Nikon
Z9
Flagship stacked mirrorless with 45MP, 8K video, and no mechanical shutter.
$5,499
Launch priceReleased Oct 2021
Sigma
sd1 Merrill
APS-C Foveon X3 body delivering extraordinary per-pixel detail and unique color rendering.
$2,299
Launch priceReleased Mar 2012
Z9 is 9.7 years newer.
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Wins
Z9
Wins
sd1 Merrill
3 categories tied
Which would you choose?
TL;DR — Key differences
- Bsd1 Merrill has higher Burst (mechanical) (6 fps vs 0 fps)
- AZ9 has higher RAW buffer depth (1000 frames vs 60 frames)
- AZ9 has higher AF points / zones (493 vs 49)
- AZ9 has higher Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 15 fps)
- AZ9 has higher 4K max frame rate (120 fps vs 60 fps)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
📸 Snap this size diff to share
Z9
149 × 150 × 91 mm
1160 g (2.56 lb / 40.92 oz)
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
for scale
sd1 Merrill
146 × 114 × 80 mm
680 g (1.50 lb / 23.99 oz)
Z9 is 4mm wider, 36mm taller, and 11mm thicker than sd1 Merrill.
Z9 is 480 g heavier than sd1 Merrill.
Depth (front-to-back): 91mm Z9 · 80mm sd1 Merrill
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
Z9
149 × 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.
Z9
149 × 91 mm
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
sd1 Merrill
146 × 80 mm
Sensor size, to scale
Z9
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 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
Z9
✓ more lensesNikon Z
90+
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
Z9
AF low-light limit
-8.5 EV vs -5 EV — lower is better
Subject recognition
Adds People, Birds, Dogs…
Codecs
Adds N-RAW, ProRes RAW HQ, ProRes 422 HQ…
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 149, 149.5, 90.5
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type B / XQD, CFexpress Type B / XQD
RAW buffer depth
1000 frames vs 60 frames — higher is better
AF points / zones
493 vs 49 — higher is better
Burst (electronic)
120 fps vs 15 fps — higher is better
Reasons to choose
sd1 Merrill
Subject recognition
Adds Human, Animal, Bird…
Burst (mechanical)
6 fps vs 0 fps — higher is better
Codecs
Adds H.265, H.264
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 145.5, 113.5, 80
Card types
Adds SD UHS-II
Weight
680 g vs 1160 g — lower is better
Resolution
46 MP vs 45.7 MP — higher is better
Both cameras share
- ✓ISO max (native) — Both 25,600
- ✓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)
- ✓IBIS effectiveness — Both 6 stops
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
Z9
Pros
- ✓45MP stacked
- ✓8K 60p internal
- ✓120fps stills
- ✓Pro build
Cons
- –Heavy body
- –Expensive
- –Large files
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 Z9 and sd1 Merrill at major authorized retailers.
Sigma sd1 Merrill
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Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for sports, Z9 or sd1 Merrill?
Z9 scores 10.0/10 versus 6.5/10 for sd1 Merrill — 120fps burst — pro-level action capture.
What's the resolution difference between the Z9 and sd1 Merrill?
Z9 is 45.7 MP and sd1 Merrill is 46 MP, so the sd1 Merrill captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the Z9 and sd1 Merrill have in-body image stabilization?
Z9 has 6-stop in-body image stabilization, while sd1 Merrill has 6-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the Z9 or the sd1 Merrill?
Z9 reaches 120 fps electronic. sd1 Merrill reaches 15 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the Z9 and sd1 Merrill?
Z9 weighs 1160 g and sd1 Merrill weighs 680 g, so the sd1 Merrill is 480 g lighter.
Do the Z9 and sd1 Merrill record 4K video?
Z9: 8K UHD (max), 4K up to 120p. sd1 Merrill: 4K up to 60p.
Are the Z9 and sd1 Merrill weather sealed?
Z9: Yes. sd1 Merrill: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 740 shots (CIPA) for the Z9 and 640 shots for the sd1 Merrill, giving the Z9 the edge.
How much does each cost?
Z9 launched at $5,499 and sd1 Merrill at $2,299. The sd1 Merrill is $3,200 less.
Can't decide between two? Compare a third camera.
Add any camera to get a three-way Z9 vs sd1 Merrill vs X comparison.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed June 2026.
Product images courtesy of Nikon and Sigma press materials.