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Pentax X90 vs Sigma DP1 Merrill

Portability
69
Imaging
35
Features
34
Overall
34
Pentax X90 front
 
Sigma DP1 Merrill front
Portability
82
Imaging
56
Features
30
Overall
45

Pentax X90 vs Sigma DP1 Merrill Key Specs

Pentax X90
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-676mm (F2.8-5.0) lens
  • 428g - 111 x 85 x 110mm
  • Revealed July 2010
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
  • New Model is Sigma DP2 Merrill
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Pentax X90 vs Sigma DP1 Merrill Overview

Following is a extensive comparison of the Pentax X90 versus Sigma DP1 Merrill, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Large Sensor Compact by brands Pentax and Sigma. The sensor resolution of the X90 (12MP) and the DP1 Merrill (15MP) is very comparable but the X90 (1/2.3") and DP1 Merrill (APS-C) feature different sensor dimensions.

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The X90 was unveiled 19 months earlier than the DP1 Merrill making the cameras a generation away from each other. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Pentax X90 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sigma DP1 Merrill being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before going straight into a complete comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the X90 matches up vs the DP1 Merrill with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Pentax X90 over the Sigma DP1 Merrill

 X90 DP1 Merrill 
Display sizing2.7""Larger display (+2.7")

Reasons to pick Sigma DP1 Merrill over the Pentax X90

 DP1 Merrill X90 
ReleasedFebruary 2012July 2010More modern by 19 months
Display resolution920k230kCrisper display (+690k dot)

Common features in the Pentax X90 and Sigma DP1 Merrill

 X90 DP1 Merrill 
Manually focus More accurate focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Pentax X90 vs Sigma DP1 Merrill Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you will need to think about its weight and volume. The Pentax X90 provides external dimensions of 111mm x 85mm x 110mm (4.4" x 3.3" x 4.3") with a weight of 428 grams (0.94 lbs) while the Sigma DP1 Merrill has sizing of 122mm x 67mm x 64mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.5") and a weight of 330 grams (0.73 lbs).

Look at the Pentax X90 versus Sigma DP1 Merrill in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. Following is the front view measurements comparison of the X90 against the DP1 Merrill.

Pentax X90 vs Sigma DP1 Merrill size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the X90 and DP1 Merrill is 69 and 82 respectively.

Pentax X90 vs Sigma DP1 Merrill top view buttons comparison

Pentax X90 vs Sigma DP1 Merrill Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is difficult to imagine the difference in sensor sizes merely by checking out specs. The picture underneath will offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the X90 and DP1 Merrill.

All in all, the two cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The X90 with its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF more difficult and the Sigma DP1 Merrill will produce greater detail having an extra 3 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop photos a little more aggressively. The more aged X90 will be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Pentax X90 vs Sigma DP1 Merrill sensor size comparison

Pentax X90 vs Sigma DP1 Merrill Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax X90 vs Sigma DP1 Merrill Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax X90
Portrait photography with Sigma DP1 Merrill
29
you can focus manually
can't use external flash
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
73
has manual focus
megapixel count good (15MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Pentax X90 as a Street photography camera
Sigma DP1 Merrill as a Street photography camera
45
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
64
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Pentax X90 Sports photography features
Sigma DP1 Merrill Sports photography features
42
amazing zoom range (26-676mm 26.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features tracking autofocus
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
48
megapixel count good (15 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
can't change focal length (()mm)
lack of image stabilization
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Pentax X90 Travel photography details
Sigma DP1 Merrill Travel photography details
51
has built in flash
reasonably wide (26mm)
great reach (676mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
low resolution sensor (12MP)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
54
megapixel count good (15MP)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Pentax X90
Landscape photography with Sigma DP1 Merrill
35
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.7")
low resolution sensor (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
lack of Timelapse mode
50
has manual focus
megapixel count good (15MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
can't change focal length (()mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is small ( inch)
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Pentax X90
Vlogging with Sigma DP1 Merrill
23
reasonably wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external microphone support
22
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low res video (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone support
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Pentax X90 vs Sigma DP1 Merrill Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax X90 and Sigma DP1 Merrill
 Pentax X90Sigma DP1 Merrill
General Information
Brand Name Pentax Sigma
Model type Pentax X90 Sigma DP1 Merrill
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Compact
Revealed 2010-07-06 2012-02-08
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Prime Dual TRUE II engine
Sensor type CCD CMOS (Foveon X3)
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 24 x 16mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 384.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 15MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4704 x 3136
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 26-676mm (26.0x) ()
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.0 f/2.8
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.7 inches -
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds -
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 9.10 m no built-in flash
Flash options - no built-in flash
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
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, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 640 x 480
Highest video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 428 gr (0.94 lbs) 330 gr (0.73 lbs)
Dimensions 111 x 85 x 110mm (4.4" x 3.3" x 4.3") 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 ID D-L106 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) -
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC, Internal -
Card slots 1 1
Price at launch $350 $1,250