Ricoh WG-5 GPS vs Sigma SD1 Merrill

Let's take a closer look at the Ricoh WG-5 GPS and Sigma SD1 Merrill, one being a Waterproof and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by companies Ricoh and Sigma. The sensor resolution of the WG-5 GPS (16MP) and the SD1 Merrill (15MP) is relatively similar but the WG-5 GPS (1/2.3") and SD1 Merrill (APS-C) use different sensor dimensions.

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The WG-5 GPS was unveiled 2 years later than the SD1 Merrill and that is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Ricoh WG-5 GPS being a Compact camera and the Sigma SD1 Merrill being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going through a in-depth comparison, below is a concise summary of how the WG-5 GPS scores versus the SD1 Merrill for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Here is a preview of the gallery photos for Ricoh WG-5 GPS and Sigma SD1 Merrill. The full galleries are viewable at Ricoh WG-5 GPS Gallery and Sigma SD1 Merrill Gallery.

For those who are planning to carry your camera, you will have to think about its weight and volume. The Ricoh WG-5 GPS features outer measurements of 125mm x 65mm x 32mm (4.9" x 2.6" x 1.3") and a weight of 236 grams (0.52 lbs) and the Sigma SD1 Merrill has sizing of 146mm x 113mm x 80mm (5.7" x 4.4" x 3.1") along with a weight of 790 grams (1.74 lbs).

Compare the Ricoh WG-5 GPS and Sigma SD1 Merrill in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have at that moment. Here is the front view sizing comparison of the WG-5 GPS and the SD1 Merrill.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the WG-5 GPS and SD1 Merrill is 90 and 57 respectively.

In many cases, it is very hard to imagine the gap between sensor sizing purely by reading specs. The visual below should provide you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the WG-5 GPS and SD1 Merrill.

All in all, each of the cameras enjoy different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The WG-5 GPS having a tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF tougher and the Ricoh WG-5 GPS will offer you more detail having an extra 1 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots far more aggressively. The newer WG-5 GPS provides an edge when it comes to sensor tech.