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Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A58

Portability
57
Imaging
56
Features
45
Overall
51
Sigma SD1 Merrill front
 
Sony SLT-A58 front
Portability
68
Imaging
62
Features
72
Overall
66

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A58 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
  • Released April 2012
  • Old Model is Sigma SD1
Sony A58
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 2.7" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000 (Raise to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 492g - 129 x 95 x 78mm
  • Revealed November 2013
  • Old Model is Sony A57
Photography Glossary

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A58 Overview

Its time to examine more in depth at the Sigma SD1 Merrill and Sony A58, one is a Advanced DSLR and the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by competitors Sigma and Sony. There exists a big gap among the sensor resolutions of the SD1 Merrill (15MP) and A58 (20MP) but they feature the exact same sensor sizing (APS-C).

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The SD1 Merrill was announced 19 months prior to the A58 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. The two cameras come with different body type with the Sigma SD1 Merrill being a Mid-size SLR camera and the Sony A58 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before diving in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a short overview of how the SD1 Merrill matches up versus the A58 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Sigma SD1 Merrill over the Sony A58

 SD1 Merrill A58 
Screen dimension3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Sony A58 over the Sigma SD1 Merrill

 A58 SD1 Merrill 
RevealedNovember 2013April 2012More modern by 19 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Sigma SD1 Merrill and Sony A58

 SD1 Merrill A58 
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Screen resolution460k460kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A58 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to carry around your camera regularly, you have to consider its weight and volume. The Sigma SD1 Merrill comes with physical dimensions of 146mm x 113mm x 80mm (5.7" x 4.4" x 3.1") with a weight of 790 grams (1.74 lbs) whilst the Sony A58 has sizing of 129mm x 95mm x 78mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 3.1") accompanied by a weight of 492 grams (1.08 lbs).

Look at the Sigma SD1 Merrill and Sony A58 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. Underneath is the front view over all size comparison of the SD1 Merrill and the A58.

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A58 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SD1 Merrill and A58 is 57 and 68 respectively.

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A58 top view buttons comparison

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A58 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's tough to visualise the contrast in sensor sizes merely by looking through a spec sheet. The pic here may give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the SD1 Merrill and A58.

As you can see, both cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same resolution. You should expect the Sony A58 to result in more detail with its extra 5 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The more aged SD1 Merrill will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A58 sensor size comparison

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A58 Screen and ViewFinder

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A58 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sigma SD1 Merrill Portrait photography factors
Sony A58 Portrait photography factors
65
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (15 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no liveview feature
77
focusing manually
good megapixels (20MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has face detection focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sigma SD1 Merrill
Street photography with Sony A58
57
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
78
screen tilts up and down
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sigma SD1 Merrill as a Sports photography camera
Sony A58 as a Sports photography camera
61
megapixel count decent (15 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
environment proofing
supports phase detect AF
no liveview feature
no image stabilization
81
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (20MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
better than average battery (690 shots)
sensor has phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Sigma SD1 Merrill Travel photography factors
Sony A58 Travel photography factors
54
environment proofing
megapixel count decent (15 megapixels)
does not have Timelapse recording
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
63
better than average battery (690 shots)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
missing Timelapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Sigma SD1 Merrill Landscape photography factors
Sony A58 Landscape photography factors
63
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sigma SA mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
megapixel count decent (15MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
environment proofing
no liveview feature
no image stabilization
does not have Timelapse recording
70
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (20MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
better than average battery (690 shots)
screen is small (2.7")
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Sigma SD1 Merrill as a Vlogging camera
Sony A58 as a Vlogging camera
9
can't shoot video
35
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focusing
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
includes external microphone support
display isn't selfie friendly
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Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A58 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sigma SD1 Merrill and Sony A58
 Sigma SD1 MerrillSony SLT-A58
General Information
Brand Sigma Sony
Model Sigma SD1 Merrill Sony SLT-A58
Type Advanced DSLR Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2012-04-10 2013-11-27
Physical type Mid-size SLR Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Dual True II -
Sensor type CMOS (Foveon X3) CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor measurements 24 x 16mm 23.2 x 15.4mm
Sensor area 384.0mm² 357.3mm²
Sensor resolution 15MP 20MP
Anti aliasing filter
Full resolution 4800 x 3200 5456 x 3632
Max native ISO 6400 16000
Max boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points - 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mounting type Sigma SA Sony/Minolta Alpha
Number of lenses 76 143
Crop factor 1.5 1.6
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 460k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dots
Viewfinder coverage 96 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.64x 0.65x
Features
Slowest shutter speed - 30s
Maximum shutter speed - 1/4000s
Continuous shooting rate - 8.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range no built-in flash 10.00 m (@ ISO 100)
Flash settings no built-in flash -
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions - 1920 x 1080
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video data 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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 790g (1.74 lb) 492g (1.08 lb)
Dimensions 146 x 113 x 80mm (5.7" x 4.4" x 3.1") 129 x 95 x 78mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 74
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.3
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.5
DXO Low light score not tested 753
Other
Battery life - 690 shots
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes -
Time lapse recording
Type of storage Compact Flash (Type I, UDMA compatible) SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $2,339 $645