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Panasonic LZ30 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill

Portability
66
Imaging
40
Features
32
Overall
36
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30 front
 
Sigma DP2 Merrill front
Portability
83
Imaging
56
Features
33
Overall
46

Panasonic LZ30 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill Key Specs

Panasonic LZ30
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-875mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
  • 552g - 124 x 84 x 92mm
  • Announced January 2013
  • Older Model is Panasonic LZ20
  • Later Model is Panasonic LZ40
Sigma DP2 Merrill
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 50mm (F2.8) lens
  • 330g - 122 x 67 x 59mm
  • Revealed February 2012
  • Replaced the Sigma DP1 Merrill
  • Later Model is Sigma DP3 Merrill
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Panasonic LZ30 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill Overview

Here is a comprehensive assessment of the Panasonic LZ30 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by companies Panasonic and Sigma. The sensor resolution of the LZ30 (16MP) and the DP2 Merrill (15MP) is relatively close but the LZ30 (1/2.3") and DP2 Merrill (APS-C) come with different sensor sizes.

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The LZ30 was released 12 months later than the DP2 Merrill and they are both of a similar generation. The two cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic LZ30 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sigma DP2 Merrill being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before delving straight into a detailed comparison, below is a short introduction of how the LZ30 grades vs the DP2 Merrill when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic LZ30 over the Sigma DP2 Merrill

 LZ30 DP2 Merrill 
RevealedJanuary 2013February 2012Fresher by 12 months

Reasons to pick Sigma DP2 Merrill over the Panasonic LZ30

 DP2 Merrill LZ30 
Manual focus More precise focusing
Screen resolution920k460kCrisper screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Panasonic LZ30 and Sigma DP2 Merrill

 LZ30 DP2 Merrill 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Neither includes Touch screen

Panasonic LZ30 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry your camera frequently, you have to think about its weight and size. The Panasonic LZ30 features outer measurements of 124mm x 84mm x 92mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 3.6") having a weight of 552 grams (1.22 lbs) and the Sigma DP2 Merrill has specifications of 122mm x 67mm x 59mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.3") accompanied by a weight of 330 grams (0.73 lbs).

See the Panasonic LZ30 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the LZ30 versus the DP2 Merrill.

Panasonic LZ30 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the LZ30 and DP2 Merrill is 66 and 83 respectively.

Panasonic LZ30 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill top view buttons comparison

Panasonic LZ30 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill Sensor Comparison

Usually, it can be tough to visualize the contrast in sensor sizing purely by looking through technical specs. The photograph underneath should offer you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the LZ30 and DP2 Merrill.

As you can tell, both the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The LZ30 due to its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field tougher and the Panasonic LZ30 will render more detail as a result of its extra 1 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The more recent LZ30 provides an advantage when it comes to sensor tech.

Panasonic LZ30 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill sensor size comparison

Panasonic LZ30 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic LZ30 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 Portrait photography info
Sigma DP2 Merrill Portrait photography info
32
resolution is good (16MP)
no manual focus
no external flash support
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
73
you can focus manually
good resolution (15 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 as a Street photography camera
Sigma DP2 Merrill as a Street photography camera
43
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
heavier than others (552g)
65
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Panasonic LZ30
Sports photography with Sigma DP2 Merrill
47
amazing zoom range (25-875mm 35.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
better than average battery life (380 CIPA)
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
44
good resolution (15MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
can't change focal length (50mm)
slow fps (4.0 fps)
no image stabilization
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Panasonic LZ30
Travel photography with Sigma DP2 Merrill
56
better than average battery life (380 CIPA)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
long reach (875mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
heavier than others (552g)
does not have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
54
good resolution (15 megapixels)
lack of Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 as a Landscape photography camera
Sigma DP2 Merrill as a Landscape photography camera
45
quite wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
better than average battery life (380 CIPA)
no manual focus
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
does not have Time Lapse function
55
you can focus manually
nice screen size (3 inches)
good resolution (15 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
can't change focal length (50mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
no image stabilization
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic LZ30 Vlogging features
Sigma DP2 Merrill Vlogging features
22
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not have a selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic socket
heavier than others (552 grams)
22
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video resolution low (640 x 480 resolution)
lack of microphone socket
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Panasonic LZ30 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic LZ30 and Sigma DP2 Merrill
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30Sigma DP2 Merrill
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Sigma
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ30 Sigma DP2 Merrill
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Compact
Announced 2013-01-07 2012-02-08
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Dual TRUE II engine
Sensor type CCD CMOS (Foveon X3)
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 24 x 16mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 384.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 15MP
Anti alias filter
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 4704 x 3136
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-875mm (35.0x) 50mm (1x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-5.9 f/2.8
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 460 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15s -
Max shutter speed 1/2000s -
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per second 4.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.40 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro no built-in flash
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 640x480
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 552 grams (1.22 lbs) 330 grams (0.73 lbs)
Dimensions 124 x 84 x 92mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 3.6") 122 x 67 x 59mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 380 images -
Battery type AA -
Battery ID 4 x AA -
Self timer Yes (2 0r 10 sec) -
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal -
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $230 $931