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Sigma DP2 Merrill

 
Sigma DP2 Merrill front
 
Portability
83
Imaging
56
Features
33
Overall
46

Sigma DP2 Merrill summary

Sigma DP2 Merrill is Sigma's Large Sensor Compact digital camera originally announced on February of 2012. The camera uses a 15MP, CMOS (Foveon X3) APS-C sized sensor and has a max resolution of 4704 x 3136.

Sigma introduced this model in order to update the older Sigma DP1 Merrill (Read Full Comparison) & then released the updated Sigma DP3 Merrill (Read Full Comparison) as a way to replace this model.

The DP2 Merrill comes in at #56 out of 65 in Large Sensor Compact cameras & overall #499 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our list. You should test our Advanced camera finder to find camera ratings based on your personal requirements.

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Below is a chart of different factors used in the rating system.

Sigma DP2 Merrill history

The Sigma DP2 Merrill is part of a family of digital cameras. You can read the full range underneath.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide
Sigma-DP2-Merrill front thumbnailSigma DP2 Merrill50mm
F2.8
15MPAPS-C2012
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Sigma-DP1x front thumbnailSigma DP1x
DP2 Merrill vs DP1x
28mm
F4.0
5MPAPS-C2010
Sigma-DP2 front thumbnailSigma DP2
DP2 Merrill vs DP2
41mm
F
5MPAPS-C2009
Sigma-DP1 front thumbnailSigma DP1
DP2 Merrill vs DP1
28mm
F
5MPAPS-C2008

Sigma DP2 Merrill Pros and Cons

Below is a collection of benefits and drawbacks of the Sigma DP2 Merrill based on aspects which are oftentimes considered crucial in a digital camera.

above average minimum ISO (100)
decent MP (15MP)
good resolution screen (920 k dots)
good sensor size (APS-C)
screen size is decent (3")
supports RAW files
you can focus manually
can't change focal length (50mm)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
lacks phase detect AF
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
low video resolution (640 x 480 pxls)
no HDMI socket
no headphone socket
no image stabilization
no mic socket
no moving screen
no Time Lapse function
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Sigma DP2 Merrill Sensor specifications

The Sigma DP2 Merrill houses the Dual TRUE II engine chip. The measurement of the sensor in the Sigma DP2 Merrill is 24mm x 16mm (APS-C). The 384 mm² sensor can capture 4704 x 3136 pixels .

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The CMOS (Foveon X3) sensor has 15MP and supports a standard ISO range of 100 - 6400. RAW files are saved therefore the user has wider room to maneuver in post.

The picture underneath shows the DP2 Merrill's sensor dimensions when compared to other popular sizes. The DP2 Merrill sensor has a crop factor of 1.5 and is shown in green.

Sigma DP2 Merrill sensor size Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

To get a sense of different aspect ratios, you can refer to the graphic below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Sigma DP2 Merrill dimensions

Sigma DP2 Merrill has a weight of 0.73 lb (330 grams or 11.64 ounces) & has outer proportions of 122mm x 67mm x 59mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.3"). The weight of typical Large Sensor Compact camera is 396 grams so the Sigma DP2 Merrill is less heavy when compared to various competitors.

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Underneath is a shot of the Sigma DP2 Merrill besides a softdrink to help you to get a sense of its scale.

Sigma DP2 Merrill dimensions scale

The top view under will show the button layout on the DP2 Merrill.

Sigma DP2 Merrill topview buttons dials

Sigma DP2 Merrill Lens specifications

The DP2 Merrill has got an inbuilt lens featuring a fixed focal length of 50mm which means you don't have the ability to zoom.

At the widest 50mm, the lens features an aperture of f2.8 and that's somewhat slow and not good for low light occasions and you will probably find it hard to get a shallow depth of field. You would also need to raise the ISO producing noisy images.

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Sigma DP2 Merrill Connectivity

The DP2 Merrill has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes

Digital cameras which include NFC and Bluetooth compatibility are able to be controlled wirelessly via smartphones. You can easily copy images and oftentimes change settings without connecting directly to the camera.

Certain applications even allow a Liveview and hit the shutter whenever you are not near the camera. If the camera features a HDMI port, it can easily be hooked up to an external display. The majority of cameras enable you to recharge the battery pack through the USB port.

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Sigma DP2 Merrill Video specifications

The max video quality in the Sigma DP2 Merrill is 640 x 480 and you can shoot in Motion JPEG file format. 480p is awful for today's requirements. You really should aim for at least 1080p quality for video recording. The camera does not have a microphone and headphone jack which means that you have little control over the audio. It is perhaps a better idea to have a look at a different model should you want better audio for your videos.

Photography Glossary

Sigma DP2 Merrill Weather Sealing

Sigma DP2 Merrill does not include environment sealing so rainy conditions might ruin the camera.

Sigma DP2 Merrill Screen and Viewfinder

The Sigma DP2 Merrill houses a 3" fixed screen supporting a resolution of 920k dots.

Please be aware that the screen has no touch support.

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The ViewFinder specs for Sigma DP2 Merrill are below:

  • ViewFinder None

For sunny outdoor conditions which make the camera displays washed out and tricky to see, viewfinders can be very helpful.

Sigma DP2 Merrill Shutter specifications

Sigma DP2 Merrill can shoot continuously at 4.0 frames/s.

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Sigma DP2 Merrill Flash and Hot shoe specifications

Sigma DP2 Merrill features external flash support but is without integrated flash.

Sigma DP2 Merrill Autofocus specifications

Sigma DP2 Merrill has not got Auto focus. Phase Detection focusing is more snappier and accurate when compared to Contrast Detect focusing.

Sigma DP2 Merrill boasts manual focus in case it is needed in low light or you need more precise focus control.

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Sigma DP2 Merrill Battery life

The usual Large Sensor Compact camera battery life is 301. Leica X-U comes with the maximum (450) battery life in this type of cameras.

Underneath is a listing of Large Sensor Compact cameras with the best battery life:

Sigma DP2 Merrill for different styles of photography

The following illustration presents a rundown of the Sigma DP2 Merrill for different styles of photography. To learn more, check out the specific section underneath.

Sigma DP2 Merrill as a Portrait photography camera

The Sigma DP2 Merrill receives a points total of 73 which is above average, and means the camera is a good fit for portrait photos. Photographing portrait photos leans greatly towards sensor dimension, RAW support in addition to the potential to utilize external flash.

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has manual focus
megapixel count good (15 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
supports RAW files

Sigma DP2 Merrill as a Street photography camera

With a nice points tally of 65, the Sigma DP2 Merrill is a respectable option to buy for street photography. A good street photography camera comes with a good balance of picture quality and portability.

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decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization

Sigma DP2 Merrill Sports photography advice

A low sports photography rating of 44 indicates the Sigma DP2 Merrill is just not good for photographing sports. A camera needs very good tracking plus shutter speeds for sports photography.

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MP count good (15 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
focal length is fixed (50mm)
continuous shooting slow (4.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
does not have phase detect auto focus

Sigma DP2 Merrill Travel photography advice

Portability is extremely crucial in picking a camera for travel. On the whole, the Sigma DP2 Merrill gets a decent 54 for a travelling camera which makes it reasonably suitable to buy for your journeys.

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good MP (15MP)
does not have Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)

Sigma DP2 Merrill as a Landscape photography camera

For those who are planning to pick a digital camera for landscape photos, the most critical factor is going to be image quality. The Sigma DP2 Merrill at it's average rating of 55 as a landscape camera is relatively appropriate compared to its rivals.

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manual focus
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
sensor resolution is decent (15MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW files
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
can't change focal length (50mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
does not have image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse mode

Sigma DP2 Merrill Vlogging details

A vlogging camera preferably should posses a articulating display, microphone input and ideally image stabilization. Taking all things in to account, the Sigma DP2 Merrill is just not good as a vlog camera as it delivers a low score of 22.

Photography Glossary
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 resolution)
no microphone support

Sigma DP2 Merrill Alternatives

If you need replacements to the DP2 Merrill, below is a number of the highest scored cameras which fall within the class of Large Sensor Compact.

The line chart underneath shows you a bird's eye view of the DP2 Merrill compared to it's top rated rivals listed above.

Following are additional cameras you might view as alternate options. To read through a thorough comparison, go to the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Company
Sigma
Model
Sigma DP2 Merrill
Class
Large Sensor Compact
Released
2012-02-08
Physical type
Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CMOS (Foveon X3)
Processor
Dual TRUE II engine
Sensor size
APS-C
Sensor dimensions
24 x 16mm
Sensor area
384.0mm²
Sensor resolution
15MP
Anti aliasing filter
Max resolution
4704 x 3136
RAW images
Max native ISO
6400
Minimum native ISO
100
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Lens
Lens mounting type
fixed lens
Lens focal range
50mm (1x)
Maximal aperture
f/2.8
Focal length multiplier
1.5
Screen
Type of screen
Fixed Type
Screen diagonal
3"
Screen resolution
920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder
None
DXO scores
DXO Overall score
not tested
DXO Color Depth score
not tested
DXO Dynamic range score
not tested
DXO Low light score
not tested
Features
Continuous shutter rate
4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation
Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range
no built-in flash
Flash options
no built-in flash
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions
640x480
Max video resolution
640x480
Video format
Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless
None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
330 gr (0.73 lb)
Physical dimensions
122 x 67 x 59mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.3")
Other
Time lapse feature
Card slots
1
Pricing at release
$931