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Pentax XG-1 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill

Portability
66
Imaging
40
Features
37
Overall
38
Pentax XG-1 front
 
Sigma DP3 Merrill front
Portability
83
Imaging
56
Features
33
Overall
46

Pentax XG-1 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill Key Specs

Pentax XG-1
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1248mm (F2.8-5.6) lens
  • 567g - 119 x 89 x 98mm
  • Revealed July 2014
Sigma DP3 Merrill
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 75mm (F2.8) lens
  • 330g - 122 x 67 x 59mm
  • Released January 2013
  • Older Model is Sigma DP2 Merrill
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Pentax XG-1 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill Overview

Here is a extensive assessment of the Pentax XG-1 versus Sigma DP3 Merrill, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by competitors Pentax and Sigma. The image resolution of the XG-1 (16MP) and the DP3 Merrill (15MP) is relatively close but the XG-1 (1/2.3") and DP3 Merrill (APS-C) come with different sensor size.

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The XG-1 was brought out 19 months later than the DP3 Merrill which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Pentax XG-1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sigma DP3 Merrill being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before diving through a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief overview of how the XG-1 matches up against the DP3 Merrill for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Pentax XG-1 over the Sigma DP3 Merrill

 XG-1 DP3 Merrill 
ReleasedJuly 2014January 2013Fresher by 19 months

Reasons to pick Sigma DP3 Merrill over the Pentax XG-1

 DP3 Merrill XG-1 
Screen resolution920k460kSharper screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Pentax XG-1 and Sigma DP3 Merrill

 XG-1 DP3 Merrill 
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen size
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Pentax XG-1 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry your camera regularly, you need to think about its weight and size. The Pentax XG-1 has exterior dimensions of 119mm x 89mm x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9") having a weight of 567 grams (1.25 lbs) whilst the Sigma DP3 Merrill has specifications of 122mm x 67mm x 59mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.3") with a weight of 330 grams (0.73 lbs).

Examine the Pentax XG-1 versus Sigma DP3 Merrill in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you choose at the time. Here is the front view measurement comparison of the XG-1 and the DP3 Merrill.

Pentax XG-1 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the XG-1 and DP3 Merrill is 66 and 83 respectively.

Pentax XG-1 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill top view buttons comparison

Pentax XG-1 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very hard to visualize the difference in sensor sizing purely by researching specifications. The photograph underneath will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the XG-1 and DP3 Merrill.

Plainly, each of these cameras posses different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The XG-1 because of its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field more difficult and the Pentax XG-1 will result in greater detail having its extra 1 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The newer XG-1 should have an advantage with regard to sensor tech.

Pentax XG-1 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill sensor size comparison

Pentax XG-1 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill Screen and ViewFinder

Pentax XG-1 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Pentax XG-1
Portrait photography with Sigma DP3 Merrill
40
manual focus
decent MP (16 megapixels)
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
73
has manual focus
good MP (15MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Street photography information
Sigma DP3 Merrill Street photography information
43
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no moving screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
heavier than others (567g)
65
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Pentax XG-1
Sports photography with Sigma DP3 Merrill
45
incredible zoom range (24-1248mm 52.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (240 per charge)
lacks phase detect AF
44
good MP (15MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
fixed focal length (75mm)
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
does not have image stabilization
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Travel photography information
Sigma DP3 Merrill Travel photography information
52
decent MP (16MP)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (24mm)
very long reach (1248mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
not so great battery pack (240 CIPA)
heavier than others (567 grams)
does not have selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
54
good MP (15MP)
no Time Lapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Pentax XG-1 as a Landscape photography camera
Sigma DP3 Merrill as a Landscape photography camera
45
manual focus
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
not so great battery pack (240 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
55
has manual focus
screen size is good (3 inch)
good MP (15 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (75mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not have image stabilization
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Pentax XG-1 Vlogging advice
Sigma DP3 Merrill Vlogging advice
25
reasonably wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
does not have selfie friendly screen
doesn't have mic jack
heavier than others (567g)
22
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video resolution low (640 x 480 resolution)
no mic port
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Pentax XG-1 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Pentax XG-1 and Sigma DP3 Merrill
 Pentax XG-1Sigma DP3 Merrill
General Information
Make Pentax Sigma
Model type Pentax XG-1 Sigma DP3 Merrill
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Compact
Revealed 2014-07-15 2013-01-08
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Dual TRUE II engine
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS (Foveon X3)
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 24 x 16mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 384.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 15MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4704 x 3136
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-1248mm (52.0x) 75mm (1x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.6 f/2.8
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.8 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 460 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 200 thousand dot -
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs -
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs -
Continuous shooting speed 9.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.00 m no built-in flash
Flash options Force Off, Flash Auto, Force Flash, Slow Sync., Slow Sync. + Red-Eye, Red-Eye Reduction no built-in flash
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (120 fps) 640 x 480
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 567 gr (1.25 pounds) 330 gr (0.73 pounds)
Dimensions 119 x 89 x 98mm (4.7" x 3.5" x 3.9") 122 x 67 x 59mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.3")
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 life 240 shots -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID LB-060 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) -
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC -
Storage slots Single Single
Retail cost $599 $1,353