Affordable SLR film camera SIGMA SA-7N
A review and sample photos of the SIGMA SA-7N, an affordable but fully functional film SLR camera.
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Table of contents
Gallery
The sample photos were taken using the SIGMA AF 100-300 EX DG HSM lens and Kodak Portra 160 film.
Review
1．Overview
The SIGMA SA-7N is a 35mm film SLR camera with a Sigma SA-7N mount that was released in 2001.
The SA-7N has three dials for operating the camera: one for shutter speed, one for camera mode, and one for exposure adjustment, with all the functions necessary for photography grouped together on the camera’s top panel.
Detailed specifications are listed in the table below.
2．Usability
The SIGMA SA-7N is Sigma’s final film-based SLR camera.
The change from the previous SA-7 model to the SA-&N is said to be improved AF performance, but since I’ve never used the older model, I don’t know the extent of the improvement. I’ve never taken it out to photograph wild birds with it, so I’m not sure how useful AF-C and other features are.
The shutter sound, which is arguably the most noticeable thing when using an SLR camera, isn’t pleasant, but it’s not unpleasant either. The shutter feel is decent, with little shock when taking a photo, and I didn’t struggle much even in dimly lit scenes where shutter speeds tend to be slow.
In use, I was very satisfied with this low- to mid-range SLR camera.
I bought it used for around 10,000 yen around 2007. At the time, I already owned a Sigma SD series digital camera, so I was interested to see how my SA-mount lenses would perform on a 35mm full-frame camera. Naturally, I was able to shoot wider than with an APS-C sensor, and because it’s film, I didn’t notice any noise around the edges. I thought the film’s graininess was similar to that of the SD9 or SD10 at ISO 400.
Looking at the remaining film I have, I seem to have used about five rolls, but I eventually disposed of them when I stopped shooting with film, so I no longer have them. I always have a few Sigma SA lenses on hand, so I might have kept it, but it’s not a camera worth buying again.
While there aren’t many listings for it on Amazon or Rakuten in Japan, there are quite a few on eBay and it’s still available for purchase, but buying a Sigma SA-mount camera now would not be a wise decision.
3．Summary
In conclusion, to sum up the SIGMA SA-7N, it was a camera from the final days of film SLRs and is the last film SLR camera made by Sigma. The camera’s performance is low-end to mid-range and there are no particularly noteworthy features.
As it uses the Sigma SA mount, you should be prepared to have trouble sourcing lenses.
Specifications, considerations, etc.
Sigma SA-mount cameras predate the SD series of digital cameras, with the SA-300, SA-7, SA-9, and SA-7N being Sigma SA-mount cameras.
Previous Sigma cameras included the SIGMA MARK-I with an M42 mount and the SA-1 with a Pentax-K mount.
The SD9 digital camera was released in 2002, the year after this camera, making this camera a model released during the transition from digital to analog. Since the SA-7N and SD9 were released around the same time, their viewfinders and mirrors are likely the same, and I recall the shutter feel and autofocus performance being nearly identical. The SA-7N uses two CR2A batteries for power, while the SD9 uses two CR123A batteries, so it’s likely the SD9’s control unit requires more power.
As an aside, the SD9 required two CR-V3 batteries to power its digital section, making it a battery-intensive camera.
| Name | SIGMA SA-7N | MINOLTA α-7 Limited |
| Finder | Pentamirror SLR viewfinder | Eye level fixed type, glass prism |
| Viewfinder Magnification | 0.7 times | 0.8 times |
| Field of view | 92％ x 92％ | 92% x 94％ |
| AF method | TTL phase difference detection method | TTL phase difference detection method |
| Operating range | EV-1 to +18 (ISO100) | EV-1 to +18 (ISO100) |
| Shutter mechanism | Full speed electronically controlled vertical travel metal focal plane shutter | Electronically controlled vertical focal plane shutter |
| Shutter speed | 1/2000〜4 sec | 1/8000〜30 sec |
| Photometry | 8-segment evaluative metering, center-weighted average metering, center-weighted average metering | TTL full aperture metering (14-segment honeycomb pattern), center-weighted average metering |
| Battery | 3V lithium battery (2 CR2 type) | 3V lithium battery (2 CR123A type) |
| Size(mm) W x Hさ x D | 132.5 × 91.5 × 69.5 | 143.5 × 97.5 × 65.5 |
| Weight(g) Only body | 395g | 575g |
| Release date | 2002 | 2001 |
| Price(Yen/No-tax) | -¥55,000 | -¥100,000 |
Options
- Flash
- Sigma Lens
Reference links
- Sigma SA-7N official page
- ミノルタ最後のSLR α-7 Limited・Shige’s hobby
Affiliate links
Update history
- 2025.8.14
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