Olympus SZ-11 vs Sigma DP1 Merrill

On this page, we will be comparing the Olympus SZ-11 vs Sigma DP1 Merrill, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Sigma. The image resolution of the SZ-11 (14MP) and the DP1 Merrill (15MP) is relatively well matched but the SZ-11 (1/2.3") and DP1 Merrill (APS-C) boast different sensor dimensions.

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The SZ-11 was revealed 6 months prior to the DP1 Merrill and they are of a similar generation. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Olympus SZ-11 being a Compact camera and the Sigma DP1 Merrill being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before delving straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the SZ-11 scores versus the DP1 Merrill in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a preview of the gallery photos for Olympus SZ-11 and Sigma DP1 Merrill. The full galleries are available at Olympus SZ-11 Gallery and Sigma DP1 Merrill Gallery.

If you are looking to carry around your camera frequently, you will want to take into account its weight and measurements. The Olympus SZ-11 has external dimensions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs) and the Sigma DP1 Merrill has proportions of 122mm x 67mm x 64mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.5") having a weight of 330 grams (0.73 lbs).

Check the Olympus SZ-11 vs Sigma DP1 Merrill in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are working with at that time. Here is a front view over all size comparison of the SZ-11 and the DP1 Merrill.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SZ-11 and DP1 Merrill is 89 and 82 respectively.

Sometimes, it's tough to imagine the gap between sensor sizes merely by reading through a spec sheet. The picture underneath might give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the SZ-11 and DP1 Merrill.

Clearly, the two cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The SZ-11 having a tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF more challenging and the Sigma DP1 Merrill will resolve more detail because of its extra 1 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures more aggressively.