Pentax X90 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill

Lets look more closely at the Pentax X90 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Large Sensor Compact by rivals Pentax and Sigma. The image resolution of the X90 (12MP) and the DP2 Merrill (15MP) is very well matched but the X90 (1/2.3") and DP2 Merrill (APS-C) boast different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The X90 was manufactured 19 months prior to the DP2 Merrill making them a generation away from each other. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Pentax X90 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sigma DP2 Merrill being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before going straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a short highlight of how the X90 scores against the DP2 Merrill with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Pentax X90 and Sigma DP2 Merrill. The entire galleries are viewable at Pentax X90 Gallery and Sigma DP2 Merrill Gallery.

For anybody who is going to travel with your camera often, you will want to take into account its weight and proportions. The Pentax X90 has external measurements of 111mm x 85mm x 110mm (4.4" x 3.3" x 4.3") with a weight of 428 grams (0.94 lbs) whilst the Sigma DP2 Merrill has measurements of 122mm x 67mm x 59mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.3") along with a weight of 330 grams (0.73 lbs).

See the Pentax X90 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have attached at that moment. Here is a front view sizing comparison of the X90 versus the DP2 Merrill.

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the X90 and DP2 Merrill is 69 and 83 respectively.

Usually, its difficult to visualize the gap between sensor dimensions simply by checking specifications. The image here should give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the X90 and DP2 Merrill.

To sum up, the two cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The X90 due to its tinier sensor is going to make achieving bokeh more challenging and the Sigma DP2 Merrill will give extra detail due to its extra 3MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics way more aggressively. The more aged X90 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.