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Ricoh G900 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill Comparison

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Ricoh G900

20 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) BSI-CMOS Sensor

Ricoh G900
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Sigma DP3 Merrill

15 MP | APS-C (24 x 16 mm) CMOS (Foveon X3) Sensor

Sigma DP3 Merrill
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Ricoh G900 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two cameras with different body types: Ricoh G900, which was introduced in February 2018 is a Waterproof camera with a 20.0MP 1/2.3-inch sensor whereas Sigma DP3 Merrill, which was introduced in January 2013 is a Large Sensor Compact camera with a 15.0MP APS-C sensor. As you can see, DP3 Merrill is 5 years older than G900. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Ricoh G900 and Sigma DP3 Merrill before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Ricoh G900 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2018-02-21
  • 20MP - 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • 28-140 mm F3.5-5.5 Zoom Lens
  • Digital only Image Stabilization
  • 3" Fixed Type Screen
  • continuous shooting
  • 4K (UHD) - 3840x2160 video resolution
  • 247g. 118 x 66 x 33 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body

Sigma DP3 Merrill Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2013-01-08
  • 15MP - APS-C CMOS (Foveon X3) Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 75 mm f2.80 Prime Lens
  • 3" Fixed Type Screen
  • 4 fps continuous shooting
  • - 640 x 480 video resolution
  • 330g. 122 x 67 x 59 mm
  • Replaced Sigma DP2 Merrill Compare

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Ricoh G900 and Sigma DP3 Merrill compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Ricoh G900 over Sigma DP3 Merrill
Image Stabilization
Digital only vs None Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Built-in Flash
Yes vs No Useful in low-light
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs No very handy for portraits
Max Sensor Resolution
20 MP vs 15 MP 33% more pixels
LCD Screen Resolution
1.040k dots vs 920k dots 13% higher resolution screen
Max Mech. Shutter
1/4000s vs 1/s faster mechanical shutter
Weight
247 g vs 330 g 83 g lighter
Environmental Sealing
Yes vs No shoot at tough conditions
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs No creative shooting
Focal Length - Wide
28mm vs 75mm 47 mm wider coverage
Focal Length - Tele
140mm vs 75mm 65 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
5x vs 1× more flexible focal coverage
Max Video Resolution
3840x2160 vs 640 x 480 Higher Resolution Video
AE Bracketing
Yes vs No Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Digital video stabilization
Yes vs No Stabilizes your videos in-camera


Reasons to choose Sigma DP3 Merrill over Ricoh G900
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs No Better for flash photography
RAW Support
Yes vs No Better image quality
Manual Exposure
Yes vs No better exposure control
Max Aperture - Wide
2.80 vs 3.50 faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele
2.80 vs 5.50 faster lens at tele

Common Strengths of Ricoh G900 and Sigma DP3 Merrill
Manual Focusing
Yes vs Yes both have manual focusing modes
Common Weaknesses of Ricoh G900 and Sigma DP3 Merrill
Fixed Screen
Fixed Type vs No No flexible viewing angles
Viewfinder
None vs None No eye-level shooting option
Ricoh G900 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Ricoh G900 and Sigma DP3 Merrill side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Ricoh G900 has external dimensions of 118 x 66 x 33 mm (4.65 x 2.6 x 1.3″) and weighs 247 g (0.54 lb / 8.71 oz) (including batteries). Sigma DP3 Merrill has external dimensions of 122 x 67 x 59 mm (4.8 x 2.64 x 2.32″) and weighs 330 g (0.73 lb / 11.64 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Ricoh G900 and Sigma DP3 Merrill. Ricoh G900 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 4mm narrower, 1mm shorter and 51mm thinner than Sigma DP3 Merrill.

Ricoh G900 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Ricoh G900 and Sigma DP3 Merrill Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Ricoh G900 and Sigma DP3 Merrill.

Ricoh G900 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Ricoh G900 and Sigma DP3 Merrill Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Ricoh G900 and Sigma DP3 Merrill.
Ricoh G900 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Ricoh G900 and Sigma DP3 Merrill Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Ricoh G900 is significantly lighter (83g ) than the Sigma DP3 Merrill which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

G900
DP3 Merrill
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

G900
DP3 Merrill
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Ricoh G900 and Sigma DP3 Merrill's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3".

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.
Ricoh G900 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill: Sensor Comparison

Ricoh G900 has a 20.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor . On the other hand, Sigma DP3 Merrill has a 15.0MP APS-C (24 x 16 mm ) sized CMOS (Foveon X3) sensor and features Dual TRUE II engine processor.

Ricoh G900's sensor provides 5MP more than Sigma DP3 Merrill's sensor, which gives a significant advantage in real life. You can print your images larger or crop more freely. On the other hand, please keep in mind that Max sensor resolution is not the only determinant of resolving power. Factors such as the optical elements, low pass filter, pixel size and sensor technology also affects the final resolution of the captured image.

Below you can see the G900 and DP3 Merrill sensor size comparison.

Ricoh G900 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Ricoh G900 and Sigma DP3 Merrill Cameras


As seen above, Sigma DP3 Merrill has a 13.7x Larger sensor area than Ricoh G900. Larger sensors give photographer more control on the depth of field and blurry background compared to smaller sensor when shot in same focal length and aperture.

Ricoh G900 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill Lens Specs Comparison

Ricoh G900 features a 28-140 mm F3.5-5.5 5x zoom lens whereas Sigma DP3 Merrill features a 75 mm F2.8 Prime lens.

It is not easy to compare a prime lens with a zoom lens. Ricoh G900's zoom lens provides a great flexibility compared to Sigma DP3 Merrill's 75mm fixed focal length lens. On the other hand, DP3 Merrill's prime lens makes it a specialized camera. You compromise the flexibility of a zoom in order to enjoy the high image quality and unique rendering of this fast lens. On the tele end, Ricoh G900 has 65mm longer reach than the Sigma DP3 Merrill. However, with a max aperture of f2.80, Sigma DP3 Merrill is faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

G900
DP3 Merrill
Widest - Ricoh WG-M1
Average
Telezoom

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

G900
DP3 Merrill
Longest - Canon SX520 HS
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

G900
DP3 Merrill
Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

G900
DP3 Merrill
Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
Average
What types of Photography are Ricoh G900 and Sigma DP3 Merrill Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Ricoh G900 and Sigma DP3 Merrill for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Ricoh G900 for Portrait Photography

POOR

Sigma DP3 Merrill for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details
Large APS-C (24 x 16 mm) sensor
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 15.0MP
No Image Stabilization
No Built-in Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Ricoh G900 for Street Photography

GOOD

Sigma DP3 Merrill for Street Photography

AVERAGE
Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details
Large APS-C (24 x 16 mm) sensor
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.80
No Image Stabilization
No Built-in Viewfinder
75 mm - Poor Wide Angle Coverage
Read the details

Ricoh G900 for Sports Photography

POOR

Sigma DP3 Merrill for Sports Photography

POOR
Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
140 mm Tele Lens
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
9 Focus Points
Read the details
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Continuous Shooting: 4.0fps
No Image Stabilization
No Built-in Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Slow Max shutter speed: 1/s
Unknown Focus Points
75 mm Tele Lens
Read the details

Ricoh G900 for Daily Photography

GOOD

Sigma DP3 Merrill for Daily Photography

AVERAGE
Compact Body
Environmental Sealings
247g
5.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details
Large APS-C (24 x 16 mm) sensor
RAW shooting capability
Compact Body
330g
Body Thickness 84mm
Read the details

Ricoh G900 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Sigma DP3 Merrill for Landscape Photography

POOR
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
Manual Focus Mode
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Environmental Sealings
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Exposure Mode
Read the details
Large APS-C (24 x 16 mm) sensor
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 15.0MP
No Environmental Sealings
75 mm - Poor Wide Angle Coverage
Read the details

Ricoh G900 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Ricoh G900 and Sigma DP3 Merrill, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Ricoh G900 and Sigma DP3 Merrill scores compare:

Ricoh G900
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #71 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #514 out of 1226 in all Cameras
Sigma DP3 Merrill
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #54 out of 61 in Large sensor compact cameras
Ranked #707 out of 1226 in all Cameras

Ricoh G900 has a higher Overall Score than the Sigma DP3 Merrill. It also has more features, more compact body and offers higher value for the money. But there is one area that G900 trails behind the DP3 Merrill: Imaging.
If image quality is the most important aspect in a camera, choose the Sigma DP3 Merrill. If not, we recommend the Ricoh G900.

Ricoh G900
Ricoh G900
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Sigma DP3 Merrill
Sigma DP3 Merrill
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Sigma DP3 Merrill vs Ricoh G900 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Ricoh G900 Sigma DP3 Merrill
Brand Ricoh Sigma
Announced 2018-02-21 2013-01-08
Body Type Compact Large sensor compact
Sensor
Type BSI-CMOS CMOS (Foveon X3)
Size 1/2.3-inch APS-C
Dimensions 6.17 x 4.55 mm 24 x 16 mm
Area 28.07mm2 384.00mm2
Megapixels 20 megapixels 15 megapixels
Max Resolution 5184 x 3888 4704 x 3136
Max Native Light sensitivity 6,400 ISO 6,400 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 125 ISO 100 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 9 n/a
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 28-140 mm (5x) 75 mm (1×)
Max Aperture F3.5-5.5 F2.8
Macro Focus Range 1cm n/a
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 3" 3"
Resolution 1,040k dots 920k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder None None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/4000s n/a
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization Digital only No
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 5.50 m (with Auto ISO) no built-in flash
External Flash
Continuous Shooting n/a 4.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 3840x2160 640 x 480
Video Formats MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Supports FlashAir SD cards None
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 247g 330g
Dimensions 118 x 66 x 33mm 122 x 67 x 59mm
Battery Life 340 shots n/a
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS Built-in None
DxO Sensor Scores
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