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Samsung PL170 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill

Portability
99
Imaging
39
Features
20
Overall
31
Samsung PL170 front
 
Sigma DP2 Merrill front
Portability
83
Imaging
56
Features
33
Overall
46

Samsung PL170 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill Key Specs

Samsung PL170
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 0 - 3200
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • ()mm (F) lens
  • n/ag - 95 x 57 x 19mm
  • Released January 2011
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
  • Revealed February 2012
  • Previous Model is Sigma DP1 Merrill
  • Renewed by Sigma DP3 Merrill
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Samsung PL170 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill Overview

Let's examine more closely at the Samsung PL170 versus Sigma DP2 Merrill, one is a Ultracompact and the other is a Large Sensor Compact by companies Samsung and Sigma. The image resolution of the PL170 (16MP) and the DP2 Merrill (15MP) is fairly similar but the PL170 (1/2.3") and DP2 Merrill (APS-C) possess different sensor dimensions.

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The PL170 was announced 13 months earlier than the DP2 Merrill making the cameras a generation away from one another. Both cameras come with different body type with the Samsung PL170 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sigma DP2 Merrill being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before going in to a in-depth comparison, below is a simple summation of how the PL170 matches up versus the DP2 Merrill with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Samsung PL170 over the Sigma DP2 Merrill

 PL170 DP2 Merrill 

Reasons to pick Sigma DP2 Merrill over the Samsung PL170

 DP2 Merrill PL170 
RevealedFebruary 2012January 2011Newer by 13 months
Focus manually Dial exact focus
Display resolution920k230kSharper display (+690k dot)

Common features in the Samsung PL170 and Sigma DP2 Merrill

 PL170 DP2 Merrill 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither includes Touch friendly display

Samsung PL170 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill Physical Comparison

If you are going to travel with your camera often, you're going to have to think about its weight and proportions. The Samsung PL170 features exterior measurements of 95mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") and a weight of n/a grams (0.00 lbs) and the Sigma DP2 Merrill has measurements of 122mm x 67mm x 59mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.3") along with a weight of 330 grams (0.73 lbs).

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Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you select at that moment. Here is the front view dimensions comparison of the PL170 versus the DP2 Merrill.

Samsung PL170 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the PL170 and DP2 Merrill is 99 and 83 respectively.

Samsung PL170 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill top view buttons comparison

Samsung PL170 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be hard to imagine the contrast between sensor dimensions simply by reviewing a spec sheet. The pic here may offer you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the PL170 and DP2 Merrill.

Clearly, both cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The PL170 with its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF more challenging and the Samsung PL170 will deliver more detail with its extra 1MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics much more aggressively. The more aged PL170 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor technology.

Samsung PL170 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill sensor size comparison

Samsung PL170 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung PL170 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung PL170 as a Portrait photography camera
Sigma DP2 Merrill as a Portrait photography camera
30
good MP (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
73
you can focus manually
MP count good (15MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Samsung PL170
Street photography with Sigma DP2 Merrill
50
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
65
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Samsung PL170 Sports photography information
Sigma DP2 Merrill Sports photography information
27
good MP (16MP)
fixed focal length (()mm)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
44
MP count good (15 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
fixed focal length (50mm)
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Samsung PL170 Travel photography advice
Sigma DP2 Merrill Travel photography advice
71
good MP (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
good max aperture (f)
no Time Lapse mode
does not have selfie friendly display
54
MP count good (15MP)
lack of Time Lapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung PL170 Landscape photography features
Sigma DP2 Merrill Landscape photography features
39
good max aperture (f)
nice screen size (3 inches)
good MP (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (()mm)
manual exposure not possible
no image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
no Time Lapse mode
55
you can focus manually
screen is a good size (3")
MP count good (15MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (50mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not have image stabilization
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Samsung PL170 Vlogging features
Sigma DP2 Merrill Vlogging features
27
good max aperture (f)
does not have selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic jack
22
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low res video (640 x 480 pxls)
lack of mic port
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Samsung PL170 vs Sigma DP2 Merrill Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung PL170 and Sigma DP2 Merrill
 Samsung PL170Sigma DP2 Merrill
General Information
Company Samsung Sigma
Model type Samsung PL170 Sigma DP2 Merrill
Type Ultracompact Large Sensor Compact
Released 2011-01-05 2012-02-08
Body design Ultracompact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Dual TRUE II engine
Sensor type CCD CMOS (Foveon X3)
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 24 x 16mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 384.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 15 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4704 x 3136
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO - 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range () 50mm (1x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.8
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3" 3"
Display resolution 230k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 8 secs -
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs -
Continuous shutter speed - 4.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - no built-in flash
Flash settings - 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 1280 x 720 640x480
Max video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video file format - Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB none USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight - 330 gr (0.73 lbs)
Dimensions 95 x 57 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") 122 x 67 x 59mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Time lapse recording
Storage slots One One
Retail cost $175 $931