Sigma
fp L 2021
Best for High-resolution creative & documentary shooters
£1999
new today at Clifton Cameras
Decision tools · Compare
fp L vs A1
Quick take: The fp L has the highest resolution at 61MP; the fp L is the most affordable.
16 specs side by side·14 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video and Clifton Cameras
How to read this page. Highlighted cells win that row on the spec alone. Genre scores are the engine's base scores (enthusiast, photo and video); Camera Match re-weights them for your level and priorities. Price buttons are affiliate links; the price you pay is the same.
Sony
A1 2021
Best for Professional sport, wildlife, portrait & hybrid shooting
£4199
new today at Wex Photo Video
Price buttons are affiliate links — GearFrame may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects a score. Learn more
Verdictwhich should you buy?
fp L — High-Resolution Creative & Documentary Shooters: 61MP and phase-detect AF in the world's smallest full-frame body — the fp L is the most capable iteration of Sigma's extraordinary compact.
A1 — Professional Sport, Wildlife, Portrait & Hybrid Shooting: 50MP, 30fps, 8K — the Sony A1 is the most complete professional camera ever made.
Who should buy what
fp L (2021)
is the right camera for you if…
- Commercial photographers who want 61MP in the world's smallest full-frame body
- Filmmakers using the fp L as a high-resolution cinema camera
- fp owners who need more resolution for large-format printing
- L-mount photographers who want extreme resolution in an ultra-compact form
A1 (2021)
is the right camera for you if…
- Professional photographers who need resolution and speed without compromise
- Sports and wildlife photographers demanding the absolute fastest Sony
- Studio and fashion photographers who also shoot sport or events
- A9 III or A7R V owners who want a single body that does everything
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | fp LSigma · 2021 | A1Sony · 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,999Best | £4,199 |
| Sensor | 61MP full-frame BSI CMOS | 50.1MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS |
| Resolution | 61.0MPBest | 50.1MP |
| Video | 12-bit CinemaDNG RAW, 4K/30p | 8K/30p, 4K/120p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect AF with face/eye detection | Real-time Tracking, AI subject recognition — 759 phase-detect points |
| Stabilisation | None (lens-based only) | IBIS — up to 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 18fps electronic | 30fps electronic with full AF/AEBest |
| Battery Life | 200 shots (CIPA) | ~430 shots (CIPA)Best |
| Weight | 427g (body only)Best | 737g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 112.6 × 69.9 × 45.3mm | 128.9 × 96.9 × 80.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | None (optional clip-on EVF available) | EVF, 9.44M dots, 0.90× magnification, 240fps |
| Screen | 3.15" fixed touchscreen | 3.0" fully tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Leica L-mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.1, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, Ethernet, HDMI |
Wins the row — price, resolution, burst, battery, weight and sealing are compared; text specs aren't ranked.
How they score by genreengine base scores out of 10
Genre
fp L
A1
Portrait
6.7/10
8.2/10
Street
6.9/10
6.1/10
Travel
6.7/10
6.0/10
Wedding & Events
4.9/10
7.9/10
Filmmaking
5.3/10
7.8/10
Documentary
6.2/10
7.6/10
Sports & Action
6.7/10
8.8/10
Landscape
6.9/10
7.6/10
Wildlife
7.0/10
8.7/10
Casual
5.1/10
4.8/10
Food
6.2/10
7.4/10
Macro
5.3/10
7.3/10
Architecture
6.6/10
7.9/10
Astrophotography
5.5/10
6.8/10
Scores come from the same engine as Camera Match: verified specifications weighted by what each genre needs, with documented adjustments. The product page and this table show the enthusiast base score. See how scores are calculated →
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