• 1/2.3 inch 28.1mm2
  • 12.1 megapixels
  • 37.00mm - 185.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • APS-C 369.0mm2
  • 14.8 megapixels
  • 28.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • Detailed specifications
  • Canon PowerShot SD970 IS
  • Sigma DP1 Merrill
Links
Prices:    
Manufacturer URL: Manufacturer website Manufacturer website
Predecessor:    
Successor:    
General
Model Number: SD970 IS DP1 Merrill
Alternate Model Number(s):    
Camera Format: Ultra Compact Mid-Sized
Currently Manufactured: No No
Retail Price: $379.99 $799.00
Street Price: $169.95 $849.00
Date Available: 2009-04-15 2012-09-15
Tripod Mount: Yes Yes
Weight: 6.7 oz (189 g)
includes batteries
13.8 oz (391 g)
includes batteries
Size: 3.7 x 2.2 x 1.0 in.
(95 x 57 x 26 mm)
4.8 x 2.6 x 2.5 in.
(122 x 67 x 64 mm)
Waterproof: No No
Waterproof Depth: n/a n/a
Image Sensor
Sensor Type: CCD CMOS
Sensor Manufacturer:   Foveon X3
Effective Megapixels: 12.1 14.8
Sensor Format: 1/2.3 inch APS-C
Sensor size: 28.0735mm2 (6.17mm x 4.55mm) 368.95mm2 (23.50mm x 15.70mm)
Approximate Pixel Pitch: 1.54 microns 5.00 microns
Focal Length Multiplier: n/a n/a
Aspect Ratio: 4:3, 16:9 3:2
Color Filter Type: RGBG Full Color
Anti Aliasing Filter:   Not needed
Self-Cleaning: No No
Sensor shift image stabilization: No No
On-Sensor Phase Detect: No No
DxO Sensor Score:    
DxO Color Depth Score (bits):    
DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs):    
DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso):    
Image Capture
Image Resolution: 4000 x 3000 (12.0 MP, 4:3),
4000 x 2248 (9.0 MP, 16:9),
3264 x 2448 (8.0 MP, 4:3),
2592 x 1944 (5.0 MP, 4:3),
1600 x 1200 (1.9 MP, 4:3),
640 x 480 (0.3 MP, 4:3)
4704 x 3136 (14.8 MP, 3:2),
3264 x 2176 (7.1 MP, 3:2),
2336 x 1568 (3.7 MP, Other)
Image File Format: JPEG (EXIF 2.2) JPEG, 12-bit RAW (.X3F), RAW+JPEG
Continuous-mode frames/second: 1.0 3.8
Video Capture
Can take movies: Yes Yes
Movie Resolution: 1280x720 (30)
640x480 (30)
320x240 (30)
640x480 (30)
Movie File Format: MOV (Image: H.264, Audio: PCM) AVI (Motion JPEG) with monaural sound
Composite Video Out: Yes Yes
NTSC/PAL Switchable Video: Yes Yes
Video Usable as Viewfinder:
HD Video Out: Yes No
HD Video Connection: HDMI
Lens & Optics
Lens Mount: n/a n/a
Lens: Canon Zoom Lens (8 elements in 6 groups, including 2 aspherical) Sigma Lens; 9 elements in 8 groups
Focal Length (35mm equivalent): 37 - 185mm 28mm
Focal Length (actual): 6.6 - 33mm 19mm
Zoom Ratio: 5.00x 1.00x
Aperture Range: f/3.2 or f/9.2 (W) / f/5.8 or f/16.6 (T) f/2.8 - f/16, with 9-bladed diaphragm
Integrated ND Filter: No No
Normal Focus Range: 50 cm to Infinity
19.7 in to Infinity
100 cm to Infinity
39.4 in to Infinity
Macro Focus Range: 2 - 50 cm
0.8 - 19.7 in
20 cm to Infinity
7.9 in to Infinity
Filter Thread: n/a 49.0mm
Thread Type: n/a n/a
Optical Image Stabilization: Yes No
Digital Zoom: Yes No
Digital Zoom Values: Up to 4x n/a
Auto Focus
Auto Focus: Yes Yes
Auto Focus Type: Contrast Detect AF with Face Detection Contrast Detection: 9 points select mode, Free move mode; possible to change size of focus frame (Spot, Regular, Large)
Auto Focus Assist Light? Yes No
Manual Focus: No Yes
Viewfinder
Viewfinder: LCD No / LCD
Viewfinder Type:   Optional add-on optical type VF-11.
Focus Peaking: No No
EVF Resolution: n/a n/a
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent):    
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed):    
Display
Eye-level Viewfinder: No No
Rear Display: Yes Yes
Rear Display Size (inches): 3.0 3.0
Rear Display Resolution: 461,000 dots 921,600 dots (307,200 px)
Touchscreen: No No
Articulating Screen: No No
Tilt Swivel Screen: No No
Selfie Screen: No No
Max Playback Zoom: 10.0x 10.0x
Top Deck Display: No
Exposure
Maximum ISO (native):   6400
Minimum ISO (native):   100
ISO Settings: Auto, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200* (*special scene mode) Auto (with programmable low and high limits), 100-6400 in 1 or 1/3 EV steps
Auto ISO Mode: Yes Yes
White Balance Settings: Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H, Custom Auto, Sunlight, Shade, Overcast, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Flash, Custom
Shutter Speed Range: 1/1600 - 15 sec 1/2000 - 30 sec
Bulb Mode: No No
Exposure Compensation: +/- 2.0EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 3.0EV in 0.3EV steps
Metering Modes: Evaluative, Center-weighted average, Spot, Face Detect AE Evaluative, center-weighted average, spot
Program Auto Exposure: Yes Yes
Aperture Priority: No Yes
Shutter Priority: No Yes
Full Manual Exposure: No Yes
Creative Exposure Modes: Portrait, Foliage, Snow, Beach, Sunset, Fireworks, Creative Light Effect, Aquarium, Underwater, ISO 3200, Indoor, Kids & Pets, Night Snapshot, Color Accent, Color Swap, Digital Macro, Long Shutter, Exposure Zoom, Stitch Assist No scene modes or effects. Note that maximum shutter speed varies with aperture. Top shutter speeds are 1/2000s at f/5.6-f/16, 1/1600s at f/4.0-f/16 and 1/1250s at f/2.8-f/16.
Self Timer: 2 or 10 seconds 2 or 10 seconds
Time Lapse (intervalometer):   Yes
High Resolution Composite: No No
Flash
Built-in Flash: Yes No
Flash Modes: Auto, Red-eye Reduction, Auto Red-eye Correction, Flash On, Flash Off; FE lock, Slow Synchro Normal, Redeye, Slow Sync., Redeye + Slow Sync (with compatible external flash unit)
Flash Guide Number (ISO 100): n/a n/a
Flash Range Description: Auto ISO: 1-11 ft./30cm-3.5m (W), 1-6.6 ft./30cm-2.0m (T) n/a
Max Flash Sync:    
Flash Exposure Compensation:   +/- 3.0 EV in 0.3EV steps
External Flash Connection: n/a Hot Shoe
Built-In Wireless Flash Control:    
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types: SD / SDHC SD / SDHC / SDXC
UHS Support:   No UHS support
Other Memory:    
Dual Card Slots: No No
RAW Capture Support: No Yes
Uncompressed Format:   12-bit RAW (.X3F), RAW+JPEG
Movie File Format: MOV (Image: H.264, Audio: PCM) AVI (Motion JPEG) with monaural sound
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 No
Headphone Jack: No No
External Connections: USB 2.0 High Speed USB 2.0 High Speed
PictBridge Compliant: Yes No
DPOF Compliant: Yes Yes
Remote Control: No
Remote Control Type:    
Connections (extended): Multipurpose USB/AV connector, HDMI output Combined USB/AV
Performance Timing
Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution): 1.98 1.68
Cycle time for RAW shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame):   1.84
Buffer size for RAW shooting in single shot mode (frames):   9
Cycle time for RAW+JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per shot):   1.88
Camera penalizes early shutter press? Yes
JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution): 1.0 3.8
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution): Unlimited 7
RAW shooting speed in burst mode (fps):   3.8
Buffer size for RAW shooting in burst mode (frames):   7
RAW+JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps):   3.8
Buffer Size for RAW+JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames):   7
Shutter lag (full AF, wide/mid): 0.40 seconds 0.49 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, tele): 0.45 seconds  
Shutter lag (full AF, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter lag (prefocused, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter Lag (manual focus):   0.081 seconds
Shutter lag (full AF, with flash):    
Shutter Lag (prefocused): 0.078 seconds 0.043 seconds
Shutter Lag (notes):   Full AF lag, Speed Priority AF mode = 0.424s
Startup Time: 1.9 seconds 2.9 seconds
Play -> Record Time:   0.8 seconds
Flash cycle time, full power: 8.0 seconds  
Power
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View): 270 shots 97 shots
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF):    
Battery Life, Video:    
Battery Form Factor: Proprietary NB-5L Proprietary BP-41
Usable Battery Types: Lithium-ion rechargeable Lithium-ion rechargeable
Batteries Included: 1 x Proprietary NB-5L Lithium-ion rechargeable 2 x Proprietary BP-41 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: Canon Software Suite CD-ROM SIGMA Photo Pro
OS Compatibility: Windows, Mac OS Windows, Mac OS
Miscellaneous
Notes & Features: Optical Image Stabilization, Face Detection, Motion Detection, 720p HD video. Update of DP1x with same 14.8MP x 3 Foveon X3 Full Color sensor used in the SD1, 3-inch 920K-dot LCD, and dual TRUE II processors.