Ricoh CX5 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill

Here is a comprehensive analysis of the Ricoh CX5 and Sigma DP2 Merrill, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by companies Ricoh and Sigma. There exists a crucial gap among the sensor resolutions of the CX5 (10MP) and DP2 Merrill (15MP) and the CX5 (1/2.3") and DP2 Merrill (APS-C) come with different sensor measurements.

Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

The CX5 was released 6 months prior to the DP2 Merrill so they are both of a similar generation. Both of the cameras come with different body type with the Ricoh CX5 being a Compact camera and the Sigma DP2 Merrill being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before delving straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a short summary of how the CX5 grades against the DP2 Merrill in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Ricoh CX5 and Sigma DP2 Merrill. The complete galleries are provided at Ricoh CX5 Gallery and Sigma DP2 Merrill Gallery.

In case you're planning to carry your camera frequently, you should consider its weight and dimensions. The Ricoh CX5 features external measurements of 102mm x 59mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 205 grams (0.45 lbs) whilst the Sigma DP2 Merrill has dimensions of 122mm x 67mm x 59mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.3") with a weight of 330 grams (0.73 lbs).

Contrast the Ricoh CX5 and Sigma DP2 Merrill in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are employing at that time. Following is the front view dimension comparison of the CX5 versus the DP2 Merrill.

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the CX5 and DP2 Merrill is 92 and 83 respectively.

More often than not, it is very difficult to visualize the difference in sensor sizing simply by looking through a spec sheet. The graphic here may provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the CX5 and DP2 Merrill.

As you can see, both of these cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The CX5 due to its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF more challenging and the Sigma DP2 Merrill will result in greater detail as a result of its extra 5MP. Higher resolution will help you crop pictures somewhat more aggressively.