Sigma Mini Full Frame fp Camera Hands On and July 2019 Lens Release

Earlier today Sigma had a major announcement in Japan which included 3 full frame lenses for a new line that is designed from the ground up for mirrorless cameras (at the moment Sony FE and the Leica/Panasonic/Sigma L mount) and a surprising new mini full frame camera with an L-mount said to be the smallest in the world.

Our friend and colleague Johnnie Behiri from Cinema5D had a chance to be one of the first reporters to play with the new camera and show a few of the menu options in the video above.

The smallest FF mirrorless camera – Sigma fp

Here is what we know about the upcoming fp camera (at the moment no pricing or availability was announced but it should start selling later this year):

  • 24.6 megapixel FF Bayer sensor (Sigma also disclosed that it is working on a Foveon based FF camera but no specifics were shared at this point).
  • Electronic shutter
  • No low-pass filter
  • Video up to 4k/24p including support for 12bit CinemaDNG (RAW) external recording.
  • Focus peaking, HDR mode and more video-centric features.
  • Size: 112.6 × 69.9 × 45.3mm (the smallest FF mirrorless on the market.
  •  Weight: 422g (with battery).
  • Large heat sink for long video recording.
  • Uses L-Mount lenses and support the MC-21 that can take EF lenses as well.
  • Contrast-based AF but with up to -5EV with Face/Eye Detection AF.
  • The camera can create Cinemagraphs (videos from images) in the camera.
  • Dust and moisture construction.
  • Mic and headphone connectors.
  • Rear touch screen (but no viewfinder).

This camera is surprising in many respects, besides not having any info about it in advance (unlike the lenses which were leaked a few days ago), this lens marks a change from everything Sigma has done in the past. The company never focused on video and in fact, for years many of its cameras didn’t have any video features worth mentioning (and in some cameras no video at all).

Official video showing the versatility of the fp camera

YouTube player

The fp is first and foremost a video-centric camera (you can see this in the menus that Behiri shows in the video above). The lack of a physical viewfinder and the list of optional accessories and features such as a director’s viewfinder and external 12bit RAW are going to make it appealing to videographers – especially considering how small it is with such a large sensor allowing it to be placed on smaller gimbals and in locations where larger cameras can’t be used effectively.

The back of the fp – no viewfinder

Besides the fp, Sigma also introduced 3 lenses that are the first of a new generation of full-frame mirrorless line. These include:

35mm F1.2 DG DN Art – this is Sigma’s fastest lens to date. It is big and heavy (1,090g / 38.4oz.) with a huge 82mm front filter, 30cm min focus distance and a complex 17 elements in 12 groups design with 3 SLD elements and 3 aspherical elements. The lens has AF/MF button and an AFL programable (similar to some Sony lenses) as well as an aperture ring (with a click-de-click option). The lens is dust and moisture resistant and will cost $1500 starting later this month for L mount and FE mount.

The giant 35mm F1.2 DG DN Art

14-24mm F2.8 DG DN – Another large lens. This ultra wide angle full frame zoon has a very complex design with 18 elements in 13 groups including FLD, SLD and aspherical elements with nanocoatings. It was designed with corner to corner sharpness in mind and designed in part for astrophotographers. The lens weighs 795g / 28 oz, has a 28cm focus distance and will cost $1400 starting in August 2019 for L mount and FE mount.mm

Ultra-wide angle zoom for mirrorless cameras – 14-24 F2.8 DG DN

45mm F2.8 DG DN – this is possibly the most unique lens of the three. It is tiny weighing only 215g / 7.5oz. with a 1:4 magnification and 24cm min focus distance. The lens has an aperture ring and an AF/MF switch. It has a simple design with 8 elements in 7 groups and a 7 blade aperture. It will cost $560 starting later this month for L mount and FE mount.

Small, compact and sleek – the 45mm F2.8 DG DN

Sigma also announced a new roadmap for L-mount lenses it plans to release (based on its existing line of DSLR lenses) for the next two years – these are:

2019:

  • 20mm F1.4 Art
  • 24mm F1.4 Art
  • 35mm F1.4 Art
  • 50mm F1.4 Art
  • 85mm F1.4 Art
  • 135mm F1.8 Art

2020:

  • 14mm F1.8 Art
  • 16mm F1.4 DC
  • 30mm F1.4 DC
  • 56mm F1.4 DC
  • 70mm Macro

Finally, Sigma also announced that it will make Canon EF-M mount versions of its APS-C mirrorless lenses starting with the very successful 30mm, 56mm and 16mm lenses.

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Iddo Genuth
Iddo Genuth is the founder and chief editor of LensVid.com. He has been a technology reporter working for international publications since the late 1990's and covering photography since 2009. Iddo is also a co-founder of a production company specializing in commercial food and product visual content.

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