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Samsung PL170 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill

Portability
99
Imaging
39
Features
20
Overall
31
Samsung PL170 front
 
Sigma DP3 Merrill front
Portability
83
Imaging
57
Features
33
Overall
47

Samsung PL170 vs Sigma DP3 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
  • Launched January 2011
Sigma DP3 Merrill
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 75mm (F2.8) lens
  • 330g - 122 x 67 x 59mm
  • Introduced January 2013
  • Earlier Model is Sigma DP2 Merrill
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Samsung PL170 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill Overview

Below, we will be evaluating the Samsung PL170 versus Sigma DP3 Merrill, one being a Ultracompact and the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by manufacturers Samsung and Sigma. The sensor resolution of the PL170 (16MP) and the DP3 Merrill (15MP) is relatively well matched but the PL170 (1/2.3") and DP3 Merrill (APS-C) feature totally different sensor size.

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The PL170 was manufactured 24 months earlier than the DP3 Merrill which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Samsung PL170 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sigma DP3 Merrill being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before we go through a full comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the PL170 grades vs the DP3 Merrill when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Samsung PL170 over the Sigma DP3 Merrill

 PL170 DP3 Merrill 

Reasons to pick Sigma DP3 Merrill over the Samsung PL170

 DP3 Merrill PL170 
IntroducedJanuary 2013January 2011More recent by 24 months
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Screen resolution920k230kCrisper screen (+690k dot)

Common features in the Samsung PL170 and Sigma DP3 Merrill

 PL170 DP3 Merrill 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen size
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Samsung PL170 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to lug around your camera regularly, you are going to need to factor in its weight and volume. The Samsung PL170 comes with outside dimensions of 95mm x 57mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") along with a weight of n/a grams (0.00 lbs) whilst the Sigma DP3 Merrill has sizing of 122mm x 67mm x 59mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.3") and a weight of 330 grams (0.73 lbs).

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Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you use at the time. The following is the front view physical size comparison of the PL170 vs the DP3 Merrill.

Samsung PL170 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the PL170 and DP3 Merrill is 99 and 83 respectively.

Samsung PL170 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill top view buttons comparison

Samsung PL170 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very hard to see the difference between sensor measurements simply by checking a spec sheet. The photograph underneath will help offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the PL170 and DP3 Merrill.

As you can see, both of these cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The PL170 featuring a tinier sensor will make getting bokeh harder and the Samsung PL170 will resolve more detail due to its extra 1 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures much more aggressively. The older PL170 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Samsung PL170 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill sensor size comparison

Samsung PL170 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung PL170 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung PL170 Portrait photography advice
Sigma DP3 Merrill Portrait photography advice
30
resolution is good (16MP)
no manual focus
no manual control
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
74
focusing manually
good resolution (15 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Samsung PL170 Street photography highlights
Sigma DP3 Merrill Street photography highlights
50
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
65
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Samsung PL170 Sports photography factors
Sigma DP3 Merrill Sports photography factors
27
resolution is good (16MP)
focal length is fixed (()mm)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
45
good resolution (15MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
fixed focal length (75mm)
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
no image stabilization
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Samsung PL170 Travel photography factors
Sigma DP3 Merrill Travel photography factors
71
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
great maximum aperture (f)
does not have Time Lapse function
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
54
good resolution (15 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse function
does not feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Samsung PL170 Landscape photography highlights
Sigma DP3 Merrill Landscape photography highlights
39
great maximum aperture (f)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
focal length is fixed (()mm)
no manual control
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
does not have Time Lapse function
56
focusing manually
good sized screen (3 inch)
good resolution (15 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (75mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
no image stabilization
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Samsung PL170
Vlogging with Sigma DP3 Merrill
27
great maximum aperture (f)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have mic support
22
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not feature selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
video resolution low (640 x 480 pixels)
doesn't have microphone jack
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Samsung PL170 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung PL170 and Sigma DP3 Merrill
 Samsung PL170Sigma DP3 Merrill
General Information
Company Samsung Sigma
Model type Samsung PL170 Sigma DP3 Merrill
Class Ultracompact Large Sensor Compact
Launched 2011-01-05 2013-01-08
Body design Ultracompact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Dual TRUE II engine
Sensor type CCD CMOS (Foveon X3)
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 24 x 16mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 384.0mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 15 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4704 x 3136
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO - 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range () 75mm (1x)
Max aperture - f/2.8
Crop factor 5.9 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230 thousand dot 920 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 8s -
Max shutter speed 1/2000s -
Continuous shutter speed - 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - no built-in flash
Flash settings - no built-in flash
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 640 x 480
Highest video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video data format - Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB none USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight - 330 grams (0.73 lb)
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 1 1
Retail pricing $175 $1,353