Panasonic ZS100 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill

Here is a in-depth comparison of the Panasonic ZS100 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill, both Large Sensor Compact cameras by companies Panasonic and Sigma. There is a significant difference among the image resolutions of the ZS100 (20MP) and DP2 Merrill (15MP) and the ZS100 (1") and DP2 Merrill (APS-C) come with totally different sensor size.

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The ZS100 was released 3 years later than the DP2 Merrill and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Large Sensor Compact).

Before getting straight into a complete comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the ZS100 matches up against the DP2 Merrill with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100 and Sigma DP2 Merrill. The complete galleries are viewable at Panasonic ZS100 Gallery and Sigma DP2 Merrill Gallery.

If you are aiming to carry your camera, you are going to need to factor its weight and measurements. The Panasonic ZS100 has outer dimensions of 111mm x 65mm x 44mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.7") accompanied by a weight of 312 grams (0.69 lbs) whilst the Sigma DP2 Merrill has proportions of 122mm x 67mm x 59mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.3") accompanied by a weight of 330 grams (0.73 lbs).

Compare the Panasonic ZS100 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you select at that moment. Underneath is the front view dimension comparison of the ZS100 against the DP2 Merrill.

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the ZS100 and DP2 Merrill is 87 and 83 respectively.

Generally, it is tough to see the gap in sensor sizing merely by looking through a spec sheet. The graphic below might offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the ZS100 and DP2 Merrill.

As you can see, the two cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The ZS100 featuring a smaller sensor will make shooting shallow DOF trickier and the Panasonic ZS100 will result in greater detail as a result of its extra 5MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images a little more aggressively. The more recent ZS100 is going to have an edge in sensor innovation.