Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony W380

Below, we will be comparing the Sigma DP2 Merrill and Sony W380, one is a Large Sensor Compact and the latter is a Ultracompact by competitors Sigma and Sony. The image resolution of the DP2 Merrill (15MP) and the W380 (14MP) is pretty comparable but the DP2 Merrill (APS-C) and W380 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor size.

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The DP2 Merrill was launched 2 years after the W380 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Sigma DP2 Merrill being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony W380 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before going straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple synopsis of how the DP2 Merrill scores against the W380 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Below is a preview of the gallery images for Sigma DP2 Merrill and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W380. The complete galleries are available at Sigma DP2 Merrill Gallery and Sony W380 Gallery.

If you're looking to travel with your camera, you will want to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Sigma DP2 Merrill comes with exterior 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 W380 has dimensions of 91mm x 52mm x 20mm (3.6" x 2.0" x 0.8") and a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Take a look at the Sigma DP2 Merrill and Sony W380 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Underneath is the front view proportions comparison of the DP2 Merrill compared to the W380.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the DP2 Merrill and W380 is 83 and 96 respectively.

Often, it can be hard to visualize the gap in sensor dimensions purely by checking out a spec sheet. The pic underneath will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the DP2 Merrill and W380.

As you can see, both the cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The DP2 Merrill due to its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF easier and the Sigma DP2 Merrill will produce greater detail utilizing its extra 1MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The fresher DP2 Merrill should have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.