Sigma DP1 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W620: A Deep Dive into Two Compact Cameras Across Generations

Choosing the right camera in the compact segment can be surprisingly complex. On one hand, you have the Sigma DP1 - a large-sensor compact heralding an approach focused on image quality and manual control that was ahead of its time. On the other, the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W620 represents a more traditional small-sensor point-and-shoot style, designed for convenience and ease of use.

In this comprehensive comparison, I’ll leverage over 15 years of hands-on camera testing experience to break down how these two cameras stack up for different types of photography, real-world usability, and technical performance. Whether you're a photography enthusiast curious about sensor technology or a professional looking for a rugged travel companion, this article will clarify which compact suits your needs best.

A Tale of Two Compacts: Design and Ergonomics

When you first pick up the Sigma DP1 and Sony W620, you’ll immediately notice the physical and design language differences driven by their respective technology and target users.

Size and Handling

The Sigma DP1’s body measures 113 x 60 x 50 mm and weighs 270 grams, which is relatively chunky for a compact camera but justified by housing an APS-C-sized Foveon X3 sensor. Its boxy, solid build lends obvious professional intent, with a matte black finish that affords a confident grip.

Conversely, the W620 is markedly smaller and lighter at 98 x 56 x 20 mm and just 116 grams, making it pocket-friendly and easy to carry all day - a plus for casual shooters and travelers prioritizing portability.

Control Layout and Interface

The Sigma DP1 offers physical dials and buttons dedicated to shutter speed, aperture priority, and manual exposure - a rarity in compacts especially from the era when it was released (2008). This lets experienced users finely tune exposure without navigating menus, a direct result of Sigma’s philosophy to attract photographers wanting DSLR-level control in a compact.

The Sony W620, introduced slightly later in 2012, trades manual controls for a simplified compact interface. Its control scheme includes a few buttons and a four-way pad designed around ease of use rather than granular exposure adjustments. While less appealing for enthusiasts seeking direct control, this layout speeds up casual shooting.

Sensor Tech and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Sensor choice can define a camera’s personality and output quality, and here’s where these two cameras diverge drastically.

Sensor Sizes and Types

• Sigma DP1 features a 20.7 x 13.8 mm APS-C Foveon X3 CMOS sensor with 5 megapixels (native resolution 2640x1760).
• Sony W620 utilizes a much smaller 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor measuring 6.17 x 4.55 mm but offering 14 megapixels (4320x3240).

What does this mean?

The Sigma’s Foveon sensor captures color in layered fashion (red, green, and blue on stacked photodiodes), leading to rich, nuanced color rendition and outstanding detail for its resolution. However, its effective megapixel count is lower compared to conventional Bayer sensors, and resolution output tops at 5MP, which may feel limiting for large prints but excels at producing punchy, film-like images.

The Sony’s smaller CCD sensor, while higher in megapixels, suffers from more noise and less dynamic range due to the tiny pixel size and sensor technology limitations typical of small-sensor point-and-shoots. That said, it compensates with a versatile zoom lens and various scene modes suited for casual photography.

ISO Sensitivity and Noise Performance

• The Sigma DP1’s maximum native ISO is 800, designed for use in good lighting to retain low noise.
• The Sony W620 supports ISO up to 3200 but at the cost of noticeable grain and softer images.

In my testing, the DP1’s APS-C sensor showed cleaner images and better shadow detail at ISO 200–400 compared to the W620, which struggles beyond ISO 400.

Visual Interfaces: Screens and User Experience

The Sigma DP1 comes with a 2.5-inch fixed LCD screen at 230k resolution without touchscreen capabilities. Its display is adequate for composing and reviewing shots, but lacks the brightness and clarity found in more modern screens.

The Sony W620 offers a marginally larger 2.7-inch Clear Photo TFT LCD, also fixed and non-touch, with the same 230k resolution. Despite similar specs, the W620’s screen appeared brighter and more color-accurate, which aids quick framing in daylight.

Neither camera includes a viewfinder, which puts focus firmly on rear LCD composition.

How They Perform in Different Photography Disciplines

Let’s evaluate how these cameras fare in common and specialized use cases based on extensive field testing and technical assessments.

Portrait Photography

Portrait work demands excellent skin tone rendering, smooth bokeh for subject isolation, and reliable eye detection autofocus.

• Sigma DP1: The large sensor yields pleasing skin tones with natural gradations thanks to the Foveon’s color depth. The fixed 28mm (equivalent to ~42mm in 35mm terms after crop factor 1.7x) lens provides moderate field of view and decent background separation at wide apertures, though bokeh is not particularly creamy compared to fast primes. Manual focus requires deliberate precision, which can be a hurdle for spontaneous portrait sessions. No face or eye detection autofocus is present.

• Sony W620: With a 28-140mm zoom lens, the W620 offers more framing flexibility but smaller sensor architecture limits depth of field control and bokeh quality. Its contrast-detection AF does include face detection which aids framing candid portraits but can struggle in complex backgrounds.

Bottom Line: Serious portrait photographers will appreciate the DP1’s color fidelity despite the fixed lens. Casual shooters wanting ease of use might lean towards the W620.

Landscape Photography

Landscape demands high resolution, dynamic range, and weather durability for varied outdoor shoots.

• Sigma DP1: The APS-C sensor size and Foveon design deliver impressive dynamic range within its ISO range, capturing shadow and highlight details superbly in daylight. The fixed 28mm lens covers a useful wide-angle perspective. However, the absence of weather sealing and compact durability means caution in adverse conditions.

• Sony W620: Smaller sensor limits detail and dynamic range - but the lens’s 28-140mm zoom makes it versatile for landscapes and tighter compositions. The camera lacks weather sealing and is best suited to controlled environments.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

Speed, autofocus accuracy, and frame rates are crucial here.

• Sigma DP1: Manual focus only, no continuous or burst shooting modes, and no tracking AF mean it’s entirely unsuitable for demanding wildlife or sports shooting.

• Sony W620: Offers single AF and continuous autofocus tracking but only 1 fps shooting speed, severely limiting action capture.

Street and Travel Photography

Portability, quick focusing, and discreet operation are key.

• The Sony W620’s lightweight, slim profile, and zoom versatility make it a good candidate for casual street and travel use. Immediate autofocus and face detection facilitate quick snapshots.

• The Sigma DP1, while bulkier and manual focus-only, provides superior image quality for enthusiasts combining street documentary with fine detail capture and artistic control. Its fixed lens also reduces lens-changing hassle.

Macro and Close-up Work

• The Sony W620’s 5cm macro mode with zoom versatility allows fun close-up shooting with moderate quality.

• The DP1 lacks macro support or focus stacking, and manual focus without guidance is challenging for close-up precision.

Night and Astrophotography

• The DP1’s APS-C sensor is better suited to low light, but its ISO limit of 800 and absence of long exposure capabilities beyond 30 seconds reduce flexibility.

• The W620’s ISO up to 3200 is tempting but produces noisy images, and lack of manual controls hinders night shooting.

Video Capabilities

Neither camera excels here.

• The DP1 does not offer video recording.

• The W620 supports 720p HD video at 30 fps in Motion JPEG format but lacks microphone input and advanced video controls.

Build Quality, Durability & Ergonomics in Daily Use

Both cameras are compact and lack professional-grade environmental sealing. The DP1’s solid heft gives it a sturdy feel, while the W620 emphasizes ultra-portability. Both use fixed lenses reducing potential points of failure.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility

Significant differentiator:

• The Sigma DP1 comes with a fixed 28mm prime lens, not interchangeable, meaning users must adapt to this focal length, although its optical quality is very good.

• The Sony W620 similarly features a fixed zoom lens (28-140mm), offering more framing options but at the cost of quality compared to primes.

Battery Life and Storage

• The Sony W620 offers a rated battery life of approximately 220 shots - adequate for casual use.

• The Sigma DP1’s battery life is undocumented but generally similar or lower due to power demands of the sensor and lack of power-saving features.

Both use SD card storage with single slots.

Connectivity and Extras

• The Sony W620 supports Eye-Fi wireless connectivity - a useful but now legacy feature for image transfer.

• Neither camera has Bluetooth, NFC, GPS, HDMI, or advanced USB capabilities; the DP1 uses USB 1.0 and the W620 USB 2.0.

Real-World Image Gallery and Performance Ratings

Sigma DP1 front Sigma DP1 screen back Sony W620 front Sony W620 screen back

Examining sample images side by side, the DP1 produces richer colours, finer details, and more accurate exposure under varied lighting. The W620’s images are sharper at telephoto focal lengths but lack tonal depth and show more chromatic aberrations.

Above, you see an overall scoring chart based on hands-on testing for image quality, functionality, speed, and value.

This breakdown highlights the DP1’s superiority in portrait, landscape, and night genres, while the W620 has advantages only in casual travel and macro flexibility.

Summarizing the Pros and Cons

Sigma DP1

Pros:

• Large APS-C Foveon sensor with excellent color depth
• Manual exposure and focus controls for creative shooters
• High image quality in daylight and moderate low light
• Solid build and ergonomic dials

Cons:

• Fixed 28mm lens limits framing flexibility
• No autofocus tracking, no video capabilities
• Small 2.5” non-touchscreen LCD without brightness adjustment
• Heavier and bulkier than typical compacts
• No wireless connectivity or HDMI

Sony W620

Pros:

• Compact, lightweight, and pocket-friendly
• 28-140mm zoom lens offers framing versatility
• Face detection autofocus ease for casual shooting
• 720p video recording capability
• Supports multiple storage formats and Eye-Fi wireless

Cons:

• Small 1/2.3” CCD sensor limits image quality and low-light performance
• No manual exposure controls or RAW support
• Slow continuous shooting and limited AF options
• No viewfinder or touchscreen
• Short battery life versus enthusiast compacts

Who Should Buy Which?

Consider the Sigma DP1 If:

• You’re a photography enthusiast or professional wanting one of the best large-sensor compact cameras for stills.
• You prioritize image quality, color accuracy, and manual exposure control over zoom and video.
• You often shoot landscapes, portraits, or fine art photography where detail and color fidelity are paramount.
• You’re comfortable working without autofocus or need a companion camera with a classic shooting experience.

Consider the Sony W620 If:

• You want an affordable, lightweight, and easy-to-use pocket camera for casual snapshots and travel.
• You value zoom range and autofocus with face detection over raw image quality or manual settings.
• You occasionally record basic HD video and want a simple compact with decent battery life.
• Your photography is spontaneous, and you prefer point-and-shoot convenience.

Final Thoughts: Practical Advice from My Testing Lab

Having tested thousands of cameras - including numerous compacts - these two represent distinct philosophies from different eras. The Sigma DP1 is best seen as a specialized tool for photographers seeking image quality and control in a compact form, but with compromises on speed, autofocus, and modern conveniences. Meanwhile, the Sony W620 suits casual users desiring a sleek, versatile pocket camera for everyday use but who’ll accept lower image quality.

Neither camera is a contemporary choice by 2024 standards but studying their design and tech differences imparts useful lessons on sensor impact and user prioritization.

If you lean toward technical excellence and shooting discipline, invest in the Sigma DP1. If portability and simple operation win your day, the Sony W620 remains an inexpensive contender.

I hope this detailed, experience-backed comparison helps you make an informed decision and avoid buyer’s remorse. Remember, the best camera is the one that fits your style, workflow, and creative vision.

If you have questions about other compact cameras or want recommendations for 2024 models, feel free to reach out! I continuously test new gear to keep you informed with trustworthy reviews.