Ricoh WG-30 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill

Let's look closer at the Ricoh WG-30 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill, former being a Waterproof while the latter is a Advanced DSLR by companies Ricoh and Sigma. The resolution of the WG-30 (16MP) and the SD1 Merrill (15MP) is relatively close but the WG-30 (1/2.3") and SD1 Merrill (APS-C) provide different sensor dimensions.

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The WG-30 was launched 2 years later than the SD1 Merrill and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras have different body design with the Ricoh WG-30 being a Compact camera and the Sigma SD1 Merrill being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before diving straight to a in depth comparison, here is a quick view of how the WG-30 grades vs the SD1 Merrill in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Below is a preview of the gallery photos for Ricoh WG-30 & Sigma SD1 Merrill. The complete galleries are available at Ricoh WG-30 Gallery & Sigma SD1 Merrill Gallery.

If you're planning to carry your camera regularly, you'll need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Ricoh WG-30 enjoys exterior dimensions of 123mm x 62mm x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") having a weight of 192 grams (0.42 lbs) while the Sigma SD1 Merrill has dimensions of 146mm x 113mm x 80mm (5.7" x 4.4" x 3.1") accompanied by a weight of 790 grams (1.74 lbs).

See the Ricoh WG-30 vs Sigma SD1 Merrill in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Below is a front view measurements comparison of the WG-30 versus the SD1 Merrill.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the WG-30 and SD1 Merrill is 91 and 57 respectively.

Typically, it is very difficult to imagine the difference in sensor sizing simply by viewing technical specs. The photograph below might give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the WG-30 and SD1 Merrill.

As you have seen, both of the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The WG-30 due to its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field tougher and the Ricoh WG-30 will result in more detail utilizing its extra 1MP. Higher resolution will let you crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The more recent WG-30 provides a benefit in sensor innovation.