Panasonic LX5 vs Sigma DP1 Merrill

Below is a in-depth comparison of the Panasonic LX5 versus Sigma DP1 Merrill, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by competitors Panasonic and Sigma. There exists a crucial gap among the resolutions of the LX5 (10MP) and DP1 Merrill (15MP) and the LX5 (1/1.63") and DP1 Merrill (APS-C) feature totally different sensor dimensions.

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The LX5 was revealed within a month of the DP1 Merrill and they are both of a similar generation. Both cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic LX5 being a Compact camera and the Sigma DP1 Merrill being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before going in to a in-depth comparison, below is a quick view of how the LX5 grades against the DP1 Merrill when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Here is a preview of the gallery photos for Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 and Sigma DP1 Merrill. The full galleries are available at Panasonic LX5 Gallery and Sigma DP1 Merrill Gallery.

When you are aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you will want to consider its weight and measurements. The Panasonic LX5 features outer dimensions of 110mm x 65mm x 43mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.7") having a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) whilst the Sigma DP1 Merrill has proportions of 122mm x 67mm x 64mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.5") accompanied by a weight of 330 grams (0.73 lbs).

See the Panasonic LX5 versus Sigma DP1 Merrill in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you choose at that moment. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the LX5 against the DP1 Merrill.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the LX5 and DP1 Merrill is 88 and 82 respectively.

Sometimes, it's hard to envision the difference in sensor measurements purely by going through specs. The visual below might provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the LX5 and DP1 Merrill.

All in all, each of these cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The LX5 having a smaller sensor will make achieving bokeh more difficult and the Sigma DP1 Merrill will produce greater detail because of its extra 5 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures far more aggressively.