44 14 March 2020 I http://www.amateurphotographer.co.uk I subscribe 0330 333 1113
Composite low-ISO
settings allow extreme
lifting of shadow detail
without any hint of noise
Sigma 35mm F1.4 DG HSM on MC-21,
1/10sec at f/11, ISO 6open easily in your existing
raw converter, if perhaps
without a perfect colour profile.
Sigma has also included a good
range of options for adjusting the
camera’s JPEG colours, accessed
using a dedicated button on the
back. Alongside a conventional-
sounding set of modes such as
portrait, landscape etc, there are
some more creative options with
names like Teal & Orange, Sunset
Red and Forest Green, each of
which can be tuned in-camera.
Another button allows you to
adjust the tone curve, with
highlights and shadows set
independently, and the impressive
Fill Light feature familiar to users
of Sigma’s raw processing
software has been transposed into
the camera itself. All of these
options can also be applied
retrospectively using the in-
camera raw converter.
Other handy features include
an intervalometer and a
comprehensive array of bracketing
options (exposure focus, white
balance, colour mode and fill light).
One thing that’s conspicuous by
its absence, though, is any form of
smartphone connectivity – neither
Wi-Fi nor Bluetooth is included.
Likewise image stabilisation needs
to be provided by the lens: a form
of electronic stabilisation is built-in,
but only for JPEG shooters.
Videographers will find a lot to
like, with the fp promising to be an
excellent little camera for use in a
rig or on a drone. It’s capable of
recording 4K (3840x2160) video
at 30fps, and can output raw
video in the 12-bit CinemaDNG
format to an external recorder.
One especially neat trick is that
the camera can record directly to
an external SSD, simply by
plugging one into the USB-C port.
This is such a useful idea that you
have to wonder why the bigger
camera firms haven’t adopted it
before. The full scope of the
camera’s movie capabilities goes
far beyond what it’s possible to
cover in a stills-focused review, but
suffice to say, it has a lot of
videographers very excited.Build and handling
When you first pick up the fp, it’s
clear that this camera is built to
withstand less-than-gentle
conditions. Its die-cast
aluminium body feels completely
solid, and is sealed at 42 points
against dust and moisture. The
various buttons, dials and switches
are large and well-spaced, and I
rarely found myself operating
anything inadvertently. Indeed
despite the camera’s small size,
it’s quite usable when you’re
wearing gloves.
That brick-shaped camera body
does, however, fit into your hand
just as awkwardly as you mightexpect. It desperately needs
something – anything – on the
front plate to afford your fingers
some purchase. Thankfully Sigma
makes two accessory handgrips,
with the smaller HG-11, which
bolts onto the side of the body and
wraps around the front and back,
being the bare minimum you
need. I used it as a matter of
course with the 45mm f/2.8 and
found it improved the handling
immeasurably, the catch being
that it adds £60 to the price.
Meanwhile the larger HG-21
attaches to the baseplate, and is a
better option with heavier lenses,
but costs £100.
In contrast, the control layout
and user interface is mostly
excellent. Two large switches on
top turn on the camera and select
between the Still and Cine modes,
with entirely independent settings
and optimised interfaces for each.
A pair of electronic dials on the top
and back set exposure
parameters, with the rear one
controlling exposure compensation
in the P, A and S modes; however
the dial functions can be
exchanged if you prefer. This allows
you to repurpose the larger top dial
to exposure compensation when
shooting with lenses that have
physical aperture rings, such as the
45mm f/2.8. The rear dial also
serves as a d-pad for navigating
menus and changing settings.Other key settings are changed
using Sigma’s excellent onscreen
Quick Set menu, which is accessed
by a press of the QS button. Here
you’ll find such things as ISO, white
balance, metering and drive
modes, along with image quality,
aspect ratio and fill light options.
There’s no exposure mode dial;
instead this is changed using a
button at the camera’s base.