BEAUTIFUL FOOLISHNESS

At $2,988 (body only), the Sigma BF isn't packed with the latest features. In fact, it lacks many of the things we've come to expect from modern digital cameras. Yet somehow, I find myself absolutely smitten by it.

- BY TREVOR TAN

My first camera review dates to 2004, when I was a journalist at a local daily newspaper.

Since then, I've reviewed a broad spectrum of cameras—everything from quirky 3D compacts and digital rangefinders to flagship professional mirrorless beasts like the Canon R1. But even with two decades under my belt, I must admit—the Sigma BF is one of the most peculiar cameras I've ever encountered.

At $2,988 (body only), the Sigma BF isn't packed with the latest features. In fact, it lacks many of the things we've come to expect from modern digital cameras. Yet somehow, I find myself absolutely smitten by it. If you're familiar with Dieter Rams' design philosophy, particularly the principle of “good design is as little design as possible,” then you'll immediately understand the ethos behind the BF. The camera is a study in minimalism. There are no distracting logos. No unnecessary flourishes. Just pure, distilled simplicity. Even the shutter release button is comically oversized—a deliberate and charming design choice. Sigma has stripped away nearly every feature you'd associate with a conventional camera. No electronic viewfinder. No hot shoe. No builtin flash. No image stabilisation. Not even a memory card slot. Instead, the BF relies on 230GB of internal storage, which good for about 14,000 JPEGs or 4,300 RAW files.