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Ricoh WG-4 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill

Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
44
Overall
41
Ricoh WG-4 front
 
Sigma DP2 Merrill front
Portability
83
Imaging
56
Features
33
Overall
46

Ricoh WG-4 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill Key Specs

Ricoh WG-4
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 230g - 124 x 64 x 33mm
  • Introduced February 2014
Sigma DP2 Merrill
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 50mm (F2.8) lens
  • 330g - 122 x 67 x 59mm
  • Launched February 2012
  • Previous Model is Sigma DP1 Merrill
  • Refreshed by Sigma DP3 Merrill
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Ricoh WG-4 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill Overview

On this page, we are evaluating the Ricoh WG-4 versus Sigma DP2 Merrill, one is a Waterproof and the other is a Large Sensor Compact by brands Ricoh and Sigma. The resolution of the WG-4 (16MP) and the DP2 Merrill (15MP) is fairly comparable but the WG-4 (1/2.3") and DP2 Merrill (APS-C) offer different sensor sizes.

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The WG-4 was launched 2 years after the DP2 Merrill which is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have different body design with the Ricoh WG-4 being a Compact camera and the Sigma DP2 Merrill being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before going into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple summation of how the WG-4 scores against the DP2 Merrill in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Ricoh WG-4 over the Sigma DP2 Merrill

 WG-4 DP2 Merrill 
LaunchedFebruary 2014February 2012Newer by 25 months

Reasons to pick Sigma DP2 Merrill over the Ricoh WG-4

 DP2 Merrill WG-4 
Display resolution920k460kSharper display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Ricoh WG-4 and Sigma DP2 Merrill

 WG-4 DP2 Merrill 
Manually focus More accurate focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Ricoh WG-4 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill Physical Comparison

If you're going to travel with your camera, you will want to consider its weight and volume. The Ricoh WG-4 provides outside dimensions of 124mm x 64mm x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 230 grams (0.51 lbs) and the Sigma DP2 Merrill has sizing 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 WG-4 versus Sigma DP2 Merrill in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are employing at that time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the WG-4 vs the DP2 Merrill.

Ricoh WG-4 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the WG-4 and DP2 Merrill is 90 and 83 respectively.

Ricoh WG-4 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill top view buttons comparison

Ricoh WG-4 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its tough to visualize the gap in sensor dimensions merely by checking out technical specs. The pic below may give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the WG-4 and DP2 Merrill.

As you can tell, both the cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The WG-4 due to its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF trickier and the Ricoh WG-4 will provide greater detail utilizing its extra 1 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop images more aggressively. The more modern WG-4 should have an advantage in sensor innovation.

Ricoh WG-4 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill sensor size comparison

Ricoh WG-4 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill Screen and ViewFinder

Ricoh WG-4 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Ricoh WG-4 Portrait photography factors
Sigma DP2 Merrill Portrait photography factors
41
has manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
has face detect focusing
no manual control
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
73
has manual focus
MP count decent (15 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Ricoh WG-4 as a Street photography camera
Sigma DP2 Merrill as a Street photography camera
61
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment sealing
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
65
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Ricoh WG-4 Sports photography information
Sigma DP2 Merrill Sports photography information
45
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
has tracking focus
environment sealing
continuous shooting slow (2.0 fps)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery (240 CIPA)
lacks phase detect AF
44
MP count decent (15MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
focal length is fixed (50mm)
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
does not have phase detect auto focus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Ricoh WG-4 Travel photography advice
Sigma DP2 Merrill Travel photography advice
72
environment sealing
good MP (16MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
low battery (240 shots)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
54
MP count decent (15 megapixels)
no Time Lapse recording
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Ricoh WG-4
Landscape photography with Sigma DP2 Merrill
54
has manual focus
relatively wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (16 megapixels)
environment sealing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
no manual control
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
low battery (240 CIPA)
55
has manual focus
screen size is decent (3 inch)
MP count decent (15MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
focal length is fixed (50mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not have image stabilization
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Ricoh WG-4
Vlogging with Sigma DP2 Merrill
36
relatively wide (25mm)
fast max aperture (f2.0)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
lack of microphone socket
22
slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 pixels)
no mic support
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Ricoh WG-4 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Ricoh WG-4 and Sigma DP2 Merrill
 Ricoh WG-4Sigma DP2 Merrill
General Information
Brand Ricoh Sigma
Model Ricoh WG-4 Sigma DP2 Merrill
Category Waterproof Large Sensor Compact
Introduced 2014-02-05 2012-02-08
Physical type Compact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - 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 aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 -
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4704 x 3136
Highest native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 125 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-100mm (4.0x) 50mm (1x)
Maximal aperture f/2.0-4.9 f/2.8
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 460k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds -
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds -
Continuous shooting rate 2.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 10.00 m (Auto ISO) no built-in flash
Flash modes Auto, flash off, flash on, auto + redeye, on + redeye no built-in flash
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 30p) 640x480
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video format H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 230 grams (0.51 lb) 330 grams (0.73 lb)
Physical dimensions 124 x 64 x 33mm (4.9" x 2.5" x 1.3") 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 240 pictures -
Form of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model D-LI92 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) -
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC, internal -
Card slots One One
Launch pricing $330 $931