In an age of increasingly complicated cameras, one minimalist full-frame mirrorless is going in the opposite direction – and it has now won another major award for doing so. It is unlike almost anything else currently on the market and arguably teaches lessons no other mirrorless can – at least not in such a minimalist way.
The Sigma BF has no viewfinder, minimal physical controls and a design that strips photography back to its essentials: light, position and the act of taking a picture. That philosophy has now earned it a 'Best of the Best' award at the 2026 Red Dot Design Awards.
It's the second major accolade that the BF has picked up this year. The camera previously received the Editor's Choice R&D Award at the Camera Grand Prix 2026, where it was praised for its radical simplicity and design philosophy.
What Red Dot says the Sigma BF
"In an era where images are produced almost without thinking, it creates a deliberate counterpoint – focusing on photographing with intent and for pure enjoyment.
"The body of the camera is made from a solid block of aluminum and has an almost monolithic appearance. The controls are kept to the absolute minimum; transitions are meticulously crafted and the connection between the lens and the body looks seamless and streamlined.
"The camera reveals itself in a clearly defined form – a self-contained object that owes its character to its materiality and proportions and whose sculptural quality fascinated the jury.
"The same minimalist approach has also been applied to the user interface. A separate status display shows all relevant information, keeping the main screen clear of superimposed data. The center of attention is the image. The only element on the top of the camera is the shutter button.
The jury paid tribute in particular to the rigor of the design and manufacture: “From a production perspective, the Sigma BF is an embodiment of perfectionism, made as it is from a single aluminum block, characterised by radical simplicity and the seamless transition from body to lens.
"The camera’s materiality has been deliberately rendered visible. It is an exceptionally minimalist product whose quality and merit are immediately noticeable.
"This camera reduces technological complexity to a simple principle: light, space and purposeful focus – it is a contemporary interpretation of what began with the camera obscura."
Why the Sigma BF teaches photographers lessons no other mirrorless really can
The BF's minimalism isn't simply about having fewer buttons. Its entire design is built around keeping your attention on photography.
The controls, display and physical layout have all been deliberately stripped back to keep your attention on light, composition, subject and timing.
Of course, plenty of compact cameras and point-and-shoots have always been simple. What's different about the BF is that Sigma has taken that idea and built a modern full-frame mirrorless camera around it, making simplicity and the act of taking a photo central to its design.
That's what makes the BF so interesting. It's not trying to give you more ways to take a picture; it's trying to make you think more about the picture itself.
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Check out our full Sigma BF review and the best L-Mount lenses to use with it.
