Ricoh WG-5 GPS vs Sigma DP3 Merrill

In this article, we are reviewing the Ricoh WG-5 GPS versus Sigma DP3 Merrill, one being a Waterproof and the other is a Large Sensor Compact by competitors Ricoh and Sigma. The sensor resolution of the WG-5 GPS (16MP) and the DP3 Merrill (15MP) is very close but the WG-5 GPS (1/2.3") and DP3 Merrill (APS-C) come with totally different sensor dimensions.

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The WG-5 GPS was brought out 2 years later than the DP3 Merrill and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras offer different body type with the Ricoh WG-5 GPS being a Compact camera and the Sigma DP3 Merrill being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before going straight into a complete comparison, below is a brief view of how the WG-5 GPS scores vs the DP3 Merrill with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Ricoh WG-5 GPS and Sigma DP3 Merrill. The entire galleries are provided at Ricoh WG-5 GPS Gallery and Sigma DP3 Merrill Gallery.

If you are aiming to carry your camera often, you will need to factor in its weight and size. The Ricoh WG-5 GPS enjoys external dimensions of 125mm x 65mm x 32mm (4.9" x 2.6" x 1.3") having a weight of 236 grams (0.52 lbs) while the Sigma DP3 Merrill has specifications of 122mm x 67mm x 59mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.3") with a weight of 330 grams (0.73 lbs).

Examine the Ricoh WG-5 GPS versus Sigma DP3 Merrill in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. Underneath is the front view physical size comparison of the WG-5 GPS and the DP3 Merrill.

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the WG-5 GPS and DP3 Merrill is 90 and 83 respectively.

In many cases, it can be tough to visualise the contrast in sensor sizing only by viewing technical specs. The photograph below might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the WG-5 GPS and DP3 Merrill.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The WG-5 GPS because of its smaller sensor will make getting shallow depth of field tougher and the Ricoh WG-5 GPS will result in extra detail having its extra 1MP. Greater resolution will help you crop images far more aggressively. The more recent WG-5 GPS will have an edge in sensor technology.