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Ricoh WG-30W vs Sigma DP2 Merrill

Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
34
Overall
37
Ricoh WG-30W front
 
Sigma DP2 Merrill front
Portability
83
Imaging
56
Features
33
Overall
46

Ricoh WG-30W vs Sigma DP2 Merrill Key Specs

Ricoh WG-30W
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Digital Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.5-5.5) lens
  • 194g - 123 x 62 x 30mm
  • Released October 2014
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
  • Superseded the Sigma DP1 Merrill
  • Newer Model is Sigma DP3 Merrill
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Ricoh WG-30W vs Sigma DP2 Merrill Overview

On this page, we will be analyzing the Ricoh WG-30W and Sigma DP2 Merrill, former being a Waterproof while the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by manufacturers Ricoh and Sigma. The sensor resolution of the WG-30W (16MP) and the DP2 Merrill (15MP) is relatively well matched but the WG-30W (1/2.3") and DP2 Merrill (APS-C) boast totally different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The WG-30W was manufactured 2 years later than the DP2 Merrill and that is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Ricoh WG-30W being a Compact camera and the Sigma DP2 Merrill being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before getting into a in depth comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the WG-30W grades vs the DP2 Merrill with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Ricoh WG-30W over the Sigma DP2 Merrill

 WG-30W DP2 Merrill 
IntroducedOctober 2014February 2012More recent by 33 months

Reasons to pick Sigma DP2 Merrill over the Ricoh WG-30W

 DP2 Merrill WG-30W 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kCrisper screen (+690k dot)

Common features in the Ricoh WG-30W and Sigma DP2 Merrill

 WG-30W DP2 Merrill 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Ricoh WG-30W vs Sigma DP2 Merrill Physical Comparison

In case you're going to lug around your camera, you need to think about its weight and proportions. The Ricoh WG-30W has exterior measurements of 123mm x 62mm x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") accompanied by a weight of 194 grams (0.43 lbs) whilst the Sigma DP2 Merrill has measurements of 122mm x 67mm x 59mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.3") and a weight of 330 grams (0.73 lbs).

Take a look at the Ricoh WG-30W and Sigma DP2 Merrill in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are using at the time. The following is a front view scale comparison of the WG-30W vs the DP2 Merrill.

Ricoh WG-30W vs Sigma DP2 Merrill size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the WG-30W and DP2 Merrill is 91 and 83 respectively.

Ricoh WG-30W vs Sigma DP2 Merrill top view buttons comparison

Ricoh WG-30W vs Sigma DP2 Merrill Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its difficult to visualise the gap between sensor measurements just by looking at specs. The graphic below will give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the WG-30W and DP2 Merrill.

All in all, both the cameras have different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The WG-30W because of its tinier sensor will make achieving shallower DOF tougher and the Ricoh WG-30W will resolve extra detail due to its extra 1 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The younger WG-30W is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.

Ricoh WG-30W vs Sigma DP2 Merrill sensor size comparison

Ricoh WG-30W vs Sigma DP2 Merrill Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh WG-30W vs Sigma DP2 Merrill Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Ricoh WG-30W
Portrait photography with Sigma DP2 Merrill
35
megapixel count decent (16MP)
includes face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
73
manual focus
good MP (15 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Ricoh WG-30W
Street photography with Sigma DP2 Merrill
61
built in image stabilization (Digital)
environment proofing
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
65
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Ricoh WG-30W Sports photography factors
Sigma DP2 Merrill Sports photography factors
45
built in image stabilization (Digital)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
includes tracking focus
environment proofing
slow fps (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
44
good MP (15MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
fixed focal length (50mm)
max frames per second very slow (4.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Ricoh WG-30W as a Travel photography camera
Sigma DP2 Merrill as a Travel photography camera
71
environment proofing
megapixel count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (28mm)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
54
good MP (15MP)
missing Time Lapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Ricoh WG-30W as a Landscape photography camera
Sigma DP2 Merrill as a Landscape photography camera
43
rather wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Digital)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
environment proofing
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is small (2.7")
no manual exposure
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
55
manual focus
nice screen size (3 inches)
good MP (15MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW files
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (50mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
lack of image stabilization
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Ricoh WG-30W
Vlogging with Sigma DP2 Merrill
33
rather wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Digital)
includes face detect autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of microphone socket
22
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video res low (640 x 480 resolution)
missing mic support
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Ricoh WG-30W vs Sigma DP2 Merrill Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh WG-30W and Sigma DP2 Merrill
 Ricoh WG-30WSigma DP2 Merrill
General Information
Brand Name Ricoh Sigma
Model Ricoh WG-30W Sigma DP2 Merrill
Category Waterproof Large Sensor Compact
Released 2014-10-09 2012-02-08
Physical type Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Dual TRUE II engine
Sensor type 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 16 megapixel 15 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 -
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4704 x 3136
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 125 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) 50mm (1x)
Highest aperture f/3.5-5.5 f/2.8
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds -
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds -
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per sec 4.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.90 m (Auto ISO) no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, flash off, flash on, auto + redeye no built-in flash
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 640x480
Max video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video format H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 194 grams (0.43 lb) 330 grams (0.73 lb)
Physical dimensions 123 x 62 x 30mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 1.2") 122 x 67 x 59mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 300 images -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model D-LI92 -
Self timer Yes -
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, internal -
Card slots One One
Pricing at launch $280 $931