برچسب: Life

I’m Heather Larkin, and I have been working as a portrait photographer for the past 20 years. Over the years, I’ve used a wide variety of cameras and lenses, but the new Sigma BF is something entirely different. I’ve completely fallen in love with it as my personal fun camera. In the last few months, I’ve used it to photograph various personal subjects. I’ve experimented with three lenses in very different settings, from baby photos to jellyfish, to my own flower studio at home. It’s not meant to replace my workhorse camera, but it has become my favorite grab-and-go camera.

Designed to get out of the way

The Sigma BF is a paragon of minimalist design in the best way possible. It’s intentional, it’s fun to use, and it’s even lovely to look at. The pared-down body and controls are designed in a way to be intuitive and invisible, letting me focus on the experience instead of my gear. It lets me slow down in the most fabulous way.

Three lenses, three perspectives

35mm F2 DG | Contemporary – I used this lens for baby photos of my new nieces, in the Seattle downtown area and market, and through the Seattle aquarium. It felt wide enough to handle all of these situations without too much distortion, and it handled tricky lighting super well.

50mm F2 DG | Contemporary – I used this lens at the 2025 Philadelphia Flower Show, and I also love using it in my own home flower studio for simple flower portraits. It’s great for isolating subjects in busy spaces like the flower show, but I also love the depth it gives on a studio backdrop.

105mm F2.8 DG DN Macro | Art – This lens is pure fun. I’ve used it in my own garden, for studio macro play, and during quieter moments while traveling. The process is slow and thoughtful, and the images are so rich in detail. I love macro photography, and seeing all the little things brings me so much joy.

Where has the BF been so far?

A baby session without the pressure

I used the BF for a semi-impromptu photo session for my niece’s five-month-old baby pictures. We picked a few simple outfits for a natural light portrait session so I could focus on her little perfect face and bright eyes. She’s not sitting up yet, but she’s certainly going to tell you all about things. The BF was quick to focus while she was wiggling and chatting to me, and I turned on the focus tracking feature so I could concentrate on making Florence smile… a difficult thing when all she wanted to do was watch the camera. I mean, it is gorgeous to look at, right? We didn’t overthink things, and I didn’t have to overthink my gear. The 35mm F2 lens was great for letting me stay close without getting in the way, and the BF is small and light enough to use one handed so I could tickle the baby at the same time.

Wandering through Pike Place Market

I am not usually much of a street photographer, but the BF is the perfect camera to take into the crowded market. It’s unobtrusive and light enough to carry all day. The energy, color, and movement of everyday tourist life are captivating. The 35mm lens focuses close enough to capture market details, and it’s wide enough to convey the feel of the whole scene. Every person I spoke to noticed the BF and asked about it, but it wasn’t really noticed otherwise while I was walking around. I had it on my Spider Holster at my hip, and it was small enough to maneuver through the busy crowd without hitting anyone with it.

Light and shadow at the Seattle Aquarium

Wow, if you could create a tougher challenge for a camera besides being in the water, I’d like to see it. Lighting issues were the name of the game this afternoon. The colors of the aquarium—the blues and yellows—are already difficult, but then add things like reflections, subject motion, and dark corners, and it becomes quite a challenge for any camera. The BF handled it all with grace. I loved having this camera with me; it made me feel present, and the slower pace allowed me to notice more. I think my favorite photos of the day were the jellyfish.

Philadelphia Flower Show

The Philadelphia Flower Show is another set of fun lighting challenges. It’s busy, bold and colorful. So many flowers and so many people and so much texture. I used the 50mm F2 to help simplify cluttered scenes. The BF handled the lighting shifts well and I never felt like I had to babysit the camera, so I got to really enjoy the whole show. I found that controlling the aperture on the lens dial and setting the camera’s ISO to auto while using the exposure compensation on the back dial for changing lighting was the quick way to get the photos I wanted without concentrating too much on my gear.

Studio flower play

Unlike the Flower Show, I can control the lighting in my own home studio. It’s a slower setup, making it very zen to just sit there and tilt the flower or adjust the light just so. Tiny adjustments lead to great effects, little by little. It’s a calming practice. The BF makes this enjoyable, simple and relaxing, just like the studio flowers. I chose both the 50mm F2 and the 105mm F2.8 Macro for these shots.

Home garden macro

My home and local gardens are really where the camera disappears and lets me create. I love macro at all times, and to have this camera just adds to the calming enjoyment. The spot focus option and tracking are perfect for getting the composition I want while retaining focus while I’m recomposing, or I can just use the touchscreen to change my focal point. The 105mm F2.8 Macro lens on this camera feels light enough to use one-handed occasionally while being nicely balanced. Plus it’s small enough to get into the shrubbery without really scaring any wildlife I might be photographing. I don’t know why, but doing macro with this camera just makes everything feel so much more artistic somehow. The color is absolutely perfect for this.

Everyday pretty fluff

I was talking to Aaron, our senior tech rep at Sigma America, and he said something that really stuck with me. He was talking about the BF and how it’s so accessible. He said something that we’ve all heard: “the best camera is the one you have with you.” But then he expanded and said that the BF is the perfect everyday camera because it is so easy to take with him. He takes more pictures and has more photos he loves because he has a good camera with him when he wants to take those photos. It’s inspiring and I really felt that way too. I find myself taking pictures of things I never would on my phone… because the BF is there and I know the result will be so much prettier.

The camera I keep reaching for

I am really happy with this camera, and I want to take pictures of everything while I have it. Perfection isn’t my goal; instead, I look for the fun and joy that comes from taking photos, and this camera really brings that! I think nothing is too small to photograph; every little detail can share a story worth telling. This camera isn’t trying to compete with professional studio cameras, nor does it need to. Its main appeal is being stylish and easy to carry — perfect for those who want to enjoy the fun of photography again. I truly believe that everyday creators and artists will love this unique camera, as it helps them show their creativity without the stress of being perfect. It’s a gateway to enjoying photography again.

I didn’t expect to love the Sigma BF this much. This camera made me slow down in the best way. It keeps reminding me how fun photography can be when it’s just for you. It’s going to keep staying with me because it just makes me want to take and keep those images.

Explore the BF & Sigma Lenses