• APS-C 369.0mm2
  • 14.8 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • APS-C 366.6mm2
  • 24.4 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 51,200
  • Detailed specifications
  • Sigma SD1 Merrill
  • Pentax K-3
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Manufacturer URL: Manufacturer website Manufacturer website
Predecessor:    
Successor:   Pentax K-3 II
K-3 vs K-3 II
General
Model Number: SD1 Merrill K-3
Alternate Model Number(s): SD1  
Camera Format: Pro SLR Pro SLR
Currently Manufactured: Yes No
Retail Price: $2299.00 $1149.95
Street Price: $8,492.13 $699.00
Date Available: 2011-06-01 2013-11-01
Tripod Mount: Yes Yes
Weight: 28.1 oz (796 g)
includes batteries
43.7 oz (1,240 g)
includes batteries, kit lens
Size: 5.7 x 4.5 x 3.1 in.
(146 x 114 x 80 mm)
5.2 x 3.9 x 3.1 in.
(132 x 100 x 77 mm)
Waterproof: No No
Waterproof Depth: n/a n/a
Image Sensor
Sensor Type: CMOS CMOS
Sensor Manufacturer: Foveon X3  
Effective Megapixels: 14.8 24.4
Sensor Format: APS-C APS-C
Sensor size: 368.95mm2 (23.50mm x 15.70mm) 366.6mm2 (23.50mm x 15.60mm)
Approximate Pixel Pitch: 5.00 microns 3.91 microns
Focal Length Multiplier: 1.5x 1.5x
Aspect Ratio: 3:2 3:2
Color Filter Type: Full Color RGBG
Anti Aliasing Filter: Not needed Optional
Self-Cleaning: No Yes
Sensor shift image stabilization: No Yes
On-Sensor Phase Detect: No No
DxO Sensor Score:   80
DxO Color Depth Score (bits):   23.7
DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs):   13.4
DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso):   1,216
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)
6016 x 4000 (24.1 MP, 3:2),
4608 x 3072 (14.2 MP, 3:2),
3072 x 2048 (6.3 MP, 3:2),
1920 x 1280 (2.5 MP, 3:2)
Image File Format: JPEG, RAW (.X3F), RAW + JPEG JPEG (EXIF 2.30), 14-bit RAW (.PEF, .DNG), RAW+JPEG
Continuous-mode frames/second: 4.1 7.1
Video Capture
Can take movies: No Yes
Movie Resolution: 1920x1080 (60i/​50i/​30p/​25p/​24p)
1280x720 (60p/​50p/​30p/​25p/​24p)
Movie File Format:   MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 (MOV), Motion JPEG (AVI) for interval movie record
Composite Video Out: Yes No
NTSC/PAL Switchable Video: Yes n/a
Video Usable as Viewfinder: No n/a
HD Video Out: No Yes
HD Video Connection: HDMI
Lens & Optics
Lens Mount: Sigma SA bayonet Pentax K (KA/KAF/KAF2/3)
Lens: Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM smc Pentax 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 ED AL [IF] DC DA WR
Focal Length (35mm equivalent): 26 - 75mm 27 - 203mm
Focal Length (actual): 17 - 50mm 18 - 135mm
Zoom Ratio: 2.90x 7.50x
Aperture Range: f/2.8 - f/22 (W/T) f/3.5 - f/22 (wide) / f/5.6 - f/40 (tele)
Integrated ND Filter: No No
Normal Focus Range: 28 cm to Infinity
11.0 in to Infinity
40 cm to Infinity
15.7 in to Infinity
Macro Focus Range:    
Filter Thread: 77.0mm 62.0mm
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 SAFOX 11 TTL phase-matching - 27 point (25 cross type focus points in the center)
Auto Focus Assist Light? Yes Yes
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; eye-level pentaprism, ~100% coverage, 0.95x mag., TBDmm eyepoint, -2.5 to +1.5 diopter
Focus Peaking: No Yes
EVF Resolution: n/a n/a
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent): 0.63x 0.63x
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed): 0.95x 0.95x
Display
Eye-level Viewfinder: Yes Yes
Rear Display: Yes Yes
Rear Display Size (inches): 3.0 3.2
Rear Display Resolution: 460,000 dots 1,036,800 dots (345,600 px)
Touchscreen: No No
Articulating Screen: No No
Tilt Swivel Screen: No No
Selfie Screen: No No
Max Playback Zoom:   16.0x
Top Deck Display: No Yes
Exposure
Maximum ISO (native): 6400 51200
Minimum ISO (native): 100 100
ISO Settings: 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400 Auto, 100-51200 (1, 1/2 or 1/3 EV steps)
Auto ISO Mode: Yes Yes
White Balance Settings: Auto, Daylight, Shade, Overcast, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Flash and Custom Auto, Multi Auto WB, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Fluorescent Light (D: Daylight Color, N:Daylight White, W:Cool White, L:Warm White), Tungsten Light, Flash, CTE, Manual (up to 3 settings), Color Temperature (up to 3 settings)
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) TTL open-aperture: Multi-segment with 86K-pixel RGB sensor, Center-weighted, Spot
Program Auto Exposure: Yes Yes
Aperture Priority: Yes Yes
Shutter Priority: Yes Yes
Full Manual Exposure: Yes Yes
Creative Exposure Modes:   Sensitivity Priority, Shutter and Aperture Priority; Digital filters (capture): Extract Color, Toy Camera, Retro, High Contrast, Shading, Invert Color, Unicolor Bold, Bold Monochrome; HDR: Auto, HDR1, HDR2, HDR3.
Self Timer: 2 or 10 seconds 2 or 12 seconds
Time Lapse (intervalometer):   Yes
High Resolution Composite: No No
Flash
Built-in Flash: Yes Yes
Flash Modes: S-TTL (17mm lens angle covered) P-TTL, Red-eye reduction, Slow-speed sync, Rear Curtain Sync. High-Speed Sync and Wireless Sync also available with PENTAX dedicated external flash.
Flash Guide Number (ISO 100): 11.0 m / 36.1 ft. 13.0 m / 42.7 ft.
Flash Range Description: Lens aperture dependent. Depends on lens
Max Flash Sync: 1/180 1/180
Flash Exposure Compensation: +/- 3.0 EV in 0.3EV steps -2 to +1 EV in 0.5EV steps
External Flash Connection: Hot Shoe, PC Sync socket Hot Shoe, PC Sync socket
Built-In Wireless Flash Control:   Full TTL exposure
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types: CF1 SD / SDHC / SDXC
UHS Support:   UHS-I
Other Memory:    
Dual Card Slots: No Yes
RAW Capture Support: Yes Yes
Uncompressed Format: RAW (.X3F), RAW + JPEG 14-bit RAW (.PEF, .DNG), RAW+JPEG
Movie File Format:   MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 (MOV), Motion JPEG (AVI) for interval movie record
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 3.0 Super Speed
PictBridge Compliant: No No
DPOF Compliant: No Yes
Remote Control: Yes Yes
Remote Control Type: Optional RS-31 IR Wireless, CR-21 Wired Optional Wired or IR
Connections (extended): Wired Remote, DC Input jacks Micro (Type D) HMDI, USB 3.0 Micro B, DC input, wired remote jack, 3.5mm external stereo mic jack, 3.5mm stereo headphone jack
Performance Timing
Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution): 0.78 0.79
Cycle time for RAW shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame): 0.78 0.64
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):   0.69
Camera penalizes early shutter press? Yes No
JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution): 4.1 7.1
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution): 7 75
RAW shooting speed in burst mode (fps):   7.1
Buffer size for RAW shooting in burst mode (frames):   24
RAW+JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps):   7.1
Buffer Size for RAW+JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames):   25
Shutter lag (full AF, wide/mid): 0.38 seconds 0.14 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, tele):    
Shutter lag (full AF, live view - DSLR):   1.01 seconds
Shutter lag (prefocused, live view - DSLR):   0.226 seconds
Shutter Lag (manual focus): 0.244 seconds 0.097 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, with flash): 0.52 seconds 0.33 seconds
Shutter Lag (prefocused): 0.088 seconds 0.096 seconds
Shutter Lag (notes): Full Autofocus Lag: Auto Area AF = 0.466s Full AF lag, Wide-area mode, OVF = 0.157s Live View: Center mode AF lag = 1.014s Wide-area mode AF lag = 1.005s Prefocused = 0.226s
Startup Time: 4.5 seconds 0.9 seconds
Play -> Record Time: 0.5 seconds 0.6 seconds
Flash cycle time, full power:   2.3 seconds
Power
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View):    
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF):   560 shots
Battery Life, Video:    
Battery Form Factor: Proprietary BP-21 Proprietary D-LI90
Usable Battery Types: Lithium-ion rechargeable Lithium-ion rechargeable
Batteries Included: 1 x Proprietary BP-21 Lithium-ion rechargeable 1 x Proprietary D-LI90 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 Software CD-ROM S-SW140
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. Image stabilization system also acts as a selectable AA filter, 8.3 fps full-res burst mode, new 27-point AF system, new 86,000 pixel RGB metering system, Full HD video up to 60i with H.264 encoding, dual SD card slots, freeze-proof, dust-proof, weather-resistant magnesium alloy construction, USB 3.0 port.