Sigma SD1 Merrill

116 reviews

Apr, 2024

Positive
usability (45)
performance (45)
screen (30)
design (15)
image quality (13)

Negative
memory (1)

General overview
Price comparison

alaTest has collected and analyzed 116 reviews of Sigma SD1 Merrill. The average rating for this product is 3.8/5, compared to an average rating of 4.3/5 for other Digital Compact Cameras for all reviews. People really like the portability and image quality. The screen and usability are also appreciated. Many are less positive about the memory. Reviews are divided on the focus.

performance, usability, screen, image quality, portability

memory

We analyzed user and expert ratings, product age and more factors. Compared to other Digital Compact Cameras the Sigma SD1 Merrill is awarded an overall alaScore™ of 86/100 = Very good quality.

Review analysis

(Based on 116 reviews)

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Review Ratings

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screen
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image quality
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Showing 26 review(s)

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Showing 1 - 26 of 26 Show Reviews: in English | in other languages (89)

Consumer review (amazon.co.uk)

Amazon.co.uk review summary for Sigma SD1 Merrill

alaTest has collected and analyzed 7 user reviews of Sigma SD1 Merrill from Amazon.co.uk. The average user rating for this product is 5.0/5, compared to an average user rating of 4.3/5 for other Digital Compact Cameras on Amazon.co.uk. Reviewers really like the image quality and design. The usability and performance are also mentioned favorably, but comments about the price and reliability are mixed.

portability, performance, usability, design, image quality

100% of the reviews on Amazon.co.uk give this product a positive rating.

Apr, 2024

Consumer review (amazon.com)

Amazon.com review summary for Sigma SD1 Merrill

alaTest has collected and analyzed 8 user reviews of Sigma SD1 Merrill from Amazon.com. The average user rating for this product is 2.9/5, compared to an average user rating of 4.2/5 for other Digital Compact Cameras on Amazon.com.

75% of the reviews on Amazon.com give this product a positive rating.

Apr, 2024

Consumer review (amazon.ca)

Amazon.ca review summary for Sigma SD1 Merrill

alaTest has collected and analyzed 1 user review of Sigma SD1 Merrill from Amazon.ca. The average user rating for this product is 5.0/5, compared to an average user rating of 4.3/5 for other Digital Compact Cameras on Amazon.ca.

100% of the reviews on Amazon.ca give this product a positive rating.

Apr, 2024

Expert review by : Marcus Hawkins (techradar.com)

Sigma SD1 Merrill review

Now a fraction of its original price, but is a revolutionary sensor enough?

Excellent IQ at low ISOs ; Images contain bags of detail ; Robust build

Frustratingly slow write times ; Noise at high ISO ; No live view or video ; Sigma raw software slow

Would you pay £6,200 in the UK, or $9,700 in the US, for an APS-C DSLR that didn't offer live view or video shooting, wasn't compatible with third-party lenses and captured raw files that weren't widely supported? That was the question posed by the 46...

Aug, 2012

Partner Source

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Expert review by : William Perceval (pocket-lint.com)

Sigma SD1 (Merrill)

Upon launch in 2011 the Sigma SD1 was an oddity: its 46-megapixel sensor mainstay demanded, or so the company thought, a £5000 price tag. Ouch. The SD1 is tricky to judge. For the casual user the camera is unlikely to be suitable: it lacks provisions...

Detail and sharpness (at ISO 100), removable IR filter; well matched to serious studio pros using ISO 100 & controlled light

Expensive; very poor high ISO quality; poor auto white balance; slow processing; no live view; unlikely to meet amateur users’ demands

The SD1 is tricky to judge. For the casual user the camera is unlikely to be suitable: it lacks provisions such as live view; autotofocus is slow; and high ISO image quality is very poor. It’s far from an all-rounder.

Feb, 2012

Partner Source

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Expert review by (ephotozine.com)

Sigma SD1 Merrill + Prototype At Sigma Stand

We have a look at the Sigma SD1 Merrill + Prototype and Sigma Stand at Photokina 2012.

Sep, 2012

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Expert review by (ephotozine.com)

Sigma SD1 Merrill Digital SLR Review

Sigma believe they hold the key to the ultimate image quality, the Foveon X3 sensor, recording 3 colours at every pixel does this camera deliver? Joshua Waller finds out.

Foveon Sensor; Weather sealed magnesium body; Removable IR Filter / Dust Shield for IR Photography; Very high pixel level detail; Strong colour available from the camera

Poor battery life

Feb, 2012

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Expert review by : Jim Fisher (pcmag.com)

Sigma SD1 Merrill

The Sigma SD1 Merrill is built around the uniquely designed image sensor, but a high price, sluggish performance and a time-intensive Raw workflow make it a difficult sell to all but the most devoted Foveon disciples.

Excellent build quality. High-quality viewfinder. Good control layout. Unique sensor design. Infrared shooting capability.

Expensive. Sluggish performance. Subpar LCD. Substandard JPG output. Difficult Raw workflow. No video support.

Jul, 2012

Partner Source

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Expert review by : Jim Fisher (pcmag.com)

Sigma SD1 Merrill

Excellent build quality. High-quality viewfinder. Good control layout. Unique sensor design. Infrared shooting capability.

Expensive. Sluggish performance. Subpar LCD. Substandard JPG output. Difficult Raw workflow. No video support.

The 3-inch rear display is of middling quality, especially when you consider the camera's price. Its 460k-dot resolution would be fine on a point-and-shoot, but on an SLR—especially one that has such a unique color signature—a sharper, higher...

Jul, 2012

Partner Source

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Expert review by : Andrew Westlake , Richard Butler (dpreview.com)

Sigma SD1 / SD1 Merrill In-depth Review

The SD1 created a huge amount of interest when it was announced at Photokina 2010. Having used Foveon's original 4.7x3MP sensor in its SD and DP series of cameras, Sigma bought the sensor company in 2008 and instructed it to focus its efforts on high...

Exceptional image quality at low ISO, especially in Raw mode Very good build quality (including weatherproofing) Straightforward operation, with external controls for all key functions Large, clear viewfinder Excellent grip, extremely comfortable to...

Extremely slow file write speeds, with erratic control behaviour while writing Poor image quality at high ISO, with green and purple colour blotching in shadows Evaluative metering somewhat prone to highlight clipping Overly-conservative highlight...

The SD1 is, overall, quite straightforward to summarize - it's a camera that offers exceptional low ISO image quality in a competently-performing but quirky body. Its 15x3 MP Foveon sensor is capable of delivering wonderfully-detailed images, with a...

Apr, 2012

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Expert review by : Mark Goldstein (photographyblog.com)

Sigma SD1 Merrill Review

The Sigma SD1 Merrill DSLR is the flagship camera of the well-known Japanese lens manufacturer, renamed from just “SD1” in honour of Foveon's founding father, Richard B. Merrill. It features a huge 46 megapixel APS-C X3 sensor, dual TRUE II processors,...

We were really excited to get hold of the Sigma SD1 Merrill, it's a lovely camera to hold and you can feel the workmanship that's gone into it. The magnesium alloy body ensures rigidity and the weather sealing means you don't have to rush out of the...

Dec, 2012

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Expert review by : Kevin Ames (layersmagazine.com)

Sigma SD1 Merrill

The SD1 Merrill is practically moiré-proof, making it a great choice for shooting fashion where detail counts and high-frequency patterns abound.

Medium-format color and resolution at a DSLR price

Doesn’t offer live view or video capture capabilities

Note: As a matter of full disclosure, I’m one of four Sigma Pros. I also shoot Canon 1Ds Mark III and 5D Mark II cameras.

Jul, 2012

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Consumer review (warehouseexpress.com)

Great Value

To be able to change ISO looking through viewfinder. Autofocus button on rear of camera as well as exposure lock on rear. Leaves me free to compose and shoot.

Easy To Use ; Excellent In Low Light ; Fast Shutter Speed ; Good Battery Life ; Good Sized Screen ; Great Resolution ; Nice Features and Settings ; Rugged

Dec, 2014

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