Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Sony W550

Following is a complete comparison of the Sigma DP3 Merrill and Sony W550, one is a Large Sensor Compact and the other is a Ultracompact by rivals Sigma and Sony. The sensor resolution of the DP3 Merrill (15MP) and the W550 (14MP) is fairly similar but the DP3 Merrill (APS-C) and W550 (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor size.

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The DP3 Merrill was manufactured 18 months after the W550 making the cameras a generation away from each other. The two cameras come with different body type with the Sigma DP3 Merrill being a Large Sensor Compact camera and the Sony W550 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before getting through a full comparison, below is a concise synopsis of how the DP3 Merrill matches up versus the W550 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Sigma DP3 Merrill and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550. The entire galleries are available at Sigma DP3 Merrill Gallery and Sony W550 Gallery.

When you are aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you will need to take into account its weight and proportions. The Sigma DP3 Merrill features 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) while the Sony W550 has measurements of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

See the Sigma DP3 Merrill and Sony W550 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you choose at that moment. Below is the front view over all size comparison of the DP3 Merrill and the W550.

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability grade of the DP3 Merrill and W550 is 83 and 96 respectively.

Oftentimes, its hard to imagine the difference between sensor sizes simply by going over specs. The pic below will give you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the DP3 Merrill and W550.

All in all, both the cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The DP3 Merrill because of its larger sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field easier and the Sigma DP3 Merrill will deliver extra detail due to its extra 1 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics much more aggressively. The fresher DP3 Merrill should have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.