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Casio EX-Z280 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill

Portability
96
Imaging
35
Features
21
Overall
29
Casio Exilim EX-Z280 front
 
Sigma DP3 Merrill front
Portability
83
Imaging
57
Features
33
Overall
47

Casio EX-Z280 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill Key Specs

Casio EX-Z280
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-104mm (F2.6-5.9) lens
  • 133g - 97 x 53 x 20mm
  • Introduced August 2009
Sigma DP3 Merrill
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 75mm (F2.8) lens
  • 330g - 122 x 67 x 59mm
  • Announced January 2013
  • Previous Model is Sigma DP2 Merrill
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Casio EX-Z280 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill Overview

The following is a detailed overview of the Casio EX-Z280 versus Sigma DP3 Merrill, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Large Sensor Compact by companies Casio and Sigma. The sensor resolution of the EX-Z280 (12MP) and the DP3 Merrill (15MP) is fairly well matched but the EX-Z280 (1/2.3") and DP3 Merrill (APS-C) provide different sensor sizes.

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The EX-Z280 was released 4 years prior to the DP3 Merrill which is quite a big difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Casio EX-Z280 being a Compact camera and the Sigma DP3 Merrill being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before going right into a thorough comparison, here is a quick summary of how the EX-Z280 matches up against the DP3 Merrill with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Casio EX-Z280 over the Sigma DP3 Merrill

 EX-Z280 DP3 Merrill 

Reasons to pick Sigma DP3 Merrill over the Casio EX-Z280

 DP3 Merrill EX-Z280 
AnnouncedJanuary 2013August 2009Newer by 40 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k115kClearer display (+805k dot)

Common features in the Casio EX-Z280 and Sigma DP3 Merrill

 EX-Z280 DP3 Merrill 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lacking Touch friendly display

Casio EX-Z280 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill Physical Comparison

In case you're going to travel with your camera, you are going to need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Casio EX-Z280 provides outer measurements of 97mm x 53mm x 20mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 133 grams (0.29 lbs) and the Sigma DP3 Merrill has dimensions of 122mm x 67mm x 59mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.3") accompanied by a weight of 330 grams (0.73 lbs).

Contrast the Casio EX-Z280 versus Sigma DP3 Merrill in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have during that time. Underneath is a front view size comparison of the EX-Z280 against the DP3 Merrill.

Casio EX-Z280 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the EX-Z280 and DP3 Merrill is 96 and 83 respectively.

Casio EX-Z280 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill top view buttons comparison

Casio EX-Z280 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is difficult to picture the contrast between sensor dimensions purely by checking specs. The image below should provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the EX-Z280 and DP3 Merrill.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras have different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The EX-Z280 due to its tinier sensor is going to make getting bokeh tougher and the Sigma DP3 Merrill will give extra detail as a result of its extra 3MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The more aged EX-Z280 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.

Casio EX-Z280 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill sensor size comparison

Casio EX-Z280 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill Screen and ViewFinder

Casio EX-Z280 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Casio EX-Z280 Portrait photography highlights
Sigma DP3 Merrill Portrait photography highlights
27
manual focus
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
74
manual focus
megapixel count good (15MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Casio EX-Z280 as a Street photography camera
Sigma DP3 Merrill as a Street photography camera
55
lighter than competitors in class (133g)
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
65
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Casio EX-Z280 as a Sports photography camera
Sigma DP3 Merrill as a Sports photography camera
17
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
45
megapixel count good (15 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
can't change focal length (75mm)
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Casio EX-Z280 Travel photography highlights
Sigma DP3 Merrill Travel photography highlights
62
lighter than competitors in class (133 grams)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (26mm)
does not have Timelapse function
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.6)
54
megapixel count good (15MP)
no Timelapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Casio EX-Z280 Landscape photography features
Sigma DP3 Merrill Landscape photography features
32
manual focus
reasonably wide (26mm)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.6)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
no manual exposure
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
does not have Timelapse function
56
manual focus
screen size is good (3 inches)
megapixel count good (15 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
saves RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
can't change focal length (75mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
no image stabilization
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Casio EX-Z280 as a Vlogging camera
Sigma DP3 Merrill as a Vlogging camera
28
reasonably wide (26mm)
lighter than competitors in class (133 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.6)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have microphone jack
22
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low video resolution (640 x 480 pixels)
no microphone support
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Casio EX-Z280 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Casio EX-Z280 and Sigma DP3 Merrill
 Casio Exilim EX-Z280Sigma DP3 Merrill
General Information
Brand Name Casio Sigma
Model Casio Exilim EX-Z280 Sigma DP3 Merrill
Category Small Sensor Compact Large Sensor Compact
Introduced 2009-08-31 2013-01-08
Physical type Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Dual TRUE II engine
Sensor type CCD CMOS (Foveon X3)
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 24 x 16mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 384.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 15MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 4704 x 3136
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 64 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 26-104mm (4.0x) 75mm (1x)
Highest aperture f/2.6-5.9 f/2.8
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 115k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds -
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds -
Continuous shooting rate - 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.20 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft no built-in flash
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 640 x 480
Max video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 133 gr (0.29 lb) 330 gr (0.73 lb)
Physical dimensions 97 x 53 x 20mm (3.8" x 2.1" x 0.8") 122 x 67 x 59mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery model NP-80 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Triple) -
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC card, Internal -
Card slots Single Single
Retail pricing $180 $1,353