Samsung TL240 vs Sigma DP1 Merrill: A Real-World Camera Showdown

When it comes to compact cameras, the choices often boil down to picking between pocketable convenience and uncompromising image quality. The Samsung TL240, announced way back in early 2010, and the Sigma DP1 Merrill, released just a couple years later in 2012, exemplify these two different philosophies quite starkly. One is an ultracompact snapshot shooter with nifty features packed in a tiny frame, while the other is a large-sensor compact designed with image quality and manual control at its core.

Having put both through their paces over the years, I’m excited to guide you through a deep dive of their capabilities, quirks, and real-world performance. Whether you’re a casual enthusiast wanting a travel-friendly point-and-shoot, or a serious hobbyist craving large sensor routines without lugging around DSLRs, this comparison will help clarify which might fit your needs best.

Let’s explore how these two cameras stack up across all the photo genres and tech specs that matter most.

Pocket-Sized Design Meets Large Sensor Excellence: Handling and Ergonomics

In the real world, ease of use often defines how much you’ll enjoy a camera. The Samsung TL240 pushes ultracompact boundaries with a slim, lightweight chassis. Measuring just 104 x 58 x 20 mm and weighing 160 grams, it slips effortlessly into a jacket or pants pocket. Contrast that with the Sigma DP1 Merrill’s chunkier 122 x 67 x 64 mm size and 330 grams weight - notable heft and girth for a compact, but all in service of holding that large APS-C sensor.

You can see in the image above: the Samsung TL240 favors portability and discretion with a smooth, minimalist design featuring a fixed lens and touchscreen control. In contrast, the DP1 Merrill has a boxier profile, more substantial grip, and physical dials for manual operation, appealing directly to photographers who prefer tactile feedback.

From an ergonomic perspective, the TL240 is ideal for spontaneous shooting and street photography, where blending in and rapid deployment matter. The DP1 Merrill demands more intent - it's not pocketable in the traditional sense but rewards with its precision controls once you get comfortable with its heft.

Top View Controls: Quick Access or Minimalistic?

Moving on to controls, both cameras take divergent routes, which you can appreciate in this top-down layout comparison.

The Samsung TL240 keeps things simple - a mode dial and zoom rocker supplemented by a touchscreen interface on its rear. No physical exposure dials here; your typical scene modes and auto shooting dominate. It's clearly catered to users who want fast point-and-shoot operation without worry about fiddling with settings.

Sigma’s DP1 Merrill is the exact opposite philosophy. It features dedicated dials for shutter speed, aperture, and exposure compensation, putting full manual exposure at your fingertips. This makes it more akin to handling a pocketable DSLR or mirrorless camera. But without a touchscreen or traditional autofocus aids, it demands patience and familiarity from the user.

Sensor Size and Image Quality: From Tiny CCD to Foveon APS-C

No discussion can bypass the sensor, as it’s the heart of image quality. Here’s a side-by-side comparison to visualize the Samsung’s 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor against Sigma’s much larger APS-C-format Foveon X3 sensor.

The Samsung TL240 sports a 14MP CCD sensor measuring about 6.17 x 4.55mm, standard for compact cameras of its era. This sensor can capture respectable images under good lighting, but its limited size and dynamic range impose clear constraints, especially in low light or high contrast situations.

Meanwhile, the Sigma DP1 Merrill employs a unique 15MP Foveon X3 APS-C sensor (24 x 16 mm). Its sensor captures full color data at every pixel location (stacked layers of red, green, and blue), which results in exceptionally sharp images with superb color fidelity and detail. While Sigma’s output resolution is roughly comparable, the image "pop" and fine gradation excel compared to traditional Bayer sensors like the Samsung’s.

I’ve tested both in landscape and portrait shoots, and the difference in tonal richness and detail is undeniable, especially when viewed at 100%. Sigma’s sensor technology yields files with vibrant color transitions and fewer artifacts even at base ISO. However, this sensor is a bit more challenging when it comes to noise at higher ISOs.

Screen and Interface: Touch vs. Resolution Trade-offs

User interface design plays a massive role in day-to-day shooting comfort, especially when composing creatively or reviewing shots.

Samsung equips the TL240 with a 3.5-inch fixed, capacitive touchscreen boasting 230k-dot resolution. The touchscreen greatly simplifies menu navigation and focus point selection, which is great for casual shooting and quick adjustments. But the relatively low pixel density means image playback isn’t razor sharp.

On the other hand, the Sigma DP1 Merrill has a smaller 3-inch fixed display, but feeding from a much higher resolution 920k-dot panel. There’s no touchscreen here, so navigation depends on buttons and dials. The sharper screen drastically improves critical focus checks and exposure preview, which benefits studio or landscape photographers working methodically.

For many users, the Samsung’s touchscreen offers speed and ease, whereas Sigma prioritizes sharpness for technical image assessment.

Portrait Photography: Skin Tones, Bokeh, and Autofocus

Portraiture is where sensor size, lens aperture, and autofocus prowess truly show their muscle.

Samsung’s TL240 has a fixed 31-217 mm equivalent zoom with a variable aperture from f/3.3 at wide end to f/5.5 at telephoto. While optical image stabilization helps prevent blur, its autofocus is contrast-detection based, somewhat slow and less reliable indoors or on low contrast scenes. The camera lacks face or eye detection autofocus, making critical focus on eyes a challenge for portraits.

Moreover, the small sensor size limits control over depth of field and thus the ability to produce creamy bokeh. You can expect acceptable background blur at the longest focal length, but nothing to rival larger sensor setups.

Sigma’s DP1 Merrill, with a fast fixed 28mm f/2.8 lens coupled with the APS-C sensor, manages beautifully shallow DOF for subject isolation. Though the lens isn't a zoom, its sharpness is legendary for portraits. Manual focus is necessary here, and while it takes time to nail the eyes spot on, when done, the output has exceptional detail and very natural skin tone rendition thanks to the Foveon sensor.

Sigma’s lack of face detection and autofocus capabilities might frustrate casual users, but serious photographers willing to manual-focus will find tremendous reward.

Landscape Photography: Dynamic Range and Resolution Take Center Stage

Landscape shooters crave wide dynamic range, high resolution, and weather resistance.

Let's look at the specifications:

• Samsung TL240 has a modest 14MP CCD sensor with basic dynamic range. No weather sealing is present.
• Sigma DP1 Merrill’s APS-C Foveon sensor delivers superb detail, with excellent nuance in highlights and shadows.
• Neither camera features weather sealing, so caution is advised in inclement conditions.

In practice, the DP1 Merrill shines in landscape usage thanks to its large sensor and the sharp 28mm lens. The camera captures more true-to-life colors and gradations in tricky lighting (e.g., sunrise, dusk) than the Samsung can muster.

The TL240, while convenient for casual travel snaps, struggles more with highlights blowing out and shadows losing detail under challenging light.

Wildlife and Sports: Autofocus, Burst Rates, and Telephoto Reach

Neither camera is truly designed as a sports or wildlife tool, but let's consider their capabilities:

The Samsung TL240’s 7x zoom (31-217 mm equivalent) offers some telephoto reach suitable for distant subjects. However, its contrast-detection autofocus system is too slow to reliably track fast-moving animals or athletes. There’s also no burst shooting capability, limiting your shots of action sequences.

Sigma DP1 Merrill only has a fixed wide-angle 28mm lens and no autofocus tracking, effectively ruling it out for wildlife and sports applications.

If you’re serious about these genres, I would recommend looking elsewhere, ideally at cameras with phase-detection AF systems and high FPS capabilities, but between these two, the TL240 at least allows reaching a bit farther.

Street Photography: Discretion vs. Image Quality

Street photographers value discretion, portability, low-light performance, and silent operation.

Samsung TL240 scores points here for being lightweight, pocketable, and offering an electronic shutter down to 1/1500s - silent shooting is limited but usable. The touchscreen enables fast composition. Its slower autofocus and limited low-light ISO will be a constraint, but given the size and convenience, it’s a solid casual street shooter.

Sigma DP1 Merrill is larger and more conspicuous, with no silent shutter modes. But for photographers who prioritize image quality over stealth, its manual controls and large sensor produce memorable street portraits and urban scenes with detail unseen on typical compact cameras.

Macro Photography: Focusing Close and Stabilization

The Samsung TL240’s ability to focus down to just 1cm from its lens gives it a significant advantage when shooting macro or close-ups. Combined with optical image stabilization, it provides decent sharpness handheld for flowers or insects.

Sigma DP1 Merrill lacks a specific macro focus range; combined with manual focus only and no image stabilization, it is less ideal for dedicated macro purposes.

This makes TL240 the better choice for enthusiasts who enjoy occasional macro without extra gear.

Night & Astrophotography: High ISO and Exposure Control

Nighttime and astrophotography are where sensor noise performance and exposure modes count.

Samsung TL240’s CCD sensor offers a max ISO of 4800 with a boosted 6400 option, but noise levels rise sharply past ISO 400, limiting practical use in low light. The camera’s automatic exposure modes and absence of manual shutter/aperture controls restrict creative long exposures.

Sigma DP1 Merrill supports ISO up to 6400 and offers full manual exposure modes (shutter priority, aperture priority, manual), synchronization with external flashes, and raw output, allowing precise control for night shots. However, it lacks built-in image stabilization and has a fixed focal length, so a sturdy tripod is required for long exposures.

For astro shooters, the DP1 Merrill’s sensor and manual modes provide significant advantages, assuming you’re comfortable with manual settings and external support gear.

Video: Modest Specs and Practical Use

Neither camera is a powerhouse in video department, but let’s note their capabilities:

• Samsung TL240 offers 720p HD recording at 30fps in Motion JPEG format, with no mic or headphone jacks, but does include HDMI output.
• Sigma DP1 Merrill only supports low-res VGA (640 x 480) video capture, suited mostly for documentaries or reference footage, and lacks HDMI.

Neither camera is recommended for serious videography, but if casual video is important to you, TL240 is clearly the more viable pick.

Travel Photography: Versatility and Battery Life Considerations

Travelers want a blend of compactness, image quality, battery longevity, and storage flexibility.

The Samsung TL240 excels in portability and versatility with zoom range and touchscreen ease. It uses a dedicated rechargeable battery (SLB-11A) and supports microSD cards.

Sigma DP1 Merrill’s larger size and manual operation are less travel-friendly for casual tourists but appeal to photographers seeking DSLR-quality images without interchangeable lenses. Sigma’s battery life is modest, and memory card support is standard but less flexible.

Professional Use: Reliability, File Formats, and Workflow

The Samsung TL240 is primarily a consumer camera and lacks raw support for post-processing flexibility; relying on JPEGs limits professional use.

The DP1 Merrill features raw file capture, crucial for photographers who want to customize white balance, exposure, and tonal curves extensively. However, Sigma’s Foveon raw files require specialized workflow software, which presents a slight learning curve.

Neither camera supports tethering or professional wireless features, but Sigma’s manual controls and raw output better suit studio or fine-art photographers.

Build Quality, Weather Resistance, and Connectivity

Neither camera offers environmental sealing or ruggedized builds, so both require care in adverse weather.

Samsung TL240 includes optical image stabilization, a physical built-in flash with several modes, and USB 2.0 plus HDMI output.

Sigma DP1 Merrill lacks stabilization and any wireless connectivity, no built-in flash but supports external flash via a hot shoe.

Performance at a Glance: Overall and Genre-Specific Ratings

To sum up, here’s how the cameras compare based on extensive testing across different photographic styles:

As you can see, the DP1 Merrill dominates in image quality and controlled shooting environments, while the TL240 excels in portability, zoom versatility, and ease of use.

Sample Images: See for Yourself

Examining real-world sample images reveals the practical visual impact of the differences discussed.

Samsung TL240 screen back Sigma DP1 Merrill front Sigma DP1 Merrill screen back

Notice how the Sigma DP1 Merrill’s files exhibit richer colors, finer detail, and more nuanced skin tones than the Samsung’s.

Conclusion: Which Camera Should You Choose?

So, what's my final take after testing these two very different cameras?

• Choose the Samsung TL240 if:

  • You want a truly pocketable all-in-one camera with a good zoom range.
  • Ease of use and touchscreen interface matter most.
  • You need quick snapshots, casual macro shots, and simple HD video.
  • Your budget is tight (around $170) and portability is key.
  • You shoot mainly daylight or moderately low light scenes and prioritize convenience.

• Choose the Sigma DP1 Merrill if:

  • You prioritize image quality above all else, especially for portraits, landscapes, and fine detail.
  • You’re comfortable with manual focus and manual exposure controls.
  • Raw shooting and post-processing flexibility are essential.
  • You don’t need a zoom and are fine with a fixed 28mm lens.
  • Price isn’t a big concern (around $1250) because you want DSLR-level image results in a compact body.

In essence, the TL240 is your nimble everyday companion, while the DP1 Merrill is a specialist tool for demanding photography enthusiasts. Both have their place, but your choice hinges on your shooting style and how much weight (both literally and figuratively) you want to carry.

Thanks for taking this deep dive with me. As always, I recommend hands-on testing whenever possible, but I hope this side-by-side breakdown helps narrow down your perfect camera match. Happy shooting!