Olympus FE-47 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill

On this page, we are reviewing the Olympus FE-47 versus Sigma DP2 Merrill, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Large Sensor Compact by rivals Olympus and Sigma. The resolution of the FE-47 (14MP) and the DP2 Merrill (15MP) is fairly comparable but the FE-47 (1/2.3") and DP2 Merrill (APS-C) boast different sensor size.

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The FE-47 was revealed 3 years earlier than the DP2 Merrill and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Olympus FE-47 being a Compact camera and the Sigma DP2 Merrill being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before going into a comprehensive comparison, here is a short highlight of how the FE-47 matches up against the DP2 Merrill in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus FE-47 & Sigma DP2 Merrill. The full galleries are viewable at Olympus FE-47 Gallery & Sigma DP2 Merrill Gallery.

For those who are going to carry your camera often, you have to take into account its weight and proportions. The Olympus FE-47 enjoys physical dimensions of 98mm x 61mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") with a weight of 204 grams (0.45 lbs) while the Sigma DP2 Merrill has measurements of 122mm x 67mm x 59mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.3") having a weight of 330 grams (0.73 lbs).

Check the Olympus FE-47 versus Sigma DP2 Merrill in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you choose at that time. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the FE-47 compared to the DP2 Merrill.

Using size and weight, the portability score of the FE-47 and DP2 Merrill is 93 and 83 respectively.

Oftentimes, it can be tough to picture the gap in sensor sizing purely by going through a spec sheet. The graphic underneath will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the FE-47 and DP2 Merrill.

As you can see, both cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The FE-47 with its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF harder and the Sigma DP2 Merrill will show greater detail because of its extra 1MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics a bit more aggressively. The older FE-47 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.