Ty Harper

Personally I am still intrigued by the FP form factor so will def be keeping my eye on this, specifically for travel/casual stuff - especially bcuz it seems to have a much better build than its competitors in that size range.

Key specs via PP: https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sigma-fp2-everything-is-better-for-the-second-gen-modular-mirrorless-camera/
24MP partially stacked CMOS sensor
Up to 20fps stills
Video up to 6K open gate, including ProRes RAW output to SSD
Two USB-C sockets
Full-sized HDMI port
Tilt up/down 3.2″ 2.1M dot rear LCD
Optional 5.76M dot electronic viewfinder
Optional OM System/Panasonic compatible hotshoe
70GB internal memory
Larger, 16Wh battery, giving 370 shots/charge rating
460g (16.2oz) including battery and card
The Sigma fp2 will be available from November 11th at a price of $2199, body only, or $2749 with the new EVF-21 accessory or $2749 with the I-series 50mm F2 DG lens.

Sigma FP II has officially been announced.
 

Key specs via PP: https://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sigma-fp2-everything-is-better-for-the-second-gen-modular-mirrorless-camera/
24MP partially stacked CMOS sensor
Up to 20fps stills
Video up to 6K open gate, including ProRes RAW output to SSD
Two USB-C sockets
Full-sized HDMI port
Tilt up/down 3.2″ 2.1M dot rear LCD
Optional 5.76M dot electronic viewfinder
Optional OM System/Panasonic compatible hotshoe
70GB internal memory
Larger, 16Wh battery, giving 370 shots/charge rating
460g (16.2oz) including battery and card
The Sigma fp2 will be available from November 11th at a price of $2199, body only, or $2749 with the new EVF-21 accessory or $2749 with the I-series 50mm F2 DG lens.

With 10 years experience in the industry, you should start by reaching out to all the clients you worked with in the past, who you feel like you delivered great content to, and who you have built a good relationship with, no?

Ditto. Sadly too many compromises for me...
I really hope they work on something new though as their lenses are 👍 and I use them exclusively now.
I have a feeling they won't bother though with stuff like the ZVE1, ZR, S9 available (and hopefully S9ii in the near future).

Interesting update on the FP front. A user has apparently developed a way to use the FP's internal gyro data to get post-production stabilization via the cam's SD card (vs needing to attach an additional piece of external hardware).
You can get more details here: https://discord.com/channels/1542149935523299378/1542153963837853807
And this is an FB group where the developer made the annoucement earlier this week, and is discussing it with other owners: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1EPzkeRZny/?mibextid=wwXIfr
There is also a user (Vitaly Li) who literally just posted about a new mod they're developing that could give the FP 3000x2000 open gate:
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1F1sixsTzz/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Personaly I've moved on from my dreams of owning an FP, but this is seems like pretty promising news for FP users. 

Someone named Vitaly hacking a camera?  Oh boy. 😅

Interesting update on the FP front. A user has apparently developed a way to use the FP's internal gyro data to get post-production stabilization via the cam's SD card (vs needing to attach an additional piece of external hardware).
You can get more details here: https://discord.com/channels/1542149935523299378/1542153963837853807
And this is an FB group where the developer made the annoucement earlier this week, and is discussing it with other owners: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1EPzkeRZny/?mibextid=wwXIfr
There is also a user (Vitaly Li) who literally just posted about a new mod they're developing that could give the FP 3000x2000 open gate:
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1F1sixsTzz/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Personaly I've moved on from my dreams of owning an FP, but this is seems like pretty promising news for FP users. 

Interesting update on the FP front. A user has apparently developed a way to use the FP's internal gyro data to get post-production stabilization via the cam's SD card (vs needing to attach an additional piece of external hardware).
You can get more details here: https://discord.com/channels/1542149935523299378/1542153963837853807
And this is an FB group where the developer made the annoucement earlier this week, and is discussing it with other owners: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1EPzkeRZny/?mibextid=wwXIfr
There is also a user (Vitaly Li) who literally just posted about a new mod they're developing that could give the FP 3000x2000 open gate:
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1F1sixsTzz/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Personaly I've moved on from my dreams of owning an FP, but this is seems like pretty promising news for FP users. 

For anyone considering the R6V,
Looks like this fairly new 'Subject Tracking IS' feature addresses the longstanding wobble issues Canon has had with its IBIS system.
I think more testing needs to be done - but just caught this vid from YouTuber Q Maldonado talking about it via this Canon R6V FB group.
Personally, I sold my R50V and picked an R6V up to be my new casual/travel/C-cam. If you barebones it with a wrist strap it isn't that much bigger than an R50V with a Smallrig cage.
Haven't really had time to do much testing but so far the biggest issue for me has been using the LCD screen in broad daylight. My workaround will be to rebuy a Zacuto Z-Finder and slap a Z-Frame adhesive on the LCD screen.
Sure it makes it impossible to put the LCD in the protective closed position but that is obvi not a new concern + if you slap on a screen protector below the adhesive you should be fine + because the Z-Frame adhesive has some thickness to it, it also acts as another layer of protection. 
Anyways, just an fyi!
 

 
 

I'm already shooting 2x anamorphic open-gate on my $30 Charmera keychain camera, so nothing new for me here.
Nice to see that Sony has finally caught up though!


 

@eatstoomuchjam I've always been a fan of the EF 24-70mm f/4 (IS) so def looking at that lens as an option. As for the pdmovie option, I'm ok with its limitations - but overall, I agree with alot of what you're saying. And the thing about the ZR is that bcuz my main cams are two R5Cs and a R50V, when I start hitting that $3K CAD territory (which is how much a used ZR + EF to L adapter w/ VND goes for in my neck of the woods) suddenly I'm like $600 CAD shy of a new Canon R6V, and I already own all the accessories that cam would need. Meanwhile the FP or S9 (with all necessary accessories) will run me under $2K. First world problems tho!

It's been a while, but I think it was either that or a slightly bigger cage that wrapped the whole camera.  I had the option for the bottom-mounted SSD or a side-mounted smaller one.  I primarily used the side-mounted one since it was overall smaller.
I didn't - I don't have a lot of interest in shooting 1080p these days.  If I did, I'd be more inclined to re-buy the original BMPCC (sometimes I consider this and always turn back when I see the current prices).
The EF 35/2 IS is great.  I don't think I have (or have used) the EF 24/2.8 IS, but it's decent.  You might also consider the 24-70/4L IS.  It's definitely a little bigger than the other two lenses, but not bigger than both of them together.  Not as fast, but the fp is alright in low light.
I personally didn't like the PDMovie at all.  The one that I had used some weird little batteries and there was no way to tell it to focus on anything but the closest thing.  YMMV.
If it were me nowadays, I'd give a hard look at the ZR.  A used ZR costs more than a used FP, but the difference gets to be less when you end up buying a DPL cage and PDMovie to make up for the FP's shortcomings - and closer yet with the flip screen mod.  With the ZR, you'll get a much nicer screen, decent autofocus, and built-in raw.

This is exactly why I ended up selling my fp and fp-l.  I tried just about everything to keep the kit small for raw recording.  And kept coming back to how big they got, even with the smallest possible external SSD (one of the DPL SSD cases in their mount).  By the time I added that, I had a camera the same size as my Canon R5, but also less capable than the R5.  If Sigma would release the exact same camera, but able to record compressed 12-bit raw to SD card (Canon did it on the C70 and they do it in raw lt on the C80!) - or with a CFE slot that can record the existing uncompressed raw, I'd be strongly considering it again.  The default size for the fp is just so good.
Similarly, once the price of the bf gets to "not silly" level, I'd be apt to get one.
Anyway, the ZR seems to be almost everything that I wanted the fp to be - it's another one that I'm likely to get someday after prices drop more (or there's a crazy good sale).

Same. Well I only have one body but I'll never sell it. If not for a few modern conveniences, none of which being higher resolution, I wouldn't even bother with any other camera.
I bought and returned the R50V. I actually really liked the camera, especially for the price, but its inability to display exposure tools and the View Assist LUT at the same time was way too frustrating and the Histogram wasn't accurate enough for me. But I did see they updated the firmware to allow the LUT and False Color to be turned on at the same time, so that's pretty cool. Of course that happened exactly 3 days after I returned it. I picked up a refurbed V1 directly from Canon and I like it a lot. Am using it, and the 5D3, for a short film I'm writing.
That's exactly what I thought about the FP and when it arrived my jaw dropped seeing how small it is... but... then you quickly realize how big the thing gets once you add a cage and an SSD on top. I spent hours upon hours researching and testing different configurations to keep it compact. I looked at the Dark Power stuff, but I was trying to keep the camera package as cheap and small as possible.
The best I could come up with was to shoot it in 8bit cDNG mode with an SDXC card and a NiceyRig handle. The 8bit quality isn't bad at all in CDNG. But the cards are expensive and you can't get much footage onto a 128gb card... plus I'd rather shoot 12bit so I got a generic cage off Amazon and bought a couple SSDs and just attached them with a phone tripod clamp. I also bought a SmallRig drive encasement and put a Samsung drive inside and that kept it fairly small.
Last summer I finally had a project to shoot with it and with all my tests, I didn't really realize how quickly it ate through batteries until I was on set. Luckily, I had just enough power and drives to make the day, but I was starting to get nervous.
That's a great price for the FP if you can find one. I'm probably going to trade mine in to take advantage of the ZR $100 trade in bonus through B&H. I'll get a little less for the camera, but not that much less when you add the fees and headaches of eBay, private sales.
I was wavering between the ZR and R6V, I really like the idea of the 3K S16 crop mode on the R6V and I love the body style, but the ZR just offers to many other shooting options internally and the internal 32bit audio... no brainer for me for now.
All that said, if you like shooting raw video, which you obviously do, then the FP is a fun camera with a bunch of little quirks that aren't necessarily deal breakers but can be frustrating sometimes. 

@mercerI started my cam journey in earnest on the 5D MKII/IIII with the ML hack - so I have a soft spot for that RAW workflow! And I still have two 5D MKIII that I will prob never sell. I currently have a R5OV as travel/casual/C cam but I am not feeling the APSC look. So when I recently rediscovered the FP I became a bit obsessed with the idea of having something that small and powerful become my casual/travel cam. Meanwhile I'd just keep the R50V as a C-cam to my R5Cs. But as you say, the FP seems so finnicky that it has required an unprecedented level of research/due diligence on my end. So I've been wavering back and forth for about a month now. 
As it stands, if I can get a used FP in good condition for $600 USD (just missed one with the modded back dial for that price!) then I'll go for it (knowing I'd still be buying the DPL screen mod, the DPL base cage+SSD holder+SSD bottom mount and side accessory, a Meike or Vizelex Smart adapter/VND, and the pdmovie 3). If not, there's the Lumix S9 and maaaaybe the Nikon ZR but that then I'm getting to R6V territory as far as size and price.

You may have read me post before that I came to the FP, due to my love of 1080p (actually 1920x818) ML Raw on the 5D Mark iii. I seriously love the image and it still reigns as the best image and favorite camera I have ever owned, but being 1080p and an EF mount camera, it could be "soft" with certain lenses and I couldn't use some lenses I have collected over the years.
That said, in some ways, the FP is the spiritual successor to the 5Diii ML Raw because both are "uncompressed" raw and both have, or lack, a manufacturer designed post production workflow. Coming from ML Raw, this never bothered me. With the FP, I set the picture profile to OFF and used the camera meter to judge exposure... as long as you hover +/- 0, you will be able to finesse the image in post however you want to. So I never worried about seeing an accurate representation of anything with it. I made sure I didn't clip the highlights, used False Color to check skin and hit record.
As far as EF mount lenses go, I have 4... the Canon 28mm 1.8, Samyang 50mm 1.4, and two modified lenses... a Minolta 58mm 1.4 and the Canon FD 50mm 1.2 L. I have so many other vintage lenses that I didn't even get an EF adapter. However I was planning to bring out my 5Diii more often, so I looked at purchasing (repurchasing) a couple lenses... the 24-70mm f/4 and 35mm f/2 IS, so I did glance at a few of the electronic adapters for L Mount thinking they could pull double duty. At the time I was more worried about IS translating over to the FP than I was ND, so the Sigma adapter seemed like the safest bet.
The FP was intended to be an inexpensive and tiny raw camera that I could walk around with and grab shots for short films, so I wanted the footprint to be as minimal as possible, which unfortunately is near impossible with the FP and eventually frustrated me. I later bought an inexpensive GH6 and the Arri LogC3 upgrade key, with similar intentions but the crop annoys me. Now I think I'm going to sell both and get a Nikon ZR, and be done with it. I have my 5D3 and a Canon V1 for one film I started working on and the Nikon will be for the other film.
All that said, the FP is a fine camera and the image is pretty damn good, it's just too quirky for my run and gun incognito sensibilities, but if you don't mind rigging it up a little, I can't imagine the S9 could come close to the FP in pure image quality. In fact, I was thinking of waiting to do a major camera upgrade and getting the original S5 as a stop gap for my second film and then reevaluating my cameras this time next year, and I may still do that for the IBIS, but in reality, the image is more important to me, and the flexibility of a raw workflow, so I'd probably just keep the FP for that scenario... even though the GH6's IBIS may have spoiled me a little.

Got it! I think for me, the biggest things I've been trying to wrap my head around (because I've only been able to learn about this cam via bits and pieces of anecdotal info from Youtubers and owners posting in FB/Reddit groups) are:
(i) The monitoring situation: So as I currently understand it - the Ninja V is the only monitor that - when used with the Ole Berek LUT - shows you a fairly close representation of what the RAW image actually looks like in the field compared to what you get on the FP's own screen (as far as exposure, etc)
(ii) What is the best EF-L mount adapter with VND? I'm seeing that the issues with the Meike version might have been addressed and I'm unsure whether the Meike and Fotodiox/Vizelex Smart adapter/VNF versions will fit when using the Dark Power Laboratory Base cage and.or Ultimate cage.
Any help/thoughts on this would be appreciated. All that said, I'm still interested in it but if I can't get a good deal on one here in Toronto, I will prob just end up getting an S9!

I'm thinking of selling mine. I have had mine for a couple years and understand the camera's ins and outs if you need any information.
As far as your question, I'd be most worried about the usb-c port. Most of the available cages do not have cable clamps, so I'd imagine most FP users haven't used them with the camera. So I'd verify with the seller that the port functions and the connection is tight.

Speaking of the dials registering the wrong way, I've mostly noticed that on dials when you rotate them quite slowly, so it seems like trying different speeds might be the best strategy.
It's also good to get a decent light source and look over the surface of it by looking at the reflections as you rotate it.  I'd be looking for any evidence it's been dropped etc, especially on anything that's meant to move like the buttons or dials etc, but also on the corners.  I dropped my GF3 on one of its corners and as it's a metal chassis it just got a little flat spot and wrinkle, but you can feel it if you pay attention.

Defintely check out and test the rotating thumbdial on the back. It's not specific to the FP, but I've bought second hand cameras where those things became glitchy and register as spinning one way when you spin it the other. Or flip flop between left and right if you rotate it too fast. 
It's probably not going to be an issue, but is the only thing I'd double check on top of what you said already.
Maybe also look for damage on the pin connectors used for the EVF by the ports.

Hey all, I'm pretty close to squeezing the trigger on a Sigma FP - what are some things I should be looking for when inspecting a used Sigma FP for potential purchase?
Like obvious things for me would be signs of irreparable damage to the ports, dead pixels, ensuring the SD slot is in working order, any scratches on the sensor. Anything else though? Particularly things that might be unique to the FP.
Thanks in advance! 

Hey all, I'm pretty close to squeezing the trigger on a Sigma FP - what are some things I should be looking for when inspecting a used Sigma FP for potential purchase?
Like obvious things for me would be signs of irreparable damage to the ports, dead pixels, ensuring the SD slot is in working order, any scratches on the sensor. Anything else though? Particularly things that might be unique to the FP.
Thanks in advance! 

Oh, thank goodness Zoom finally have a reasonable accessory for timecode shoots.  For a bit now, the worst thing to hear from an audio engineer has been "I use a Zoom F3."  "Guess I'll hope waveform sync works in post, then..."  😅