Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sigma SD15

In this write-up, we are evaluating the Sigma DP3 Merrill and Sigma SD15, one being a Large Sensor Compact and the other is a Advanced DSLR and they are both created by Sigma. There is a huge difference between the sensor resolutions of the DP3 Merrill (15MP) and SD15 (5MP) but they come with the same exact sensor sizes (APS-C).

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The DP3 Merrill was released 2 years later than the SD15 and that is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Sigma DP3 Merrill being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sigma SD15 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before getting straight into a thorough comparison, below is a short summary of how the DP3 Merrill grades vs the SD15 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Sigma DP3 Merrill and Sigma SD15. The complete galleries are viewable at Sigma DP3 Merrill Gallery and Sigma SD15 Gallery.

If you are aiming to carry your camera often, you need to consider its weight and size. The Sigma DP3 Merrill provides outside dimensions of 122mm x 67mm x 59mm (4.8" x 2.6" x 2.3") having a weight of 330 grams (0.73 lbs) whilst the Sigma SD15 has specifications of 144mm x 107mm x 81mm (5.7" x 4.2" x 3.2") accompanied by a weight of 750 grams (1.65 lbs).

See the Sigma DP3 Merrill and Sigma SD15 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you have chosen at the time. Here is the front view size comparison of the DP3 Merrill vs the SD15.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability grade of the DP3 Merrill and SD15 is 83 and 59 respectively.

Often, its difficult to see the contrast between sensor sizing just by reading through a spec sheet. The graphic underneath may offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the DP3 Merrill and SD15.

As you can see, both the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same MP. You should expect to see the Sigma DP3 Merrill to give more detail as a result of its extra 10 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop images far more aggressively. The newer DP3 Merrill will have an edge with regard to sensor tech.