Becoming a Sigma Fan (Sigma FP)

[Note: I just charged the battery to this camera yesterday, shot with it yesterday afternoon, and wrote this this morning. So this is not a full review.

I shot with it some more this afternoon. I'll post some images soon. —Ed.]

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Man, I'll tell you, I am becoming more and more a fan of Sigma.

You know how I always say you have to try it for yourself, in person, before you can pronounce an opinion about a camera? A reader named Jason sent me his camera to try. Here's Jason's camera:

It's a Sigma FP converted to monochrome by Monochrome Imaging Services. There are four bits in this rig: The original 24.6-MP FF Sigma FP, still available new even though it's been replaced joined by a much higher-resolution version, the FP-L [UPDATE: see Kirk's comments in the Comments Section. He says the original is still an ongoing current product. —Ed.]; an aftermarket cage with an integrated wooden handle, the SmallRig CCM 2518, which seems to be out of stock or backordered everywhere (and might be gone, who knows):

The normal lens, which comes bundled with the camera for only an extra $200 (it's normally $400 to $550 alone—the Leica L-mount version is on sale but the Sony E-mount version isn't); and a bolt-on hood:

Called the LVF-11, it's a stovepipe-style magnified (2.5X) finder for the LCD screen with a generously large eyepiece with diopter control. Sold as a $292 accessory.

Now, I know I have a tendency to get enamored of new cameras I try, like I did over the Panasonic GX8 and Sony A6600, but I also have plenty of cameras I try that are perfectly fine but don't grab me for one reason or another, like the Panasonic G9 and Sony A7 Mark III. So I am susceptible to being carried away, but at the same time I'm not undiscriminating.

Well, on paper, the Sigma FP seemed like the least promising camera I could possibly try...I just wanted to try a monochrom sensor. The camera is a tiny little box designed to be the heart of a video rig. It has a Sony-made 24x36mm sensor, no grip, no eyelevel finder, and no mechanical shutter. Couldn't possibly be for me, right?

Before we get to the camera, the lens is gorgeous. This is the first time I've seen one of the new Sigma I-Series lenses and it's really nice. It's all-metal, very well made, with a super-precise aperture ring, and ribbed metal rings for a great grip; even the lens hood is ribbed metal, with plastic for the interface so it engages with a soft thock. And yet it's light and just about right-sized. The look might not be classic, but that's because it's designed with feel and ergonomics prioritized. It exudes precision and attention to detail. It's a honey.

I even managed to dig a 55mm K2 (medium yellow) filter out of the piles of boxes in the barn. Interestingly, you see B&W in the viewfinder, because that's all the sensor can see, so of course you don't see the yellow of the filter either. I'll do a demonstration eventually of the effects of filters on the B&W image.

As for the camera, as configured here anyway, to my great surprise I really like this little thing. As you know I prefer to use aperture-priority and exposure compensation when I shoot, and having the aperture on the lens allows the front dial, which is right under your index finger, to be mapped to EC. The view of the LCD screen, although a little grainy by comparison with a real EVF, is generously huge and immediate. The always-on electronic shutter is as gentle and silent as a butterfly fart. The menus...let's see, how I can say this without being politically incorrect...the menus feel like suddenly encountering a sensible adult after spending years surrounded by fractious five-year-olds. The information on the finder is just what you need and no more.

It feels a lot like an old modular film medium-format camera, such as a Bronica or a Hasselblad, to use; a bit clunky, a bit slow, but you really engage with the world through it, and get to grips with it, and it imparts a sense of seriousness.

And you know how I've been going on about simplicity? Well, when set to stills, at least, this is a simple, purposeful camera.

I just wanted to try the sensor. I didn't expect to like the camera too. More about it in a future post, no doubt.

Mike

Book o' the Week

Chromes is an edit of more than 5,000 Kodachromes and Ektachromes taken from 10 chronologically ordered binders found in a safe in the Eggleston Artistic Trust. This archive was once used by John Szarkowski, who selected the 48 images printed in Eggleston’s seminal book William Eggleston’s Guide, while the rest of the archive has remained almost entirely unpublished. Three volumes, slipcased.

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(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:

Chico Ruger: "Would love to see a photo of this rig being held or next to something like a coffee mug for some perspective of its size. I know you showed the rig with its dimensions, but (for me) that doesn’t help as much as the type of photo I am suggesting."

Mike replies: Sure. Here are some tries at that:

With tableware...

Next to Fuji X-H1 and 55–200mm lens...

With ordinary 12+ oz. drinking glass...

...And with a tennis ball and a pair of scissors. I have two pairs of scissors, one largish and one smallish, and this is the smallish pair.

Hope that helps!

Chico Ruger replies: "Thanks, Mike, for the additional photos! It is quite a bit smaller than it appeared to me in the photos in the original post."

Walter Smith: "You started this...."

Grahn Johan: "My wife is Japanese. We eat a lot of rice. How about comparing the camera to a pair of chopsticks? Thanks!"

Mike replies: I am nothing if not helpful:

Richard Parkin: "I’m not hugely surprised that you like it as Kirk Tuck has written frequently how much he’s surprised he likes his (non-mono) one, also with the clunky viewing hood."

Comments

[Jim Kofron]

The menus...let's see, how I can say this without being politically incorrect...the menus feel like suddenly encountering a sensible adult after spending years surrounded by fractious five-year-olds.

LOFL... you know that I've been using Sigma gear for a long time Mike, and I'm just gonna say that every time I hear (or see) someone slag on the menus, I just say to myself--hey, works for me...

I'm actually excited that you're liking the first exposure to this camera! I do not have an FP series--holding out hope that the yet to be released Foveon/X3 version will have a similar aesthetic. But in all honesty, no matter how amazing the next-gen Foveon will be, there's no way it will compete in the sensitivity/noise department with this camera. And so, I'll probably pick up both...

Enjoy it! I think the sensor is a Sony, if I'm not mistaken.

[Kenneth Tanaka]

Sigma's FP cameras were designed as modular video-oriented cameras, rather in the spirit of big systems like Red. Nodding to "Jason's" generosity, I cannot imagine an FP would represent your notion of simplicity and usability. I haven't touched one, but nor have I seen even an encouraging review of one since it was introduced. DPreview even called the FP-L the worst camera of 2021. Ouch.

But, of course, your experience may be different. And all that really counts are the pictures, not the cameras. So enjoy!

[Peter Komar]

Having owned a SIGMA Quattro for a while I just loved the menu system on that camera, it was truly a pleasure to use and so intuitive. SIGMA does not do everything right but that was refreshing. Hope you connect with the loaner and your Monochrome journey bears fruit. We are all waiting for your review and hopefully some wonderful images.

[David Dyer-Bennet]

Very cool! Now, go take pictures. Maybe of people.

[Kirk]

Just a quick note. The original 24 megapixel model is still in production as far as I know. The 60 megapixel version is an addition to the family.

[Michael Fewster]

I note that this camera comes with a 45mm lens. What happens to the image if the lens is wide, say 24mm? No one has yet taken up the point I have raised (and don't know the answer) in a couple of posts here about microlenses and mono conversions. I think the micro lenses are stripped out as part of the conversion. If so, I would expect significant IQ problems for wa lenses on this ILC camera.

[Bruce Bordner]

That is so ugly and limited and... uh,how much?
Dang you, man - you're dangerous to know.

[Chris Norris]

Whoa, I didn't know there were people converting color digital cameras like this! I'm a 20+ year Canon user (not necessarily fan or aficionado) but I just placed an order to rent a Sony body and 24mm lens - the exact same Canon setup I use 99.3% of the time. If using the camera is nice and the results are good, I'm getting me a new Sony and converting it ASAP.

[Richard Alan Fox]

Reminds me of my circa 1970's Graflex XL Superwide with a 47mm Super Angulon and a RB67 back. A powerful handful with a Vivitar 283 on the shoe. Still have but don't use it.
Film, feh.

[AN]

You might also be interested to know there is an accessory viewfinder available for the fp with a 90-degree tilt (I remember you liked the tilting finder on the gx8).

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1632096-REG/sigma_av7900_evf_11_electronic_viewfinder.html

[Dan Khong]

If one maker's monochrome were to pitch against the best of another - like the way F1 cars showcase engineering superiority - there could come a day when we will see monochrome cameras built to be monochrome and nothing else.

Just dreamin'

[Tõnu]

haha. I thought thats the Rollei 6008 at first :D

Looks gorgeous.

[Robert Roaldi]

I wonder if large-ish clunky cameras like this help with street photography. It would be so unusual that it might attract friendly attention in that it's so weird that it may be seen as harmless or at least a curiosity, an ice-breaker, like a cute dog or something.

Would a film view camera be similarly treated. There may be many people who have never seen one or who may not even know what film is. Might be fun seeing their reaction.

Everything old is new again, except for us.

[Kodachromeguy]

If DPreview called the FP-L the worst camera of 2021, then you know that this is a functional tool for careful and serious photographers.

[Dave]

Metering Range
-5 to 18 EV (50mm F1.4:ISO 100)

Flash Sync. Speed
Max. 1/30 sec.
* 1/15 sec. or less at 14 bit RAW

The FP meters down to available murk, but the (expected) low flash sync speed will hamper usage compared to a mechanical shutter.

I see the FP-L has much higher resolution, but no IBIS. That seems strange.

That SmallRig cage with wooden handle looks like it's an absolute necessity to keep a good hold onto the camera. The bare body is smooth, without any texture or "mini grip" to assist in keeping it securely in your hands.

That is one long viewfinder!

Good luck taking photos with this loaner. We'll be waiting to read about your detailed impressions, once you've had some "quality time" with the camera. Maybe an "old photo dawg" can learn new tricks! :>)

[Alan]

This camera also looked extremely interesting to me. I love the idea of the camera being modular and very small to start with. Like a commenter mentioned above, the EVF 11 seems like a better match as its a real EVF with tilt. Expensive but seems worth it. Sigma and other brands also offer after market grips to make the camera easier to hold - the smallRig you got is probably selling out because of the video enthusiasts needing extra mount points that this grip offers (which you or many readers may not need).

The two issues preventing me from getting this camera is the fact that it does not have a physical shutter at all, meaning rolling shutter or moving subjects may get askew, and startup times on the camera itself.

One last note - there is a modification that you can get to convert the fixed LCD on the FP to a tilt screen:

https://www.cined.com/sigma-fp-flip-screen-modification-kit/

If this was included by default and weather sealed I would probably own this camera.

[Dillan]

I still have a yearning for one of the Sigma Merrill cameras. Probably the DP2. They're interesting. Small and convenient, yet slow and unconventional. It's a weird combination.

[DB]

Knew you'd dig that 45. :-)

[Jnny]

This sounds like the beginning of a love affair.

[Greg]

I have and use a Nikon Z6 II. I have yet to find someone who is able to convert this color camera to a B&W camera. I am envious of your Sigma's B&W conversion.

[Ernest Zarate]

https://youtu.be/8vY-4zWKsJM

[There you go! --Mike]

[Robert Roaldi]

How weird does it look hanging off your neck?

[jane]

thanks for the information. The best thing about this article is that it is very in-depth and gives attention to detail

[Anthony]

One of my first lenses some years ago was a Sigma 18-200. Loved it even though there was significant vignetting. Earlier this year (and some 30 years later) I picked up another Sigma, the 150-600, which I'm even more enthused with. Both were/are well worth the money.

[jp41]

Mike, I'm enjoying your journey down this monochrom rabbit hole. The stock Sigma FP has a maximum resolution of 6000x4000 pixels. Does this monochrom conversion increase its maximum resolution to 12000x8000 pixels, or is pixel binning still in effect with no increase in resolution?

[The exif says 6000x4000. --Mike]