Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A58

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.

Below is a preview of the gallery images for Sigma SD1 Merrill and Sony SLT-A58. The whole galleries are provided at Sigma SD1 Merrill Gallery and Sony A58 Gallery.

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.

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.

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

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.