Canon EOS 5DS vs Sigma SD1 Merrill

In this comparison, we will evaluate the Canon EOS 5DS and the Sigma SD1 Merrill, highlighting the advantages of each over the other, discussing their pros and cons, shared strengths and weaknesses, and providing a rating based on their available features and specifications to assist you in choosing the one that best suits your needs.

Canon EOS 5DS was introduced in February 2015 and Sigma SD1 Merrill was introduced in April 2012. Let us first list highlights of the models.

Now that we've looked at the most essential specifications and gained a basic understanding of these cameras, we can delve into more details and see the differences between them.

This section shows those features and specifications which are the reason to choose Canon EOS 5DS over Sigma SD1 Merrill.

This section shows those features and specifications which are the reason to choose Sigma SD1 Merrill over Canon EOS 5DS.

We already listed pros and cons of each model. However, you may also find useful to look at their common strengths and weaknesses shown side-by-side.

Screen

Canon EOS 5DS has a 3.2" screen with 1,040k dot resolution and Sigma SD1 Merrill has a 3.0" screen with 460k dot resolution. Both have Fixed screens.

Viewfinder

Cameras have built-in Optical (pentaprism) viewfinders. Canon EOS 5DS has 100% coverage with 0.71x magnification and Sigma SD1 Merrill has 96% coverage with 0.95x (0.63x 35mm equivalent) magnification.

Canon EOS 5DS features a 50.6 megapixel Full Frame CMOS sensor with dimensions of 36 x 24 mm and a total area of 864 mm². Its native ISO range is 100 - 6,400 and expands to 100 - 12,800 in boosted mode. 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 256 mm². Its native ISO range is 100 - 6,400.

Here is a sensor size comparison chart where you can see how different sensors compare with each other:

Sensor size chart

	Sensor	Dimensions	Area	Aspect Ratio	Crop Factor
	Medium Format	44 x 33 mm	1452 mm2	4:3	0.79x
	Full Frame	36 x 24 mm	864 mm2	3:2	1x
	APS-H	27 x 18 mm	486 mm2	3:2	1.3x
	APS-C	23.6 x 15.6 mm	368.2 mm2	3:2	1.5x
	APS-C (Canon)	22.3 x 14.9 mm	332.3 mm2	3:2	1.6x
	Micro Four Thirds	17.4 x 13 mm	226.2 mm2	4:3	2x
	1-inch	13.2 x 8.8 mm	116.2 mm2	3:2	2.7x
	1/1.7-inch	7.44 x 5.58 mm	41.5 mm2	4:3	4.7x
	1/2.3-inch	6.17 x 4.55 mm	28.1 mm2	4:3	5.6x

Canon EOS 5DS is equipped with Dual DIGIC 6 processor and can take pictures up to 8688 x 5792 resolution. Sigma SD1 Merrill is equipped with Dual TRUE II processor and can take pictures up to 4800 x 3200 resolution.

Lens Mount

Canon EOS 5DS has Canon EF lens mount and Sigma SD1 Merrill has Sigma SA lens mount. Due to Full Frame sensor in Canon EOS 5DS its crop factor is equal to 1x, this means that a 35mm equivalent focal length of the mounted lens will be equal to its actual focal length. Due to APS-C sensor in Sigma SD1 Merrill its crop factor is equal to 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 on Sigma SD1 Merrill

There is no optical low-pass filter (OLPF), also known as an anti-aliasing filter, in front of the sensor on Sigma SD1 Merrill. 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 Image Stabilization

The cameras do not have image stabilization. On Canon EOS 5DS it means that you need lenses with optical image stabilization for vibration reduction. As for Sigma SD1 Merrill nothing can be done. On Sigma SD1 Merrill it means that you need lenses with optical image stabilization for vibration reduction. As for Canon EOS 5DS nothing can be done.

USB Inputs and HDMI Outputs

Both models have USB inputs for data transfer. connector for video signal output.

Battery

Canon EOS 5DS comes with LP-E6 battery pack with battery life of 700 shots.

External Storage Slots

Canon EOS 5DS has two card slots - one for SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I) and one for CompactFlash (UDMA 7). Sigma SD1 Merrill has a single CompactFlash (Type I, UDMA compatible) card slot.

Shutter

Shutter speed can go up to 1/8000 sec on Canon EOS 5DS, and up to [] on Sigma SD1 Merrill. Canon EOS 5DS can shoot continuously up to 5.0 fps.

Focusing

Canon EOS 5DS has Dual Pixel CMOS AF system with 61 (41 cross-type) focusing points and Sigma SD1 Merrill has . Canon EOS 5DS has detection range from -2 to +18 EV and Sigma SD1 Merrill has detection range from 0 to +18 EV.

Exposure

Exposure meterings of Canon EOS 5DS ranges from 0 to +20 EV and you can set the exposure compensation within the ±5 EV range on Canon EOS 5DS and ±3 EV range on Sigma SD1 Merrill. You can also do exposure bracketing and manual exposure adjustment on Canon EOS 5DS and and manual exposure adjustment on Sigma SD1 Merrill.

Flash

Cameras have no built-in flash but an external flash may be connected to both of them via Hot Shoe or PC Terminal to Canon EOS 5DS and via Hot Shoe to Sigma SD1 Merrill. The fastest flash synchronization speed is 1/200 sec on Canon EOS 5DS and 1/180 sec on Sigma SD1 Merrill.

Canon EOS 5DS body has dimensions of 152 x 116 x 76 mm (5.98 x 4.57 x 2.99") and Sigma SD1 Merrill body has dimensions of 146 x 113 x 80 mm (5.75 x 4.45 x 3.15"). Canon EOS 5DS weighs 930 g (2.05 lb / 32.80 oz) and Sigma SD1 Merrill weighs 790 g (1.74 lb / 27.87 oz).

Canon EOS 5DS

Sigma SD1 Merrill

152 mm

116 mm

146 mm

113 mm

116 mm

113 mm

76 mm

80 mm