Sigma FP M: Short Take and Personal Impressions

[TOP is off on Saturdays. Housework day, bills to pay, what can I say? How 'bout Sunday?]

This is not a review, for reasons I'll explain. Just some personal thoughts and reactions after using this for a few days. It's a modular camera, and I'm discussing it as the owner has it set up, with the I-Series 45mm kit lens, LVF-11 chimney finder, and SmallRig cage and grip. The "M" is for monochrome, in case you haven't been following along lately. However, almost everything in this particular post applies to the regular color FP too. Note that I'm using the original Sigma FP, not the more recent 61-MP Sigma FP-L.

It's on loan from a reader. I'm using it to see if mono-sensor camera pictures can look as good as B&W converted from color files in software. It was converted to monochrome-only by Daniel Morrison at Monochrome Imaging Services in Portland, Oregon, USA. I have no affiliation with his business. I'm using it for B&W stills, using basic controls—nothing fancy, and that is not what it was built for.

I like this a lot, but it's a very quirky rig, and not only because it has trouble taking color pictures. I described the setup of the camera a few days ago, and even compared it to chopsticks (for scale) for Mrs. Grahn.

It's said to be the smallest full-frame (24x36mm) digital camera ever made.

And as anyone knows, the bigger the better.

It's just a little brick with a large Leica L-mount on the front, a large fixed viewing screen on the back, no EVF, no mechanical shutter, no hot shoe, and no grip. But hey, it does have a grid of ventilation channels between the sensor and the viewing screen meant to keep the sensor cool during extended video takes.

It has been criticized on the Web for having too few buttons and dials.

And as anyone knows, the more buttons and dials the better.

It's meant to be the heart of a modular setup up to and including something like this:

I will not be using it that way.

The power switch is a large slider on the top left of the camera. Another sliding switch next to it chooses between Cine and Still. The viewfinder, which literally bolts on as far as I can see, is similar to the old "chimney" or "stovepipe" finders made for a number of old film medium-format cameras except it's horizontal rather than sticking up vertically.

I've only used it for a few days so far. It fit me like a glove right from the first, to my surprise.

So here's what I like and don't like about it so far:

Upsides

• The camera reminds me of old film medium-format cameras. The results remind me of film 4x5. We might have a print sale someday so you can see for yourself.
• I like the viewfinder. It's obviously a viewfinder, as it magnifies the dots of the viewing screen (and it's B&W!), but it's large and immediate, with a large eyepiece although not an extreme amount of eye relief. Eyeglasses wearers would not find it enough. I had to learn to go ahead and press my eye socket up against the rubber eyepiece surround, which blocks extraneous light and gives that nice, great big, and clear overall view of the finder. There's a lot to be said for a big viewfinder. There's an immediacy to your visual connection to your surroundings. I've taken to it.
• I like the menus. Obviously, shooting DNG only, B&W only, and stills only, a lot of the menu items become moot, because they control JPEGs, color, or video options. But what remains, what pertains to me, I like. I said the other day that "the menus feel like suddenly encountering a sensible adult after spending years surrounded by fractious five-year-olds," and let me double down on that—I feel like I can sense the intelligence and the sensibleness of the designers behind the menus, who are on my side for once.
• Love the info in the viewfinder too—pretty much only what I need to see and nothing else, very clean and no-nonsense. Except for one weird exception: there's an enigmatic little "9" in the extreme bottom right...I have no idea what that means. I'm going to assume it's a John Lennon reference.
• The "sideways chimney finder" puts my hand away from my face, making it more comfortable and convenient to hold the camera when shooting, and also to find the buttons I need by feel.
• Silent shutter release. The feedback is visual instead of audible—the finder blacks out for a split-second. You just have to rewire your brain a bit to expect a visual cue rather than a sound. I'm good with that.
• Love the setup—aperture on the lens, EC on the front dial. So easy and clean. Partly because that suits the way I've always preferred to control exposure, I will admit, but still.
• It's a simple camera. As I'm using it.
• Fits Sigma's I-Series L-Mount lenses. A plus, take my word.
• The level of clean detail you get without the Bayer mosaic is pretty astonishing, cf. our ongoing sample gallery. (I do feel like I'm in early days with adjusting to it, though. My brain is not quite calibrated. That's more due to the monochrome aspect of the sensor than the camera itself, though.)
• This is just me, but I like that it feels most comfortable when you're looking through it shooting. Lots of cameras are designed with other things prioritized, like how they look, how much they resemble some other camera, how comfortable they are to carry, how easy they are to sell, etc., etc. I like that this is all sort of an awkward bodge but that it all comes together and feels great when you're actually looking through it and pressing the shutter button. Kind of the opposite of cameras that look sleek and slick and design-y but aren't all that ergonomic when you go to take a picture.
• Exclusive! You won't find many other people shooting with one, that's for sure.  :-]

Downsides

• You have to peer through the finder to see settings.
• You're issued a dire warning to keep a cap on the eyepiece when you're not looking through it. That's awkward. And the cap doesn't attach to the camera.
• Smallest ever, maybe, but only sorta kinda. Not as configured here. The body module is the smallest ever. But as configured here it reminds me of carrying a Bronica medium-format rig around. Not that there was anything wrong with that.
• The camera is awkward to carry on the strap. It works, but the weird body-in-the-middle configuration means you're not going to forget it's there, and too much moving around on your part sets it to flopping around awkwardly. It's not really comfortable to carry on your shoulder. It might be better to shoot out of a small bag, perhaps with a wrist strap for security when you have the camera in your hands a lot.
• Thumb pad is too small, except when shooting. An immediate concern would be buying the proper grip or cage—there are a bunch of them available, and they're all different. Some of them put the grip father out from the camera body, and they include a larger space for your thumb.
• With the SmallRig cage Jason has on it, it's impossible for me to remove the SD card with my fingers! Oops. (It's in the battery compartment.) I have to use the pliers function of a wire stripper tool I have. Obviously this is also an aspect of the design of the grip you're going to put on the camera—some of them attach to the side of the camera and don't require an added bottom plate at all. Big caveat emptor on that.
• It's for a particular kind of shooting. It's not a fast action camera. No use parsing all the reasons why; that's just the wrong application for it, so look elsewhere. Think of it as a studio camera you can take into the field if you're the contemplative type...much like a medium format film SLR. Slow camera good.
• Turning it into a monochrome camera is hella expensive, and kinda makes no sense except when you consider all the rest of the crazy stuff you've ever spent money on for love or kicks.
• No IBIS.

'Better to be a nerd than one of the herd'
The very best thing about it? It's different. Genuinely different. Two reader comments:

Bear. wrote: "DP Review and many other reviews online plainly have an inherent bias in favour of 'do it all' cameras. Thus, for example, that a Leica M rangefinder does not autofocus is considered to be some sort of flaw, or negative; whereas in reality, of course, that the camera manually focusses only is the whole point. The same is true of many reviews of Sigma cameras. Sigma tends to produce quirky, targeted cameras which are very good at one or two things to the exclusion of almost everything else. Those exclusions are, I presume, deliberate. In any event, presumably purchasers wanting cameras that do anything otherwise than what they want will not buy one. But that is hardly a negative. Why buy a truck if you want it to drive like a sports car?"

Jim Arthur wrote: "I am always interested in the capabilities of custom tools that can’t be purchased at the corner big-box store. We have all read the reviews of the latest bleeding edge offering from the multinational camera companies and while their offerings are impressive…they tend to move as a pack and homogenize the tool."

Got that right. And this is a camera that goes its own way and doesn't go along with the crowd. Some will damn it on that account, others praise it, and thus it is and ever shall be.

Recommended?
I wouldn't go that far. How would I know? Because, as I've said, I'm using it for a.) stills, b.) raw, and c.) monochrome (B&W), whereas it's meant to be the heart of a video rig. You wouldn't want me reviewing video functions because I know nothing about that. Thirty years ago I worked for six months as a high-end audio salesman, and I exasperated the boss because I refused to learn anything about home theater. Not my medium. Here's what I know about video: in my lifetime I have watched some movies. There you go. I haven't owned a television since 2013, so you can see the level of my commitment there. I wouldn't review a video camera. You wouldn't want me to.

But it's not true what Ken said, that nobody has reviewed the Sigma FP positively. Kirk Tuck has. Steve Huff tried it and and had to buy it, proclaiming the LVF-11 "the best viewfinder experience for manual focus I have ever used." It is seductive, I'll agree.

Me? I love it. Not like. Love. I think it's a great one-shot-at-a-time stills camera. I'm not recommending it due to the fact that my needs and use-cases are so quirky and persnickular, and because it's not a "do it all" camera homogenized to go along with the pack. The best I can say is: don't overlook it just on account of it's so different—that's a feature, not a bug. And, unless and until you get your actual warm mitts on one yourself, weird sideways chimney finder included, don't judge.

Have a look.

Mike

Book o' the Week

Fred Lyon, San Francisco Noir. "The version [of San Francisco] that Fred Lyon celebrates in his new book is a classic San Francisco full of smoky jazz clubs, neon lights in the fog and sharply dressed men and women stepping on and off of trolley cars. Made mostly during the 1950s and '60s, Lyon's images are big on atmosphere and style, and hit many parts of the city that visitors love." (PDN)

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B&H Photo

Original contents copyright 2020 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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

Kirk: "After your nudge via your first tests with the FP I pulled mine back out and subbed it into my workflow for studio portraits instead of the Leica SL2. I'm photographing portraits with a big (6x6 foot) diffusion panel and good LED lights. So, continuous lighting.

"I did two portraits that way yesterday for corporate clients using the FP with the Sigma 90mm ƒ/2.8 I-Series (small, light, sharp, nice lens) using the face detect/eye detect AF in the camera. The results were just perfect. Lovely colors and skin tones. High resolution of details and perfect AF every single frame.

"I bought mine back in the Spring of 2020 just a month or two after the launch. I use it mostly for stills and mostly with the enormous finder hood. I love the camera. It's just great. And the best thing about it (besides the size) is the color science and overall tonality.

"The only change I'd make on your set up is to lose the SmallRig cage and grip which I found makes it harder to reach the shutter button. Sigma makes a nicely sized grip and baseplate called an HG-21 which also has attachment points for the big hood. It makes handling the camera much more comfortable. It's about $95 but it's very nicely made.

"The '9' in the bottom right corner of the screen is, if I have this right, the number of files remaining in the buffer.

"I think it's a wonderful camera and am currently looking around for a used copy of its big brother. Just for fun.

"Have a blast with your new loaner. It will continue to grow on you, I'm almost certain."

Grahn Johan: "Thanks Mike for your kind mention of Mrs. Grahn. She sends her greetings! I really appreciate that you picked up on my joke! That is a big reason why I like this 'place' on the internet. Not so dead serious about cameras, we can actually make jokes about them. Unfortunately I live far away from where you live and it's hard to think we will every meet. But I would love to sit down with you and have a chat about whatever...."

Bill barton: "I have been using an FP now for about a year and a half, set up the same way the one you are using. Except I am only using Leica M lenses on it. Works well. I can still focus with my eyes so all is well for right now. Yes it's a pain to carry around but once you put the finder up to your eyes it just works. Enjoy and have fun."

Comments

[Zyni]

If it is like the dp Quattro, then '9' is number of frames left in buffer I think.

[Andrew Kochanowski]

I got one of these with the 45/2 lens. It's intriguing for sure. I ended up using it with the Sigma small grip. It is absurdly small for sure. Even with the EVF attached to the left side, it remains small and tidy.

I don't like the EVF though, even if it is large and very accurate.

Even though I've read how nice the rear VF is, it also seems to me to defeat the purpose of the camera.

The real problem with the camera for a photographer like me, is the electronic shutter rolling effect. You simply have to keep the camera still when you shoot or you will get the Edvard Munch look to people. The other problem, again to a shooter like me, is the flash sync speed, it's something like 1/25 sec in JPEG, slower in RAW.

So what the camera is for people who hand carry is a box capable of very nice images that you can use like an old film camera provided you dont mind focusing through the rear screen. The lens has articulated f-stop indents that you can set literally as you raise the camera. You never have to go through the menus as you shoot. With the 45mm its wonderfully balanced, and the battery life is OK. A spare battery is cheap too.

At the end of the day though, I don't think it's worth the tradeoffs. The files are nicer than, but not THAT much nicer than the Pentax DSLR I've been using, or for that matter the Nikon Z50 that I'm trying out. Neither is FF of course.

One last thing about the FP, it's built like the proverbial s***house. The buttons and switches are tactile and it just reeks of quality.

[Albert Smith]

"...there's an enigmatic little "9" in the extreme bottom right...I have no idea what that means..."

It could be the number of frames that you could fire off before the buffer clogs up.

My Nikon D300s had a mysterious "R21" in the finder. I never shot high frame rates so it never changed. Years of curiosity made me open the manual for the first time and the "R" stood for remaining (as in the frames) and the number was the number.

[Dogman]

Seems like a nice little camera. But, damn, that's a fine looking pickup truck!

[Stephen Scharf]

"The more dials and buttons, the better"

Gee, I guess the Constellation Audio Inspiration Integrated amp I have on-hand doesn't qualify then...

Life is tough, but I'll figure out a way to soldier on...somehow. ;-)

[Andy]

If the eye point is insufficient for glasses, you might be able to substitute a Zacuto Z-Finder Optical Viewfinder Hood Loupe with its Schneider optics.

[Kye Wood]

I have a love hate for Sigma. I've owned every Foveon version they've made. If they could have figured out how to remove those god awful unpredictable unremovable magenta blotches that randomly appreared at every ISO, I'd have kept them.

I just can't trust Sigma anymore after that experience.

Itching to see how you find the Leica fares by comparison.

[darlene]

I had all the Sigma Foveon cameras. Loved their simple menus and the results from the DP1, 2 and 3 Merrill cameras were the same as the SD1 Merrill since they all had the same sensor. The processing of the files back then with Sigma's program and the quick buffer fill-ups took a toll on me. I eventually sold off all the little Merrills (DP1,2 & 3) and kept two SD1 Merrill bodies because I love their color for abstract work.

Then came the dp Quattros. Bought one with the same viewfinder (big loupe in a hood) you speak about with your loaner, but the color was not the same as the Foveon sensor, as it looked just like a CMOS sensor camera, but with all the Sigma quirks. Sold it soon after, and swore off Sigma cameras from that point. But, I do enjoy my Sigma SD1 Merrill cameras when I have the abstract itch to scratch.

Even though I care more for black & white film images over digital, I am enjoying your adventures. Keep it up!

[Ken Tanaka]

To hell with the camera. I lusted after a receiver like that Pioneer (or a Marantz) when I was in high school. More than for a car! More than for girls! But no chance. Way too poor. Eventually I forgot about them.

So thanks for re-kindling it. Thanks a lot.

[JH]

Here's my B&W setup and a sample photo:

During the pandemic, I bought a Nikon FM and 35mm Nikkor to shoot Sri-X like the 1980s. Gave up after 2 rolls. When Nikon introduced the Z-Fc, I bought one and used it "normally for a while" and liked it a lot. I actually liked the "Monochrome" setting.

Then I started buying inexpensive Z-mount lenses to play with. This became my usual setup - a Meikke 25mm manual lens, with the Nikon set on Monochrome. I turned the monitor around facing the body and never look at it. The focus peaking aid works great and the button near the viewfinder Zooms in as another focus aid - really nice feature. And hiding in the menus, you can set B&W filters for Monochrome - the photo uses the yellow filter option.

Works for me.

The photo is of the new 6th Street Bridge here in LA.

[JH]

If you want to see a large version of the 6th St Bridge photo, I posted one here
http://www.jimhayes.com/photo/OnlinePhotographer/6thStBridge.jpg

[Rob de Loe]

I'm using a Fuji GFX 50R as a "medium format back" on my setup, but if I ever needed a smaller body, the Sigma would be the one to get. For all of the reasons that you list, it is an absolutely ideal "back" on a digital view camera.

A feature of the FP L that would seal the deal for me is the ability to choose 4:3 aspect ratio. It's ridiculous, I know, but it grates that Fuji isn't providing 4:3 on the X-T2 through a firmware upgrade. Despite having used 3:2 for many years, now that I only work in 4:3 I find 3:2 awkward. Every frame I make with that camera gets converted to 4:3 in Lightroom -- such a pain.

It really is the little things...

[Dave Underwood]

Regarding the extraction of an SD card from the underside of a camera that is equipped with a base plate, I had the same problem with my Olympus Pen-F. One of my hobbies is simple machining, so I made a tool to help and it's worked well. Here's a link to my web page about it: https://toolingaround.ca/sdce.php There might be a (very small) business opportunity here for someone to make and sell something like this. :-)

[BG]

Not enough buttons and dials? Quelle Horror!! What will the dweebified "photographer" from the big D review site do? How will he tune his special profile and command buttons? But at least he can buy a thousand cages, lenses, and other things for his Sigma if he goes that route.

[Ken]

Hey Mike, I've never used a camera with IBIS but I can certainly see the allure and it would be on my short list with a new camera. But you're thinking of a B&W conversion. Aren't most of the IBIS cameras using moving sensors for stabilization? If so, is there a potential for damage when converting to B&W? Food for thought....