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Last month, Sigma launched a pop-up in New York City to allow photography enthusiasts to get some hands-on time with their latest camera, the Sigma BF. For those who don’t already know, the Sigma BF is a full-frame camera machined from a singular piece of aluminum – a striking design that I found quite polarizing. It’s like the Leica TL when it was introduced, but now it has a full-frame sensor. Here’s what I’d like to see in this camera.
Sigma BF’s “Beautiful Foolishness” Origin Story
When it was first announced, Sigma went to great lengths to explain the design ethos of this camera, quoting Kakuzo Okakura’s The Book of Tea; in context, Okakura was alluding to the joy and tranquility of everyday life or, more succinctly, simplicity. As a starting point, I’m intrigued and even a little excited about the idea of a camera whose sole purpose is to focus on the simplicity of making photographs.
The Sigma BF’s design is an exercise in just how far one can push the limits of minimalism and functionality. Although we have not yet had an opportunity to kick the BF’s tires, we did manage to go to the pop-up – not as press but as the public – to see what the hype was about.
The Sigma BF – Over-simplified Controls?
In many ways, this camera will appeal to first-time camera owners for what it lacks. There is no viewfinder – electronic or otherwise. There are no menu buttons to speak of, just a handful of buttons arrayed on the back and, at the top, a simple shutter button. That’s it. There seems to be a design aesthetic centered around keeping the user looking through the “window” of the rear monitor instead of hunting for buttons to adjust settings.
For many “old school” photographers, this might seem jarring, maybe even disrespectful to how they’ve learned to make photographs. I’m not sure I can make a judgment call yet, but having written about how much I enjoy the tactile experience of clicky aperture rings and dials, I’m almost certain it will have to be a truly innovative experience to change my mind.
Design Matters, but How Much?
As I’ve recently begun to hunt for an upgrade to my personal camera, I’ve come to something of a personal revelation – it matters how the camera looks. If you’re looking for proof, look no further than Fujifilm’s X-series, the Nikon Zf, or people’s love of Leica’s M cameras. Many of today’s more popular camera models often are callbacks to vintage film-styled cameras – with tons of dials and knobs. For that reason, I have to respect Sigma’s boldness in choosing to go a completely different direction. While I’m not sold on the marketing piece, <insert claim of first single piece of aluminum> is a camera that will undoubtedly draw a few glances, if not outright intrigue. That said, a camera should not only look good; it needs to be able to take great photographs, at least for photographers like those at The Phoblographer. Ultimately, the proof will be in the images and will determine if the Sigma BP can provide form and function.
