Sigma DP1 Merrill
- 15MP - APS-C Sensor
- " Fixed Display
- ISO 100 - 6400
- 640 x 480 video
- ()mm (F2.8) lens
- 330g - 122 x 67 x 64mm
- Introduced February 2012
- Successor is Sigma DP2 Merrill
- Read full specs
- Alternatives
- Size Comparison
- FAQ
82 Imaging
56 Features
30 Overall
45
Sigma DP1 Merrill summary
Sigma DP1 Merrill is Sigma's Large Sensor Compact camera originally revealed on February of 2012. It houses a 15 MegaPixel, CMOS (Foveon X3) APS-C sized sensor and has a full resolution of 4704 x 3136.
Sigma introduced the more recent Sigma DP2 Merrill (Read Full Comparison) to replace this camera.
The DP1 Merrill is placed #58 out of 65 in Large Sensor Compact cameras & over-all #532 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our database. Please check out our Advanced camera search to get camera ratings based on your customized criteria.
Below is a diagram of multiple factors used in the rating system.
Sigma DP1 Merrill family
The Sigma DP1 Merrill is part of a family of products. You can see the detailed range below.
F2.815MPAPS-C2012
Sigma DP1 Merrill Gallery
You can see the DP1 Merrill from different angles in the gallery underneath.
Sigma DP1 Merrill Pros and Cons
Below is a shortlist of benefits and drawbacks of the Sigma DP1 Merrill based on things that are generally regarded as essential in a camera.
Sigma DP1 Merrill Sensor details
The Sigma DP1 Merrill houses the Dual TRUE II engine processor. The specification of the sensor on the Sigma DP1 Merrill is 24mm x 16mm (APS-C). The 384 mm² sensor has the ability to capture 4704 x 3136 pixels .
Photography GlossaryThe CMOS (Foveon X3) sensor has 15MP and delivers a native ISO range of 100 to 6400. RAW photos are saved therefore the user has wider margin for error.
The picture below shows the DP1 Merrill's sensor dimensions in comparison to other common sizes. The DP1 Merrill sensor has a crop factor of 1.5 and is shown in green.
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD CardsTo get a sense of different aspect ratios, you can refer to the visual below.
Sigma DP1 Merrill dimensions
Sigma DP1 Merrill is 0.73 lb (330g / 11.64 oz) & the sizing of the camera is 122mm x 67mm x 64mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.5"). The weight of average Large Sensor Compact camera is 396g and the Sigma DP1 Merrill is less heavy when compared with various competitors.
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next monthBelow is a visual of the Sigma DP1 Merrill next to a softdrink to help you get a sense of its scale.
The top view directly below will show you the button layout on the DP1 Merrill.
Sigma DP1 Merrill Lens specs
The DP1 Merrill provides a fixed lens providing a fixed focal length of ()mm which means you don't have the luxury to zoom.
At the widest ()mm, it features an aperture of f2.8 making it kind of slow and not very good for low light occasions and you will likely struggle to get good bokeh. You will also need to raise the ISO producing noisy pictures.
Sigma DP1 Merrill Connectivity
The DP1 Merrill has the following connectivity:
- USB Yes
Digital cameras that have NFC or Bluetooth connectivity can easily be used wirelessly with smartphones. You are able to copy photos and usually adjust camera settings without the hassle of connecting straight to the camera.
Certain applications even enable a Liveview and release the shutter if you are not near the camera. If the camera boasts a HDMI port, it could be connected to an external monitor. Almost all cameras will allow you to recharge the battery pack with the USB socket.
Sigma DP1 Merrill Video specs
The highest possible video resolution on the Sigma DP1 Merrill is 640 x 480 and you can capture in Motion JPEG format. 480p is awful for today's standards. You should aim for at least FUll HD resolution for good video. The camera does not offer a microphone or headphone jack which means that you get no control over the sound. It is perhaps a better idea to look at another camera if you want better sound for your video clips.
Sigma DP1 Merrill Weather Sealing
There is no environment sealing on the Sigma DP1 Merrill so you need to be careful in rainy and dusty situations.
Sigma DP1 Merrill Display and Viewfinder
The Sigma DP1 Merrill is equipped with a inch fixed display screen boasting a resolution of 920 thousand dots.
Sadly the display screen is not a touch screen.
Photography GlossaryThe View Finder details for Sigma DP1 Merrill are as follows:
- ViewFinder None
Viewfinders are quite useful in bright outdoor situations which might make the camera display washed out and very difficult to see.
Sigma DP1 Merrill Shutter specs
Sigma DP1 Merrill Flash and Hot shoe specs
Sigma DP1 Merrill features external flash support but comes without in-built flash.
Sigma DP1 Merrill Autofocus specs
Sigma DP1 Merrill does not have Auto focusing. Phase Detection focusing is a lot faster & precise when compared with Contrast Based focusing.
Sigma DP1 Merrill has manual focusing if required in low light or you want more accurate control on focusing.
Sigma DP1 Merrill Battery life
The average Large Sensor Compact camera battery life is 301. Leica X-U offers the best (450) battery life in this type of cameras.
Here is a number of Large Sensor Compact cameras with the best battery life:
Sigma DP1 Merrill for specific forms of photography
The following bar chart shows a rundown of the Sigma DP1 Merrill for specific forms of photography. To check out more, check out the specific section below.
Sigma DP1 Merrill Portrait photography information
The Sigma DP1 Merrill has a rating of 73 which is above average, meaning that it is a fine fit to use for portrait photos. Taking portraits leans heavily to sensor dimensions, support for RAW photos & potential to work with external flash.
Sigma DP1 Merrill Street photography information
Getting a nice score of 64, the Sigma DP1 Merrill is a fine option to buy for street photography. A very good street photography camera provides a fine balance of image quality and portability.
Sports photography with Sigma DP1 Merrill
A moderate sports photography score of 48 indicates the Sigma DP1 Merrill is reasonably acceptable for taking photos of sports. A camera needs good autofocus and fast shutter speeds for sports photography.
Sigma DP1 Merrill Travel photography highlights
Size is super critical when picking a camera for travel. Over-all, the Sigma DP1 Merrill gets a decent 54 as a travel camera which is relatively adequate for your trips.
Landscape photography with Sigma DP1 Merrill
For anyone planning to purchase a digital camera for landscape photos, the most significant factor will be image quality. The Sigma DP1 Merrill with it's average grade of 50 as a landscape camera is fairly suited within the current marketplace.
Sigma DP1 Merrill as a Vlogging camera
A camera for vlogging preferably should posses a articulating display, microphone input and if possible IBIS. Taking everything in to account, the Sigma DP1 Merrill is just not very good as a vlog camera as it delivers a really bad score of 22.
Sigma DP1 Merrill Alternatives
If you want replacements to the DP1 Merrill, below is a selection of the top placed cameras that fall within the family of Large Sensor Compact.
The chart here provides you a summary of the DP1 Merrill vs it's top ranked competitors listed earlier.
Following are additional cameras you may consider as alternate options. To read through a comprehensive comparison, click the "compare" link.