Sigma has announced the FP2, a full-frame mirrorless camera that follows its original fp model by seven years, with shipments beginning November 11th. The body alone is priced at $2,199 in the US market. Buyers can pay $2,749 for a bundle that pairs the camera with Sigma's upgraded EVF-21 viewfinder, which has a 5.76 million dot OLED panel and an eye sensor that switches the camera between its LCD screen and the viewfinder. The same price also buys a bundle with an I-series 50mm F2 DG lens.
The headline change is a new 24.5-megapixel, partially stacked, back-side illuminated full-frame CMOS sensor. Resolution slips slightly from the original fp's 24.6 megapixels, but the new architecture reads data off the sensor faster. Sigma says that delivers reduced rolling shutter in stills, faster autofocus that now recognizes birds alongside people and animals, still shooting at up to 20fps, and video that reaches 6K at 60fps, or 4K at 120fps using only a cropped section of the sensor. The camera remains limited to an electronic shutter.
The FP2 keeps the compact body of the original, which Sigma can now call the "world's smallest" full-frame shooter only without qualification, since the upgrades add about 6 grams to the body-only weight. Multiple tripod mounts support optional accessories such as an extended grip and the viewfinder. The 3.2-inch, 2.1 million dot touchscreen on the back now tilts up and down, which also improves airflow and cooling so the camera can record longer videos.
Connectivity gets a full-size HDMI port in place of the original fp's micro HDMI option, plus two USB-C ports. One is limited to USB 2.0 speeds and is mainly intended for powering the camera or connecting accessories like headphones or the viewfinder. The other is a 10Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2 port for high-speed data transfers or for attaching an external SSD to capture footage in Apple's ProRes RAW format.
Storage is limited to a single SD card slot, so there is no redundant backup option, but the FP2 includes 70GB of built-in storage for when a memory card fills up. Sigma also enlarged the battery, which brings the camera to roughly 40 grams heavier than the original fp with the battery installed. The company rates battery life 30 percent longer, at around 370 photos or about 130 minutes of video capture.
The FP2 arrives in a full-frame mirrorless market where Sigma has positioned its fp line on size rather than specifications. The camera carries forward the streamlined body that the company has acknowledged can pose ergonomic challenges, particularly with a longer lens attached. US buyers have until November 11th to weigh the body-only price against the two bundles, which cost $550 more.
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