Sigma fp L vs Zeiss ZX1: A Detailed Hands-On Comparison for Photography Enthusiasts

When I first got my hands on the Sigma fp L and the Zeiss ZX1, I knew I was staring at two very different beasts. Both are full-frame shooters, but they come from totally contrasting philosophies and feature sets. After extensively testing both, shooting across disciplines, and digging into the nuts and bolts, I want to share a comprehensive comparison that’s grounded in real-world use, not just spec sheet fluff.

Whether you’re a pro contemplating an upgrade, or a serious enthusiast hunting your next camera, this head-to-head will cut through the fog. Buckle up for a detailed yet digestible look at these remarkable cameras - the unique Sigma fp L and the intriguing Zeiss ZX1.

Getting to Know the Candidates: Sigma fp L and Zeiss ZX1 at a Glance

A quick refresher on these two cameras’ basic identities:

• Sigma fp L: Announced in 2021, this is an advanced mirrorless camera with an emphasis on modular, full-frame performance using the Leica L-mount. It’s a compact rangefinder-style body boasting a hefty 61MP BSI-CMOS sensor and a touchscreen LCD (albeit fixed), but no built-in EVF (optional).

• Zeiss ZX1: Released in 2018, the ZX1 is a large sensor compact with a fixed 35mm F2 lens - think ultimate street and travel shooter. It sports a 37MP full-frame CMOS sensor and an impressively large fully articulating touchscreen. What really sets it apart is its built-in Lightroom Mobile editing and massive internal 512GB storage.

Now let’s dive deeper into the key areas I tested, starting with the physical interaction with both cameras.

Size, Ergonomics and Build Quality: Small Body, Big Differences

One of the most immediate things you notice when juggling these cameras is their physical presence.

The Sigma fp L is beautifully minimalistic and feathers-light at just 427g, fitting well in your hands with a neat 113 x 70 x 45 mm footprint. The build quality feels robust and surprisingly solid considering its size - weighing in as a no-nonsense rangefinder-style mirrorless that likes to slip into tight shooting situations.

Contrast that to the chunkier Zeiss ZX1, tipping the scales near 800g and measuring a considerably larger 142 x 93 x 46 mm. The ZX1’s body is well-built but undeniably bulky for a “compact” camera, mainly due to its integrated lens and beefy touchscreen. The grip is less sculpted, more utilitarian, which might not win you any comfort awards in a marathon shoot.

For those prioritizing portability - especially street and travel shooters - the Sigma fp L feels more pocketable and less of a burden for extended hand-holding. The ZX1, meanwhile, makes you commit to carrying a serious piece of gear with you.

Control Layout and User Interface: Clarity vs Quirks

Sigma fp L sports a spartan top plate with essential dials and clubs-for-thumbs controls that quickly become familiar even to newer users. The presence of physical dials for shutter speed, aperture, and exposure compensation hits my sweet spot for quick tactile adjustment. Sadly, there’s no top screen to see settings at a glance, but the responsive touchscreen on the back compensates well.

Here’s where the Zeiss ZX1 gets interesting but a bit controversial: its touchscreen dominates the back, and the minimal physical controls mean you rely heavily on menus and touchscreen gestures. There’s a learning curve, and some users might find this slows their workflow under pressure. The electronic viewfinder boasts a jaw-dropping 6,221k dot resolution - very crisp - but using it means stepping away from the sweet touchscreen experience.

My advice: If you’re coming from traditional DSLRs or mirrorless, Sigma’s familiar control scheme wins for immediate ease of use. The ZX1 can be liberating once you get the hang of it but expect to invest time mastering its UI quirks.

Sensor and Image Quality: Megapixels, Dynamic Range, and Color Performance

When it comes to the heart of a camera, sensor performance reigns supreme.

The Sigma fp L features a staggering 61MP back-illuminated full-frame sensor. This sensor's pixel density lets you extract startlingly detailed images with fantastic dynamic range, particularly beneficial for large prints and cropping. The BSI design improves light gathering, providing respectable noise performance up to ISO 25600 native (with extended boost to 102400). Sigma’s inclusion of an anti-aliasing (AA) filter is notable - it balances moiré control with sharpness retention.

The Zeiss ZX1 employs a 37MP full-frame CMOS sensor, a bit less resolution but still a solid performer. The ZX1 pushes a top native ISO of 51200, useful for low-light, though given its AA filter, fine detail preservation is slightly softer compared to the Sigma. Despite less resolution, its sensor yields pleasing color rendition with natural skin tones and punchy yet balanced contrast.

Testing both in landscape and portrait scenarios revealed the Sigma’s higher pixel count allows for finer detail retrieval, especially in foliage and architectural shots. The Zeiss shines when you want natural colors with minimal fuss.

Focus Systems: Precision and Tracking in Practical Use

One of the Sigma fp L’s weaker points, get ready: it offers a hybrid autofocus system with 49 points, combining contrast and phase detection. On paper, the 49 AF points sound decent, but real-world experience showed the AF to be just average by modern standards - sometimes hunting in lower contrast situations. Still, it supports face detection and touch AF, which helps for portraits and casual shooting.

The Zeiss ZX1, interestingly, opts for a contrast-detection-only AF but with 255 selectable focus points, delivering surprisingly accurate results across its frame for daylight and decent tracking performance. Its fixed lens simplifies focus algorithms, leading to a reliable manual and autofocus experience - especially handy for street photographers who need swift, decisive focus at 35mm.

Neither camera offers animal eye AF, which may disappoint wildlife shooters. For critical autofocus-dependent sports or wildlife shooters, both systems may feel limiting compared to flagship mirrorless options from Sony or Canon. But for controlled environments or casual wildlife, the ZX1’s AF is surprisingly competent, and the Sigma’s manual focus assist (focus peaking and magnification) make precision achievable with patience.

Video Capabilities: To Film or Not to Film?

Video is usually a side note for still-centric cameras, but both cameras try to offer some options.

The Sigma fp L supports 4K UHD at 30 fps using the H.264 codec internally, plus super slow-motion 1080p up to 120fps. There’s also headphone and microphone jacks, HDMI out, and USB power delivery. Video enthusiasts will appreciate the RAW video compatibility with external recorders (via Sigma’s fp movie mode, though that’s a niche use).

The Zeiss ZX1 shoots 4K UHD at 30fps internally but doesn’t offer slow motion or advanced video features, and it lacks mic/headphone ports. That points to video as a secondary function. Its strength is really still photography with some video on the side.

Bottom line: for mixed photo/video content, the Sigma fp L offers more flexibility and pro-friendly connections. If you mainly want stills and occasional social media clips, the ZX1 is adequate, but not a dedicated video tool.

Display and Viewfinders: Choosing Your Window to the World

Here the two cameras take very different approaches.

The Sigma fp L sports a 3.2-inch fixed touchscreen LCD with 2.1M dots. It’s bright enough to work outdoors with some shading and supports all the modern touch gestures. However, no built-in EVF means you either shoot with the LCD or shell out for the optional electronic viewfinder accessory - an additional cost and bulk.

The Zeiss ZX1 opts for a massive 4.34-inch fully articulating touchscreen boasting a stunning 2.7M dot resolution. The adjustable display is perfect for creative angles, selfies (even if it’s not selfie-friendly per se), and video. Add to this the ZX1’s built-in EVF with a whopping 6.2M dots and 100% coverage, and you get one of the sharpest viewfinder experiences on the market - way ahead of many competitors.

If you prize composing via a crisp viewfinder and have space for bulk, ZX1 delivers. For a leaner, more modular setup, Sigma keeps things simple with the option to expand.

Lens Ecosystem and Flexibility: Leica L vs Fixed Lens

Sigma’s fp L supports the Leica L-mount, a fast-growing lens ecosystem developed by Leica, Panasonic, and Sigma themselves. This means access to 40+ native lenses ranging from ultra-wide to super-telephoto primes and zooms - covering practically every genre from macro to sports. The flexibility here is a massive win for photographers who want to build a custom rig over time.

By contrast, the Zeiss ZX1 features a fixed 35mm F2 lens - high quality but no zoom or alternative focal lengths. Zeiss crafted this lens to deliver sharp, fast, and versatile performance for street, travel, and everyday shooting. The downside? You’re locked in to one focal length, no swapping. For enthusiasts craving variety or specific focal ranges (like wildlife or sports), this is a dealbreaker.

The fixed lens does mean optimal image quality matched to the sensor, and the physical simplicity appeals to minimalists and those valuing speed and discretion.

Battery Life, Storage, and Connectivity: Living with the Cameras Daily

The Sigma fp L uses a BP-51 battery rated for about 240 shots per charge - modest by today’s mirrorless standards, so bringing spares is prudent. Storage is via a single UHS-II SD card slot, typical for this class.

The ZX1 doesn’t use removable memory cards (crazy, right?) but instead houses a massive 512GB internal SSD. This makes storage worry-free but non-expandable - a potential concern for heavy shooters or those unwilling to offload quickly. Battery life figures aren’t well specified but have been reported as comparable to mid-range compacts, so expect to recharge frequently on extended days.

Both have built-in Wi-Fi, but the ZX1 adds Bluetooth for wireless phone tethering and quick sharing. Sigma supports USB Power Delivery, meaning you can charge on the go - hugely convenient.

In practical terms, if you travel extensively with limited power access, Sigma’s USB-C charging is a lifesaver, and removable batteries mean longer shoots. The ZX1 is more of an all-in-one sealed system requiring careful management of power and storage.

Shooting Across Genres: Which Camera Does What Best?

Let’s talk use-cases, because specs only tell half the story.

• Portraits: Sigma’s 61MP sensor captures skin tones with sublime detail; the L-mount lenses include stellar fast primes with beautiful bokeh. Its face detection AF helps nail focus on eyes. ZX1’s fixed 35mm F2 can produce lovely portraits but isn’t as optimized for tight headshots; combined with its modest AF, it’s great for environmental portraits but less so for studio work.

• Landscape: Here, resolution, dynamic range, and weather sealing count. Sigma’s incredible 61MP sensor and sealed body shine, especially for fine detail and long exposures; the choice of lenses also lets you pursue ultra-wide vistas. ZX1 can deliver detailed files but lacks weather sealing, and fixed lens limits framing options.

• Wildlife and Sports: The Sigma’s 10fps burst is nice but autofocus lags behind leading sports cameras. ZX1’s fixed lens and 3fps limit capability. Neither stands out for demanding wildlife or pro sports work. If you’re serious here, consider other cameras - but if you’re a casual shooter, Sigma will offer more flexibility.

• Street Photography: ZX1’s fixed wide lens, quiet operation, and discrete form factor come to life - quick startup and no lens changes mean you won’t miss moments. Sigma is compact but less discreet, and the optional EVF adds heft. Both good, but ZX1 edges out pure street shooters.

• Macro: Sigma can employ dedicated L-mount macro lenses with focus aids to great effect. ZX1’s fixed 35mm lens limits close-up capability.

• Night and Astro: The Sigma’s back-illuminated sensor with high ISO flexibility paired with a lens choice will deliver superior low-light performance. ZX1 struggles more with noise above ISO 3200.

• Video: Sigma takes the cake for versatility; ZX1’s video is basic.

• Travel: ZX1’s all-in-one approach appeals for simplicity and quick downsizing; Sigma’s modular system is slightly larger but offers versatility beloved by wanderers.

• Professional Use: Sigma offers RAW support, editing flexibility, and higher image quality, fitting into diverse workflows. ZX1’s internal Lightroom is cool but not a substitute for full professional pipelines.

The Bottom Line: Choosing Your Next Camera

Each camera earns its stripes depending on what you really want from it. The Sigma fp L is a flexible powerhouse for photographers who value image quality, customization, and lens freedom. It’s ideal for portraits, landscapes, semi-pro workflows, and anyone willing to embrace a modular, sometimes minimalist shooting style.

The Zeiss ZX1 is a bold experiment - a premium large sensor compact with built-in editing and fixed lens - designed for photographers craving a streamlined experience centered around street and travel photography. Its superb viewfinder and large touchscreen entice creative freedom in small moments but limit broader versatility and professional adaptability.

Pros and Cons at a Glance

Final Thoughts: Who Should Buy Each?

If you are…

• a detail-obsessed landscape or portrait photographer who wants uncompromising full-frame image quality and lens flexibility, go Sigma fp L.

• a street shooter or travel photographer craving simplicity, integrated workflow, and a super sharp EVF in a non-interchangeable lens system, consider the Zeiss ZX1 as a unique creative tool.

• a videographer or hybrid shooter, the Sigma fp L is the more versatile option.

• a budget-conscious enthusiast attracted to raw image quality and expandability but wary of bulk, the Sigma fp L also offers good value for the features.

Both cameras are niche in their own right, so identifying your primary use case and shooting style is paramount. I’ve enjoyed putting both through their paces and can confirm that owning either will shape your photography in meaningful ways - but they serve different kinds of photographic souls.

Sigma fp L front Sigma fp L screen back Zeiss ZX1 front Zeiss ZX1 screen back

So there it is - a hands-on, unvarnished verdict based on hundreds of shots, many days outdoors, in the studio, and in the city. If you take one thing away, it’s this: specs matter, but your interaction with the camera, how it fits your workflow and passion, is what truly counts.

Happy shooting!