The upcoming Sigma BF (R47,000, body only) looks to be a ripping camera in terms of pure performance, but there’s more going on than just that lovely machined unibody and 24.6MP full-frame BSI CMOS sensor. For starters, the camera’s controls are sporting a unique (for now) bit of tech.

Called Haptivity and developed by Japanese company Kyocera, the innovation provides the BF with “proprietary tactile technology that replicates realistic touch sensations”. Apple fans will be familiar with the Taptic Engine. This is a similar take, appearing first in Sigma’s upcoming shooter.

Sigma BF grindset

Haptivity has been used for the small cluster of rear buttons on Sigma’s latest camera, where piezoelectric ceramic vibrating elements help to create “[b]iomechanically engineered vibration waveforms…by stimulating neural receptors in the user’s fingertip”.

What sets this apart from other haptic technologies, according to Kyocera, is that it provides dual feedback. Most haptic systems only have a single confirming vibration — when the action is triggered. The system inside the Sigma BF offers feedback on both the press and release, feeling more like a physical button than a small vibrating bit of inorganic matter.

The resulting low profile means more space for camera components, less that can go wrong with the button system — physical keys are prone to having objects slip into gaps — and increased responsiveness from what are very tiny touch panels.

Haptivity won’t remain confined to Sigma’s cameras, either. Its creators believe it might “revolutionize consumer and automotive applications as an essential component of the next-generation human-machine interface.” It could be that we’ll see it in other devices in very short order. For now, though, Sigma has dibs.

For a broader, (slightly) less technical overview of the upcoming Sigma BF, check out the current issue of Stuff Magazine, available in stores and directly from Stuff.