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Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sigma DP1 Merrill

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
43
Overall
41
Pentax WG-3 GPS front
 
Sigma DP1 Merrill front
Portability
82
Imaging
56
Features
30
Overall
45

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sigma DP1 Merrill Key Specs

Pentax WG-3 GPS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 238g - 125 x 64 x 33mm
  • Revealed July 2013
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
  • Released February 2012
  • Refreshed by Sigma DP2 Merrill
Photography Glossary

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sigma DP1 Merrill Overview

Below is a detailed analysis of the Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sigma DP1 Merrill, one being a Waterproof and the other is a Large Sensor Compact by companies Pentax and Sigma. The sensor resolution of the WG-3 GPS (16MP) and the DP1 Merrill (15MP) is very well matched but the WG-3 GPS (1/2.3") and DP1 Merrill (APS-C) come with different sensor sizing.

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The WG-3 GPS was brought out 18 months later than the DP1 Merrill making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Pentax WG-3 GPS being a Compact camera and the Sigma DP1 Merrill being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before delving through a in-depth comparison, below is a short overview of how the WG-3 GPS matches up vs the DP1 Merrill with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Pentax WG-3 GPS over the Sigma DP1 Merrill

 WG-3 GPS DP1 Merrill 
ReleasedJuly 2013February 2012More recent by 18 months
Display sizing3""Larger display (+3")

Reasons to pick Sigma DP1 Merrill over the Pentax WG-3 GPS

 DP1 Merrill WG-3 GPS 
Display resolution920k460kClearer display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Pentax WG-3 GPS and Sigma DP1 Merrill

 WG-3 GPS DP1 Merrill 
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither comes with Touch friendly display

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sigma DP1 Merrill Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to lug around your camera often, you will want to factor its weight and dimensions. The Pentax WG-3 GPS comes with outer dimensions of 125mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") and a weight of 238 grams (0.52 lbs) while the Sigma DP1 Merrill has dimensions of 122mm x 67mm x 64mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.5") with a weight of 330 grams (0.73 lbs).

Look at the Pentax WG-3 GPS vs 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 differ depending on the lens you are using at that moment. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the WG-3 GPS against the DP1 Merrill.

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sigma DP1 Merrill size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the WG-3 GPS and DP1 Merrill is 90 and 82 respectively.

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sigma DP1 Merrill top view buttons comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sigma DP1 Merrill Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very difficult to visualize the difference between sensor measurements just by looking at a spec sheet. The photograph here should offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the WG-3 GPS and DP1 Merrill.

As you can see, each of these cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The WG-3 GPS because of its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field tougher and the Pentax WG-3 GPS will give you extra detail having its extra 1MP. Greater resolution will help you crop photos a little more aggressively. The newer WG-3 GPS provides an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sigma DP1 Merrill sensor size comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sigma DP1 Merrill Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sigma DP1 Merrill Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS Portrait photography features
Sigma DP1 Merrill Portrait photography features
41
you can focus manually
MP count good (16 megapixels)
has face detect focusing
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
73
focusing manually
decent megapixels (15 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS Street photography information
Sigma DP1 Merrill Street photography information
59
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment proofing
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
more heavy than others in class (238 grams)
64
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
fixed screen
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS Sports photography features
Sigma DP1 Merrill Sports photography features
45
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16MP)
has tracking focus
environment proofing
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (240 CIPA)
no phase detect AF
48
decent megapixels (15 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
fixed focal length (()mm)
no image stabilization
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS Travel photography highlights
Sigma DP1 Merrill Travel photography highlights
69
environment proofing
MP count good (16MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
terrible battery power (240 per charge)
more heavy than others in class (238 grams)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
54
decent megapixels (15 megapixels)
no Time Lapse mode
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS Landscape photography factors
Sigma DP1 Merrill Landscape photography factors
54
you can focus manually
decently wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
good sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16MP)
environment proofing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
manual mode not available
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
terrible battery power (240 shots)
50
focusing manually
decent megapixels (15 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (()mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (")
no image stabilization
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax WG-3 GPS Vlogging info
Sigma DP1 Merrill Vlogging info
34
decently wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
missing microphone jack
more heavy than others in class (238 grams)
22
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
video resolution low (640 x 480 pxls)
no external mic socket
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Pentax WG-3 GPS vs Sigma DP1 Merrill Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax WG-3 GPS and Sigma DP1 Merrill
 Pentax WG-3 GPSSigma DP1 Merrill
General Information
Make Pentax Sigma
Model type Pentax WG-3 GPS Sigma DP1 Merrill
Category Waterproof Large Sensor Compact
Revealed 2013-07-19 2012-02-08
Physical type Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - 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 megapixel 15 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 -
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4704 x 3136
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 125 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-100mm (4.0x) ()
Maximal aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/2.8
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches -
Screen resolution 460 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology Widescreen TFT color LCD with anti-reflective coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds -
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.40 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft no built-in flash
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps) 640 x 480
Max video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 238 gr (0.52 pounds) 330 gr (0.73 pounds)
Dimensions 125 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") 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 240 pictures -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID D-LI92 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) -
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal -
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $350 $1,250