Sigma
sd1 Merrill
APS-C Foveon X3 body delivering extraordinary per-pixel detail and unique color rendering.
$2,299
Launch priceReleased Mar 2012
Sony
Alpha 7 IV
33MP hybrid all-rounder with 10-bit 4K 60p and AI-powered subject tracking.
$2,499
Launch priceReleased Oct 2021
Alpha 7 IV is 9.7 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
sd1 Merrill
Wins
Alpha 7 IV
5 categories tied
Which would you choose?
TL;DR — Key differences
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher AF points / zones (759 vs 49)
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher RAW buffer depth (828 frames vs 60 frames)
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher Max video bit rate (600 Mbps vs 150 Mbps)
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher ISO max (native) (51,200 vs 25,600)
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher Burst (mechanical) (10 fps vs 6 fps)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
📸 Snap this size diff to sharesd1 Merrill
146 × 114 × 80 mm
680 g (1.50 lb / 23.99 oz)
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
for scale
Alpha 7 IV
131 × 96 × 80 mm
658 g (1.45 lb / 23.21 oz)
sd1 Merrill is 14mm wider and 17mm taller than Alpha 7 IV.
sd1 Merrill is 22 g heavier than Alpha 7 IV.
Depth (front-to-back): 80mm sd1 Merrill · 80mm Alpha 7 IV
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
sd1 Merrill
146 × 114 mm
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
Alpha 7 IV
131 × 96 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
sd1 Merrill
146 × 80 mm
Credit card
85.6 × 54 mm
Alpha 7 IV
131 × 80 mm
Sensor size, to scale
sd1 Merrill
23.5 × 15.7 mm · APS-C
369 mm² area
Alpha 7 IV
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
2.3× larger sensor area = shallower depth of field and better low-light performance.
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
sd1 Merrill: mount data unavailable
Alpha 7 IV
✓ more lensesSony E
350+
native lenses available
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
sd1 Merrill
AF low-light limit
-5 EV vs -4 EV — lower is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 145.5, 113.5, 80
Pre-Capture / Pre-Release
Only sd1 Merrill supports it
Burst (electronic)
15 fps vs 10 fps — higher is better
Resolution
46 MP vs 33 MP — higher is better
Subject recognition
Adds Vehicle
Battery life (CIPA)
640 shots vs 580 shots — higher is better
IBIS effectiveness
6 stops vs 5.5 stops — higher is better
Reasons to choose
Alpha 7 IV
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 131.3, 96.4, 79.8
AF points / zones
759 vs 49 — higher is better
RAW buffer depth
828 frames vs 60 frames — higher is better
Max video bit rate
600 Mbps vs 150 Mbps — higher is better
Codecs
Adds XAVC HS, XAVC S, XAVC S-I
AA filter
Only Alpha 7 IV supports it
ISO max (native)
51,200 vs 25,600 — higher is better
Subject recognition
Adds Insect, Car/Train, Airplane
Both cameras share
- ✓ISO min (native) — Both 100
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Animal / bird AF — Both support animal / bird af
- ✓4K max frame rate — Both 60 fps
- ✓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.
sd1 Merrill
Pros
- ✓Unique Foveon rendering
- ✓Exceptional detail
- ✓No AA filter needed
- ✓Distinct look
Cons
- –Very slow
- –Poor high ISO
- –SA mount limited
Alpha 7 IV
Pros
- ✓33MP — more detail for cropping and print
- ✓10-bit 4K 60p (Super35 crop) / 4K 30p full-frame
- ✓Full-size HDMI port
- ✓759 phase-detect AF points
Cons
- –4K 60p requires Super35 crop
- –10fps burst lags behind R6 II at 40fps
- –Complex menu system
Decided which one is right for you?
Compare live prices for the sd1 Merrill and Alpha 7 IV at major authorized retailers.
Sigma sd1 Merrill
Sony Alpha 7 IV
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 vlogging, sd1 Merrill or Alpha 7 IV?
Alpha 7 IV scores 8.0/10 versus 5.5/10 for sd1 Merrill — Fully articulating screen — see yourself while filming.
What's the resolution difference between the sd1 Merrill and Alpha 7 IV?
sd1 Merrill is 46 MP and Alpha 7 IV is 33 MP, so the sd1 Merrill captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the sd1 Merrill and Alpha 7 IV have in-body image stabilization?
sd1 Merrill has 6-stop in-body image stabilization, while Alpha 7 IV has 5.5-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the sd1 Merrill or the Alpha 7 IV?
sd1 Merrill reaches 15 fps electronic. Alpha 7 IV reaches 10 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the sd1 Merrill and Alpha 7 IV?
sd1 Merrill weighs 680 g and Alpha 7 IV weighs 658 g, so the Alpha 7 IV is 22 g lighter.
Do the sd1 Merrill and Alpha 7 IV record 4K video?
sd1 Merrill: 4K up to 60p. Alpha 7 IV: 4K up to 60p.
Are the sd1 Merrill and Alpha 7 IV weather sealed?
sd1 Merrill: Yes. Alpha 7 IV: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 640 shots (CIPA) for the sd1 Merrill and 580 shots for the Alpha 7 IV, giving the sd1 Merrill the edge.
How much does each cost?
sd1 Merrill launched at $2,299 and Alpha 7 IV at $2,499. The sd1 Merrill is $200 less.
Can't decide between two? Compare a third camera.
Add any camera to get a three-way sd1 Merrill vs Alpha 7 IV vs X comparison.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed June 2026.
Product images courtesy of Sigma and Sony press materials.