Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony A380

Here is a complete review of the Sigma DP2 Merrill and Sony A380, one being a Large Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by rivals Sigma and Sony. The sensor resolution of the DP2 Merrill (15MP) and the A380 (14MP) is fairly close and they feature the exact same sensor measurements (APS-C).

Photography Glossary

The DP2 Merrill was introduced 2 years later than the A380 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Sigma DP2 Merrill being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony A380 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going through a detailed comparison, below is a concise overview of how the DP2 Merrill scores against the A380 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Sigma DP2 Merrill and Sony Alpha DSLR-A380. The whole galleries are available at Sigma DP2 Merrill Gallery and Sony A380 Gallery.

For those who are aiming to carry your camera often, you need to think about its weight and proportions. The Sigma DP2 Merrill features external dimensions of 122mm x 67mm x 59mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.3") and a weight of 330 grams (0.73 lbs) whilst the Sony A380 has measurements of 128mm x 97mm x 71mm (5.0" x 3.8" x 2.8") with a weight of 519 grams (1.14 lbs).

Contrast the Sigma DP2 Merrill and Sony A380 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have chosen at the time. Underneath is the front view proportions comparison of the DP2 Merrill against the A380.

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the DP2 Merrill and A380 is 83 and 68 respectively.

In many cases, its hard to imagine the difference in sensor sizing just by viewing specifications. The graphic below will help provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the DP2 Merrill and A380.

Plainly, both of those cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but different MP. You should anticipate the Sigma DP2 Merrill to result in greater detail using its extra 1 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop images somewhat more aggressively. The more modern DP2 Merrill should have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.