Panasonic F5 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill

Here is a comprehensive assessment of the Panasonic F5 and Sigma SD1 Merrill, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Advanced DSLR by brands Panasonic and Sigma. The image resolution of the F5 (14MP) and the SD1 Merrill (15MP) is very similar but the F5 (1/2.3") and SD1 Merrill (APS-C) boast different sensor measurements.

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The F5 was unveiled 10 months later than the SD1 Merrill so they are both of a similar age. Both of these cameras feature different body design with the Panasonic F5 being a Compact camera and the Sigma SD1 Merrill being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving into a detailed comparison, here is a simple summation of how the F5 grades against the SD1 Merrill with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Panasonic Lumix DMC-F5 & Sigma SD1 Merrill. The full galleries are viewable at Panasonic F5 Gallery & Sigma SD1 Merrill Gallery.

For anyone who is going to carry your camera often, you need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic F5 features external measurements of 97mm x 58mm x 22mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.9") along with a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs) while the Sigma SD1 Merrill has dimensions of 146mm x 113mm x 80mm (5.7" x 4.4" x 3.1") having a weight of 790 grams (1.74 lbs).

Contrast the Panasonic F5 and Sigma SD1 Merrill in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are employing during that time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the F5 and the SD1 Merrill.

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the F5 and SD1 Merrill is 96 and 57 respectively.

Usually, it's difficult to picture the contrast between sensor sizing purely by reading specifications. The visual below should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the F5 and SD1 Merrill.

To sum up, each of the cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The F5 with its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field more difficult and the Sigma SD1 Merrill will offer extra detail having an extra 1MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop pics way more aggressively. The newer F5 provides a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.