Interesting sensor characteristic of SIGMA fp

[Akira]

Not to brag about the camera I currently use, but the measurement of the sensor of SIGMA fp looks interesting.  Its firmware version 2.0 unlocked the dual base ISO of 100 and 3200, but the chart doesn't seem to coincide with the officially published spec.

The wider dynamic range compared to those of the more popular models well supports my experience.  The DNG file yielded from fp is very pliable on Adobe CC, and the noise is very acceptable even at higher ISO like 6400 or 12800.

Yes, SIGMA fp is an electronic shutter only camera (which means that it is more prone to suffer from the flicker and the rolling shutter effect), has no EVF, is CD-only AF (though it is pretty accurate).  It is nowhere near the all-rounders like Sony Alpha 7 series or Nikon Z series cameras.  But it is one of the most handy and enjoyable camera for my usage.

(I hope it is OK to share the screenshot from the Photons to Photos website.)

[BruceSD]

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Can you attach Nikon F mount lenses to this Sigma camera?

What is your favorite lens on it?

[MEPER]

What happened with the Foveon sensors Sigma used some years back?
That was quite interesting......to have a real RGB sensor instead of the Bayer-sensors.
Now they just use a normal standard BSI CMOS Bayer pattern sensor?
Probably a Sony?     .....could be the same sensor as in Z6?

[Akira]

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Can you attach Nikon F mount lenses to this Sigma camera?

What is your favorite lens on it?

Unlike the conventional Sigma cameras with Sigma SA mount, the fp employs L-mount (bayonet), and there are F to L (bayonet) adapters.  You can use any MF and AF-D Nikkors on fp.  G type lenses can also be used if the adapter have an aperture control ring like the one from NOVOFLEX.  I haven't yet seen any adapters that enable aperture controls of E lenses, though.

My Ai 200/4.0, Nikkor-H 50/2.0, Ai Micro 55/3.5 and Nikkor-O 55/1.2 works great on fp, and I love them all.

[Akira]

What happened with the Foveon sensors Sigma used some years back?
That was quite interesting......to have a real RGB sensor instead of the Bayer-sensors.
Now they just use a normal standard BSI CMOS Bayer pattern sensor?
Probably a Sony?     .....could be the same sensor as in Z6?

Sigma announced the abort of the development of the full size FOVEON sensor due to some fatal problem.  The fp uses BSI CMOS Beyer pattern sensor.  But the fp employs the contrast detect AF system along with other L-mount alliance cameras from Panasonic and Leica, so the sensor won't have any phase detect photosites.  I'm not sure if it is the same one as those used in Panasonic S1, S1H, S5 or Leica SL2-S.  Unlike Sigma and Leica, Panasonic doesn't make it clear if it is of the BSI type.

[Snoogly]

How are you focusing the manual lenses?

.... I answered my own question ;-)

The hood at the end of the video looks nice.

https://youtu.be/phFyPS_uX4w

[Akira]

How are you focusing the manual lenses?

As any live views of digital cameras, you can magnify the live view image on the LCD screen to focus manually.  The area to magnify can be selected in the same manner as you select the single AF point.

[John Geerts]

Interesting information. Thanks for posting, Akira.

[MEPER]

The price level of fp is higher than a Z6 it seems?
Maybe about same as Z6II?

For me a viewfinder is a must. I found out using a J4/J5.
When there is sun it can be difficult to see the LCD and difficult to frame.  I think it is a high price for a camera without a viewfinder.....?

[Akira]

How are you focusing the manual lenses?

.... I answered my own question ;-)

The hood at the end of the video looks nice.

https://youtu.be/phFyPS_uX4w

Yeah, that Hasselblad-like hood looks slicker than the genuine one!

Interesting information. Thanks for posting, Akira.

You are welcome!

[Snoogly]

The price level of fp is higher than a Z6 it seems?
Maybe about same as Z6II?

For me a viewfinder is a must. I found out using a J4/J5.
When there is sun it can be difficult to see the LCD and difficult to frame.  I think it is a high price for a camera without a viewfinder.....?

The hood in that video is one solution.

[Snoogly]

Da’ hood

https://prophotographygear.com/collections/new-arrival/products/ggsfoto-lcd-portable-ocular-fr-canon-nikon-sony

And a thread on its use on the Sigma

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4454704

[Akira]

The price level of fp is higher than a Z6 it seems?
Maybe about same as Z6II?

For me a viewfinder is a must. I found out using a J4/J5.
When there is sun it can be difficult to see the LCD and difficult to frame.  I think it is a high price for a camera without a viewfinder.....?

At the camera shop I always use, Z6II body is sold for 241,560 JPY and Sigma fp body, for 181,840 JPY, both including VAT.  At the same shop, the original Z6 is priced at 199,980 JPY and Z5 at 163,430 JPY.  Sony A7III is priced at 225,220 JPY.

I would say that the price of SIGMA fp is fair.

I don't need OVF or EVF anymore at least for my shooting style, and I'm reluctant to pay for what I don't need.  I love the stripped-down concept of fp.    When Nikon released D700, I wanted the D700 without the mirror and the pentaprism finder.  SIGMA fp is almost exactly that!

When I shoot against the sun, I simply hold the camera normally with my right hand (in AF mode or after having focused manually) and put my left hand above the LCD.  This way, I can get through the situation most of the time.

[BruceSD]

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Glad to know that F to L adapters are available for it.

A photo gear reviewer I follow posted these glowing reviews on this camera...

https://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2019/11/08/the-sigma-fp-arrives-this-is-different-but-i-love-it/

https://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2019/11/09/sigma-fp-vs-sony-a7iii-high-iso-comparison/

https://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2019/11/11/sigma-fp-camera-review-tried-one-then-bought-it-heres-why/

[Akira]

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Glad to know that F to L adapters are available for it.

A photo gear reviewer I follow posted these glowing reviews on this camera...

https://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2019/11/08/the-sigma-fp-arrives-this-is-different-but-i-love-it/

https://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2019/11/09/sigma-fp-vs-sony-a7iii-high-iso-comparison/

https://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2019/11/11/sigma-fp-camera-review-tried-one-then-bought-it-heres-why/

Yes, his initial review videos were the ones I had referred to before I purchased my fp later in November 2019.  I don't use the magnifier to keep the camera small, but they encouraged my decision.

As for the adapters, I would recommend either Novoflex or Rayqual.  Both belongs to the most expensive price range but their accuracy is trustworthy.  I also used Metabones adapters for both Nikon F and Leica L mounts.  They are made as well and sturdy as the Novoflex and Rayqual ones but seemed to be designed intentionally to allow the attached lenses to focus beyond infinity.

The ability to focus beyond infinity can be helpful when you use poorly calibrated third party lenses for their characters.  But I need a trustworthy infinity stop in order to shoot distant scenes at night or the moon.