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Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A57

Portability
57
Imaging
56
Features
45
Overall
51
Sigma SD1 Merrill front
 
Sony SLT-A57 front
Portability
64
Imaging
57
Features
85
Overall
68

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A57 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
  • Superseded the Sigma SD1
Sony A57
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000 (Increase to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 618g - 132 x 98 x 81mm
  • Launched September 2012
  • Earlier Model is Sony A55
  • New Model is Sony A58
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Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A57 Overview

Below, we are matching up the Sigma SD1 Merrill versus Sony A57, one being a Advanced DSLR and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Sigma and Sony. The resolution of the SD1 Merrill (15MP) and the A57 (16MP) is very well matched and they use the exact same sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The SD1 Merrill was launched 5 months earlier than the A57 so they are both of a similar generation. The two cameras come with different body type with the Sigma SD1 Merrill being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony A57 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving in to a in depth comparison, below is a brief overview of how the SD1 Merrill matches up vs the A57 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sigma SD1 Merrill over the Sony A57

 SD1 Merrill A57 

Reasons to pick Sony A57 over the Sigma SD1 Merrill

 A57 SD1 Merrill 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution921k460kClearer display (+461k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Sigma SD1 Merrill and Sony A57

 SD1 Merrill A57 
LaunchedApril 2012September 2012Similar generation
Manual focus Dial exact focusing
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurement
Touch display Neither has Touch display

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A57 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to lug around your camera regularly, you need to factor in its weight and volume. The Sigma SD1 Merrill has physical dimensions of 146mm x 113mm x 80mm (5.7" x 4.4" x 3.1") along with a weight of 790 grams (1.74 lbs) whilst the Sony A57 has sizing of 132mm x 98mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2") accompanied by a weight of 618 grams (1.36 lbs).

See the Sigma SD1 Merrill versus Sony A57 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have at that moment. Underneath is the front view scale comparison of the SD1 Merrill vs the A57.

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A57 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SD1 Merrill and A57 is 57 and 64 respectively.

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A57 top view buttons comparison

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A57 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is hard to picture the difference between sensor measurements purely by reading through technical specs. The visual underneath may provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SD1 Merrill and A57.

As you can tell, both of these cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but different MP. You should expect to see the Sony A57 to resolve extra detail utilizing its extra 1MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop photos much more aggressively.

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A57 sensor size comparison

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A57 Screen and ViewFinder

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A57 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sigma SD1 Merrill Portrait photography factors
Sony A57 Portrait photography factors
65
has manual focus
megapixel count good (15 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
does not have liveview
74
manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Sigma SD1 Merrill Street photography features
Sony A57 Street photography features
57
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
weather proofing
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
75
screen articulates
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Sports Comparison

Sigma SD1 Merrill Sports photography info
Sony A57 Sports photography info
61
megapixel count good (15 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
weather proofing
sensor has phase detect autofocus
does not have liveview
lack of image stabilization
78
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports tracking focus
supports phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Sigma SD1 Merrill Travel photography highlights
Sony A57 Travel photography highlights
54
weather proofing
megapixel count good (15 megapixels)
missing Timelapse recording
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
67
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Landscape Comparison

Sigma SD1 Merrill Landscape photography highlights
Sony A57 Landscape photography highlights
63
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sigma SA mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
megapixel count good (15MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
weather proofing
does not have liveview
lack of image stabilization
missing Timelapse recording
72
manual focus
switch lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Sigma SD1 Merrill Vlogging factors
Sony A57 Vlogging factors
9
no video recording
77
selfie friendly display
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with microphone jack
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Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A57 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sigma SD1 Merrill and Sony A57
 Sigma SD1 MerrillSony SLT-A57
General Information
Company Sigma Sony
Model type Sigma SD1 Merrill Sony SLT-A57
Type Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2012-04-10 2012-09-13
Body design Mid-size SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Dual True II -
Sensor type CMOS (Foveon X3) CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 24 x 16mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 384.0mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 15 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4800 x 3200 4912 x 3264
Maximum native ISO 6400 16000
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 15
Cross type focus points - 3
Lens
Lens support Sigma SA Sony/Minolta Alpha
Total lenses 76 143
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech - Xtra Fine TFT drive with TruBlack technology
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage 96% 100%
Viewfinder magnification 0.64x 0.7x
Features
Min shutter speed - 30 secs
Max shutter speed - 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed - 12.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash settings no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60p, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution None 1920x1080
Video file format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 790 grams (1.74 lbs) 618 grams (1.36 lbs)
Dimensions 146 x 113 x 80mm (5.7" x 4.4" x 3.1") 132 x 98 x 81mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 75
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.4
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 13.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 785
Other
Battery life - 550 images
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I, UDMA compatible) SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $2,339 $1,000