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Sigma DP1 vs Zeiss ZX1 Comparison

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Sigma DP1

5 MP | APS-C (20.7 x 13.8 mm) CMOS (Foveon X3) Sensor

Sigma DP1
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Zeiss ZX1

37 MP | Full frame (36 x 24 mm) CMOS Sensor

Zeiss ZX1
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Sigma DP1 vs Zeiss ZX1 Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing DP1 and ZX1, two Large Sensor Compact cameras from Sigma and Zeiss. Sigma DP1 has a 5.0MP APS-C sensor whereas Zeiss ZX1 has a 37.0MP Full frame sensor. Sigma DP1 was introduced to market in May 2008 and Zeiss ZX1 was launched in September 2018. As you can see, DP1 is 10 years older than ZX1. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Sigma DP1 and Zeiss ZX1 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Sigma DP1 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2008-05-19
  • 5MP - APS-C CMOS (Foveon X3) Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 800
  • 28 mm f Prime Lens
  • 2.5" Fixed Type Screen
  • continuous shooting
  • No Video Mode
  • 270g. 113 x 60 x 50 mm

Zeiss ZX1 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2018-09-27
  • 37MP - Full frame CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 80 - 51200
  • 35 mm f2.00 Prime Lens
  • 4.34" Fully Articulated Screen
  • 6220k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 3.0 fps continuous shooting
  • 4K (UHD) - 3840 x 2160 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 800g. 142 x 93 x 46 mm

Sigma DP1 was replaced by Sigma DP1s. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Sigma DP1s vs Sigma DP1
Sigma DP1s vs Zeiss ZX1

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Sigma DP1 and Zeiss ZX1 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Sigma DP1 over Zeiss ZX1
Built-in Flash
Yes vs No Useful in low-light
Weight
270 g vs 800 g 530 g lighter
Focal Length - Wide
28mm vs 35mm 7 mm wider coverage
Max Aperture - Wide
vs 2.00 faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele
vs 2.00 faster lens at tele
Sensor Pixel Area
61.43µm2 vs 23.11µm2 165% larger pixel area


Reasons to choose Zeiss ZX1 over Sigma DP1
Wireless Connection
Built-In vs None Better connectivity
LCD Screen
Fully Articulated vs Fixed Type Flexible shooting positions
Touch Screen
Yes vs No Easy control of camera functions
Viewfinder
Electronic vs None Better framing and control
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs No very handy for portraits
Max Sensor Resolution
37 MP vs 5 MP 640% more pixels
Max ISO
51.200 vs 800 6300% higher Max ISO
LCD Screen Size
4.34" vs 2.5" 1.84 inches larger display
LCD Screen Resolution
2.765k dots vs 230k dots 1102% higher resolution screen
Max Mech. Shutter
1/8000s vs 1/4000s faster mechanical shutter
Focal Length - Tele
35mm vs 28mm 7 mm longer tele reach
Max Video Resolution
3840 x 2160 vs None Higher Resolution Video
AE Bracketing
Yes vs No Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Bluetooth
Yes vs No Connect your camera to other devices via Blueetooth

Common Strengths of Sigma DP1 and Zeiss ZX1
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs Yes Better for flash photography
RAW Support
Yes vs Yes Better image quality
LCD Screen Size
2.5" vs 4.34" Large display
Manual Focusing
Yes vs Yes both have manual focusing modes
Manual Exposure
Yes vs Yes better exposure control
Max Aperture - Tele
vs 2.00 Fast lenses at tele
Common Weaknesses of Sigma DP1 and Zeiss ZX1
In-body Image Stabilization
No vs No No Built-in stabilization
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
Focal Length - Tele
28mm vs 35mm No Tele reach
Sigma DP1 vs Zeiss ZX1: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Sigma DP1 and Zeiss ZX1 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Sigma DP1 has external dimensions of 113 x 60 x 50 mm (4.45 x 2.36 x 1.97″) and weighs 270 g (0.60 lb / 9.52 oz) (including batteries). Zeiss ZX1 has external dimensions of 142 x 93 x 46 mm (5.59 x 3.66 x 1.81″) and weighs 800 g (1.76 lb / 28.22 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Sigma DP1 and Zeiss ZX1. Sigma DP1 is 29mm narrower and 33mm shorter than Zeiss ZX1 but it is also 4mm thicker.

Sigma DP1 vs Zeiss ZX1 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Sigma DP1 and Zeiss ZX1 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Sigma DP1 and Zeiss ZX1.

Sigma DP1 vs Zeiss ZX1 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Sigma DP1 and Zeiss ZX1 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Sigma DP1 and Zeiss ZX1.
Sigma DP1 vs Zeiss ZX1 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Sigma DP1 and Zeiss ZX1 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Sigma DP1 is significantly lighter (530g ) than the Zeiss ZX1 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

DP1
ZX1
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

DP1
ZX1
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Sigma DP1 nor Zeiss ZX1 provides any type of weather sealing in their body, so you have to give extra care especially when you are shooting outdoors. If weather sealing is a must-have feature for you, check these sections:
Top Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Zeiss ZX1's 4.34" LCD screen is slightly larger than Sigma DP1's 2.5" screen.

Moreover, Zeiss ZX1 sports a Fully Articulated screen which you can change the angle and position of the screen almost freely, making it possible to shoot from waist or over the head levels, and especially very useful for shooting selfies and video. On the other hand, Sigma DP1 has a fixed type screen which provides almost no flexibility in shooting positions compared to ZX1.
Sigma DP1 vs Zeiss ZX1: Sensor Comparison

Sigma DP1 has a 5.0MP APS-C (20.7 x 13.8 mm ) sized CMOS (Foveon X3) sensor . On the other hand, Zeiss ZX1 has a 37.0MP Full frame (36 x 24 mm ) sized CMOS sensor .

Zeiss ZX1's sensor provides 32MP more than Sigma DP1's sensor, which gives a significant advantage in real life. You can print your images larger or crop more freely. On the other hand, please keep in mind that Max sensor resolution is not the only determinant of resolving power. Factors such as the optical elements, low pass filter, pixel size and sensor technology also affects the final resolution of the captured image.

Below you can see the DP1 and ZX1 sensor size comparison.

Sigma DP1 vs Zeiss ZX1 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Sigma DP1 and Zeiss ZX1 Cameras


As seen above, Zeiss ZX1 has a 3.0x Larger sensor area than Sigma DP1. Larger sensors give photographer more control on the depth of field and blurry background compared to smaller sensor when shot in same focal length and aperture.

Sigma DP1 vs Zeiss ZX1 Lens Specs Comparison

Sigma DP1 features a 28 mm Prime lens whereas Zeiss ZX1 features a 35 mm F2-22 Prime lens.

Sigma DP1 has 7mm wider coverage than the Zeiss ZX1. At f, it is also faster at widest end. On the tele end, Zeiss ZX1 has 7mm longer telezoom reach than the Sigma DP1. However, with a max aperture of f, Sigma DP1 is faster at widest end.

Wide Coverage

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

DP1
ZX1
Widest - Canon G1 X II
Average
Telezoom

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

DP1
ZX1
Longest - Panasonic ZS200
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

DP1
ZX1
Fastest - Leica Q
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

DP1
ZX1
Fastest - Panasonic LX10
Average
What types of Photography are Sigma DP1 and Zeiss ZX1 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Sigma DP1 and Zeiss ZX1 for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Sigma DP1 for Portrait Photography

POOR

Zeiss ZX1 for Portrait Photography

GOOD
Large APS-C (20.7 x 13.8 mm) sensor
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 5.0MP
No Image Stabilization
No Built-in Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 37.0MP
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
No Image Stabilization
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Sigma DP1 for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Zeiss ZX1 for Street Photography

GOOD
Large APS-C (20.7 x 13.8 mm) sensor
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Fast Lens at Wide: f
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
No Image Stabilization
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
RAW shooting capability
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fully Articulated LCD Screen
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.00
No Image Stabilization
35 mm - Poor Wide Angle Coverage
Read the details

Sigma DP1 for Sports Photography

POOR

Zeiss ZX1 for Sports Photography

AVERAGE
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
No Image Stabilization
No Built-in Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Focus Points
28 mm Tele Lens
Read the details
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
255 Focus Points
Wireless Connection
No Image Stabilization
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Slow Continuous Shooting: 3.0fps
Environmental Sealings
35 mm Tele Lens
Read the details

Sigma DP1 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Zeiss ZX1 for Daily Photography

GOOD
Large APS-C (20.7 x 13.8 mm) sensor
RAW shooting capability
Compact Body
270g
Body Thickness 50mm
Read the details
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
RAW shooting capability
Compact Body
800g
Body Thickness 46mm
Read the details

Sigma DP1 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Zeiss ZX1 for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE
Large APS-C (20.7 x 13.8 mm) sensor
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 5.0MP
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 37.0MP
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
No Environmental Sealings
35 mm - Poor Wide Angle Coverage
Read the details

Sigma DP1 vs Zeiss ZX1: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Sigma DP1 and Zeiss ZX1, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Sigma DP1 and Zeiss ZX1 scores compare:

Sigma DP1
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #58 out of 61 in Large sensor compact cameras
Ranked #779 out of 1225 in all Cameras
Zeiss ZX1
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #5 out of 61 in Large sensor compact cameras
Ranked #72 out of 1225 in all Cameras

Zeiss ZX1 is the overall winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Sigma DP1 in all criteria except one: Portability.
If small size and light body is a big priority for you, choose Sigma DP1. Otherwise, Zeiss ZX1 is the better camera overall.

Sigma DP1
Sigma DP1
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Zeiss ZX1
Zeiss ZX1
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Zeiss ZX1 vs Sigma DP1 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Sigma DP1 Zeiss ZX1
Brand Sigma Zeiss
Announced 2008-05-19 2018-09-27
Body Type Large sensor compact Large sensor compact
Sensor
Type CMOS (Foveon X3) CMOS
Size APS-C Full frame
Dimensions 20.7 x 13.8 mm 36 x 24 mm
Area 285.66mm2 864.00mm2
Megapixels 5 megapixels 37 megapixels
Max Resolution 2640 x 1760 7488 x 4992
Max Native Light sensitivity 800 ISO 51,200 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 100 ISO 80 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points n/a 255
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 28 mm (1×) 35 mm ()
Max Aperture no lens F2-22
Screen
Type Fixed type Fully Articulated
Size 2.5" 4.34"
Resolution 230k dots 2,765k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution no electronic viewfinder 6,221k dots
Viewfinder Coverage n/a 100%
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/4000s 1/8000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization No No
Built-in Flash
External Flash
Continuous Shooting n/a 3.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution None 3840 x 2160
Video Formats n/a MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity None Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 270g 800g
Dimensions 113 x 60 x 50mm 142 x 93 x 46mm
Battery Life n/a n/a
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
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