Olympus VH-515 vs Sigma DP1 Merrill

Here, we are comparing the Olympus VH-515 versus Sigma DP1 Merrill, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Large Sensor Compact by manufacturers Olympus and Sigma. The sensor resolution of the VH-515 (12MP) and the DP1 Merrill (15MP) is fairly comparable but the VH-515 (1/2.3") and DP1 Merrill (APS-C) offer totally different sensor sizes.

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The VH-515 was brought out 7 months after the DP1 Merrill so they are of a similar age. Both cameras feature different body design with the Olympus VH-515 being a Compact camera and the Sigma DP1 Merrill being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before diving straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the VH-515 matches up versus the DP1 Merrill in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Olympus VH-515 & Sigma DP1 Merrill. The entire galleries are available at Olympus VH-515 Gallery & Sigma DP1 Merrill Gallery.

If you're intending to travel with your camera often, you'll need to factor in its weight and size. The Olympus VH-515 features outside dimensions of 102mm x 60mm x 21mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 152 grams (0.34 lbs) whilst the Sigma DP1 Merrill has specifications of 122mm x 67mm x 64mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.5") having a weight of 330 grams (0.73 lbs).

Compare the Olympus VH-515 versus Sigma DP1 Merrill in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. Underneath is a front view measurement comparison of the VH-515 vs the DP1 Merrill.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the VH-515 and DP1 Merrill is 95 and 82 respectively.

Normally, it is very hard to visualise the difference in sensor dimensions only by seeing a spec sheet. The image underneath might provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the VH-515 and DP1 Merrill.

As you can see, both of those cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The VH-515 due to its smaller sensor will make getting shallower DOF more challenging and the Sigma DP1 Merrill will show more detail having its extra 3MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos way more aggressively. The fresher VH-515 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.