Sigma
sd Quattro
Foveon APS-C body delivering exceptional per-pixel detail for stills purists.
$999
Launch priceReleased Feb 2016
Sigma
sd1 Merrill
APS-C Foveon X3 body delivering extraordinary per-pixel detail and unique color rendering.
$2,299
Launch priceReleased Mar 2012
sd Quattro is 4 years newer.
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Wins
sd Quattro
Wins
sd1 Merrill
12 categories tied
Which would you choose?
TL;DR — Key differences
- Asd Quattro has lower AF low-light limit (-1 EV vs 0 EV)
- Bsd1 Merrill has higher AF points / zones (49 vs 9)
- Bsd1 Merrill has higher ISO max (native) (25,600 vs 6,400)
- Bsd1 Merrill has higher Resolution (46 MP vs 29 MP)
- Asd Quattro has higher EVF magnification (1.09 × vs 0.95 ×)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
📸 Snap this size diff to share
sd Quattro
147 × 95 × 91 mm
625 g (1.38 lb / 22.05 oz)
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
for scale
sd1 Merrill
146 × 114 × 80 mm
680 g (1.50 lb / 23.99 oz)
sd Quattro is 18mm shorter than sd1 Merrill but it is also 2mm wider and 11mm thicker.
sd Quattro is 55 g lighter than sd1 Merrill.
Depth (front-to-back): 91mm sd Quattro · 80mm sd1 Merrill
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
sd Quattro
147 × 95 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.
sd Quattro
147 × 91 mm
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
sd1 Merrill
146 × 80 mm
Sensor size, to scale
sd Quattro
23.5 × 15.5 mm · APS-C
364 mm² area
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
sd Quattro
AF low-light limit
-1 EV vs 0 EV — lower is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 147, 95.1, 90.8
Card types
Adds SD, SDHC, SDXC
EVF magnification
1.09 × vs 0.95 × — higher is better
Weight
625 g vs 680 g — lower is better
Reasons to choose
sd1 Merrill
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 145.5, 113.5, 80
Card types
Adds CompactFlash
AF points / zones
49 vs 9 — higher is better
ISO max (native)
25,600 vs 6,400 — higher is better
Wi-Fi
Only sd1 Merrill supports it
Bluetooth
Only sd1 Merrill supports it
Resolution
46 MP vs 29 MP — higher is better
Both cameras share
- ✓ISO min (native) — Both 100
- ✓AF frame coverage — Both 90 %
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Animal / bird AF — Both support animal / bird af
- ✓Burst (mechanical) — Both 6 fps
- ✓Burst (electronic) — Both 15 fps
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
sd Quattro
Pros
- ✓Unique Foveon color
- ✓High acutance
- ✓Distinct rendering
Cons
- –Slow
- –Poor high ISO
- –SA mount limited
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 sd Quattro and sd1 Merrill at major authorized retailers.
Sigma sd Quattro
Sigma sd1 Merrill
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Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for landscape, sd Quattro or sd1 Merrill?
sd1 Merrill scores 5.5/10 versus 4.0/10 for sd Quattro — 46MP — excellent for prints up to 24×36".
What's the resolution difference between the sd Quattro and sd1 Merrill?
sd Quattro is 29 MP and sd1 Merrill is 46 MP, so the sd1 Merrill captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the sd Quattro and sd1 Merrill have in-body image stabilization?
sd Quattro has 6-stop in-body image stabilization, while sd1 Merrill has 6-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the sd Quattro or the sd1 Merrill?
sd Quattro reaches 15 fps electronic. sd1 Merrill reaches 15 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the sd Quattro and sd1 Merrill?
sd Quattro weighs 625 g and sd1 Merrill weighs 680 g, so the sd Quattro is 55 g lighter.
Do the sd Quattro and sd1 Merrill record 4K video?
sd Quattro: 4K up to 60p. sd1 Merrill: 4K up to 60p.
Are the sd Quattro and sd1 Merrill weather sealed?
sd Quattro: Yes. sd1 Merrill: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 640 shots (CIPA) for the sd Quattro and 640 shots for the sd1 Merrill, giving the sd1 Merrill the edge.
How much does each cost?
sd Quattro launched at $999 and sd1 Merrill at $2,299. The sd Quattro is $1,300 less.
Can't decide between two? Compare a third camera.
Add any camera to get a three-way sd Quattro vs sd1 Merrill vs X comparison.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed July 2026.
Product images courtesy of Sigma press materials.