Sigma fp L Full Frame Camera with 61MP Sensor, Crop Zoom, and Hybrid AF announced

Sigma announced 61 Megapixel Sigma fp L full frame camera with L mount lens. It is the same compact size as the Sigma fp, but exhibits improved characteristics: a new 61MP full-frame sensor, a function of cropping Crop Zoom, an intelligent hybrid AF system, and the ability to receive continuous power via USB-C.

The Sigma fp L features a 61 effective megapixel Bayer sensor, a record for Sigma cameras, with a still image size of 9520 x 4080 pixels. The full frame camera has a low-pass filter that reduces moiré to a minimum level. A fully electronic shutter is left in the camera, which can affect the rolling shutter effect, especially with such a significant matrix resolution, although this fact can only be learned from tests.

Thanks to the high-resolution sensor, Sigma has incorporated Crop Zoom technology into the camera, which works for both stills and videos, allowing you to shoot videos in Full HD resolution even at maximum 5x magnification. Sigma says the 5x zoom is done by cropping without digital enhancement, so there is no loss in image quality.

L-System cameras have generally been criticized by users for their lack of phase detection autofocus. The Sigma fp L features Contrast-Based Hybrid AF in combination with Image Plane Phase AF. This tandem provides fast, smooth, and accurate autofocusing for both stills and video, with subject tracking.

Sigma fp L supports charging via USB when the camera is on, so it can be used continuously while it is connected to a power source, it can be a 220V adapter or a power bank. Thanks to this feature, the Sigma fp L camera is convenient to use as a web camera, since it can receive the necessary power from a computer.

The camera allows you to save and share your custom settings as a QR code. This will be useful, for example, when renting equipment – scanning the QR code will instantly adjust the camera to yourself.

For video shooting, CinemaDNG 8-bit, 10-bit, and 12-bit is offered, as well as MOV H.264 in both All-I and GOP. The camera allows you to shoot in 4K at up to 30 fps and in Full HD 1080p at up to 120 fps (with 1.67x auto-zoom at both 100 fps and 120 fps). The camera can record up to 2 hours continuously on both SD cards and SSDs. Sigma promises that other frame rates for video will appear later with firmware updates, which frequencies will not be specified.

The camera has two new color presets that can be used for both stills and videos – Powder Blue and Duotone. Users now have 15 color profiles to choose from.

In addition to the camera, the company has released the EVF-11 external electronic viewfinder, which can work in conjunction with the fp L, and which is specially designed for this model. The viewfinder is equipped with a 0.5-inch OLED screen with a resolution of 3.68 million dots. The viewfinder can be tilted 90°, it has audio monitoring and allows you to record video to an SSD via the USB-C port.

The EVF-11 viewfinder is powered by the camera and cannot charge the camera via USB. Not only will the Sigma fp L be used as a webcam for a long time, but the viewfinder will also have to be removed. The company claims that the viewfinder allows you to see the entire scene without annoying darkening around the edges and can be used even with glasses. There is also a diopter adjustment from -4.0 to +3.0, there are two eyecups in the kit.

Sigma fp L price and availability

The Sigma fp L full frame camera has been priced at $2,499, while the version with EVF-11 viewfinder for $2,999 and is now available to pre-order on the Bhphotovideo.com online store. The EVF-11 electronic viewfinder can be purchased separately for $699. Both the camera and viewfinder are expected to ship at end of April 2021.

Last month, Sigma has also introduced a 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN Contemporary lens for mirrorless full-frame cameras with L-mount (Leica, Panasonic, and Sigma cameras) and with E-mount (Sony) to include another high-light standard zoom. Priced at $899.