Insta360
X6
Flagship 8K 360 camera with dual Sony 1/1.1-inch square sensors, native 8K50 and in-camera Dolby Vision, 120MP stills, 2.32-inch OLED, 140-minute 8K30 runtime, and 20m waterproofing.
$700
Launch priceReleased Aug 2026
Sigma
sd1 Merrill
APS-C Foveon X3 body delivering extraordinary per-pixel detail and unique color rendering.
$2,299
Launch priceReleased Mar 2012
X6 is 14.4 years newer.
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Wins
X6
Wins
sd1 Merrill
2 categories tied
Which would you choose?
TL;DR — Key differences
- Bsd1 Merrill has higher AF points / zones (49 vs 0)
- Bsd1 Merrill has higher ISO max (native) (25,600 vs 6,400)
- AX6 has lower Weight (196 g vs 680 g)
- AX6 has higher RAW buffer depth (200 frames vs 60 frames)
- AX6 has higher Resolution (120 MP vs 46 MP)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
📸 Snap this size diff to share
X6
50 × 100 × 40 mm
196 g (0.43 lb / 6.91 oz)
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
for scale
sd1 Merrill
146 × 114 × 80 mm
680 g (1.50 lb / 23.99 oz)
X6 is 96mm narrower, 14mm shorter, and 40mm thinner than sd1 Merrill.
X6 is 484 g lighter than sd1 Merrill.
Depth (front-to-back): 40mm X6 · 80mm sd1 Merrill
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
X6
50 × 100 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.
X6
50 × 40 mm
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
sd1 Merrill
146 × 80 mm
Sensor size, to scale
sd1 Merrill
23.5 × 15.7 mm · APS-C
369 mm² area
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
X6
Stabilization modes
Adds FlowState, 360° Horizon Lock, InstaFrame 2.0…
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 50, 100, 40
Card types
Adds microSD
Weight
196 g vs 680 g — lower is better
RAW buffer depth
200 frames vs 60 frames — higher is better
Subject recognition
Adds Pet, Object
Resolution
120 MP vs 46 MP — higher is better
Burst (mechanical)
12 fps vs 6 fps — higher is better
Reasons to choose
sd1 Merrill
AF points / zones
49 vs 0 — higher is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 145.5, 113.5, 80
Card types
Adds CompactFlash
ISO max (native)
25,600 vs 6,400 — higher is better
Subject recognition
Adds Animal, Bird, Vehicle
Eye AF
Only sd1 Merrill supports it
Animal / bird AF
Only sd1 Merrill supports it
Codecs
Adds H.264
Both cameras share
- ✓ISO min (native) — Both 100
- ✓Pre-Capture / Pre-Release — Both support pre-capture / pre-release
- ✓Weather sealing — Both support weather sealing
- ✓Card slots — Both 1
- ✓Touchscreen — Both support touchscreen
- ✓Wi-Fi — Both support wi-fi
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
X6
Pros
- ✓Dual Sony 1/1.1-inch sensors (1-inch equivalent 360)
- ✓Native 8K50 + in-camera Dolby Vision / 10-bit I-Log
- ✓120MP 360 photos; 5K60 / 4K120 single-lens
- ✓2600mAh Xtreme Battery: 140 min 8K30
- ✓20m waterproof + replaceable Lens 2.0
Cons
- –$700 Standard Bundle vs cheaper 360 rivals
- –8K50, not 8K60 vs Osmo 360 II
- –47GB usable built-in storage vs DJI 105GB
- –360 footage still needs reframing
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 X6 and sd1 Merrill at major authorized retailers.
Insta360 X6
Sigma sd1 Merrill
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Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for portraits, X6 or sd1 Merrill?
sd1 Merrill scores 7.5/10 versus 3.0/10 for X6 — 46MP — excellent for large prints and crops.
What's the resolution difference between the X6 and sd1 Merrill?
X6 is 120 MP and sd1 Merrill is 46 MP, so the X6 captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the X6 and sd1 Merrill have in-body image stabilization?
X6 uses FlowState 6-axis + 360° Horizon Lock (electronic), while sd1 Merrill has 6-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the X6 or the sd1 Merrill?
X6 reaches 30 fps electronic. sd1 Merrill reaches 15 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the X6 and sd1 Merrill?
X6 weighs 196 g and sd1 Merrill weighs 680 g, so the X6 is 484 g lighter.
Do the X6 and sd1 Merrill record 4K video?
X6: 8K 360 (max), 4K up to 120p. sd1 Merrill: 4K up to 60p.
Are the X6 and sd1 Merrill weather sealed?
X6: Yes. sd1 Merrill: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 520 shots (CIPA) for the X6 and 640 shots for the sd1 Merrill, giving the sd1 Merrill the edge.
How much does each cost?
X6 launched at $700 and sd1 Merrill at $2,299. The X6 is $1,599 less.
Can't decide between two? Compare a third camera.
Add any camera to get a three-way X6 vs sd1 Merrill vs X comparison.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed September 2026.
Product images courtesy of Insta360 and Sigma press materials.