Two weeks have passed since I wrote up the Sigma FP2 announcement. Since then the first full reviews have come out, and in Japan so many people pre-ordered on day one that Sigma apologized for a supply shortage. The reviews agree that rolling shutter, autofocus and battery life are clearly better, and they share the same complaints: no in-body stabilization, and no way to record to internal memory and an SD card at the same time.
With the 11 November release date coming up, this post collects only what is new since my first article. The photos are Sigma’s official product shots of the FP2.
At a glance
- Reviews: Cameralabs gives it “Highly Recommended”, PetaPixel 7/10. Rolling shutter, AF and battery are praised; the missing IBIS comes up in almost every review
- New details: gyro data recording for stabilizing in post, a protective glass in front of the sensor, and only mild warmth after an hour of recording
- Weak points: no simultaneous internal + SD recording, no Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, small buttons, banding with the electronic shutter under flickering lights
- Japan: pre-orders opened on 29 October and Sigma apologized for a shortage the same day. The 11 November release date stands, but deliveries may take longer
- Korea: as of 6 November the local distributor still lists it as “coming soon”, with no price or date
Two weeks after the launch: timeline
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| 23 October | Sigma announces the FP2; the first reviews go live the same day (PetaPixel and others, 22 October US time) |
| 24 October | Fstoppers article on Christopher Frost’s review |
| 29 October | Pre-orders open in Japan; Sigma posts an apology for the supply shortage the same day |
| 1 November | Cameralabs review: “Highly Recommended”. All five major Japanese retailers show “ships after release day” |
| 6 November | Still no Korean price or release date |
| 11 November | Worldwide release |
What the reviews liked
Rolling shutter: barely something to worry about now
Rolling shutter was the biggest weakness of the fp and fp L, and most reviews say it is much improved. Fstoppers, summarizing Christopher Frost’s review, says vertical lines only lean slightly when you whip the camera around, which compares well with other cameras, and Cameralabs found less skew than on the Panasonic Lumix S9. I haven’t found a lab test that actually measures the readout yet.
For reference, CineD measured the fp L at 21.7 ms in full-frame 4K. I’ll add the FP2 figure here once someone measures it.
Autofocus: you can finally trust it with focus pulls
The new phase-detect AF is said to move focus smoothly in video and to track people and animals (birds included) well. One reviewer called it the most usable AF on any Sigma camera. Frost adds that it isn’t as smooth as the very best cameras and can hunt now and then on static scenes, so he suggests single AF for those.
Battery and heat: better than feared
- Frost shot about 1,500 photos and some video on two batteries in a cold Icelandic winter.
- Cameralabs recorded 4K 25p for nearly an hour; storage filled up first, with about half the battery left.
- There’s no cooling fan, yet after an hour of recording with the screen tilted out the body was only slightly warm.
Things we didn’t know at launch
- Gyro data recording: motion data is saved with the footage so you can stabilize it in post. It can’t be used together with the 2K/4K electronic stabilization, though. (Cameralabs)
- Sensor cover glass: there’s a protective glass in front of the sensor, which makes cleaning easier. (Fstoppers)
- Faster menus, true 24p, and 6K and 4K open gate recorded internally
- Built for rigging: tripod threads on several sides, full-size HDMI and two USB-C ports. 460 g with battery and card.
What the reviews didn’t like
- No in-body stabilization: nearly every review mentions it. Handheld video looks shaky, and Lumix bodies that combine IBIS with electronic stabilization do better overall.
- No simultaneous recording: you can’t record to the 70 GB internal memory and an SD card at the same time as a backup. The internal memory is also too slow for RAW video, so ProRes RAW only goes to an external SSD.
- No Wi-Fi or Bluetooth: transferring photos means plugging in a cable.
- Small buttons, few controls: with so few dedicated buttons you end up in the Quick Set menu a lot.
- Electronic shutter banding: under flickering lights you can get banding, so test it first at concerts and similar venues.
- Tilt-only screen: it only tilts up and down, so unlike the Lumix S9’s screen it can’t face forward for selfies or vlogging.
- Price: add the EVF-21 viewfinder and you are close to Lumix S1 II money, and the camera gets a lot bigger.
PetaPixel gave it 7/10, criticizing the quirky design and the awkward workarounds it requires, and TechRadar felt the same money buys more conventional cameras. On the other side, Amateur Photographer called it a small camera that punches well above its weight. The overall picture: great for compact video rigs and travel, but hard work if you just want a regular camera.
Japan: a supply apology on the first day of pre-orders
Pre-orders in Japan opened at 10 a.m. on 29 October, and Sigma posted an official apology (in Japanese) the same day. Orders were well above expectations and production can’t keep up, so some customers may wait longer than usual for their camera.
- Affected: the FP2 body, the 50mm F2 DG | Contemporary lens kit, the EVF-21 kit and the EVF-21 on its own
- Release date: still 11 November (not delayed)
- When supply catches up: no date given, only that production is being increased
A local report that checked five major Japanese retailers on 1 November found all of them showing “ships after release day”, and the first batch appears to be largely taken by pre-orders (CAMEOTA, Zaikei Shimbun, both in Japanese). Digital Camera World also reported that the FP2 is flying off the shelves in Japan.
Prices and availability (as of 6 November)
| Region | Body | Viewfinder kit |
|---|---|---|
| United States | US$2,199 | US$2,749 |
| Japan (Sigma online store) | ¥346,500 | ¥434,500 |
| Europe (France) | €2,199 | €2,799 |
| South Korea | TBA | TBA |
I live in Korea, where Sigma’s distributor Saeki P&C has product pages up for the body and the EVF-21 kit, but as of 6 November both still say “coming soon” with no price. If demand elsewhere looks anything like Japan, first shipments will be tight, so if you want one in launch week, check your retailer’s delivery estimate before you order.
Review videos
The quickest way to see how it handles and what the footage looks like is on video.
Looking at it again as an fp L owner
As I wrote in my first article, I shoot with an fp L, so the faster readout, the better AF and an officially supported tilting screen are all very tempting. The reviews say rolling shutter and AF improved as much as I hoped, while stabilization and simultaneous recording are still the weak spots. Giving up 61 MP still bothers me, so I plan to try one in a shop after the launch and write about it again.
There’s more Sigma in my notes from the Sigma Talk Concert in Seoul, where Kazuto Yamaki talked about where the fp line is heading.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Sigma FP2 released, and how much is it?
It goes on sale worldwide on 11 November 2026 at US$2,199 (¥346,500 in Japan, €2,199 in France) for the body. The Korean price had not been announced as of 6 November.
If I pre-order now, will I get it on 11 November?
In Japan, Sigma has announced a supply shortage and the major retailers all show “ships after release day”. Delivery times differ by retailer, so check before you order.
What do the Sigma FP2 reviews say?
Most agree that rolling shutter, AF, battery life and the tilting screen are clearly better. The common complaints are the lack of in-body stabilization and no simultaneous internal + SD recording.
How do you stabilize footage on the FP2?
There’s no in-body stabilization. For video you can use electronic stabilization in 2K and 4K, or record gyro data and stabilize in post. You can’t use both at once.
Sources: Sigma FP2 official page, Sigma supply notice (Japanese), Cameralabs review, Fstoppers, PetaPixel, TechRadar, Amateur Photographer, CAMEOTA, Zaikei Shimbun
This is a translation of my original Korean article: 시그마 FP2 리뷰 정리 – 발표 후 나온 새 소식과 국내 출시 현황. Last checked: 6 November 2026.
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