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Then there is a lack of removable storage. Yes, I would like a card; it is easy to exchange the card in the field. But the BF has 256 gigabytes of built-in storage. I can’t think of the last time I shot enough photos to fill up a lot of space before going back to my laptop to download them. Which means that 256-gigabytes of storage is plenty for a casual photographer.
Photo: Scott Gilbertson
What bothers me the most is the lack of a monitor. I still like to shoot for the sights. Just remember the muscles—give me a camera, and I’ll bring it to my eyes. If you like a viewfinder, either, this isn’t the camera for you.
Another problem with the lack of a screen is that the rear screen is unusable in sunlight. It’s too dark to write correctly. The back cover doesn’t tilt or move at all, meaning that if you like to shoot from the hip, you won’t be able to use it. If you want to find an unusual angle, say from the ground, prepare to lie down to make it.
You can turn the screen brightness all the way up, which helps a bit when you’re out in the sun, but it’s still difficult to use in bright daylight. Having a screen that’s bright all the way up eats up your already-expensive battery life. Sigma says the BF can shoot up to 260 images per shot, but that drops significantly if you have to raise the screen in bright daylight. I was finding that in bright sunlight, I usually didn’t shoot two or three hours on one tree.
Should You Buy?
It may sound like the Sigma BF has a lot of limitations, and it does, especially when you compare it to other cameras in the BF’s $2,200 price range. However, limitations can be good. Without limits, you have nothing to build on. This is not a “spray and pray” camera. This camera requires some thought to use properly. One needs to remember one’s weaknesses and act on them. If you do this, BF can produce good pictures.
While I don’t recommend the Sigma BF to most people, there are no doubt photographers out there who will love even the quirky design choices, but for their own sake. I hope this is one of the cameras that creates a cult following in 20 years.
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