Sigma fp

The Sigma fp is a mirrorless camera built around one clear idea: a full-frame sensor in a compact body. It measures 113 x 70 x 45 mm and weighs 422 g, which makes it genuinely easy to carry all day.

It offers 25 megapixels on that full-frame sensor, uses the Leica L mount, and frames everything on a 3.2-inch touchscreen. There is no viewfinder, so composition is a rear-screen activity.

That combination suits photographers who put size and weight first, including travel, street and documentary shooters, provided they are comfortable working from the screen rather than an eyepiece.

Stills come from a 25-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor. That resolution leaves comfortable room for cropping and supports large prints, while the ISO range runs from 100 to 25600 for dim interiors and evening work.

The shutter reaches 1/8000 s, so wide apertures stay usable in bright light. For action, the maximum burst rate is 18 frames per second, which is enough to catch a fleeting expression or gesture, though a maximum figure is not a promise of sustained shooting.

Autofocus works across 49 points. There is no in-body stabilisation, so camera shake needs managing with shutter speed, steady technique or physical support.

Lenses attach via the Leica L mount, which sets the range of glass available for the system. Choosing that glass well matters here, since nothing in the body will compensate for camera shake.

The Sigma fp records video, with a maximum resolution of 4K. That level of detail keeps footage clean on large screens and leaves room for cropping or reframing in the edit.

Frame rates reach a maximum of 120fps, and footage recorded at such rates plays back as slow motion, letting you stretch quick action into smooth, drawn-out moments. Resolution and frame-rate limits are separate figures here, so confirm any combined recording mode before a shoot.

A built-in timelapse mode automates interval shooting, so the camera handles the timing while you leave it in position. Recordings are written as MPEG-4, MOV or H.264 files, all widely used recording formats.

Because there is no viewfinder, you compose on the 3.2-inch touchscreen, and the live view feed makes that straightforward for filming. The flip-out screen also helps when the camera sits low or high while recording.

Framing and playback happen on a 3.2-inch TFT LCD with 2.1 million dots, sharp enough for close focus checks. It responds to touch for faster setting changes, and it flips out, which helps at waist level, overhead and when filming yourself.

Weather sealing gives the body some protection against dust and moisture, which helps for outdoor work in changeable conditions.

There is no built-in flash, but an external flash can be fitted when you need light. GPS is also absent, so location tagging has to happen outside the camera.

Neither Wi-Fi nor Bluetooth is fitted, so there is no wireless image transfer. Files can be copied from the memory card once the shoot is done.

The camera takes a single SD, SDHC or SDXC card, and the slot is UHS-II compatible, so fast cards can be used to their full advantage when writing photos and video.

With only one slot there is no in-camera backup or overflow. For important shoots, carrying spare cards is the practical answer.

The BP-51 battery is rated at 280 shots per charge. That is a rated figure rather than a real-world promise, so actual endurance will depend on how much you shoot and how you use the screen.

Charging works over USB, which makes topping up simpler between locations with a compatible charger. A second battery is still worth packing for longer days out.