dsalamena Posted February 24 Share #1 Â Posted February 24 Advertisement (gone after registration) Sigma just announced a new L-mount camera, the SIGMA BF. It embraces a minimalistic approch which I like and matches very well with its Contemporary line of lenses and possibly with TL lenses. As the Panasonic S9, however, Sigma BF lacks some important features for photography: EVF, mechanical shutter, a proper handgrip and (unlike the S9) IBIS. Again an interesting camera that will, probably, remain confined to a niche consumer market. Â Â 2 1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 24 Posted February 24 Hi dsalamena, Take a look here Sigma BF camera. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
helged Posted February 24 Share #2  Posted February 24 (edited) 1 hour ago, dsalamena said: Sigma just announced a new L-mount camera, the SIGMA BF. It embraces a minimalistic approch which I like and matches very well with its Contemporary line of lenses and possibly with TL lenses. As the Panasonic S9, however, Sigma BF lacks some important features for photography: EVF, mechanical shutter, a proper handgrip and (unlike the S9) IBIS. Again an interesting camera that will, probably, remain confined to a niche consumer market.   Interesting. Also new tele lens, 300-600mm f4 with image stabilisation. https://leicarumors.com/2025/02/23/sigma-announces-a-new-bf-camera-and-several-new-lenses-for-l-mount.aspx/ Edited February 24 by helged 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SrMi Posted February 24 Share #3 Â Posted February 24 Sigma has published several articles, "Shot on BF:" https://blog.sigmaphoto.com/ Â 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris W Posted February 24 Share #4  Posted February 24 No mechanical shutter and no EVF makes it a no for me. I don't really know where Sigma do their customer research. They are placing most emphasis on the small size (again). But I found my FP was pretty unusable in daylight with just the rear screen. I was hoping their next camera would be an FP with mechanical shutter and integrated viewer. 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsalamena Posted February 24 Author Share #5 Â Posted February 24 I have the same doubt: what's the point to introduce a new camera that supposedly is photo-centric, based on a minimalist approch to photography and then remove the most important features in any photocamera: a viewfinder and a mechanical shutter. At least the widely criticised S9 had a very good image stabilization... It's like the camera producers are trying very hard to sell portable cameras that are always missing a key feature for hard core photographs: EVF, mechanical shutter, handgrip, IBIS, etc etc. Â 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
helged Posted February 24 Share #6 Â Posted February 24 (edited) I would think that Sigma knows what they are doing: FP/FP-L is still selling (surprisingly) well in Asia, possibly elsewhere as well. BF is a cell phone on steroids (minus the phone-part, clearly...); something that resonances with quite some user groups. Plus the camera is stylish, particularly coupled with the announced range of silver lenses. Not for me, but good for the L-mount collaboration. I like it... Edited February 24 by helged 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LocalHero1953 Posted February 24 Share #7  Posted February 24 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) Looks like an updated, full frame TL2. Depending on the sensor read-out speed they may have decided they don't need a mechanical shutter. After all, they've sold the fp/fpL long enough to know if that's a marketing limitation. It's smarter than the fpL and they've eliminated the heat sink to reduce bulk. I'm sure this isn't a camera aimed at hard-core conservative photographers (Leica forum anyone?), but at young travellers, vloggers and the like. Looks a lot more stylish than the S9 or fpL (and any Sony) and easier to pack. Anyone used to holding a phone for photos and video will not worry about the lack of grip or EVF, but they may well love the image and video quality. As with all small and smaller L-mount bodies, the challenge is finding a standard lens that matches it in size, quality and style. This one needs a pancake L-mount lens.🙂 As far as the Leica forum is concerned it is correctly "move along now, nothing to see here", but I'm sure it will find a different market. Edited February 24 by LocalHero1953 3 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
keeping_a_balance Posted February 24 Share #8 Â Posted February 24 It's definitely new and innovative design which I like. I think it looks very cool. Right now it seems it lacks a few too many essentials for me to pull the trigger on... Let's see if online mkting changes my mind in the next few weeks. Â Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LocalHero1953 Posted February 24 Share #9  Posted February 24 1 minute ago, keeping_a_balance said: It's definitely new and innovative design which I like. I think it looks very cool. Right now it seems it lacks a few too many essentials for me to pull the trigger on... Let's see if online mkting changes my mind in the next few weeks.  Are you waiting for the accessory mechanical shutter? 😉 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LocalHero1953 Posted February 24 Share #10  Posted February 24 Just now, LocalHero1953 said: Are you waiting for the accessory mechanical shutter? 😉 More seriously, but probably unlikely, a new line of leaf-shutter lenses. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
keeping_a_balance Posted February 24 Share #11  Posted February 24 13 minutes ago, LocalHero1953 said: Are you waiting for the accessory mechanical shutter? 😉 🤣 Yeah that is a big one.  Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris W Posted February 24 Share #12  Posted February 24 (edited) 1 hour ago, LocalHero1953 said:  I'm sure this isn't a camera aimed at hard-core conservative photographers (Leica forum anyone?), but at young travellers, vloggers and the like. Hmm, I've purchased cameras with no EVF for decades. I always end up selling them because of the same problem. You can't see the screen in average daylight, let alone bright sunshine. Focussing a manual lens is out of the question, but even checking your exposure settings etc is impossible. I had the DP Merrill 1 and 2. You end up just pointing your camera at the subject and hoping the auto-focus has done its job. I took my FP on tour with a band. The images were superb, but once the show started the variable strength LED light show ruined every shot with strong banding. I don't think either of these two issue have anything to do with older, conservative photographers. Edited February 24 by Chris W 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris W Posted February 24 Share #13  Posted February 24 1 hour ago, helged said: I would think that Sigma knows what they are doing: FP/FP-L is still selling (surprisingly) well in Asia, possibly elsewhere as well. I'm not sure. The FP was roundly and universally slammed by all the major photography influencers. Unfairly I thought, but in any case, sad to say, Youtube influencers have a lot of power - hence why they ALL get invited to Leica shindigs and several have been gifted a Hasselblad X1D2. I love the Sigma brand (for my sins) and pretty soon after the launch FP's were turning up on Ebay heavily discounted. 'Hardly used' was in the text. I think people bought it, realised it's limitations and wanted to get rid of it asap. I bought mine for £1400 when they were selling for nearly £2000 new. Maybe they are popular in Asia? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LocalHero1953 Posted February 24 Share #14  Posted February 24 (edited) 8 minutes ago, Chris W said: Hmm, I've purchased cameras with no EVF for decades. I always end up selling them because of the same problem. You can't see the screen in average daylight, let alone bright sunshine. Focussing a manual lens is out of the question, but even checking your exposure settings etc is impossible. I had the DP Merrill 1 and 2. You end up just pointing your camera at the subject and hoping the auto-focus has done its job. I took my FP on tour with a band. The images were superb, but once the show started the variable strength LED light show ruined every shot with strong banding. I don't think either of these two issue have anything to do with older, conservative photographers. And yet so many people (usually visibly young, but I can't vouch that they are not conservative) take photos with nothing but a screen. It's not for me (I'm an old hard core conservative photographer on the Leica forum), but that doesn't mean there is not a market for it. I bought a fp when it first came out and had no trouble viewing the screen in average UK daylight, and focusing with AF lenses. But viewing and composing photographs on a rear screen is not something I'm comfortable with, so I didn't use it for stills. I used it a lot for video, until I replaced it with the more capable BM CC6K. For those comfortable with a rear screen and who shoot a balanced mix of casual stills and video (a large market in the non professional but well-heeled population) this looks like a good step up from iPhone and Gopro (which is used a lot for non-action but compact casual video). Edited February 24 by LocalHero1953 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
helged Posted February 24 Share #15  Posted February 24 (edited) 41 minutes ago, Chris W said: I'm not sure. The FP was roundly and universally slammed by all the major photography influencers. Unfairly I thought, but in any case, sad to say, Youtube influencers have a lot of power - hence why they ALL get invited to Leica shindigs and several have been gifted a Hasselblad X1D2. I love the Sigma brand (for my sins) and pretty soon after the launch FP's were turning up on Ebay heavily discounted. 'Hardly used' was in the text. I think people bought it, realised it's limitations and wanted to get rid of it asap. I bought mine for £1400 when they were selling for nearly £2000 new. Maybe they are popular in Asia? Yes, FP sale numbers are good, and they have actually increased recently, particularly in Asia. This comes from Sigma's director. In any case - diversity is good! Edited February 24 by helged Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
benqui Posted February 24 Share #16 Â Posted February 24 To me it is one of the most beautiful, innovative and (for me) useless cameras. But kudos for the design! 4 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dazzajl Posted February 24 Share #17  Posted February 24 5 minutes ago, benqui said: To me it is one of the most beautiful, innovative and (for me) useless cameras. But kudos for the design! That sums it up perfectly for me. It looks really lovely and a beautiful bit of design but doesn’t offer anything more of significance than a good phone camera. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrozenInTime Posted February 24 Share #18 Â Posted February 24 The BF with no EVF is a non-starter for many, for reasons already outlined in the thread. But it did make me think of the solution; the industry needs a wireless EVF standard. Something similar to a cross between the Kinefinity Eagle and a visoflex, Â but with built in battery and low-latency wifi link rather than proprietary hotshoe, or cabled HDMI/ SDI. Make it magnetically mountable with wireless charging and it would not break the clean lines of the BF. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LocalHero1953 Posted February 24 Share #19 Â Posted February 24 I guess it comes to something when Leica owners call this a niche product. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted February 24 Share #20  Posted February 24 I used to be an old fart with regard to viewfinders – previously insisting on using the M rangefinder or a good reflex view – but I've learned to fully embrace using cameras without an EVF. I've used a Hasselblad 907x for a couple of years now (mostly landscape but I have also used it to photograph an indoor event) and enjoy working without a viewfinder. In fact, the main reason I bought that camera, rather than the more orthodox X1D or X2D, is that it didn't have a VF. I don't have a problem using the screen, even outside on a sunny day. I've always tended to compose with my eyes outside of the camera so find that looking at a screen to simply confirm the framing of the lens is a nice relaxed way of working.  If I didn't already have a camera that covers this ground, I might be interested in this new Sigma camera. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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