There have been a ton of new camera announcements and launches over the past year, but perhaps none more interesting than Sigma’s new FP mirrorless. It offers some of the most unique and innovative features we’ve seen in a long time, including 12-bit native functionality – which was a big reason why I took the leap and pre-ordered it myself.
Once the camera actually arrives (probably within the next 1-2 weeks) I’ll post some test shots along with a written review. But now, I want to share some of my buying decisions with those of you who may be thinking about them as well.
I’ve been looking for a camera that would fill a gap in my kit for some time. On the high end, I have my Alexa Plus 4:3 This is great for large productions, but too large and heavy for smaller on-the-run shots. For medium scale narrative and commercial productions I mostly shoot with a Blackmagic URSA Mini, which is great, but for some of my smaller scale productions it’s (physically) too big.
So I found myself in need of a tool for those smaller projects like short improvisations, temp footage, website content, or anything else that I might need to shoot entirely myself.
Until recently, my first choice for this type of camera was the Fujifilm X-T2 (which I loved), but I sold it a few months ago in order to upgrade to the X-T3.
The Sigma FP was on my radar before I actually started buying the X-T3, and it was hard to ignore. Like the X-T3, it will offer gorgeous image quality and a smaller footprint – but some of the extras on the FP are too tempting to pass up.
The safest bet was to stick with the Fuji, but in the spirit of trying something new and unique, I pulled the trigger on a pre-order.
I will definitely miss those gorgeous Fuji colors (and maybe go back to Fuji at some point in the future), but now I’m looking forward to seeing what the FP is truly capable of…especially these specs/highlights –
- Full frame sensor
- Extremely small body size
- Director viewfinder mode
- Factory built-in (4K/8-bit HD/12-bit) and external 12-bit
- Still/movie mode
- Up to 120fps at 1080p
- ISO extended to 102400
- L-shaped mounting base
For many filmmakers, the FP’s full-frame sensor will be a huge selling point. Although there are already some popular FF mirrorless cameras (such as the Sony A7R IV), this market segment is still relatively underserved. The FP will undoubtedly be a welcome addition and a great option for many filmmakers and hybrid shooters.
Personally, full frame has never been a huge selling point for me, so it wasn’t really a variable in my decision-making process. While I’m sure I would benefit from the added depth of field control and low light sensitivity, I would still be interested if the camera had a Super 35mm sensor or MFT.
The biggest draw for me is the form factor and raw functionality. My ideal camera would be small, lightweight, portable, and have professional-grade image quality that rivals a real movie camera. It’s a tall order, but I hope FP is at least close… on paper it is.
The camera can output 12-bit 4K CinemaDNG raw to an external drive, or record 4K CinemaDNG raw internally to an SD card in 8-bit. Set to Full HD (1080p) the FP can also capture 12-bit internally.
Just a few years ago, it would have been hard to imagine having specs like these on a small mirrorless body. But Sigma succeeded, with the clear goal of becoming a professional filmmaker.
If there’s anything that tells us who Sigma is targeting with this camera, it’s the director’s viewfinder feature. This will enable filmmakers to use the camera (with a magnifying glass) as a professional on-set viewfinder to assist with framing and lens selection. It has presets for many different professional cinema cameras (such as the Arri Alexa) and will automatically replicate those cameras’ fields of view for you.
This versatility makes the FP a great choice for larger productions too…not just for viewfinder function, but also for capturing stills, behind-the-scenes footage, or even as a B camera.
Another thing I love about this camera is the minimalist design and simplicity of use. A button on the top of the camera switches the FP between stills and movie modes, making it easy to transition from shooting movies to photos.
There’s a ton of features under the hood, most of which you can access via the touchscreen. The body itself is just a box and is designed with minimalism in mind, which I’m a fan of.
The less obtrusive the camera is, the better. Especially in this case, the goal is to benefit from a small form factor and be able to remain inconspicuous.
Sigma chose the L mount for this camera, which is a wise decision. Due to the short flange distance, lenses from almost any other mount (including EF and PL) can be easily adapted to the camera. I will be purchasing some adapters soon and will also be using the native 45mm L-mount lens that comes with the camera.
Pricing is $2199 That’s a pretty good offer for a camera body and a 45mm lens. Cameras can also be purchased separately $1899.
It’s hard to know exactly what to expect from the camera/lens package as a whole since it’s all new. But based on the specs so far, and where Sigma is clearly focusing its efforts, I’m feeling very optimistic.
Once the camera arrives and I’ve had a chance to use it for some test shots and real-world production, I’ll be sure to report back and review it more thoroughly.
Now, tell me your first impressions of the Sigma FP in the comments below!
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