Drop an X3F RAW file from your Sigma dp1 Merrill to check the shutter count — processed entirely in your browser, never uploaded anywhere. The dp1 Merrill is the wide-angle (28mm equivalent) member of the Merrill trio, sharing the same symmetric Foveon X3 Merrill sensor as the dp2 Merrill and dp3 Merrill, with all three colour layers at full 15.3 MP resolution.
Check Shutter Count →The Sigma dp1 Merrill (2012) was the wide-angle companion to the dp2 Merrill, released in the same year. Its fixed 19mm f/2.8 lens delivers a 28mm equivalent field of view — ideal for architecture, interiors, and street photography. Like the dp2 Merrill, it uses the Foveon X3 Merrill sensor with a fully symmetric three-layer design named after Foveon engineer Richard Merrill. Sigma does not publish an official shutter life rating for this camera.
| Model | Release | Lens | Sensor | Est. Shutter Life |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sigma dp1 Merrill | 2012 | 19mm f/2.8 (28mm equiv.) | Foveon X3 Merrill (~46 MP) | ~100,000 (est.) |
| Sigma dp2 Merrill | 2012 | 30mm f/2.8 (45mm equiv.) | Foveon X3 Merrill (~46 MP) | ~100,000 (est.) |
| Sigma dp3 Merrill | 2013 | 50mm f/2.8 (75mm equiv.) | Foveon X3 Merrill (~46 MP) | ~100,000 (est.) |
The shutter count is not visible in the camera menu. The X3F RAW file is the only way to check it without connecting to a Sigma service centre.
| Actuation Count | % of Est. Life | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 3,000 | 0 – 3 % | Very low use — near new |
| 3,000 – 20,000 | 3 – 20 % | Low to moderate use |
| 20,000 – 55,000 | 20 – 55 % | Moderate use — normal for active shooting |
| 55,000 – 85,000 | 55 – 85 % | High use — negotiate price |
| 85,000 + | 85 %+ | Near or past estimated life |
The dp1 Merrill is inherently a low-volume camera — the ~20 second write time per X3F file forces a deliberate, unhurried shooting style. Most decade-old examples have accumulated under 10,000 actuations. The shutter count is therefore less diagnostic than on high-fps cameras; also inspect the lens for dust, scratches, and mould, and check the LCD for dead pixels.
Both cameras cover the 28mm equivalent focal length, but the sensor architecture differs fundamentally:
For base-ISO architectural and landscape photography where shooting pace is not a constraint, the Merrill's symmetric sensor can yield marginally richer colour in fine textures.
Yes. Drop the X3F file from your dp1 Merrill into shuttercount.app and the actuation count is displayed immediately. Both Merrill and Quattro generation Sigma X3F files embed the shot counter reliably in the EXIF block.
The dp1 Merrill has a 19mm f/2.8 lens (28mm equivalent), making it the wide-angle model. The dp2 Merrill has a 30mm f/2.8 lens (45mm equivalent) — the standard focal length. The sensor, electronics, and operating characteristics are identical. The choice comes down entirely to preferred field of view.
After each shot in RAW mode, the dp1 Merrill takes approximately 15–20 seconds to write the X3F file to the SD card. During this time, the camera cannot take another shot. This is not a malfunction — it is a known characteristic of the symmetric Foveon Merrill architecture and the large file sizes it produces. A fast UHS-I SD card reduces the bottleneck somewhat but does not eliminate it.
Yes. The dp1 Merrill uses a mechanical leaf shutter built into the lens. Every still photo increments the mechanical shutter counter. There is no electronic shutter mode on this camera.