The Sigma FP2 Is a Camera You Finish Yourself
What makes the FP2 different?
It does not decide what it is. Most cameras arrive with a fixed set of features chosen by the manufacturer, and you buy the one whose choices match yours. The FP2 arrives nearly bare: a 24.5-megapixel sensor in a 460-gram body, 113 by 70 by 42 millimetres, with no in-body stabilisation, no mechanical shutter, and no built-in viewfinder. You add a viewfinder, grip, or hotshoe only if you need one. That is why DPReview says it has no direct competitors: rivals ship complete feature sets, the FP2 ships a starting point.
Who is it actually for?
Video first. The FP2 records 6K open gate, ProRes RAW to an SSD, and 32-bit float audio with the optional accessories, and its full-size HDMI port suits an external recorder. On a gimbal or tripod it is very competitive. For stills, the case is size: it is the smallest full-frame mirrorless camera available, and its improved autofocus, flip-out screen, and much larger battery make it a big step forward from the original fp. With small primes, it delivers the most image quality available in a camera this size.
What are the trade-offs?
The lack of stabilisation, combined with no front-facing screen, rules it out for vlogging. Flash sync is 1/50 of a second with the optional hotshoe, and there is no Wi-Fi. The Panasonic S9 costs $1,500, has stabilisation, and is the better camera for handheld shooting and vlogging. The Nikon ZR costs the same $2,200 as the FP2, is stabilised, and is 40 percent larger. If a big manufacturer already built the camera your needs match, that one will be cheaper.
Why it matters for you
The FP2 is a buying lesson in camera form. Most learners should buy the camera whose built-in features match the work they already do, not the one with the most impressive spec sheet. Modularity only pays if you genuinely need an unusual combination. Before your next upgrade, write down what you actually shoot. If a complete camera covers it, buy the complete camera. The FP2 is for the photographer whose list no complete camera covers.