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Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sigma DP2 Merrill

Portability
92
Imaging
34
Features
35
Overall
34
Ricoh GR Digital III front
 
Sigma DP2 Merrill front
Portability
83
Imaging
56
Features
33
Overall
46

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sigma DP2 Merrill Key Specs

Ricoh GR Digital III
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 28mm (F1.9) lens
  • 208g - 109 x 59 x 26mm
  • Launched July 2009
  • Successor is Ricoh GR Digital IV
Sigma DP2 Merrill
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 50mm (F2.8) lens
  • 330g - 122 x 67 x 59mm
  • Introduced February 2012
  • Earlier Model is Sigma DP1 Merrill
  • New Model is Sigma DP3 Merrill
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Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sigma DP2 Merrill Overview

On this page, we will be looking at the Ricoh GR Digital III and Sigma DP2 Merrill, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by brands Ricoh and Sigma. There is a large difference among the sensor resolutions of the GR Digital III (10MP) and DP2 Merrill (15MP) and the GR Digital III (1/1.7") and DP2 Merrill (APS-C) posses different sensor sizes.

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The GR Digital III was launched 3 years before the DP2 Merrill and that is a fairly serious difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras have different body design with the Ricoh GR Digital III being a Compact camera and the Sigma DP2 Merrill being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before delving into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the GR Digital III scores against the DP2 Merrill when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Ricoh GR Digital III over the Sigma DP2 Merrill

 GR Digital III DP2 Merrill 

Reasons to pick Sigma DP2 Merrill over the Ricoh GR Digital III

 DP2 Merrill GR Digital III 
IntroducedFebruary 2012July 2009More recent by 30 months

Common features in the Ricoh GR Digital III and Sigma DP2 Merrill

 GR Digital III DP2 Merrill 
Manual focus More exact focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen dimensions
Screen resolution920k920kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither comes with Touch friendly screen

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sigma DP2 Merrill Physical Comparison

If you are looking to lug around your camera often, you will want to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Ricoh GR Digital III comes with outer dimensions of 109mm x 59mm x 26mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0") accompanied by a weight of 208 grams (0.46 lbs) and the Sigma DP2 Merrill has dimensions of 122mm x 67mm x 59mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.3") along with a weight of 330 grams (0.73 lbs).

Take a look at the Ricoh GR Digital III and Sigma DP2 Merrill in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you select at the time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the GR Digital III against the DP2 Merrill.

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sigma DP2 Merrill size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the GR Digital III and DP2 Merrill is 92 and 83 respectively.

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sigma DP2 Merrill top view buttons comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sigma DP2 Merrill Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is tough to visualize the gap in sensor measurements just by seeing specs. The visual here might give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the GR Digital III and DP2 Merrill.

All in all, the 2 cameras have different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The GR Digital III due to its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field tougher and the Sigma DP2 Merrill will provide greater detail utilizing its extra 5MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The older GR Digital III will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sigma DP2 Merrill sensor size comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sigma DP2 Merrill Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sigma DP2 Merrill Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Ricoh GR Digital III
Portrait photography with Sigma DP2 Merrill
40
has manual focus
supports RAW files
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
73
has manual focus
MP count decent (15 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III as a Street photography camera
Sigma DP2 Merrill as a Street photography camera
55
supports RAW files
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
65
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III Sports photography advice
Sigma DP2 Merrill Sports photography advice
17
focal length is fixed (28mm)
does not have image stabilization
low resolution sensor (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
no phase detect auto focus
44
MP count decent (15MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
fixed focal length (50mm)
slow fps (4.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III Travel photography details
Sigma DP2 Merrill Travel photography details
63
built-in flash
fast maximum aperture (f1.9)
low resolution sensor (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
54
MP count decent (15 megapixels)
does not have Time Lapse recording
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III as a Landscape photography camera
Sigma DP2 Merrill as a Landscape photography camera
45
has manual focus
fast maximum aperture (f1.9)
screen size is good (3")
supports RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
focal length is fixed (28mm)
does not have image stabilization
low resolution sensor (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
55
has manual focus
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
MP count decent (15MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (50mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
lack of image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Ricoh GR Digital III Vlogging advice
Sigma DP2 Merrill Vlogging advice
25
fast maximum aperture (f1.9)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 resolution)
missing mic socket
22
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
video quality not great (640 x 480 pxls)
does not have mic jack
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Ricoh GR Digital III vs Sigma DP2 Merrill Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh GR Digital III and Sigma DP2 Merrill
 Ricoh GR Digital IIISigma DP2 Merrill
General Information
Manufacturer Ricoh Sigma
Model type Ricoh GR Digital III Sigma DP2 Merrill
Class Small Sensor Compact Large Sensor Compact
Launched 2009-07-27 2012-02-08
Body design Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip GR engine III Dual TRUE II engine
Sensor type CCD CMOS (Foveon X3)
Sensor size 1/1.7" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 24 x 16mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 384.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 15 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2 -
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4704 x 3136
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 64 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28mm (1x) 50mm (1x)
Max aperture f/1.9 f/2.8
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Crop factor 4.8 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 920k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (optional) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 1 secs -
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs -
Continuous shooting speed - 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.00 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Manual no built-in flash
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps) 640x480
Highest video resolution 640x480 640x480
Video data format - Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 208 grams (0.46 lb) 330 grams (0.73 lb)
Physical dimensions 109 x 59 x 26mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.0") 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
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) -
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC, Internal -
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $399 $931