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Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A77

Portability
57
Imaging
56
Features
45
Overall
51
Sigma SD1 Merrill front
 
Sony SLT-A77 front
Portability
59
Imaging
64
Features
83
Overall
71

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A77 Key Specs

Sigma SD1 Merrill
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • No Video
  • Sigma SA Mount
  • 790g - 146 x 113 x 80mm
  • Revealed April 2012
  • Old Model is Sigma SD1
Sony A77
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 50 - 16000 (Increase to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 732g - 143 x 104 x 81mm
  • Introduced October 2011
  • Replaced the Sony A700
  • Successor is Sony A77 II
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Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A77 Overview

In this write-up, we are matching up the Sigma SD1 Merrill and Sony A77, both Advanced DSLR digital cameras by companies Sigma and Sony. There exists a huge gap between the resolutions of the SD1 Merrill (15MP) and A77 (24MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor sizes (APS-C).

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The SD1 Merrill was unveiled 6 months later than the A77 and they are both of a similar generation. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (Mid-size SLR).

Before diving straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a simple summary of how the SD1 Merrill matches up versus the A77 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Sigma SD1 Merrill over the Sony A77

 SD1 Merrill A77 

Reasons to pick Sony A77 over the Sigma SD1 Merrill

 A77 SD1 Merrill 
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution921k460kCrisper display (+461k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Sigma SD1 Merrill and Sony A77

 SD1 Merrill A77 
IntroducedApril 2012October 2011Similar generation
Manually focus More exact focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A77 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to lug around your camera, you should think about its weight and volume. The Sigma SD1 Merrill provides exterior measurements of 146mm x 113mm x 80mm (5.7" x 4.4" x 3.1") having a weight of 790 grams (1.74 lbs) whilst the Sony A77 has sizing of 143mm x 104mm x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2") with a weight of 732 grams (1.61 lbs).

Check out the Sigma SD1 Merrill and Sony A77 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you use during that time. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the SD1 Merrill versus the A77.

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A77 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SD1 Merrill and A77 is 57 and 59 respectively.

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A77 top view buttons comparison

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A77 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its difficult to visualize the difference between sensor measurements only by reading a spec sheet. The photograph underneath will help offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the SD1 Merrill and A77.

Clearly, both of those cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different MP. You should expect to see the Sony A77 to offer you greater detail having an extra 9 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop pics a little more aggressively.

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A77 sensor size comparison

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A77 Screen and ViewFinder

Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A77 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sigma SD1 Merrill Portrait photography highlights
Sony A77 Portrait photography highlights
65
focusing manually
megapixel count decent (15MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
doesn't have liveview
78
focusing manually
decent megapixels (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection focus
exports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Sigma SD1 Merrill Street photography advice
Sony A77 Street photography advice
57
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
75
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
weather proofing
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Sports Comparison

Sigma SD1 Merrill Sports photography highlights
Sony A77 Sports photography highlights
61
megapixel count decent (15 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
environment proof
sensor has phase detect auto focus
doesn't have liveview
does not have image stabilization
74
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
weather proofing
comes with phase detect auto focus
bad battery power (470 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Sigma SD1 Merrill Travel photography details
Sony A77 Travel photography details
54
environment proof
megapixel count decent (15 megapixels)
lack of Time Lapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
63
weather proofing
decent megapixels (24MP)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
missing Time Lapse recording
bad battery power (470 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Sigma SD1 Merrill Landscape photography factors
Sony A77 Landscape photography factors
63
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sigma SA mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
megapixel count decent (15MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
environment proof
doesn't have liveview
does not have image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse mode
71
focusing manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (24MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW files
weather proofing
bad battery power (470 shots)
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Sigma SD1 Merrill
Vlogging with Sony A77
9
can't record video
76
display is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
comes with face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does have external mic socket
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Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sony A77 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sigma SD1 Merrill and Sony A77
 Sigma SD1 MerrillSony SLT-A77
General Information
Company Sigma Sony
Model Sigma SD1 Merrill Sony SLT-A77
Class Advanced DSLR Advanced DSLR
Revealed 2012-04-10 2011-10-25
Physical type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip Dual True II Bionz
Sensor type CMOS (Foveon X3) CMOS
Sensor size APS-C APS-C
Sensor dimensions 24 x 16mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 384.0mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 15MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4800 x 3200 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 6400 16000
Max boosted ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 100 50
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points - 19
Cross focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mounting type Sigma SA Sony/Minolta Alpha
Amount of lenses 76 143
Crop factor 1.5 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (pentaprism) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage 96 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification 0.64x 0.73x
Features
Lowest shutter speed - 30 secs
Highest shutter speed - 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting rate - 12.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range no built-in flash 12.00 m
Flash settings no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize - 1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions - 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Max video resolution None 1920x1080
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 790 gr (1.74 lbs) 732 gr (1.61 lbs)
Dimensions 146 x 113 x 80mm (5.7" x 4.4" x 3.1") 143 x 104 x 81mm (5.6" x 4.1" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 78
DXO Color Depth score not tested 24.0
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 13.2
DXO Low light score not tested 801
Other
Battery life - 470 images
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type Compact Flash (Type I, UDMA compatible) SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $2,339 $900