Sigma FP2 Brings a Faster Sensor to a $2,199 Full-Frame Body

By Grace Kim

Sigma will make the FP2 available on November 11 for $2,199 as a body-only full-frame mirrorless camera. A $2,749 bundle adds Sigma’s upgraded EVF-21 electronic viewfinder or, for the same price, an I-series 50mm F2 DG lens.

The EVF-21 carries a 5.76-million-dot OLED panel and an eye sensor. Sigma says the eye sensor switches the display between the camera’s LCD and the viewfinder.

Seven years after the original fp, Sigma has kept the follow-up compact while changing the sensor, display, battery and video system. Sigma called the original “world’s smallest and lightest” full-frame mirrorless camera. For the FP2, Sigma calls it the “world’s smallest” full-frame camera, without repeating the lightest claim after the body-only weight rose by about six grams.

What does the November launch include?

The FP2 uses a new 24.5-megapixel, partially stacked, backside-illuminated full-frame CMOS sensor. Its resolution is a slight step down from the original fp’s 24.6 megapixels. The new architecture reads data faster, reducing the rolling-shutter effect in still images while providing the data throughput required for the camera’s higher-speed still and video modes. The FP2 still offers only an electronic shutter.

Faster readout also brings bird recognition to autofocus, which already detects people and animals. Still-image bursts reach 20 frames per second. Video tops out at 6K/60p. The 4K/120p mode uses only a cropped portion of the sensor.

What does the new sensor change?

The FP2 centers on a faster-reading 24.5-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor with a partially stacked, backside-illuminated design. Its pixel count sits slightly below the original fp’s 24.6 megapixels, but the architecture change provides the speed needed for the higher frame-rate capture modes. The camera has no mechanical shutter.

Autofocus now recognizes birds as well as people and animals. Continuous shooting runs at up to 20 fps. Sigma rates video maximum at 6K/60p, while 4K/120p recording uses a cropped sensor area. The faster readout also reduces the rolling-shutter effect in still photographs.

How does the compact body handle shooting?

The FP2 carries over the original fp’s streamlined, compact shape. The small body can still become awkward when paired with a longer lens. Multiple tripod mounts support optional accessories such as the EVF-21 and an extended grip.

The rear display measures 3.2 inches and carries 2.1 million dots. It is a touchscreen that tilts upward and downward for different shooting angles. The articulating movement gives the camera more shooting positions while improving airflow and cooling, two functions that Sigma says help the FP2 record longer video sessions.

What do the ports and storage support?

A full-size HDMI port replaces the original fp’s micro-HDMI connection and offers greater durability. Two USB-C ports separate low-speed power and accessory functions from high-speed data work:

• The USB 2.0 port mainly handles camera power and accessories such as headphones or the EVF-21 viewfinder.
• The 10Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2 port supports fast data transfers and external SSDs for recording footage in Apple ProRes RAW format.

Keeping power and accessory duties away from the faster data port allows that connection to concentrate on transfers and direct external-SSD recording. The source describes the full-size HDMI connector as more durable than the original micro-HDMI option.

There is only one SD card slot, so the FP2 cannot duplicate files to a second card for redundant backup, a limitation that Sigma does not remove with its internal storage. The camera includes 70GB of built-in storage for use when the memory card unexpectedly fills. That reserve can preserve files temporarily, but it does not provide a second recording destination.

What are the weight and battery trade-offs?

Sigma increased the capacity of the FP2’s battery, but the higher capacity and extra weight leave the new model heavier than the seven-year-old original fp. The stated weights put the camera about six grams heavier without the battery and nearly 40 grams heavier with it installed.

According to Sigma, the larger battery extends runtime by 30 percent. The company estimates about 370 still photographs or 130 minutes of video per charge. Those performance claims accompany a more capable sensor and articulating screen, while electronic-only shuttering and a single card slot remain fixed constraints.

The November launch will test whether Sigma can defend its compact-body claim with faster readout and longer runtime, while the equal-price $2,749 bundles leave the EVF-21 and 50mm lens as direct alternatives.