SD1 Merrill versus Sony A55 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have at that moment. Here is the front view dimension comparison of the SD1 Merrill compared to the A55.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SD1 Merrill and A55 is 57 and 67 respectively.

Typically, its tough to see the difference between sensor sizing purely by checking specs. The visual here may offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the SD1 Merrill and A55.

All in all, both cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but not the same resolution. You can expect to see the Sony A55 to give you greater detail having its extra 1 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos a little more aggressively. The newer SD1 Merrill will have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.