Been shooting with the fp L for a year mostly for landscapes but I'm finally trying to rig it up for a doc project in Arizona next month and man the HDMI situation is a nightmare. I tried my old Shinobi but it keeps losing signal every time I move the cable just a tiny bit and the colors look totally off compared to the back screen. I need something that actually locks in or at least doesnt freak out with the micro hdmi port. Budget is like $500 maybe $700 if its really worth it. Is the Ninja V+ overkill or should I look at something else that wont make the body overheat during long takes? Just want something that actually works for once...
You might want to consider the Atomos Ninja V 5 inch 4K HDR Monitor-Recorder because the V+ is probably overkill for doc work. Just be careful with that micro HDMI port tho... it is super fragile. I would suggest getting a cage with a cable clamp before heading to Arizona. Make sure to keep it shaded because the heat might cause shutdowns. Let me know if you need more help!
Saw this today and unfortunately the fp L micro HDMI is just a nightmare for field work. I had issues with cheaper panels where color accuracy was not as good as expected.
omg i totally get the anxiety about that micro hdmi port!! it looks so tiny and fragile like it could just snap off if the wind blows too hard lol. im still pretty new to the sigma fp l myself but i think i heard someone in a facebook group say that getting a really solid cage with those built-in cable locks is the only way to go for desert shoots! not 100 percent sure which brand is best for the budget tho sorry!! honestly i just get so nervous taking my gear out into the heat... i actually just bought this crazy cooling vest for my dog because we were planning a trip to sedona and i was worried he would overheat while i was trying to take photos of the red rocks!! it has these little ice packs inside and its the cutest thing ever but i ended up staying home because i was too scared my sensor would melt anyway... but yeah definitely focus on that cable clamp thing first!!
To add to the point above: that cage is seriously non-negotiable for doc work. I think I read somewhere that the signal dropouts on the fp L can actually be triggered by the micro HDMI port expanding slightly in high heat, which makes the connection even flimsier. Arizona in the sun is exactly where that would happen... You might want to consider the SmallHD Action 5 5.5 inch 2000 nit Monitor as an alternative. Its got a high nit screen which is great for the desert, and IIRC it handles heat better than the Shinobi. Not 100 percent sure if the color accuracy is a perfect 1:1 match for the fp L sensor without some tweaking, but the build quality is usually top-tier for reliability. Make sure you also grab a high-speed cable like the Zilr 4K HDMI 2.0 Cable because those generic ones are often the real culprit behind signal loss. I would suggest testing everything in a hot room for a few hours before you fly out just to be safe. If you need me to check the exact nit ratings or power consumption data for a few other panels let me know, I can probably find that info.