Sigma introduces ultra-compact L-mount full-frame camera
Sigma has announced the smallest full-frame camera to date. The Sigma fp has dimensions of 113x70x45mm, weighs 370 grams and is aimed at filmmakers. The rectangular device has a 3.2″ touchscreen on the back and an L-mount on the front.
Sigma packs a 24.6-megapixel sensor into the small mirrorless camera. It is a BSI-CMOS with a Bayer filter. Sigma is known for its multi-layer Foveon sensors, but this camera has a regular sensor. The sensor has a light sensitivity of 100 to 25,600 iso and that is expandable to equivalents of 6 and 102,400 iso. There is an electronic shutter in the device and autofocus works on the basis of contrast detection. The maximum shooting speed is 18 fps, but the camera cannot sustain that for a second, that speed drops after 12 shots.
Sigma aims at film makers with the camera. The dimensions make the camera suitable for placing in a small space and for remote control, for example. The device has a 4k movie function and can capture video files in DNG format with a color depth of 12 bit. The maximum frame rate is 24 fps at the 4k resolution, in 1080p that increases to a maximum of 120 fps. There is a heatsink in the device to cool the sensor during long video recordings.
According to Sigma, the housing is sealed against dust and moisture. There is an HDMI connection, microphone input and USB 3.1 port on the device. There is also an input for a remote control. Sigma is going to release various accessories to make the device more manageable, such as grips and an attachment to use the LCD as a kind of viewfinder. The Sigma fp should be on the market in the autumn; The price is not known yet.
With the announcement of the Sigma fp, the Japanese camera manufacturer also lifted a corner of the veil about the full-frame camera with Foveon sensor that is on the way. That is a device aimed at photographers, with a sensor that consists of three layers. For now, Sigma only said that it is a sensor with twenty million pixels per layer. Earlier this year, the manufacturer announced that the device has been delayed until 2020.
Sigma’s full-frame cameras use the L-mount developed by Leica and also used by Panasonic since last year. The three camera manufacturers announced a collaboration around the L-mount last year.