• APS-C 369.0mm2
  • 14.8 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 35mm 864.0mm2
  • 22.3 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 25,600
  • Detailed specifications
  • Sigma SD1 Merrill
  • Canon EOS 5D Mark III
Links
Prices: Compare Prices Compare Prices
Manufacturer URL: Manufacturer website Manufacturer website
Predecessor:   Canon 5D Mark II
5D Mark II vs 5D Mark III
Successor:   Canon 5D Mark IV
5D Mark III vs 5D Mark IV
General
Model Number: SD1 Merrill 5D Mark III
Alternate Model Number(s): SD1  
Camera Format: Pro SLR Pro SLR
Currently Manufactured: Yes No
Retail Price: $2299.00 $3500.00
Street Price: $8,492.13 $2,139.48
Date Available: 2011-06-01 2012-03-20
Tripod Mount: Yes Yes
Weight: 28.1 oz (796 g)
includes batteries
33.5 oz (950 g)
includes batteries
Size: 5.7 x 4.5 x 3.1 in.
(146 x 114 x 80 mm)
6.0 x 4.6 x 3.0 in.
(152 x 116 x 76 mm)
Waterproof: No No
Waterproof Depth: n/a n/a
Image Sensor
Sensor Type: CMOS CMOS
Sensor Manufacturer: Foveon X3 Canon
Effective Megapixels: 14.8 22.3
Sensor Format: APS-C 35mm
Sensor size: 368.95mm2 (23.50mm x 15.70mm) 864mm2 (36.00mm x 24.00mm)
Approximate Pixel Pitch: 5.00 microns 6.25 microns
Focal Length Multiplier: 1.5x 1.0x
Aspect Ratio: 3:2 3:2
Color Filter Type: Full Color RGBG
Anti Aliasing Filter: Not needed Fixed
Self-Cleaning: No Yes
Sensor shift image stabilization: No No
On-Sensor Phase Detect: No No
DxO Sensor Score:   81
DxO Color Depth Score (bits):   24.0
DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs):   11.7
DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso):   2,293
Image Capture
Image Resolution: 4704 x 3136 (14.8 MP, 3:2),
3264 x 2176 (7.1 MP, 3:2),
2336 x 1568 (3.7 MP, Other)
5760 x 3840 (22.1 MP, 3:2),
3840 x 2560 (9.8 MP, 3:2),
2880 x 1920 (5.5 MP, 3:2),
1920 x 1280 (2.5 MP, 3:2),
720 x 480 (0.3 MP, 3:2)
Image File Format: JPEG, RAW (.X3F), RAW + JPEG JPEG (EXIF v2.3), RAW, M-RAW (10.5MP), S-RAW (5.5MP); 14-bit CR2
Continuous-mode frames/second: 4.1 6.0
Video Capture
Can take movies: No Yes
Movie Resolution: 1920x1080 (30p/​25p/​24p)
1280x720 (60p/​50p)
640x480 (30p/​25p)
Movie File Format:   .MOV (MPEG-4 AVC / H.264), ALL-I and IPB modes
Composite Video Out: Yes Yes
NTSC/PAL Switchable Video: Yes Yes
Video Usable as Viewfinder: No
HD Video Out: No Yes
HD Video Connection: HDMI
Lens & Optics
Lens Mount: Sigma SA bayonet Canon EF
Lens: Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM n/a
Focal Length (35mm equivalent): 26 - 75mm  
Focal Length (actual): 17 - 50mm  
Zoom Ratio: 2.90x  
Aperture Range: f/2.8 - f/22 (W/T)  
Integrated ND Filter: No No
Normal Focus Range: 28 cm to Infinity
11.0 in to Infinity
 
Macro Focus Range:    
Filter Thread: 77.0mm n/a
Thread Type: n/a n/a
Optical Image Stabilization: Yes No
Digital Zoom: No
Digital Zoom Values: n/a  
Auto Focus
Auto Focus: Yes Yes
Auto Focus Type: Phase-detection with 11-point Twin Cross AF Sensor; Single AF, Continuous AF (with AF motion prediction function), Manual Phase Detect : 61-point (up to 41 cross-type points); One to five cross-type AF points at f/2.8, 10 to 20 cross-type AF points at f/4, and 15 to 21 cross-type AF points at f/5.6.
Auto Focus Assist Light? Yes No
Manual Focus: Yes Yes
Viewfinder
Viewfinder: Optical / LCD (playback only) Optical / LCD
Viewfinder Type: SLR type; Pentaprism, 98% coverage, 0.95x magnification, 18mm eyepoint, -3 to +1.5 diopter SLR type; fixed eye-level pentaprism, 100% coverage, 0.71x magnification, 21mm eyepoint, -3 to +1 diopter, fixed focusing screen, on demand grid
Focus Peaking: No No
EVF Resolution: n/a n/a
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent): 0.63x 0.71x
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed): 0.95x 0.71x
Display
Eye-level Viewfinder: Yes Yes
Rear Display: Yes Yes
Rear Display Size (inches): 3.0 3.2
Rear Display Resolution: 460,000 dots 1,044,000 dots (348,000 px)
Touchscreen: No No
Articulating Screen: No No
Tilt Swivel Screen: No No
Selfie Screen: No No
Max Playback Zoom:   10.0x
Top Deck Display: No Yes
Exposure
Maximum ISO (native): 6400 25600
Minimum ISO (native): 100 100
ISO Settings: 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400 Auto, 100-25600 in 1/3 or 1 EV steps, expandable to 50 (L), 51200 (H1) and 102400 (H2)
Auto ISO Mode: Yes Yes
White Balance Settings: Auto, Daylight, Shade, Overcast, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Flash and Custom Auto, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, White Fluorescent, Flash, Custom, Color Temperature
Shutter Speed Range: 1/8000 - 30 sec 1/8000 - 30 sec
Bulb Mode: Yes Yes
Exposure Compensation: +/- 3.0EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 5.0EV in 0.3EV steps
Metering Modes: 77-segment Evaluative, Center-Weighted Average, Center Area, Spot Metering; EV 1 to 20 (50mm F1.4 : ISO100) 63-zone Evaluative, Center-weighted, Partial (center, 7.2%), Spot (center, 1.5%)
Program Auto Exposure: Yes Yes
Aperture Priority: Yes Yes
Shutter Priority: Yes Yes
Full Manual Exposure: Yes Yes
Creative Exposure Modes:   n/a
Self Timer: 2 or 10 seconds 2, 10 seconds
Time Lapse (intervalometer):    
High Resolution Composite: No No
Flash
Built-in Flash: Yes No
Flash Modes: S-TTL (17mm lens angle covered) n/a
Flash Guide Number (ISO 100): 11.0 m / 36.1 ft. n/a
Flash Range Description: Lens aperture dependent. n/a
Max Flash Sync: 1/180 1/200
Flash Exposure Compensation: +/- 3.0 EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 3.0 EV in 0.3EV steps
External Flash Connection: Hot Shoe, PC Sync socket Hot Shoe, PC Sync
Built-In Wireless Flash Control:   No
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types: CF1 CF1 / SD / SDHC / SDXC
UHS Support:   No UHS support
Other Memory:   UDMA7 compliant
Dual Card Slots: No Yes
RAW Capture Support: Yes Yes
Uncompressed Format: RAW (.X3F), RAW + JPEG RAW, M-RAW (10.5MP), S-RAW (5.5MP); 14-bit CR2
Movie File Format:   .MOV (MPEG-4 AVC / H.264), ALL-I and IPB modes
Included Memory: No memory included No memory included
Included Memory Type:    
Connectivity
Built-In Wi-Fi: No No
NFC: No No
Bluetooth: No No
Built-In GPS: No No
Microphone Jack: No Yes
Headphone Jack: No Yes
External Connections: USB 2.0 High Speed USB 2.0 High Speed
PictBridge Compliant: No Yes
DPOF Compliant: No Yes
Remote Control: Yes Yes
Remote Control Type: Optional RS-31 IR Wireless, CR-21 Wired Optional Wired or Wireless
Connections (extended): Wired Remote, DC Input jacks Mini HDMI (Type C), Remote Jack, Stereo Mic Jack, Stereo Monitor Jack, PC-Sync Terminal
Performance Timing
Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution): 0.78 <0.3
Cycle time for RAW shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame): 0.78 <0.3
Buffer size for RAW shooting in single shot mode (frames): 7 Unlimited
Cycle time for RAW+JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per shot):   <0.3
Camera penalizes early shutter press? Yes No
JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution): 4.1 6.0
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution): 7 63
RAW shooting speed in burst mode (fps):   6.0
Buffer size for RAW shooting in burst mode (frames):   18
RAW+JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps):   6.0
Buffer Size for RAW+JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames):   7
Shutter lag (full AF, wide/mid): 0.38 seconds 0.12 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, tele):    
Shutter lag (full AF, live view - DSLR):   0.78 seconds
Shutter lag (prefocused, live view - DSLR):   0.060 seconds
Shutter Lag (manual focus): 0.244 seconds 0.095 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, with flash): 0.52 seconds  
Shutter Lag (prefocused): 0.088 seconds 0.061 seconds
Shutter Lag (notes): Full Autofocus Lag: Auto Area AF = 0.466s Optical Viewfinder: Full AF shutter lag, wide-area mode: 0.142s Live View: Full AF shutter lag, phase-detect: 0.823s Full AF shutter lag, contrast-detect: 0.780s Prefocused: 0.060
Startup Time: 4.5 seconds 0.5 seconds
Play -> Record Time: 0.5 seconds 0.2 seconds
Flash cycle time, full power:    
Power
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View):   200 shots
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF):   950 shots
Battery Life, Video:    
Battery Form Factor: Proprietary BP-21 Proprietary LP-E6
Usable Battery Types: Lithium-ion rechargeable Lithium-ion Rechargeable or BG-E11 battery grip
Batteries Included: 1 x Proprietary BP-21 Lithium-ion rechargeable 1 x Proprietary LP-E6 Lithium-ion rechargeable
Battery Charger Included (dedicated charger or AC/USB adapter): Yes Yes
Dedicated Battery Charger Included: Yes
Internal Charging Supported: No
Software
Included Software: Sigma Photo Pro 5.0 Canon EOS Digital Solution Disc
OS Compatibility:    
Miscellaneous
Notes & Features: 46-megapixel 23.5 x 15.7mm APS-C full-color sensor, weather-resistant magnesium alloy body, dual "TRUE II" image processing engines, 11-point Twin Cross AF sensor, CompactFlash Type 1 with UDMA support. New 22.3-megapixel Full-frame CMOS Sensor, DIGIC 5+ Processor, 61-point AF System, 63-zone iFCL Metering System, 6fps Bursts, Full HD video, 100% OVF, 3.2" 1.04M-dot LCD, Dual Card Slots (SD+CF), HDR Mode, Multiple Exposure Support, Scene Intelligent Auto, Comparative Playback, Dual-Axis Electronic Level, Auto Lighting Optimizer, In-Camera RAW Processing.