• APS-C 369.0mm2
  • 14.8 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • APS-C 372.1mm2
  • 16.3 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 51,200
  • Detailed specifications
  • Sigma SD1 Merrill
  • Pentax K-50
Links
Prices: Compare Prices Compare Prices
Manufacturer URL: Manufacturer website Manufacturer website
Predecessor:   Pentax K-30
K-30 vs K-50
Successor:   Pentax K-70
K-50 vs K-70
General
Model Number: SD1 Merrill K-50
Alternate Model Number(s): SD1  
Camera Format: Pro SLR SLR
Currently Manufactured: Yes No
Retail Price: $2299.00 $779.95
Street Price: $8,492.13 $149.00
Date Available: 2011-06-01 2013-07-15
Tripod Mount: Yes Yes
Weight: 28.1 oz (796 g)
includes batteries
31.9 oz (904 g)
includes batteries, kit lens
Size: 5.7 x 4.5 x 3.1 in.
(146 x 114 x 80 mm)
5.1 x 3.8 x 2.8 in.
(130 x 97 x 71 mm)
Waterproof: No No
Waterproof Depth: n/a n/a
Image Sensor
Sensor Type: CMOS CMOS
Sensor Manufacturer: Foveon X3 Sony
Effective Megapixels: 14.8 16.3
Sensor Format: APS-C APS-C
Sensor size: 368.95mm2 (23.50mm x 15.70mm) 372.09mm2 (23.70mm x 15.70mm)
Approximate Pixel Pitch: 5.00 microns 4.81 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 Fixed
Self-Cleaning: No Yes
Sensor shift image stabilization: No Yes
On-Sensor Phase Detect: No No
DxO Sensor Score:   79
DxO Color Depth Score (bits):   23.7
DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs):   13.0
DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso):   1,120
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)
4928 x 3264 (16.1 MP, Other),
4224 x 2816 (11.9 MP, 3:2),
3456 x 2304 (8.0 MP, 3:2),
2688 x 1792 (4.8 MP, 3:2)
Image File Format: JPEG, RAW (.X3F), RAW + JPEG JPEG (EXIF 2.3), 12-bit RAW (.DNG), RAW+JPEG
Continuous-mode frames/second: 4.1 6.0
Video Capture
Can take movies: No Yes
Movie Resolution: 1920x1080 (30p/​25p/​24p)
1280x720 (60p/​50p/​30p/​25p/​24p)
640x480 (30p/​25p/​24p)
Movie File Format:   MOV MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) with monaural audio
Composite Video Out: Yes Yes
NTSC/PAL Switchable Video: Yes Yes
Video Usable as Viewfinder: No No
HD Video Out: No No
HD Video Connection:
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-DA L 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AL WR; 11 elements in 8 groups, 6 bladed diaphragm
Focal Length (35mm equivalent): 26 - 75mm 27 - 83mm
Focal Length (actual): 17 - 50mm 18 - 55mm
Zoom Ratio: 2.90x 3.06x
Aperture Range: f/2.8 - f/22 (W/T) f/3.5 - f/22 (wide) / f/5.6 - f/38 (tele)
Integrated ND Filter: No No
Normal Focus Range: 28 cm to Infinity
11.0 in to Infinity
25 cm to Infinity
9.8 in to Infinity
Macro Focus Range:    
Filter Thread: 77.0mm 52.0mm
Thread Type: n/a n/a
Optical Image Stabilization: Yes No
Digital Zoom: No No
Digital Zoom Values: n/a 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:: SAFOX IXi+, 11 point (9 cross type focus point in the center), with light wavelength sensor and diffraction lens; Live View: Contrast detection AF (face detection, tracking, select, spot)
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, 0.92x mag., -2.5 to +1.5 diopter, Natural-Bright-Matte III focusing screen (interchangeable)
Focus Peaking: No Yes
EVF Resolution: n/a n/a
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent): 0.63x 0.61x
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed): 0.95x 0.92x
Display
Eye-level Viewfinder: Yes Yes
Rear Display: Yes Yes
Rear Display Size (inches): 3.0 3.0
Rear Display Resolution: 460,000 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:   16.0x
Top Deck Display: No No
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, Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Fluorescent (D, N, W, L), Tungsten, Flash, CTE, 3 Manual and 3 Kelvin temperature presets
Shutter Speed Range: 1/8000 - 30 sec 1/6000 - 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: 77-segment, 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, Scene (Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Moving Object, Night Scene Portrait, Sunset, Blue Sky, Forest, Night Scene, Night Scene HDR (JPG), Night Snap, Food, Pet, Kids, Surf & Snow, Backlight Silhouette, Candlelight, Stage Lighting, Museum); Extract Color, Toy Camera, Retro, High Contrast, Shading, Invert Color, Color; Dynamic range adjustment (Highlight, Shadow); HDR: Auto, HDR 1, HDR 2, HDR 3
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: On, Redeye, Slow Sync, Slow Sync + Redeye, Trailing Curtain Sync
Flash Guide Number (ISO 100): 11.0 m / 36.1 ft. 12.0 m / 39.4 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
Built-In Wireless Flash Control:   Full TTL exposure
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types: CF1 SD / SDHC / SDXC
UHS Support:    
Other Memory:    
Dual Card Slots: No No
RAW Capture Support: Yes Yes
Uncompressed Format: RAW (.X3F), RAW + JPEG 12-bit RAW (.DNG), RAW+JPEG
Movie File Format:   MOV MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) with monaural audio
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: 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 Wired remote port
Performance Timing
Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution): 0.78  
Cycle time for RAW shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame): 0.78  
Buffer size for RAW shooting in single shot mode (frames): 7  
Cycle time for RAW+JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per shot):    
Camera penalizes early shutter press? Yes
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 30
RAW shooting speed in burst mode (fps):    
Buffer size for RAW shooting in burst mode (frames):    
RAW+JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps):    
Buffer Size for RAW+JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames):    
Shutter lag (full AF, wide/mid): 0.38 seconds  
Shutter lag (full AF, tele):    
Shutter lag (full AF, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter lag (prefocused, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter Lag (manual focus): 0.244 seconds  
Shutter lag (full AF, with flash): 0.52 seconds  
Shutter Lag (prefocused): 0.088 seconds  
Shutter Lag (notes): Full Autofocus Lag: Auto Area AF = 0.466s  
Startup Time: 4.5 seconds  
Play -> Record Time: 0.5 seconds  
Flash cycle time, full power:    
Power
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View):    
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF):   480 shots
Battery Life, Video:    
Battery Form Factor: Proprietary BP-21 Proprietary; optional D-BH109 AA Battery Holder
Usable Battery Types: Lithium-ion rechargeable D-LI109 Lithium-ion rechargeable
Batteries Included: 1 x Proprietary BP-21 Lithium-ion rechargeable 1 x Proprietary D-LI109 Lithium-ion rechargeable
Battery Charger Included (dedicated charger or AC/USB adapter): Yes Yes
Dedicated Battery Charger Included:
Internal Charging Supported:
Software
Included Software: Sigma Photo Pro 5.0 Software CDROM (SILKYPIX Developer Studio for PENTAX included)
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. Replaces K-30: tweaked 16MP sensor, tweaked PRIME M processor, maximum ISO now 51,200, controllable Eye-Fi connection, new WR L kit lenses. Available in 120 colors (20 base colors, 6 grip colors).