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Pentax WG-2 vs Sigma DP1 Merrill

Portability
91
Imaging
38
Features
37
Overall
37
Pentax Optio WG-2 front
 
Sigma DP1 Merrill front
Portability
82
Imaging
55
Features
30
Overall
45

Pentax WG-2 vs Sigma DP1 Merrill Key Specs

Pentax WG-2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 192g - 122 x 61 x 30mm
  • Released February 2012
Sigma DP1 Merrill
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • " Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 640 x 480 video
  • ()mm (F2.8) lens
  • 330g - 122 x 67 x 64mm
  • Revealed February 2012
  • Newer Model is Sigma DP2 Merrill
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Pentax WG-2 vs Sigma DP1 Merrill Overview

In this write-up, we are evaluating the Pentax WG-2 versus Sigma DP1 Merrill, one is a Waterproof and the other is a Large Sensor Compact by manufacturers Pentax and Sigma. The sensor resolution of the WG-2 (16MP) and the DP1 Merrill (15MP) is very well matched but the WG-2 (1/2.3") and DP1 Merrill (APS-C) use different sensor size.

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The WG-2 was brought out very close to the DP1 Merrill so they are of a similar generation. Both cameras offer different body type with the Pentax WG-2 being a Compact camera and the Sigma DP1 Merrill being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before getting straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a short summation of how the WG-2 scores vs the DP1 Merrill when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax WG-2 over the Sigma DP1 Merrill

 WG-2 DP1 Merrill 
Display sizing3""Larger display (+3")

Reasons to pick Sigma DP1 Merrill over the Pentax WG-2

 DP1 Merrill WG-2 
Display resolution920k460kSharper display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Pentax WG-2 and Sigma DP1 Merrill

 WG-2 DP1 Merrill 
RevealedFebruary 2012February 2012Similar generation
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display No Touch display

Pentax WG-2 vs Sigma DP1 Merrill Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you need to factor its weight and dimensions. The Pentax WG-2 has external dimensions of 122mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") having a weight of 192 grams (0.42 lbs) whilst the Sigma DP1 Merrill has dimensions of 122mm x 67mm x 64mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.5") along with a weight of 330 grams (0.73 lbs).

See the Pentax WG-2 versus Sigma DP1 Merrill in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you select at that moment. The following is the front view measurement comparison of the WG-2 vs the DP1 Merrill.

Pentax WG-2 vs Sigma DP1 Merrill size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the WG-2 and DP1 Merrill is 91 and 82 respectively.

Pentax WG-2 vs Sigma DP1 Merrill top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-2 vs Sigma DP1 Merrill Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is hard to visualize the gap between sensor sizes just by checking technical specs. The picture here will give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the WG-2 and DP1 Merrill.

As you have seen, both of those cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The WG-2 due to its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF tougher and the Pentax WG-2 will give you extra detail having its extra 1 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics far more aggressively.

Pentax WG-2 vs Sigma DP1 Merrill sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-2 vs Sigma DP1 Merrill Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-2 vs Sigma DP1 Merrill Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax WG-2 Portrait photography factors
Sigma DP1 Merrill Portrait photography factors
39
has manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
has face detect focusing
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
73
manual focus
MP count decent (15MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Pentax WG-2 as a Street photography camera
Sigma DP1 Merrill as a Street photography camera
54
weather sealing
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
64
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
fixed screen
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Pentax WG-2 Sports photography highlights
Sigma DP1 Merrill Sports photography highlights
37
good MP (16 megapixels)
has tracking focus
weather sealing
low frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
47
MP count decent (15 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
focal length is fixed (()mm)
no image stabilization
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax WG-2 Travel photography features
Sigma DP1 Merrill Travel photography features
70
weather sealing
good MP (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
does not posses selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.5)
53
MP count decent (15MP)
lack of Time Lapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax WG-2
Landscape photography with Sigma DP1 Merrill
47
has manual focus
quite wide (28mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
good MP (16MP)
weather sealing
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
no manual exposure
lack of image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
50
manual focus
MP count decent (15 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
focal length is fixed (()mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small ( inch)
no image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax WG-2 Vlogging details
Sigma DP1 Merrill Vlogging details
30
quite wide (28mm)
has face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not posses selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
lack of microphone socket
21
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 pxls)
lack of mic jack
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Pentax WG-2 vs Sigma DP1 Merrill Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-2 and Sigma DP1 Merrill
 Pentax Optio WG-2Sigma DP1 Merrill
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Sigma
Model type Pentax Optio WG-2 Sigma DP1 Merrill
Type Waterproof Large Sensor Compact
Released 2012-02-07 2012-02-08
Body design Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Dual TRUE II engine
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS (Foveon X3)
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 24 x 16mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 384.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 15 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 -
Full resolution 4288 x 3216 4704 x 3136
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 125 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) ()
Maximal aperture f/3.5-5.5 f/2.8
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches -
Resolution of screen 460k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s -
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s -
Continuous shooting speed 1.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.40 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft no built-in flash
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 640 x 480
Max video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 192g (0.42 lb) 330g (0.73 lb)
Dimensions 122 x 61 x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") 122 x 67 x 64mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 260 photos -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID D-LI92 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) -
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal -
Storage slots Single Single
Launch cost $350 $1,250