Sigma SD1 Merrill

    60
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    Highlights

    • 15 MP APS-C CMOS (Foveon X3) Sensor
    • No Optical Low-pass Filter
    • 100 - 6,400 Native ISO
    • 3.0" 460k dot Fixed Screen
    • Optical (pentaprism) Viewfinder
    • Wheather Sealed Body
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    Disclosure: We earn money from the affiliate links to products associated with content in this article.

    Overview

    Sigma SD1 Merrill was announced in 2012 and is an APS-C (24 x 16 mm) DSLR camera with 15 Megapixel CMOS (Foveon X3) sensor. Its native ISO ranges from 100 to 6,400. The camera has a Fixed 3.0" screen with 460k dot resolution and built-in Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder.

    Table of Contents
    1. Overview
    2. Pros and Cons
    3. Predecessor
    4. Screen and Viewfinder
    5. Sensor
    6. Photography Features
    7. Connectivity, Battery and Storage
    8. Other Features
    9. Physical Parameters
    10. For Different Types of Photography
    11. Evaluation
    12. Specifications  

    Here is the Sigma SDx series lineup, where you can view and compare the main specifications of the cameras within the same series.

    Sigma SDx series lineup
    Model Date Sensor Native ISO Screen Price
    Image cannot be found Sigma SD1 Merrill April
    2012    		 15 MP
    APS-C    		 100 - 6,400 Fixed 3.0"
    460k dot
    Image cannot be found Sigma SD1
    Compare
    		September
    2010    		 15 MP
    APS-C    		 [] Fixed 3.0"
    460k dot
    Image cannot be found Sigma SD15
    Compare
    		February
    2010    		 5 MP
    APS-C    		 100 - 1,600 Fixed 3.0"
    460k dot
    Image cannot be found Sigma SD14
    Compare
    		September
    2006    		 5 MP
    APS-C    		 100 - 800 Fixed 2.5"
    150k dot
    Image cannot be found Sigma SD10
    Compare
    		March
    2004    		 3 MP
    APS-C    		 100 - 800 Fixed 1.8"
    130k dot
    Image cannot be found Sigma SD9
    Compare
    		November
    2002    		 3 MP
    APS-C    		 100 - 400 Fixed 1.8"
    130k dot

    You can view their side-by-side comparison here: Sigma SD1 Merrill vs SD1 vs SD15 vs SD14 vs SD10 vs SD9.

    Pros and Cons

    In this section we present pros and cons of Sigma SD1 Merrill.

    PROS

    •   Environmental Sealing

    CONS

    •   No Video Capture
    •   Timelapse Recording
    •   No Face Detection
    •   No Image Stabilization
    •   Fixed Screen
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
    •   No Live View
    •   No HDMI Output
    •   No Built-in Microphone
    •   No Microphone Input
    •   No Headphone Output
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Built-In Wi-Fi
    •   No Built-In Bluetooth

    And here are some specifications which fall into average criteria and are neither in PROs nor in CONs category:

    AVERAGE

    •   Sensor Resolution - 15 Megapixel
    •   100 Lowest Native ISO
    •   6,400 Highest Native ISO
    •   0 EV Min AF Detection
    •   Screen Size - 3.0"
    •   Max Flash Sync Speed - 1/180 sec
    •   Weight - 790 g (1.74 lb / 27.87 oz)

    Predecessor

    Here we are comparing Sigma SD1 Merrill to its predecessor SD1 and displaying the major changes.

    DOWNGRADES Sigma SD1 Merrill vs Sigma SD1
    Higher Min Shutter Speed [] vs 15 sec
    Built-in Flash vs

    For more detailed comparison between the models please visit Sigma SD1 Merrill vs SD1.

    Screen and Viewfinder

    Fixed screen

    Sigma SD1 Merrill has a 3.0" Fixed screen with 460k dot resolution which is quite low by today's standards.


    Optical (pentaprism) Viewfinder

    Camera has a built-in Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder. It has a 96% coverage and 0.95x (0.63x 35mm equivalent) magnification.

    Sensor

    Sigma SD1 Merrill features a 15 megapixel APS-C CMOS (Foveon X3) sensor with dimensions of 24 x 16 mm and a total area of 384 mm2. Its native ISO range is 100 - 6,400.


    Here is a sensor size comparison chart where you can see how Sigma SD1 Merrill's APS-C sensor compares with other types of sensors:

    Sensor size chart
    Sensor Dimensions Area Aspect Ratio Crop Factor
    Image cannot be displayedMedium Format44 x 33 mm1452 mm24:30.79x
    Image cannot be displayedFull Frame36 x 24 mm864 mm23:21x
    Image cannot be displayedAPS-H27 x 18 mm486 mm23:21.3x
    Image cannot be displayedAPS-C24 x 16 mm384 mm23:21.5x
    Image cannot be displayedAPS-C (Canon)22.3 x 14.9 mm332.3 mm23:21.6x
    Image cannot be displayedMicro Four Thirds17.4 x 13 mm226.2 mm24:32x
    Image cannot be displayed1-inch13.2 x 8.8 mm116.2 mm23:22.7x
    Image cannot be displayed1/1.7-inch7.44 x 5.58 mm41.5 mm24:34.7x
    Image cannot be displayed1/2.3-inch6.17 x 4.55 mm28.1 mm24:35.6x

    Photography Features

    Camera is equipped with Dual TRUE II processor and can take pictures up to 4800 x 3200 resolution.


    Lens Mount

    Sigma SD1 Merrill has Sigma SA lens mount. Due to APS-C sensor its crop factor (also called lens multiplier) is 1.5x. This means that a 35mm equivalent focal length of the mounted lens will be equal to its actual focal length times 1.5.


    No Low-Pass Filter

    There is no optical low-pass filter (OLPF), also known as an anti-aliasing filter, in front of the sensor. This results in a slightly sharper image but may also introduce moiré patterns and aliasing artifacts when photographing subjects with fine, repetitive patterns or details.


    No In-Body Image Stabilization

    The camera does not have in-body image stabilization (IBIS) so it needs lenses with optical image stabilization for vibration reduction.

    Check out the cameras which are frequently compared to Sigma SD1 Merrill.

    Sigma SD9
    Image cannot be found

    APS-C

    3 MP

    Sigma SD1
    Image cannot be found

    APS-C

    15 MP

    Sigma SD14
    Image cannot be found

    APS-C

    5 MP

    Sigma SD10
    Image cannot be found

    APS-C

    3 MP

    Sigma SD15
    Image cannot be found

    APS-C

    5 MP

    Canon 5DS
    Image cannot be found

    Full Frame

    50.6 MP

    Epson R-D1x
    Image cannot be found

    APS-C

    6 MP

    Ricoh CX4
    Image cannot be found

    1/2.3-inch

    10 MP

    Sony TX20
    Image cannot be found

    1/2.3-inch

    16.2 MP

    Samsung NX210
    Image cannot be found

    APS-C

    20.3 MP

    Canon 7D
    Image cannot be found

    APS-C

    18.0 MP

    Panasonic GX1
    Image cannot be found

    Micro Four Thirds

    16 MP

    Connectivity, Battery and Storage

    USB Input

    Sigma SD1 Merrill has a USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) input for data transfer.


    External Storage Slots

    The camera has a single CompactFlash (Type I, UDMA compatible) card slot.

    Other Features

    Shutter

    Sigma SD1 Merrill's shutter speed can go up to [].


    Focusing

    Sigma SD1 Merrill has focusing points and from 0 to +18 EV detection range.


    Flash

    Sigma SD1 Merrill has no built-in flash but an external flash may be connected via Hot Shoe. The fastest flash synchronization speed is 1/180 sec.

    Physical Parameters

    Sigma SD1 Merrill has dimensions of 146 x 113 x 80 mm (5.75 x 4.45 x 3.15"). It weighs 790 g (1.74 lb / 27.87 oz) which is neither heavy nor lightweight.

    146 mm (5.75")

    113 mm (4.45")

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    113 mm (4.45")

    Image cannot be displayed


    80 mm (3.15")

    Image cannot be displayed

    Sigma SD1 Merrill dimensions

    Sigma SD1 Merrill for Different Types of Photography

    We give scores to the camera for different type of photography based on its features and specifications. Let us see how Sigma SD1 Merrill is suitable for six different types of photography.


    Landscape Photography

    GOOD
    74

    Sigma SD1 Merrill gets a score of 74 and is GOOD choice for Landscape photography.

    •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
    •   No Live View
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   Environmental Sealing

    Sports Photography

    AVERAGE
    56

    Sigma SD1 Merrill gets a score of 56 and is AVERAGE choice for Sports photography.

    •   6,400 Highest Native ISO
    •   No Face Detection
    •   No Image Stabilization
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
    •   No Live View

    Wildlife Photography

    AVERAGE
    60

    Sigma SD1 Merrill gets a score of 60 and is AVERAGE choice for Wildlife photography.

    •   6,400 Highest Native ISO
    •   No Image Stabilization
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
    •   No Live View
    •   Environmental Sealing

    Portrait Photography

    AVERAGE
    67

    Sigma SD1 Merrill gets a score of 67 and is AVERAGE choice for Portrait photography.

    •   No Face Detection
    •   No Image Stabilization
    •   Screen Size - 3.0"
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
    •   No Live View
    •   Max Flash Sync Speed - 1/180 sec

    Street Photography

    GOOD
    77

    Sigma SD1 Merrill gets a score of 77 and is GOOD choice for Street photography.

    •   No Image Stabilization
    •   Fixed Screen
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
    •   No Live View
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   Environmental Sealing
    •   Weight - 790 g (1.74 lb / 27.87 oz)

    Travel Photography

    GOOD
    80

    Sigma SD1 Merrill gets a score of 80 and is GOOD choice for Travel photography.

    •   No Image Stabilization
    •   Fixed Screen
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   Environmental Sealing
    •   Weight - 790 g (1.74 lb / 27.87 oz)

    Sigma SD1 Merrill Evaluation

    We evaluate Sigma SD1 Merrill and give score of 60 out of 100. We also give separate scores for 7 different categories according to the available features and specifications some of which are listed below. These evaluations are relative and may change each time a new camera is added to the database.


    OVERALL
    60

    Sensor

    AVERAGE
    63

    We give Sigma SD1 Merrill a score of 63 for Sensor parameters.

    •   Sensor Resolution - 15 Megapixel
    •   100 Lowest Native ISO
    •   6,400 Highest Native ISO

    Photo

    AVERAGE
    67

    We give Sigma SD1 Merrill a score of 67 for Photo parameters.

    •   Timelapse Recording
    •   No Image Stabilization
    •   Max Flash Sync Speed - 1/180 sec

    Video

    BAD
    0

    We give Sigma SD1 Merrill a score of 0 for Video parameters.

    •   No Image Stabilization

    Focusing

    GOOD
    79

    We give Sigma SD1 Merrill a score of 79 for Focusing parameters.

    •   0 EV Min AF Detection
    •   No Face Detection

    Screen and Viewfinder

    GOOD
    71

    We give Sigma SD1 Merrill a score of 71 for Screen and Viewfinder parameters.

    •   Fixed Screen
    •   Screen Size - 3.0"
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot

    Connectivity

    POOR
    40

    We give Sigma SD1 Merrill a score of 40 for Connectivity parameters.

    •   No HDMI Output
    •   No Built-in Microphone
    •   No Microphone Input
    •   No Headphone Output
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Built-In Wi-Fi
    •   No Built-In Bluetooth

    Battery, Storage and Physical

    GOOD
    77

    We give Sigma SD1 Merrill a score of 77 for Battery, Storage and Physical parameters.

    •   Environmental Sealing
    •   Weight - 790 g (1.74 lb / 27.87 oz)


    For a full specification list please go to the specifications page:

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