L-Mount Sigma BF - what's your take?

[MoonMind]

The Sigma BF is a 'Radically Simple' 24.6MP Full Frame Compact Camera

The first digital camera carved from a single block of aluminum.

petapixel.com

Very interesting - the diminuitive size alone is kind of insane, however, the concept is so reminiscent to the Leica T(S) that I'm not sure it shouldn't be called a rip-off ("the first true unibody design" - really?). It's also even less "grippable" than anything I've seen before. But the simplistic style is truely enticing, and Sigma themselves as well as Panasonic sure offer a couple of lenses that should pair well with it. It would make for a uniquely compact proposition - and the L mount is a nice place to be, too.

In short, I don't know if I should laugh about it, be irritated or just fall in love. Not that I need another system ...

M.

 

[David1701]

The Sigma BF is a 'Radically Simple' 24.6MP Full Frame Compact Camera

The first digital camera carved from a single block of aluminum.

petapixel.com

Very interesting - the diminuitive size alone is kind of insane, however, the concept is so reminiscent to the Leica T(S) that I'm not sure it shouldn't be called a rip-off ("the first true unibody design" - really?). It's also even less "grippable" than anything I've seen before. But the simplistic style is truely enticing, and Sigma themselves as well as Panasonic sure offer a couple of lenses that should pair well with it. It would make for a uniquely compact proposition - and the L mount is a nice place to be, too.

In short, I don't know if I should laugh about it, be irritated or just fall in love. Not that I need another system ...

M.

Hmmm...

No viewfinder; no hotshoe; no grip; no IBIS; no card slot; no mechanical shutter; too small for most FF lenses. I'd say that it's "niche", to be kind.

 

[MoonMind]

Hmmm...

No viewfinder; no hotshoe; no grip; no IBIS; no card slot; no mechanical shutter; too small for most FF lenses. I'd say that it's "niche", to be kind.

It's certainly no main body. But as a small, minimalist EDC ... Though to be honest, I wrote off the S9 on similar considerations. But the BF is only half the size again. Crazy ...

M.

 

[fredlong]

I kind of like it. But... in addition to a sensor and lens, I really want a viewfinder and hot shoe and they need to available simultaneously.

It would be really cool to set up on a small field camera to have a "full frame" view camera with full movements.

For me, it's not worth more than half the asking price.

 

[sasquatchphotog]

It feels a bit like one of those austere chairs that one might find in a hyper-modern house, that looks conceptual and arty but is not comfortable to sit on.

 

[TNcasual]

My take: The fp and fpL are better photographer's cameras. The BF takes an fp and removes its one outstanding feature - the versatility. Just search on how different people set up fps and fpLs. They use the EVF, or replace the LCD with a tilting panel. They add external LCDs, they add cages, grips, hoods, any number of accessories. The BF doesn't really allow for any of that. So much less useful.

Given all of that, I could have granted Sigma some grace, if there were more photographic features on this camera. I like the idea of internal storage, I like the compactness. I like the concept of a unique and useful interface. But the parts that matter for capturing the image are not new. Same sensor, which is just okay. But no IBIS, no mechanical shutter, and no EVF (not even as an accessory.) This makes the BF an updated, less useful, fp - with a new control interface.

It's pretty. I will give it that. I also like the silver I-series glass.

Disclaimer: I still own my fpL. I want to sell it, to recoup my investment into it. But I look at images from it's 60mp sensor, and I just freeze. It's results are so nice, the camera is just not very fun to handle. I don't see the BF being that different.

 

[bartjeej]

If they would just put one of those stacked sensors in there, the whole thing would make so much more sense to me. As it is, there really isn't an advantage to this thing that isn't undone by at least 2 or 3 other considerations that mean that in the end, some competitor beats it for that purpose. Same for the fp and fp/L.

If they put in a stacked sensor, IBIS, heat sink, tilting screen and some dials on the top or front, they could make a camera with the same width and height, and double the depth, for a "box camera" that would make a heap more sense for lots of applications.

 

[rayvonn]

In theory, could be a GR alternative? There should be sufficient L Mount lenses that are tiny, right? Don’t need it at the minute but anything that’s bare bones gets my attention.

 

[TNcasual]

In theory, could be a GR alternative? There should be sufficient L Mount lenses that are tiny, right? Don’t need it at the minute but anything that’s bare bones gets my attention.

As of yet, no. Sigma doesn't make a pancake lens for L Mount. The smallest lenses are the compact and very nice I series lenses, but they are not pancake.

24mm f3.5 and 45mm f2.8 are among the smallest:

 

[MoonMind]

As of yet, no. Sigma doesn't make a pancake lens for L Mount. The smallest lenses are the compact and very nice I series lenses, but they are not pancake.

24mm f3.5 and 45mm f2.8 are among the smallest:
View attachment 532388

Panasonic make an 26mm f/8 pancake ... but I agree that it appears to be more of a gimmick than a lens.

M.

 

[TNcasual]

I have asked those over at PetaPixel if this thing has wifi connectivity. Sigma's webpage on it does not list that function. In my opinion, that is one of it's biggest faults. Internal storage is nice, but not being able to offload images to a mobile device in the field is a huge issue. With my fpL I can at least remove the SD card and use a dongle to upload to my phone. This can't even do that, or maybe it can with a cable - as long as the phone or tablet would recognize it as a drive.

For it being marketed as a premium EDC type of device, not being able to quickly extract files for sharing seems like a huge miss.

 

[TNcasual]

Panasonic make an 26mm f/8 pancake ... but I agree that it appears to be more of a gimmick than a lens.

M.

Voightlander makes an almost pancake 28mm f2.8 in L mount. But that is a manual lens.

 

[rayvonn]

Panasonic make an 26mm f/8 pancake ... but I agree that it appears to be more of a gimmick than a lens.

M.

Yes, I did see that, plus an 18mm-40mm zoom which didn't look that big. There does seem to be a gap in the market here.

 

[MoonMind]

Voightlander makes an almost pancake 28mm f2.8 in L mount. But that is a manual lens.

Voigtländer made a blunder out of their mount names - "L" means "LTM". But adapting M mount or LTM mount glass might appeal to some, that's true. I wouldn't want to do that - I have my Ms for that.

The more I look into this camera, the more I'm sure it's not for me. Phew! 🙂 However, I think Tim said it well: It's so tiny that I'd like there to be a use case for it (for me). I don't think I'll find one, though.

Yes, I did see that, plus an 18mm-40mm zoom which didn't look that big. There does seem to be a gap in the market here.

I already looked at that combo - very neat indeed. But ... $2000? I can get the Panasonic S5D/18-40mm combo for half that - minus phase detect (which I don't need on a small-ish EDC), but with all other Panasonic goodies built-in. Not top-notch, no way near as pretty, but way better value for money ...

I just checked. With the 18-40mm, the BF would be almost as thick as my Zf with its Z 26mm f/2.8 companion. And *that* combo offers everything the BF misses. Bigger, bulkier, yes, but no other disadvantage (still my best low-light camera, maybe bar the 10-year-old D750).

It was probably nothing but a quick flirt ... still, in some way, Sigma are onto something, I think.

M.

 

[rayvonn]

$2000?

Yeah, I missed that bit!

 

[David1701]

It's certainly no main body. But as a small, minimalist EDC ... Though to be honest, I wrote off the S9 on similar considerations. But the BF is only half the size again. Crazy ...

M.

It could be used like a premium point-and-shoot, with a pancake lens; but it's very expensive for that.

 

[agentlossing]

I want to like it, because I think Sigma makes cool forays into left field (the BF apparently stands for "beautiful foolishness" which references a text on tea drinking). But it's not a camera made for me; it's made for chic lifestyle/influencer types. I'd imagine the 4K and 6K video will be one of the main draws, aside from looks, and that the main style of usage will be supporting the weight of camera and lens by holding the lens, with the right hand just providing steadiness and button-pressing.

 

[TNcasual]

I want to like it, because I think Sigma makes cool forays into left field (the BF apparently stands for "beautiful foolishness" which references a text on tea drinking). But it's not a camera made for me; it's made for chic lifestyle/influencer types. I'd imagine the 4K and 6K video will be one of the main draws, aside from looks, and that the main style of usage will be supporting the weight of camera and lens by holding the lens, with the right hand just providing steadiness and button-pressing.

It technically has the video capability of the fp, but it doesn't have a mic jack, only small onboard mics. I can't see it being that useful for someone wanting video. The fp is loads better for that.

 

[agentlossing]

It technically has the video capability of the fp, but it doesn't have a mic jack, only small onboard mics. I can't see it being that useful for someone wanting video. The fp is loads better for that.

Hmm, that's a bit of a bummer for the BF, because I really don't see it as a photographer's camera. Which is what makes it a bit of a head-shaker.

 

[TNcasual]

Hmm, that's a bit of a bummer for the BF, because I really don't see it as a photographer's camera. Which is what makes it a bit of a head-shaker.

It is a bit odd. The marketing material is emphasizing it as photographic tool. But the things that would have made it a better photographic tool over the fp aren't there. Instead, it's pretty and has an innovative control system. Those controls actually do look interesting. From just that perspective it might be nice to use. But a camera is for recording images as well as the process of taking them.