Several years ago I was looking for a camera for a new project. After selling-off most of my wedding equipment, I had a D700 with several Zeiss lenses, but it did not suit what I needed. The camera was great, but I wanted more detail. Browsing the internet I stumbled across the Merrill series from Sigma.

The photographic world was divided. The camera had great output, but it’s performance was slow, so slow, and you could only shoot up to 800 iso. Some self-acclaimed street photographer influencers said the camera as a no-go for street photography. Good for them, but meanwhile I saw gorgeous images from a guy doing street photography in a small french (I believe) fisher’s village. Who was wrong, or, who was right?

For my new project I didn’t need speed. I needed detailed files. The best would be a large-format film camera, but limited availability of film in Croatia made this a no-go. Second best would be a medium-format digital camera, but the price made it a no-go. I decided to bite the bullet and buy a second-hand Merrill from Japan. It costed me 400 euro’s. If not good, I could always sell it again.

So, let’s talk about the good parts first.

Before I start, you need to be aware this is my opinion, based on my needs. The project I wanted to do consisted of long-exposure portrait, captured with as much as details possible. Based on this need, I bought this camera, for this project only. Keep that in mid while reading my ‘review’.

The camera is simple. Which fits me, as I shoot manual anyway with it. I switch it on, adjust my aperture, focus manually which goes great, press a button to see if all is sharp, and I take an image. Simple, easy and therefore great process. Nothing special, except for the manual focus, this is really wonderful with the dp3 Merrill. So smooth, yet, it ‘clicks’ into focus, really love it.

The output is great. Wonderful files, full of detail. It must be as they leave me with tiff’s of 350mb. If you want detail, you need this camera. It is simple like that. Ofcourse, nowadays, a medium format delivers so much more, but it has its price. Both in real cash as in size. To me, the Merrill, being a compact, has the best output I’ve seen until today.

The camera is small, and unknown, which gives me something to talk about with my sitter. No one expects such results from a tiny camera as this. As sometimes people are shy, this is quite a positive bonus.

So, three positive things: simple, great output, unobtrusive. Not bad.

So, what’s bad?

Define bad. We could say, where are other camera’s better in. There are many points which you could mention: iso performance as well as auto focus performance, white balance, speed, menu system, raw processing. The camera is not performing that well on many points. What bothered me most are:

Writing speed. Though I don’t take many images while creating a long exposure portrait (up-to 4/5), the camera needs about 5 - 7 seconds to save the image and all this time, I can’t create another portrait. Annoying, yet by now, I accepted it.

Processing. I first need SPP to create a tiff. I’d rather had it at once available in C1, but it ain’t going to work. By now, I accepted this workflow, though it is still annoying.

Battery life is the worst I’ve ever had. After shooting with a DP Merrill, you will never accept any complaining about battery life anymore. It is like you are using film: after 36 shots, you need to replace the battery. That said, for my present project, each session I take up to five portraits, so my battery actually lasts rather long. It is all about putting things into perspective.

All other is not bothering me. At least not so much that it is worth writing about it. So, three bad things which are outweighed by the positive ones.

Should you buy it?

I guess it all depends what you want. I’ve created over 200 portraits with it, shooting maximum 1000 images, which doesn’t seems a lot, but it is about the process. With long exposure portraits, one doesn’t shoot that much. Back in time, when I bought this camera, it was worth it and I’m glad I bought it. Nowadays, for sure technology has caught up, and I could (and in fact I did) create the same kind of portrait, with same detailing, with my present Fuji set-up. Nowadays, I would - for that reason - not buy it.

Should I sell it?

Lately this question is crossing my mind. I have too much equipment, too many specific camera’s. Life should be simple and I should gear down. One studio set, one travel/daily set. More one does not need. In that sense, the Merrill is too much and not needed. But then, the Merrill is part of the project. A special camera, for a special project.

Conclusion

To me, the Sigma DP3 Merrill proved to be a great camera. It fitted the needs I had and still does. It has it quirks, but the output is what matters. As long as my project goes on, the camera will have it’s place. With an average of five images per portrait, I guess I could still shoot another 25.000 portraits. Anyone interested for a session?

Update

The Merrill has been sold. To a student who needs it for her art project, so at least, its duty will be still to serve art. Great.

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