Beautiful Foolishness. Yup, that is what the BF stands for – not “best friend”, though this camera might become your best friend, or at least your favorite travel buddy. Carved from a single, solid block of aluminum, this unique full-frame, L-mount camera majorly simplifies the shooting process with a dramatic removal of nearly everything from the body for a “distraction free” experience. Sigma really took “less is more” to heart.

How it Works. Inspired by an old camera obscura box, the Sigma BF is as simple as it is striking. It is, first of all, boxy and is equipped with only a fixed touchscreen, a small status display, a dial pad with center button, and three additional buttons: options, playback, and power. There are also only three menu screens where you can access color modes, video shooting options, subject detection, and more.

Physical Traits to Be Aware Of. The unibody structure of this camera omits a memory card slot and there is only access to 230 GB of internal memory. This will store approximately 14,000 JPEGs, 4,300 raw files, or 2.5 hours of footage. It is powered with a proprietary BP-81 battery that lasts for around 260 shots, or an hour of video. It can also be powered via USB-C (this is how you offload your imagery as well). The edges of the body are quite brutalist but there is a hint of a thumb rest for a bit of comfort as well as a right-hand strap lug. There is no EVF, no hot shoe, and no WiFi/Bluetooth support, though you can use a USB-C cable to transfer images to your smartphone. The USB-C port also doubles as a mic jack (adapter required). There is a built-in stereo mic discretely built into the top of the camera.

Unique Design, Standard Specs. The physical controls are scant but the features and settings internally are a lot like what you’d expect from most cameras: 8 frames-per-second shooting speed, hybrid AF, subject tracking, focus and exposure bracketing, interval shooting, and 6K video in Leica L-log. Image stabilization is digital only. Despite its portable size and light weight, it is still a full-frame, 24.6 megapixel system with a large L-mount that is compatible with a wide range of lenses from the L-mount alliance.

Power Talk. This camera is fueled by one included Sigma BP-81 Battery and a 3-foot Thunderbolt cable! If you’re worried about running low on power with just one battery, we encourage adding extras with the Sigma BC-81 Battery Charger!