Sigma BF (Beautiful Foolishness).

[shawn]

another pointless camera from Sigma. i guess kudos to them for bucking tradition but why? milled from a single block of aluminum, how does that make any difference? who cares? stick to making lenses.

What other camera has Sigma made that is pointless?

As far as single block of aluminum, Leica sure seemed to care when they did the same thing with the T.

Sigma clearly isn't interested in making another generic digital camera. So they go their own way. If it isn't for you that doesn't mean it isn't for anyone.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

When did Sigma stop using Foveon sensors? To me, that was the one thing that made their cameras interesting.

 

[shawn]

The SD Quattro and SD Quattro H were the last Foveon cameras. I had a SD Quattro H and it was a good machine.

They are supposed to be working on a full frame version of the 1:1:1 Foveon sensor but it has been a long time coming.

 

[ellisson]

Full frame L-mount...imagine this little thing attached to a Leica 90-280 zoom lens or the Summilux-L 50mm 1.4 lens...or a Sigma 60-600 mm zoom!! For reasons of camera size and lack of a real viewfinder, only wide angle lenses would be practical.

But the thing that turns me away from considering it is the lack of a viewfinder. Using the LCD screen on a sunny day is nearly impossible - you can't see anything in bright sun, for example on a beach. So, the designers had to be thinking iPhone photography enthusiasts for their largest market. Or art/sculpture collectors for an étagère decoration.

P.S. BF - Beautiful Foolishness or Big Failure.

 

[JeffS7444]

I was surprised to discover that Beautiful Foolishness is in fact the official meaning of BF, and I find it kind of charming. At least they're trying something different! If there's a "problem" with my current cameras, maybe it's that they're really good, and have been for years.

 

[boojum]

But that price tag!

B&H and other sellers have it. $2K is not awful. Yes, a lens is extra. Is the price too high for you?

 

[boojum]

I wish I were surprised at the steady stream of negative comments. It is not a Barnack. Get over it. There are a lot of ways to build a camera. Folks here may really love RF cameras but I just checked, you are in the distinct minority so yea for you. Less that 10% of the market, RF's? The camera world does not seem to much care.

That said there might be good reason to see whatever else is out there. This falls under the rubric of not knowing everything. I do not remember that well when SLR's came out but I bet that the same phalanx of camera buyers was advancing similar arguments. Maybe the Sigma BF will fly, maybe it won't. But thank goodness it is not another small variant of same old same old. It is 2025, not 1925.

BTW, I did notice it is not perfect. Great, I will not have to give up the perfect cameras I already own. ;o)

 

[Samouraï]

Petapixel podcast released with interview with Sigma CEO Kazuto Yamaki. Starts about halfway through. Always a pleasure, and tenuous confirmation that they are still working on Foveon sensor tech because…they promised that they would. I hope that’s enough.

 

[JeffS7444]

This one shall be a rare treat indeed.
Sigma Can Make Just Nine BF Cameras a Day
And I've a hunch that, like Fujifilm with the X100-VI, they won't feel much urge to speed up production, because much of the camera's cachet is due to it's scarcity.

 

[shawn]

But the thing that turns me away from considering it is the lack of a viewfinder. Using the LCD screen on a sunny day is nearly impossible - you can't see anything in bright sun, for example on a beach. So, the designers had to be thinking iPhone photography enthusiasts for their largest market. Or art/sculpture collectors for an étagère decoration.

When I bought the Sigma fp L I worked out how to mount a viewfinder on it, thinking the same as you posted. Then I ended up almost never using the viewfinder as I preferred the LCD. LCDs are lot brighter than they used to be and not as difficult to use in sun. A matte screen protector is helpful with glare. The remaining gotcha is polarized sunglasses as LCDs are polarized too. One orientation will often be blacked out.

 

[wlewisiii]

1) No viewfinder
2) I could get a Pentax K3 Mk III Monochrome for that price.

Hard pass.

 

[wlewisiii]

When I bought the Sigma fp L I worked out how to mount a viewfinder on it, thinking the same as you posted. Then I ended up almost never using the viewfinder as I preferred the LCD. LCDs are lot brighter than they used to be and not as difficult to use in sun. A matte screen protector is helpful with glare. The remaining gotcha is polarized sunglasses as LCDs are polarized too. One orientation will often be blacked out.

It's not the sun, It's how I see. I can't stand trying to frame on a screen. It's painful in a way I have a hard time explaining. I hate chimping. Unless it's a critical image, I don't look until I get back home. I bought _one_ camera without a built in finder. I dropped almost as much as it cost for an external evf within weeks to make it usable and won't make that mistake again.

 

[JohnGellings]

Some actually seem offended that Sigma made this. I'm not buying it either, but I am glad they made it. I'm sick of the same old same old.

 

[shawn]

It's not the sun, It's how I see. I can't stand trying to frame on a screen. It's painful in a way I have a hard time explaining. I hate chimping. Unless it's a critical image, I don't look until I get back home. I bought _one_ camera without a built in finder. I dropped almost as much as it cost for an external evf within weeks to make it usable and won't make that mistake again.

Then obviously a camera without a finder isn't for you. I was surprised how little the fp L screen bothered me. But I shot mostly wide angle with it and haven't done much more than a 45mm on it.

Telephoto I definitely prefer a finder but have learned that somewhere around 24 or 28mm I begin to prefer LCD. I think it is because I can get lower (I'm 6' 5") easier and closer without feeling as much in some ones space.

Haven't brought the combo out to shoot yet but I'm also going to put my 7" monitor on the fp L and take it for a spin. Plan to treat it like a real waist level finder with L/R inverted.

 

[xayraa33]

It is an interesting camera, l would not buy anything by Sigma as l did not like their lenses in the 1970s…l know that was a long time ago and things have changed.

 

[shawn]

Nothing like a half century grudge. 🙂

Their current lenses for mirrorless are fantastic across the board.

 

[wlewisiii]

Some actually seem offended that Sigma made this. I'm not buying it either, but I am glad they made it. I'm sick of the same old same old.

Hardly, but I am emphatically _not_ the target market! LOLOLOL!

 

[Jake Mongey]

I love that sigma are still at it with the kooky designs, sure I wont buy one and I dont fully understand it but it makes me happy seeing theyre still at it!

 

[rhl-oregon]

I still use DP2 and DP3 Merrills, one with a Hoodman loupe. And I really enjoyed the SD Quattro for a few years (with 30 1.4, 17-50, & 18-200), but sold most of that kit to acquire a Leica CL.

Now my L mount cameras include the CL and SL2, on which I can use the Sigma 24 3.5, 30 1.4, and 65 2.0.

I’m probably going to add a Sony RX0II for a true pocket camera.

 

[JoeV]

The BF seems like Sigma’s answer to the LUMIX S9. Both are L mount, both lack a mechanical shutter or flash sync, but at least the S9 has an articulating LCD, SD card slot and mic jack input. There was lots of criticism last year against the S9, but now the BF makes the S9 seem like a bargain!