Heat management – What Canon can learn from the Panasonic S1H and Sigma Fp

Let’s have a look at thermal management on small mirrorless cameras. The solutions shown here prevent overheating on the Sigma Fp and Panasonic S1H during long recordings. The Sigma Fp shoots 4K RAW internally from a 6K sensor and the Panasonic S1H shoots 6K internally in 10bit 4:2:2 V-LOG.

Canon can learn from the design of the Sigma Fp and Panasonic S1H when it comes to offering professional video features in a small weather sealed body.

Read moreHeat management – What Canon can learn from the Panasonic S1H and Sigma Fp

Shooting with the Canon Dream Lens 50mm F0.95 on my Sigma Fp

Sigma Fp with Canon Dream Lens 50mm F0.95

While recently in Berlin, I bought a Canon Dream Lens 50mm F0.95 with early serial number from my favourite store in town, Fotomax. They also have a very good online shop for vintage lenses and cameras. Of course the classic cameras are all analogue… but I wonder if some of the most fondly remembered digital cameras will one day join them in being appreciated for the artist’s tools they are. One such artist’s tool is the Sigma Fp which when paired with the master painter rendering of the Canon Dream Lens converted to Leica M mount makes real life look better than even Picasso’s imagination.

Read moreShooting with the Canon Dream Lens 50mm F0.95 on my Sigma Fp

Sigma Fp to get 120fps RAW recording and more coming in firmware update

Sigma Fp (Kubrick)

The Sigma Fp will get 120fps Cinema DNG RAW recording at 1080p in a forthcoming firmware update, along with several other new features such as an HDR Video mode and ability to record video in the Director’s Viewfinder mode, at various aspect ratios and crop factors.

Read moreSigma Fp to get 120fps RAW recording and more coming in firmware update

Sigma Fp Review – Part 2 – A few bugs you need to know, and comparison to Leica SL2

Sigma Fp vs Leica SL2

Two of the most unique cameras on the market today are both L-mount with 10bit capabilities in 4K. The Sigma Fp of course shoots Cinema DNG 4K RAW at up to 12bit to SSD via USB C and 8bit RAW internally. The Leica SL2 shoots very high quality 10bit 4K LOG internally with more of a passing resemblance to Arri Alexa colour science and LOG profile.

I thought I’d get to know the two, if that’s the case!

Read moreSigma Fp Review – Part 2 – A few bugs you need to know, and comparison to Leica SL2

Z-CAM E2-F6 (Full frame 6K) goes head to head with Panasonic S1H (test by Flannel Ninja)

Incredibly close between these two. I have a Panasonic S1H with me at the moment, and am getting to know it. Meanwhile the Z-CAM, I had the briefest of hands-on at IBC and will be posting some footage from it. Both cameras are capable of 6K H.265 internal recording from a full frame sensor, and both are at the lower priced-end of the pro-cinema market.

Read moreZ-CAM E2-F6 (Full frame 6K) goes head to head with Panasonic S1H (test by Flannel Ninja)

Sigma Fp first shots – how does internal 8bit RAW compare to external 12bit RAW?

With the Sigma Fp it is definitely worth shooting 12bit RAW to a USB C SSD drive to make full use of the dynamic range.

If you don’t need to boost the shadows by 3-4 stops, or under expose by 3-4 stops to prioritise a particularly bright part of the frame, the 8bit RAW to SD card offers beautiful results.

Read moreSigma Fp first shots – how does internal 8bit RAW compare to external 12bit RAW?

Sigma Fp Review (Part 1) – Cinema DNG RAW internal recording!

There were two highlights of IBC 2019 for me. The Sigma Fp, and the Z-CAM range. From the ground-up the Sigma Fp seems to be aimed at us, at artists. A small and incredibly light camera that hits the big full frame notes, some of the niche features like the digital director’s viewfinder are unheard of in consumer full frame cameras from major manufacturers.

This is clever and will get the camera a lot of use by top-flight talent. Most exciting for me is the focus on the video recording features – which are big step for Sigma and indeed push the boundaries of what we expect from a “prosumer” camera.

  • Cinema DNG RAW 4K 12bit to USB C SSD media
  • Internal 1080p 12bit internal RAW Cinema DNG uncompressed
  • Internal 4K RAW uncompressed (bit-depth drops to 8bit at the moment)

Read moreSigma Fp Review (Part 1) – Cinema DNG RAW internal recording!