Shootout: Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Canon 5D Mark III
Quite a few readers have written to say they are looking for a high quality compact camera to replace or supplement a DSLR. The Sigma DP1/DP2 Merrill is one camera that produces very high per-pixel quality.
Previously published in Guide to Mirrorless was a Nikon D600 vs Sigma DP1 Merrill comparison, along with a color comparison.
Now added is a Canon 5D Mark III vs Sigma DP2 Merrill comparison.
I show one very large actual (native) pixels crop from each, along with the entire frame along with a variety of resampled-to-match crops so that the two cameras can go head to head.
Sigma DP1 Merrill / DP2 Merrill | Canon 5D Mark III | Nikon D600 | |
---|---|---|---|
Lens: | 19mm f/2.8 (28mm equivalent) 30mm f/2.8 (45mm equivalent) |
Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L II | Zeiss 28mm f/2 Distagon (for this test) |
Sensor type | Foveon true-color 14.25 X 3 megasensels* (effective) | Conventional 22.3 megasensel Bayer-pattern sensor requiring demosaicing: 1/2 green, 1/4 red, 1/4 blue photosites | Conventional 24.16 megasensel Bayer-pattern sensor requiring demosaicing: 1/2 green, 1/4 red, 1/4 blue photosites |
Sensor size: | APS-C = 23.5×15.7 mm | Full-frame = 36.0 X 24.0mm | Full-frame = 35.9 X 24.0mm |
Finished image size | 4704 X 3136 = 14.75 megapixels 88.6 MB 16-bit RGB TIF |
5760 X 3840 = 22.1 megapixels = 22% higher spatial resolution 132.7 MB 16-bit RGB TIF |
6016 X 4106 = 24.16 megapixels = 28% higher spatial resolution 145.1 MB 16-bit RGB TIF |
RAW size (for this test): | 62.5MB (X3F lossless compressed, bit depth unclear) |
39.9 MB Canon CR2 RAW |
37.8 MB (14-bit lossless compressed NEF) |