Pentax XG-1 vs Sigma DP1 Merrill

Lets look a little more closely at the Pentax XG-1 versus Sigma DP1 Merrill, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Large Sensor Compact by manufacturers Pentax and Sigma. The sensor resolution of the XG-1 (16MP) and the DP1 Merrill (15MP) is fairly well matched but the XG-1 (1/2.3") and DP1 Merrill (APS-C) have totally different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The XG-1 was launched 2 years after the DP1 Merrill which is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Pentax XG-1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sigma DP1 Merrill being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before diving into a thorough comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the XG-1 scores versus the DP1 Merrill in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Pentax XG-1 and Sigma DP1 Merrill. The complete galleries are provided at Pentax XG-1 Gallery and Sigma DP1 Merrill Gallery.

For anybody who is intending to travel with your camera frequently, you'll need to factor its weight and proportions. The Pentax XG-1 comes with outside dimensions of 119mm x 89mm x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9") with a weight of 567 grams (1.25 lbs) and the Sigma DP1 Merrill has measurements of 122mm x 67mm x 64mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.5") accompanied by a weight of 330 grams (0.73 lbs).

Compare the Pentax XG-1 versus Sigma DP1 Merrill in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are using at that time. The following is a front view measurements comparison of the XG-1 against the DP1 Merrill.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the XG-1 and DP1 Merrill is 66 and 82 respectively.

Oftentimes, it is difficult to see the contrast between sensor dimensions merely by looking at specs. The image underneath may offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the XG-1 and DP1 Merrill.

All in all, each of the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The XG-1 due to its tinier sensor will make shooting shallower DOF more challenging and the Pentax XG-1 will give you more detail utilizing its extra 1 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop pics a bit more aggressively. The newer XG-1 is going to have an advantage in sensor tech.