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Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony W690

Portability
83
Imaging
56
Features
33
Overall
46
Sigma DP2 Merrill front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690 front
Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony W690 Key Specs

Sigma DP2 Merrill
(Full Review)
  • 15MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 50mm (F2.8) lens
  • 330g - 122 x 67 x 59mm
  • Introduced February 2012
  • Replaced the Sigma DP1 Merrill
  • Refreshed by Sigma DP3 Merrill
Sony W690
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 142g - 94 x 56 x 22mm
  • Announced February 2012
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Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony W690 Overview

Lets look a little more closely at the Sigma DP2 Merrill and Sony W690, one is a Large Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Sigma and Sony. The sensor resolution of the DP2 Merrill (15MP) and the W690 (16MP) is fairly similar but the DP2 Merrill (APS-C) and W690 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor dimensions.

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The DP2 Merrill was unveiled about the same time to the W690 which means that they are of a similar generation. Each of these cameras come with different body type with the Sigma DP2 Merrill being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony W690 being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a in-depth comparison, below is a quick overview of how the DP2 Merrill scores vs the W690 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Sigma DP2 Merrill over the Sony W690

 DP2 Merrill W690 
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Display resolution920k230kClearer display (+690k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony W690 over the Sigma DP2 Merrill

 W690 DP2 Merrill 

Common features in the Sigma DP2 Merrill and Sony W690

 DP2 Merrill W690 
AnnouncedFebruary 2012February 2012Similar generation
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display sizing
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither features Touch friendly display

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony W690 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to travel with your camera often, you have to factor in its weight and size. The Sigma DP2 Merrill enjoys physical measurements of 122mm x 67mm x 59mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.3") and a weight of 330 grams (0.73 lbs) and the Sony W690 has specifications of 94mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs).

See the Sigma DP2 Merrill and Sony W690 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you are using at the time. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the DP2 Merrill compared to the W690.

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony W690 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the DP2 Merrill and W690 is 83 and 95 respectively.

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony W690 top view buttons comparison

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony W690 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is very tough to visualise the difference between sensor dimensions simply by reading specs. The pic below may give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the DP2 Merrill and W690.

All in all, both of these cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The DP2 Merrill with its larger sensor will make achieving shallower DOF easier and the Sony W690 will offer you extra detail having an extra 1 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop photos somewhat more aggressively.

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony W690 sensor size comparison

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony W690 Screen and ViewFinder

Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony W690 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Sigma DP2 Merrill Portrait photography information
Sony W690 Portrait photography information
73
focusing manually
good megapixels (15MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
34
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
includes face detection focus
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Sigma DP2 Merrill
Street photography with Sony W690
65
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
fixed screen
no image stabilization
57
image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sigma DP2 Merrill as a Sports photography camera
Sony W690 as a Sports photography camera
44
good megapixels (15MP)
good sensor size (APS-C)
fixed focal length (50mm)
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
lacks phase detect auto focus
40
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
includes tracking autofocus
low fps (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Sigma DP2 Merrill Travel photography factors
Sony W690 Travel photography factors
54
good megapixels (15 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
68
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
built-in flash
really wide (25mm)
very long reach (250mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Sigma DP2 Merrill as a Landscape photography camera
Sony W690 as a Landscape photography camera
55
focusing manually
nice screen size (3 inches)
good megapixels (15 megapixels)
good sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
fixed focal length (50mm)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
no image stabilization
missing Time Lapse recording
43
really wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
manual mode not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Sigma DP2 Merrill Vlogging information
Sony W690 Vlogging information
22
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 pixels)
missing mic jack
31
really wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external mic jack
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Sigma DP2 Merrill vs Sony W690 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Sigma DP2 Merrill and Sony W690
 Sigma DP2 MerrillSony Cyber-shot DSC-W690
General Information
Brand Name Sigma Sony
Model type Sigma DP2 Merrill Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690
Category Large Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2012-02-08 2012-02-28
Body design Large Sensor Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Dual TRUE II engine BIONZ
Sensor type CMOS (Foveon X3) CCD
Sensor size APS-C 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 24 x 16mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 384.0mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 15 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4704 x 3136 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 50mm (1x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Max aperture f/2.8 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Crop factor 1.5 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 920k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology - ClearPhoto TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed - 30s
Maximum shutter speed - 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 4.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance no built-in flash 3.30 m
Flash settings no built-in flash Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640x480 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 330 gr (0.73 pounds) 142 gr (0.31 pounds)
Dimensions 122 x 67 x 59mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.3") 94 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 220 images
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-BN
Self timer - Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Storage media - SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $931 $297