SIGMA has announced announced the Sigma BF, a 24-megapixel full-frame L-Mount camera. According to SIGMA, the BF presents an uncompromising new vision for the digital camera. The BF is said to balance performance with simplicity.
The Sigma BF will retail for $1,999 USD and be available in April 2025.
Key features
- 24.6MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS Sensor
- Radically Simple, Unibody Camera
- Hybrid Phase & Contrast Detection AF
- ISO 100-102400
- 6K30, Full HD 120p Video
- 230GB Internal Memory
- Haptic-Responsive Controls
- 13 Color Modes
- 3.15″ 2.1m-Dot Rear Viewscreen
- L-Mount Compatibility
Sensor
The Sigma BF utilizes a 35 mm full-frame (35.9 mm × 23.9 mm) Back-Illuminated CMOS sensor. The camera is claimed to have a wide dynamic range, a native ISO sensitivity of 100-102400 expandable on the low end to ISO 6
Simple Interface & Minimal controls
The unique user interface is claimed to be more intuitive than ever with its pressure-sensitive haptic buttons and dial. The user interface has a completely new information structure compared to conventional digital cameras, with the main shooting-related settings stored on the live view screen, secondary settings in the optional menu, and management functions and detailed settings in the system menu.
Users can easily operate the shutter speed, aperture, ISO sensitivity, EV compensation, and color mode, along with other important shooting-related elements.
The default live view screen displays only the minimum necessary information and can be changed to display no information at all.
All controls are integrated into just three buttons, one dial, the shutter release, and the power button. The BF is the first mirrorless camera to incorporate haptics into its Dial, Center button, Option button, and Playback button.
Unibody structure
According to SIGMA, the BF is the first camera in history to feature a true unibody. Each camera is carved from a single, solid block of aluminum over the course of seven hours.
Internal storage
The BF features 230GB of internal memory, which allows users to store more than 14,000 JPEG files, 4,300 uncompressed RAW images or 2.5 hours of video at the highest-quality setting. A USB-C port provides fast charging and data-transfer speeds.
The camera doesn’t feature any card slots at all.
Various color modes
Thirteen different color modes are available. The modes range from options like Teal and Orange, Powder Blue, and Warm Gold to Rich, and Calm.
Evolved autofocus
A hybrid autofocus system combining image phase detection and contrast detection. In addition to people, dogs, and cats can be detected in the subject detection mode.
Video shooting 6K & L-Log
The BF supports high-resolution 6K and L-Log recording, enabling video production that takes advantage of the wide dynamic range of a full-frame sensor.
You can record 6K at up to 29.97 fps, UHD at up to 29.97 fps, and FHD at up to 119.88 fps. Recordings can be done in H.264 or H.265.
- 6K* (6K: 6016 x 3384) / 23.98, 25, 29.97 fps
UHD 4K / 23.98, 25, 29.97 fps
FHD / 23.98, 25, 29.97, 50, 59.94, 100, 119.88 fps
*Cannot be used in conjunction with EIS
The continuous shooting time of 2 hours, however, the battery can only last for approx. 1 hour when continuously recording.
L-Mount
The L-Mount lens mount allows the camera to be used with a wide variety of interchangeable lenses for mirrorless cameras from Sigma as well as other L-Mount Alliance partners.
Thoughts
This is certainly an interesting way to design a camera and think outside of the box, however, simplicity can come at the cost of usability. For anyone wanting to shoot video with the BF, that could be a difficult proposition as there is no EVF, a fixed LCD screen, and no mounting points apart from on the bottom of the camera.
In saying all of this, I don’t actually think that this is a camera that is being targeted at anyone shooting video. This is first and foremost a stills camera, that while certainly very capable, is probably only going to appeal to certain types of users.
Key specifications
| Type | Interchangeable-lens Mirrorless Type Digital Camera |
| Memory Media | Internal Memory (Approx. 230 GB), USB Storage (for Backup) |
| Lens Mount | L-Mount |
| Image Sensor | 35 mm full-frame Back-illuminated CMOS sensor |
| Camera Effective Pixels / Total Pixels | Approx. 24.6 MP / Approx. 25.3 MP |
| Movie Recording Format | MOV: H.264, H.265, L-Log |
| Movie Recording Size / Frame Rate | 6K 29.97 fps, UHD 29.97 fps, FHD 119.88 fps |
| ISO Sensitivity | ISO 100-102400 / Expanded sensitivity ISO 6, 12, 25, 50 |
| Monitor | 3.15 type, Approx. 2.1M dots |
| Color Mode | 13 types Standard, Rich, Calm, Powder Blue, Warm Gold, Teal and Orange, FOV Classic Blue, FOV Classic Yellow, Forest Green, Sunset Red, Cinema, 709 Look, Monochrome |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | Approx. 130.1 x 72.8 x 36.8 mm / 5.1 x 2.9 x 1.4 in. |
| Weight | Approx. 388 g / 13.7 oz. (Camera Body Only) |
