Canon
EOS R1
Flagship 24.2MP full-frame BSI stacked RF body with 40fps burst, Dual Pixel Intelligent AF, 6K RAW, and 9.44M-dot EVF.
$6,299
Launch priceReleased Jul 2024
Sigma
sd1 Merrill
APS-C Foveon X3 body delivering extraordinary per-pixel detail and unique color rendering.
$2,299
Launch priceReleased Mar 2012
EOS R1 is 12.4 years newer.
Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Cameraegg earns from qualifying purchases. Cameraegg may also earn commission from B&H links, at no extra cost to you.
Wins
EOS R1
Wins
sd1 Merrill
2 categories tied
Which would you choose?
TL;DR — Key differences
- AEOS R1 has higher AF points / zones (1053 vs 49)
- AEOS R1 has higher ISO max (native) (102,400 vs 25,600)
- AEOS R1 has higher EVF resolution (9,440,000 vs 2,360,000)
- AEOS R1 has higher Burst (electronic) (40 fps vs 15 fps)
- AEOS R1 has higher Battery life (CIPA) (1330 shots vs 640 shots)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
📸 Snap this size diff to share
EOS R1
158 × 150 × 87 mm
920 g (2.03 lb / 32.45 oz)
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
for scale
sd1 Merrill
146 × 114 × 80 mm
680 g (1.50 lb / 23.99 oz)
EOS R1 is 12mm wider, 36mm taller, and 7mm thicker than sd1 Merrill.
EOS R1 is 240 g heavier than sd1 Merrill.
Depth (front-to-back): 87mm EOS R1 · 80mm sd1 Merrill
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
EOS R1
158 × 150 mm
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
sd1 Merrill
146 × 114 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
EOS R1
158 × 87 mm
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
sd1 Merrill
146 × 80 mm
Sensor size, to scale
EOS R1
36 × 24 mm · Full Frame
864 mm² area
sd1 Merrill
23.5 × 15.7 mm · APS-C
369 mm² area
2.3× larger sensor area = shallower depth of field and better low-light performance.
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
EOS R1
✓ more lensesCanon RF
105+
native lenses available
sd1 Merrill: mount data unavailable
Counts include current first-party and major third-party native autofocus lenses.
Use-case scoring
Which one for what?
Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class
Why pick one over the other
Reasons to choose
EOS R1
AF low-light limit
-7.5 EV vs -5 EV — lower is better
Subject recognition
Adds People, Dogs, Cats…
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 157.6, 149.5, 87.3
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type B, CFexpress Type B
AF points / zones
1053 vs 49 — higher is better
ISO max (native)
102,400 vs 25,600 — higher is better
EVF resolution
9,440,000 vs 2,360,000 — higher is better
Burst (electronic)
40 fps vs 15 fps — higher is better
Reasons to choose
sd1 Merrill
Subject recognition
Adds Human, Animal, Bird…
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 145.5, 113.5, 80
Card types
Adds SD UHS-II
Resolution
46 MP vs 24.2 MP — higher is better
Weight
680 g vs 920 g — lower is better
Both cameras share
- ✓ISO min (native) — Both 100
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Animal / bird AF — Both support animal / bird af
- ✓Pre-Capture / Pre-Release — Both support pre-capture / pre-release
- ✓In-body stabilization (IBIS) — Both support in-body stabilization (ibis)
- ✓Weather sealing — Both support weather sealing
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
EOS R1
Pros
- ✓40fps electronic burst
- ✓24.2MP BSI stacked full-frame sensor
- ✓Dual Pixel Intelligent AF
- ✓6K RAW and 4K 120p video
- ✓Dual CFexpress Type B slots
Cons
- –24MP resolution
- –Very expensive
- –Large integrated-grip body
sd1 Merrill
Pros
- ✓Unique Foveon rendering
- ✓Exceptional detail
- ✓No AA filter needed
- ✓Distinct look
Cons
- –Very slow
- –Poor high ISO
- –SA mount limited
Decided which one is right for you?
Compare live prices for the EOS R1 and sd1 Merrill at major authorized retailers.
Canon EOS R1
Sigma sd1 Merrill
Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Cameraegg earns from qualifying purchases. Cameraegg may also earn commission from B&H links, at no extra cost to you.
Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for sports, EOS R1 or sd1 Merrill?
EOS R1 scores 10.0/10 versus 6.5/10 for sd1 Merrill — 40fps burst — pro-level action capture.
What's the resolution difference between the EOS R1 and sd1 Merrill?
EOS R1 is 24.2 MP and sd1 Merrill is 46 MP, so the sd1 Merrill captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the EOS R1 and sd1 Merrill have in-body image stabilization?
EOS R1 has 8.5-stop in-body image stabilization, while sd1 Merrill has 6-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the EOS R1 or the sd1 Merrill?
EOS R1 reaches 40 fps electronic. sd1 Merrill reaches 15 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the EOS R1 and sd1 Merrill?
EOS R1 weighs 920 g and sd1 Merrill weighs 680 g, so the sd1 Merrill is 240 g lighter.
Do the EOS R1 and sd1 Merrill record 4K video?
EOS R1: 6K RAW (max), 4K up to 120p. sd1 Merrill: 4K up to 60p.
Are the EOS R1 and sd1 Merrill weather sealed?
EOS R1: Yes. sd1 Merrill: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 1,330 shots (CIPA) for the EOS R1 and 640 shots for the sd1 Merrill, giving the EOS R1 the edge.
How much does each cost?
EOS R1 launched at $6,299 and sd1 Merrill at $2,299. The sd1 Merrill is $4,000 less.
Can't decide between two? Compare a third camera.
Add any camera to get a three-way EOS R1 vs sd1 Merrill vs X comparison.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed June 2026.
Product images courtesy of Canon and Sigma press materials.