Pentax XG-1 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill

Its time to examine more in depth at the Pentax XG-1 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Large Sensor Compact by companies Pentax and Sigma. The sensor resolution of the XG-1 (16MP) and the DP2 Merrill (15MP) is fairly comparable but the XG-1 (1/2.3") and DP2 Merrill (APS-C) use totally different sensor measurements.

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The XG-1 was introduced 2 years after the DP2 Merrill which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Pentax XG-1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sigma DP2 Merrill being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before we go through a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the XG-1 scores against the DP2 Merrill when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Pentax XG-1 and Sigma DP2 Merrill. The whole galleries are provided at Pentax XG-1 Gallery and Sigma DP2 Merrill Gallery.

For anyone who is looking to carry around your camera often, you have to consider its weight and measurements. The Pentax XG-1 enjoys exterior measurements 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 DP2 Merrill has proportions of 122mm x 67mm x 59mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.3") accompanied by a weight of 330 grams (0.73 lbs).

Contrast the Pentax XG-1 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Following is the front view over all size comparison of the XG-1 compared to the DP2 Merrill.

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the XG-1 and DP2 Merrill is 66 and 83 respectively.

Oftentimes, its hard to envision the contrast in sensor sizes simply by seeing specifications. The image below might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the XG-1 and DP2 Merrill.

To sum up, both of these cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The XG-1 using its smaller sensor will make shooting bokeh trickier and the Pentax XG-1 will show more detail using its extra 1MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop images somewhat more aggressively. The more modern XG-1 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.