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Pentax X70 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill

Portability
71
Imaging
34
Features
34
Overall
34
Pentax X70 front
 
Sigma DP2 Merrill front
Portability
83
Imaging
56
Features
33
Overall
46

Pentax X70 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill Key Specs

Pentax X70
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 50 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-624mm (F2.8-5.0) lens
  • 410g - 110 x 83 x 90mm
  • Revealed March 2009
Sigma DP2 Merrill
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 50mm (F2.8) lens
  • 330g - 122 x 67 x 59mm
  • Revealed February 2012
  • Succeeded the Sigma DP1 Merrill
  • Successor is Sigma DP3 Merrill
Photography Glossary

Pentax X70 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill Overview

Following is a complete overview of the Pentax X70 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Large Sensor Compact by competitors Pentax and Sigma. The resolution of the X70 (12MP) and the DP2 Merrill (15MP) is very close but the X70 (1/2.3") and DP2 Merrill (APS-C) boast different sensor measurements.

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The X70 was introduced 3 years prior to the DP2 Merrill which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras have different body design with the Pentax X70 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sigma DP2 Merrill being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before getting into a in-depth comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the X70 scores against the DP2 Merrill for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax X70 over the Sigma DP2 Merrill

 X70 DP2 Merrill 

Reasons to pick Sigma DP2 Merrill over the Pentax X70

 DP2 Merrill X70 
RevealedFebruary 2012March 2009More modern by 35 months
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kSharper display (+690k dot)

Common features in the Pentax X70 and Sigma DP2 Merrill

 X70 DP2 Merrill 
Manually focus Very exact focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Pentax X70 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry around your camera regularly, you will need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Pentax X70 provides external measurements of 110mm x 83mm x 90mm (4.3" x 3.3" x 3.5") accompanied by a weight of 410 grams (0.90 lbs) whilst the Sigma DP2 Merrill has dimensions 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 Pentax X70 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you choose at the time. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the X70 and the DP2 Merrill.

Pentax X70 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the X70 and DP2 Merrill is 71 and 83 respectively.

Pentax X70 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill top view buttons comparison

Pentax X70 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very difficult to picture the gap in sensor sizes only by viewing specs. The pic underneath will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the X70 and DP2 Merrill.

All in all, both of those cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The X70 with its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field trickier and the Sigma DP2 Merrill will result in more detail using its extra 3 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop pics a bit more aggressively. The more aged X70 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Pentax X70 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill sensor size comparison

Pentax X70 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax X70 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax X70
Portrait photography with Sigma DP2 Merrill
28
manual focus
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
73
manual focus
good MP (15 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Pentax X70 Street photography highlights
Sigma DP2 Merrill Street photography highlights
46
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no moving screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
65
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
no moving screen
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Pentax X70 Sports photography advice
Sigma DP2 Merrill Sports photography advice
50
long zoom range (26-624mm 24.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking focus
comes with phase detect auto focus
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
44
good MP (15 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
fixed focal length (50mm)
continuous shooting slow (4.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax X70 as a Travel photography camera
Sigma DP2 Merrill as a Travel photography camera
52
has built in flash
pretty wide (26mm)
great zoom (624mm)
no Timelapse mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
54
good MP (15MP)
lack of Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax X70
Landscape photography with Sigma DP2 Merrill
35
manual focus
pretty wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
no Timelapse mode
55
manual focus
screen size is good (3 inches)
good MP (15 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
supports RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (50mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
no image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax X70 Vlogging advice
Sigma DP2 Merrill Vlogging advice
24
pretty wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no microphone port
22
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low res video (640 x 480 pixels)
lack of mic port
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Pentax X70 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax X70 and Sigma DP2 Merrill
 Pentax X70Sigma DP2 Merrill
General Information
Make Pentax Sigma
Model Pentax X70 Sigma DP2 Merrill
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Compact
Revealed 2009-03-02 2012-02-08
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Dual TRUE II engine
Sensor type CCD 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 12 megapixel 15 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4704 x 3136
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 50 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 26-624mm (24.0x) 50mm (1x)
Max aperture f/2.8-5.0 f/2.8
Macro focus range 10cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds -
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds -
Continuous shutter speed - 4.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 9.10 m no built-in flash
Flash options - no built-in flash
External flash
AEB
White balance 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), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 640x480
Max video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 410g (0.90 pounds) 330g (0.73 pounds)
Physical dimensions 110 x 83 x 90mm (4.3" x 3.3" x 3.5") 122 x 67 x 59mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery model D-LI92 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) -
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC, Internal -
Storage slots 1 1
Retail price $200 $931