Quick take: The Fujifilm X100VI has been my daily camera since it came out, but I've never loved its 35mm-equivalent lens. So I'm spending the next few weeks carrying the Sigma BF instead to see if it can replace it. First impressions: the BF is far less of a gimmick than I expected. The full-frame images, color science and screen are excellent. No hot shoe, no IBIS and no viewfinder are the big question marks.
A Very Privileged Comparison
These two cameras live in the premium small-camera market, alongside things like the Leica Q3 and the Sony RX1R III. I want to acknowledge that up front. You do not need either of these to get into photography. A very old, very cheap camera will do the job. I did a whole video on a Canon 5D Classic I picked up for around $60 to $80.
The funny part is that the X100VI has the retro looks but is a technological powerhouse, while the futuristic-looking BF has a really simple interface and a very simple approach to photography.
Why the X100VI Has Been My Camera
The X100VI has a 23mm F2 lens (35mm full-frame equivalent), IBIS, a built-in flash, a hot shoe, film simulations, 6.2K video and F-Log2. It's weather resistant, so it never goes in a bag. It just lives on my shoulder.
It's taken the majority of my family photos, including the photos of my niece, the first grandkid in the family. I had it with me in the hospital. It was easy to carry, the battery lasted and the photos came out great. We cherish those photos.
I had the X100V before it and honestly hated it. But the "minor" upgrades in the VI, especially IBIS and much better autofocus, made it a really decent camera.
What the X100VI Is Missing for Me
The one thing I don't like is that 35mm focal length. It's not a bad lens or a bad focal length. I just prefer more compressed shots or more exaggerated wide shots, probably because I shot sports for so many years. I also find that the F2 lens on an APS-C sensor doesn't give me the background separation I enjoy.
I own the TCL teleconverter, which gets you to 50mm, but it's big, throws the camera off balance and works better with a grip, and I think the grips are ugly. The WCL wide converter is better balanced, but the way it attaches still makes me nervous. Fujifilm, if you're listening: a 50mm version of this camera would sell like hot cakes. I'd buy one immediately, maybe two.
Why the Sigma BF Is a Contender
I first saw the BF at a camera expo and thought it was a gimmick. It's milled from a single block of aluminum, and Sigma released a set of I series lenses in a matching silver finish. But it also has some serious quirks:
No viewfinder. You shoot entirely off the rear screen.
No hot shoe. As someone who loves off-camera flash, this is the big one I'm testing.
No SD card. Storage is internal only (256GB, which is around 3,000-plus photos and has been plenty so far).
One USB-C port for charging and offloading. No app, no Bluetooth. I'm going to ask Sigma what that means for repairs years down the line.
No IBIS, so stabilization depends entirely on the lens.
About half the megapixels of the X100VI: 24.6MP versus 40MP.
And yet, the images are really good. The full-frame sensor gives you shallower depth of field, especially with the 20mm F2, and I hate to admit it, but it makes the photos stand out a little more. It's making me like the camera a lot.
First Impressions
The big LCD is gorgeous. It's very high resolution, and while it's a little hard to see in bright sun, shading it with your hand is enough. I shoot midday a lot and I'm thoroughly impressed. It's fixed with no tilt, but I wish every manufacturer put a screen this good on their cameras.
The color science doesn't get talked about nearly enough. I've never used a Sigma camera before, and I didn't expect it to be this good. Rich is my current favorite profile, and like Fujifilm's recipes, you can adjust all the settings to build your own looks. There are cinematic options too, like Teal & Orange.
The ergonomics are better than I expected, though it's a love-hate thing for a lot of people. I ordered a grip so I can try some sillier setups.
The Big Chungus Test
Just because I could, I mounted my old Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 (Canon EF) through the Sigma MC-21 adapter. That was one of the first lenses I spent real money on for sports. Continuous autofocus worked like any modern lens, and image quality looked shockingly good on the newer sensor. With native Canon glass, continuous AF only works in the center of the frame.
Rolling shutter is bad, since there's no mechanical shutter, only electronic readout. But for medium to super-telephoto portraits, provided you have a monopod or really big biceps, it's a fun combo.
The Lenses
Sigma sent me the 20mm F2, the 50mm and the 90mm. The 20mm surprised me, I really like it on this body. But the 90mm will without a doubt be my first purchase if I keep the BF. It's about half the length and weight of the Fuji 90mm F2 I used to own, and the images are crisp. If I get a chance to try the 65mm, it might be a nice middle ground.
Two Strangers Give Their Take
While I was out shooting in Jersey, a couple of photographers waved me down to ask what I was carrying. Their first impressions matched mine: it looks freaky in a good way, it's very minimal, there's no viewfinder to look through, and it's surprisingly light. One of them, a Canon shooter on an aging 5D Mark IV, wished it had a better grip but loved how light and small it is. They were also surprised Sigma makes cameras at all.
Final Thoughts
Photo autofocus on the BF is great. Video autofocus is not as good, but still better than Fujifilm was until very recently. You don't build an autofocus system like that for fun, so my conspiracy theory is that Sigma is hinting at a serious hybrid camera down the line. I'll dig into that in a dedicated video episode.
For now, I'm forcing myself to carry the BF every day to see whether the new-camera excitement wears off, and whether it can truly replace old faithful.
Keep Reading
Gear in This Video
Gear in this video
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Buying through these links costs you nothing extra and helps support the channel.
