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Samsung SL720 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill

Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
14
Overall
26
Samsung SL720 front
 
Sigma DP3 Merrill front
Portability
83
Imaging
56
Features
33
Overall
46

Samsung SL720 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill Key Specs

Samsung SL720
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 28-102mm (F2.8-5.7) lens
  • 168g - 92 x 61 x 23mm
  • Introduced July 2009
  • Other Name is PL70
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
  • Revealed January 2013
  • Superseded the Sigma DP2 Merrill
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Samsung SL720 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill Overview

Here, we will be comparing the Samsung SL720 versus Sigma DP3 Merrill, one being a Ultracompact and the latter is a Large Sensor Compact by companies Samsung and Sigma. The sensor resolution of the SL720 (12MP) and the DP3 Merrill (15MP) is relatively comparable but the SL720 (1/2.3") and DP3 Merrill (APS-C) posses totally different sensor sizing.

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The SL720 was announced 4 years before the DP3 Merrill and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Samsung SL720 being a Ultracompact camera and the Sigma DP3 Merrill being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before getting into a step-by-step comparison, here is a short overview of how the SL720 grades versus the DP3 Merrill for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Samsung SL720 over the Sigma DP3 Merrill

 SL720 DP3 Merrill 

Reasons to pick Sigma DP3 Merrill over the Samsung SL720

 DP3 Merrill SL720 
RevealedJanuary 2013July 2009More recent by 42 months
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Screen size3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kCrisper screen (+690k dot)

Common features in the Samsung SL720 and Sigma DP3 Merrill

 SL720 DP3 Merrill 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Samsung SL720 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you are going to need to take into account its weight and volume. The Samsung SL720 features outer measurements of 92mm x 61mm x 23mm (3.6" x 2.4" x 0.9") along with a weight of 168 grams (0.37 lbs) and the Sigma DP3 Merrill has sizing of 122mm x 67mm x 59mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.3") having a weight of 330 grams (0.73 lbs).

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Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have at the time. Below is a front view proportions comparison of the SL720 and the DP3 Merrill.

Samsung SL720 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SL720 and DP3 Merrill is 94 and 83 respectively.

Samsung SL720 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill top view buttons comparison

Samsung SL720 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is tough to see the gap in sensor measurements merely by seeing a spec sheet. The photograph underneath should offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the SL720 and DP3 Merrill.

Clearly, both of the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The SL720 using its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow DOF trickier and the Sigma DP3 Merrill will show more detail with its extra 3 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The older SL720 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Samsung SL720 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill sensor size comparison

Samsung SL720 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill Screen and ViewFinder

Samsung SL720 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Samsung SL720 Portrait photography info
Sigma DP3 Merrill Portrait photography info
21
no manual focus
no manual mode
no external flash support
low resolution (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
73
manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (15 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Samsung SL720 Street photography information
Sigma DP3 Merrill Street photography information
47
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
more heavy than average in class (168g)
65
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Samsung SL720 as a Sports photography camera
Sigma DP3 Merrill as a Sports photography camera
17
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
low resolution (12MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
44
sensor resolution is decent (15 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
fixed focal length (75mm)
slow frames per second (4.0 frames per second)
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Samsung SL720
Travel photography with Sigma DP3 Merrill
56
flash built-in
decently wide (28mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
more heavy than average in class (168g)
low resolution (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
54
sensor resolution is decent (15 megapixels)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Samsung SL720
Landscape photography with Sigma DP3 Merrill
27
decently wide (28mm)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
no manual mode
lack of image stabilization
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse mode
55
manual focus
screen size is decent (3")
sensor resolution is decent (15MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (75mm)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Samsung SL720
Vlogging with Sigma DP3 Merrill
25
decently wide (28mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video resolution low (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have external microphone socket
more heavy than average in class (168 grams)
22
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video resolution low (640 x 480 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone support
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Samsung SL720 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Samsung SL720 and Sigma DP3 Merrill
 Samsung SL720Sigma DP3 Merrill
General Information
Brand Samsung Sigma
Model Samsung SL720 Sigma DP3 Merrill
Otherwise known as PL70 -
Type Ultracompact Large Sensor Compact
Introduced 2009-07-14 2013-01-08
Physical type Ultracompact Large Sensor Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - 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 area 27.7mm² 384.0mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 15 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 -
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4704 x 3136
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-102mm (3.6x) 75mm (1x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.7 f/2.8
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8 secs -
Fastest shutter speed 1/1500 secs -
Continuous shutter rate - 4.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.60 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, Slow sync no built-in flash
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 800 x 592 (20 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (60, 30 fps) 640 x 480
Max video resolution 640x480 640x480
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone 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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 168 gr (0.37 lb) 330 gr (0.73 lb)
Physical dimensions 92 x 61 x 23mm (3.6" x 2.4" x 0.9") 122 x 67 x 59mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 model SLB-10A -
Self timer Yes -
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal -
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $119 $1,353