Sigma fp L Review: A VERY CONFUSING Camera!

Review of the Sigma fp L mirrorless camera. Discussing image quality, ergonomics & build, raw output, recording modes, autofocus, and color.
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Table of Contents:
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0:00 - Intro & Disclosure
0:51 - Pricing & Value
1:31 - Photo Capabilities vs a7R IV
2:35 - Video Overview
3:02 - Build Quality
3:16 - Crop Zoom & Oversampling
4:16 - Rolling Shutter
4:24 - Blackmagic RAW
5:13 - Ergonomics
5:58 - Display
6:14 - Quirks
6:52 - White Balance
7:06 - Autofocus
7:39 - Image Quality & Recording Modes
9:45 - Final Thoughts

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#sigma #sigmafpL #camerareview

[zacharydailey]

Gerald, I've never been this early to a video but I just wanted to say I really appreciate the work that you do and you've helped me as a creator more than almost anyone else. As someone on a very thin budget you're videos have been the ultimate resource on what to get at what budget. Then we have all the amazing tutorials you produce. Gerald, thank you for doing you and wherever your channel goes I'll be watching

[ROAMitRALPH]

Love the honesty and respect Sigma for not trying to silence you

[chrisbrockhurst]

Hats off to sigma for giving the go ahead to post this, brands need to take note. Great work at always Gerald 👌🏼

[NuwandaSM]

Dude this was the smoothest bloodbath I've seen in a while.

[NirnBootMod]

Very cool that they encouraged you to post the video with a negative review. Much respect to Sigma.

[philipbloom]

This camera is such a huge disappointment. I just don’t understand why they were thinking. They’ve improved nothing from the original and made certain things worse. They should have just brought out the EVF and left it at that!

[spritual_enlightenment]

The camera is confusing, but Gerald's review is crystal clear.

[sandboxaperture]

Sigma deserves respect for knowing that they would get a bad review and still encouraging it to be published. You don't see that from companies. It seems like they are really dedicated to receiving feedback and using it to create a better product. Their lenses are fantastic, and although they might be in the baby stages of camera production, with a dedication to receiving feedback, in a few years we might be talking about sigma cameras in the same light as we do sigma lenses.

[EastonParkhurst]

Gotta say Gerald, I appreciate you not rushing the embargo so that you can stay true to your opinions. I appreciate the honesty!

[TheTrailMixTV]

"I'm Gerald Undone, and my favorite flavor of ice cream is S-Log."

[phpn]

Sigma exec looking dim. 
"Why the long face, exec-san ?" 
— "We've been Undone".

[neurojitsu]

Objectively, I hear your concerns when comparing specs and workflow. And your insight that this camera is optimally used for CDNG capture to SSD is very helpful. But if you want a minimalist camera that takes beautiful images, with the smallest possible form factor, combined with modularity to rig it out when you need that, then this is it... so I don't think we should knock a screwdriver for being a bad hammer.

Sigma's business success has not been founded on building a whole camera brand eco-system, but rather on fitting its products into wider eco-systems and focusing on how Sigma can add innovation or offer value. COULD Sigma make a camera just like a Sony or Fujifilm? I would think they can, but why would they do that? This camera cleverly sneaks into a sweet spot for certain use cases and personal preferences. BTW, I don't work for them nor do I know anyone who does... I just appreciate what they do, respect their integrity and values (as you acknowledged) and I own three of their lovely lenses.

So there are two possibilities, it seems to me. One: you are right, and Sigma made a strategic mistake building the wrong camera with ther wrong specs. Two: your critique will be 'undone' by the simple fact that Sigma have found a niche that they can uniquely fill... it's no coincidence in my view that Sony launched the FX3, a camera which also 'objectively' does nothing better than other Sony cameras... other than its form factor. Moreover, I think you could argue that Sigma are being smart: the fp series is a smaller alternative to the 'box camera' form factor that is doing well at the moment, and the fp also take stills but has no recording time limit. With that EVF, there is nothing like it on the market.

The footage I've seen so far from the camera looks stunning, and they seem to be aiming the camera at users who want great colour straight out of the camera rather than spending a lot of time in post. I'll be waiting to see how the firmware upgrades improve things, but I remain interested in this camera for a CDNG workflow (with SSD) and baked-in looks in non-raw format, recorded in-camera.

CineD have an article up on the Sigma fp L that's also an interesting read: they asked the product manager for the fp series, Wakamatsu-san, about the optimal settings for this camera. As you found, this is a bit complicated... but the simple insight is that this camera's performance is tied to the crop factor that you use. To quote: "For now, please see below the recommended crop factor for EACH scenario:

- for the best resolution: x1.3 to x2.48
- for phase detection AF: x1.0 to x1.53
- for best dynamic range: x1.24"

Which of course begs another question: is this REALLY a full-frame camera, or a defacto APS-H/C camera? Now I'm starting to feel a little 'undone'...

You've got to feel sympathy for the camera manufacturers' marketing and engineering teams these days. How on earth do you market a camera when every camera is SO capable? In some of the rumours about the fp L they were saying this might be an APS-C sensor... which it kind of IS... but everyone seems to want to buy a FF camera at the moment... I suspect the success of this camera will be ultimately based on how well Sigma (and influencers like you) manage to explain to the marketplace the "who and what this camera is for."

I'm really keen to learn more about how Sigma is using that sensor: I read somewhere they have used this sensor to re-create the look from a Foveon sensor... it'll be interesting to see some comparisons of this camera's footage with the original fp and with other cameras. And to hear more about people's experience with the workflow in post...

[FilmMakerKlausKusserow]

THIS camera would be the perfect topic for a boardroom-meeting with Gerald and Camera Conspiracies 😁.

[matto]

I haven’t watched your review yet but I’m so pumped about this camera I pre-ordered 4 of them! Now to take a big sip of coffee and start watching your comprehensive review!

[JamesVanderVeen]

Sigma: Go ahead and post your video. How bad could it be?

Sigma: 😭

[philippscheithauer]

sigma executives: "so, we wanna get out our own camera."
engineers: "but we dont have have the technology or the budget to properly compete with any other brand in this segment?"
executives: "yes."

[SlideWreckDan]

*fp L has used confusion*

It's super effective!

[iComplainer]

i’m super stoked and honored that you picked my intro! how appropriate this is thee video i get a mention in. so much to complain about with this body. i remember commenting back around 30K subscribers that you were going to have 1 million. i’m pleased to see you’re at a quarter milli! one of the most important and respected reviewer (extraordinaire) in the space.

[Curtis-Randall]

I seriously think that camera manufacturers need to hire you as a consultant in the early stages of your camera development. The time and money saved would be substantial. Just my two cents. Great video Gerald!! Cheers 💜

[impatrickt]

“Sometimes you can forgive all of the issues if the image is just fantastic”

- Blackmagic’s official tag line.