Key Take-Aways:

Sigma’s fp L is a full-frame L-Mount mirrorless camera that Sigma presents as its highest-resolution camera so far, with a low-pass filter to reduce moiré to minimum levels, and it has since been discontinued. Two reviews (Photography Blog, Digital Camera World) praise the new phase-detect autofocus (Digital Camera World for stills only, faulting the video autofocus as slow and unreliable) and fault the optional EVF-11 viewfinder as fiddly and costly and the camera as unbalanced with larger lenses; one review (Photography Blog) also faults the battery life and the 12-frame buffer, and one review (Digital Camera World) praises the value and the separate still and cine modes and faults the fixed rear screen.

From Sigma:

The Sigma fp L features a Bayer sensor with approximately 61 effective megapixels, higher than any other Sigma camera before it. In addition to images with fine details, the fp L is capable of creating images that are high-definition and rich in color, thanks to its ultra-high pixel count and Sigma’s experience in developing cameras with a Foveon sensor, are renowned for both the exceptional resolving power and nuanced color gradients due to the unique nature of the X3 sensor. Furthermore, for its image quality that are in principle free of color artifacts, the Foveon sensor legacy was also behind the decision that the fp L should have a low-pass filter to reduce moiré to minimum levels. The use of a low-pass filter was a choice that made sense for a camera with an ample megapixels such as the Sigma fp L.

Official Website

Weight is 427 g including battery and SD card (375 g body only), as listed by Sigma. Launch price of USD 2,499 body only is as reported in Photography Blog’s review of 27 May 2021 (“available now priced at £1999 / $2499 body only”); Digital Camera World’s review lists the same $2,499 and DPReview’s listed price is the same, $2,499 body only (as given, that page was not read here). Sigma Corporation of America’s launch news release on GlobeNewswire could not be reached (blocked), so it is not cited. The fp L was announced on 25 Mar 2021 and shipped in April 2021, hence 2021 as the year.

The specifications on Sigma’s fp L product page supply the other figures. The sensor is approx. 61 effective megapixels (62.4 million total). The lowest native still ISO is 100 (Sigma lists base ISO 100 and 400 for stills; the extended 6 to 50 settings are not counted). The fastest burst is the High Speed setting, approx. 10 shots per second, in the electronic shutter. The autofocus is listed as image plane phase-difference AF plus contrast detection, so it is entered as Phase Detect. Image stabilisation is electronic and only applies when shooting movies (MOV 59.94p or less), so ibis is false. The fastest video rate above 60 fps is FHD 119.88p, listed as FHD 120p. The memory media entry names SD, SDHC and SDXC cards with UHS-II supported, so the one slot is entered as SD UHS-II and there is no second slot; recording to a portable SSD over USB is listed separately and is not a slot. The battery is the Li-ion BP-51, and the 240-image figure is Sigma’s “Number of Recordable Still Images” entry, which the page does not label as CIPA. Sigma lists a dust and splash resistant structure as provided, so weather_sealed is true. The body has no hot shoe; the HU-11 hot shoe unit (listed as supplied with the product) adds one, so the entry says false, as for the fp. Webcam use is described in Sigma’s features text and the USB terminal is listed as supporting Video Class (UVC). Open gate is entered as None because Sigma’s recording format list gives UHD 4K and FHD only. Internal storage is entered as 0 because the memory media entry names only the SD card and a portable SSD over USB. Sigma publishes no pre-capture burst function, so pre-burst is left out. There is no mechanical shutter and no built-in viewfinder (the EVF-11 is an optional accessory), so those fields do not apply.

Discontinuation in June 2025 is per Wikipedia and The Phoblographer, which quotes Sigma Corporation of America’s president confirming that the fp and fp L are being discontinued; Sigma’s own fp L page also marks it DISCONTINUED.

Reviews and videos were a light pass because the body is discontinued. DPReview’s initial review is listed first and was not read, so it is not used for the Key Take-Aways; DPReview also published an updated staff review on 15 Jul 2021. Photography Blog’s review (Mark Goldstein, 27 May 2021, no later update date) and Digital Camera World’s review (Rod Lawton, 27 May 2021, no later update date) were read; neither states a pre-production, pre-release or early-sample unit. Points counted for the Key Take-Aways: Photography Blog has no pro/con lists; its conclusion calls the hybrid autofocus much improved on the original fp, the 10 fps burst not to be sniffed at for 61 megapixels, and the Crop Zoom function and USB charging welcome, and faults the 12-frame buffer, the fiddly and pricey EVF-11, the very poor battery life, the missing built-in grip, the slow flash sync speed, the limited touchscreen functionality and the unbalanced feel with a moderately sized lens. Digital Camera World’s reasons to buy are the small size, very good value, dual still and cine modes and 61 MP resolution, and its reasons to avoid are the awkwardness with bigger lenses, the poor video autofocus and the fixed rear screen; its text also calls the stills autofocus fast and positive, and the clip-on EVF neither cheap nor straightforward. Videos from 25 Mar 2021 (launch day) and videos with a paid-promotion notice are not listed. Product image: Sigma press render from DPReview’s product page.

Reviews:

• DPReview: Sigma fp L initial review, Richard Butler and Carey Rose, Jun 2021
• Photography Blog: Sigma fp L Review, Mark Goldstein, May 2021
• Digital Camera World: Sigma fp L review, Rod Lawton, May 2021

YouTube:

• TheDigitalDigest: Sigma fp L Review, Nov 2021
• Christopher Frost: The smallest, 60mp full-frame camera: Sigma fp L review, Aug 2024
• Matt Fitzgerald: The Sigma FP-L: Long-Term Honest Review of Japan’s Tiniest Camera, Dec 2024
• The Bald Dude: Sigma FPL Camera: Three-Month Professional Review, Feb 2025