diff --git a/python/gtsam/examples/SFMExample_bal.py b/python/gtsam/examples/SFMExample_bal.py
new file mode 100644
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+++ b/python/gtsam/examples/SFMExample_bal.py
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+"""
+  GTSAM Copyright 2010, Georgia Tech Research Corporation,
+  Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0415
+  All Rights Reserved
+  Authors: Frank Dellaert, et al. (see THANKS for the full author list)
+
+
+  See LICENSE for the license information
+
+  Solve a structure-from-motion problem from a "Bundle Adjustment in the Large" file
+  Author: John Lambert
+"""
+
+import argparse
+import logging
+
+import gtsam
+import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
+import numpy as np
+
+from gtsam import symbol_shorthand
+from gtsam import readBal
+
+L = symbol_shorthand.L
+X = symbol_shorthand.X
+
+import pdb
+
+#include <gtsam/inference/Symbol.h>
+#include <gtsam/nonlinear/NonlinearFactorGraph.h>
+#include <gtsam/nonlinear/LevenbergMarquardtOptimizer.h>
+#include <gtsam/slam/GeneralSFMFactor.h>
+#include <gtsam/slam/dataset.h> // for loading BAL datasets !
+
+
+# using symbol_shorthand::C;
+# using symbol_shorthand::P;
+
+# We will be using a projection factor that ties a SFM_Camera to a 3D point.
+# An SFM_Camera is defined in datase.h as a camera with unknown Cal3Bundler calibration
+# and has a total of 9 free parameters
+#typedef GeneralSFMFactor<SfmCamera,Point3> MyFactor;
+
+
+def run(args):
+    """ Run LM optimization with BAL input data and report resulting error """
+    # Find default file, but if an argument is given, try loading a file
+    if args.input_file:
+        input_file = args.input_file
+    else:
+        input_file = gtsam.findExampleDataFile("dubrovnik-3-7-pre")
+
+    # # Load the SfM data from file
+    mydata = readBal(input_file)
+    logging.info(f"read {mydata.number_tracks()} tracks on {mydata.number_cameras()} cameras\n")
+
+    # # Create a factor graph
+    graph = gtsam.NonlinearFactorGraph()
+
+    # # We share *one* noiseModel between all projection factors
+    noise = gtsam.noiseModel.Isotropic.Sigma(2, 1.0) # one pixel in u and v
+
+    # Add measurements to the factor graph
+    j = 0
+    pdb.set_trace()
+    for t_idx in range(mydata.number_tracks()):
+        track = mydata.track(t_idx) # SfmTrack
+        for m_idx in range(track.number_measurements()):
+            # retrieve the SfmMeasurement
+            # i represents the camera index, and uv is the 2d measurement
+            i, uv = track.measurement(0) # 
+            #graph.emplace_shared<MyFactor>(uv, noise, C(i), P(j)) # note use of shorthand symbols C and P
+            #graph.add
+        j += 1
+    pdb.set_trace()
+
+    # # Add a prior on pose x1. This indirectly specifies where the origin is.
+    # # and a prior on the position of the first landmark to fix the scale
+    # graph.addPrior(C(0), mydata.cameras[0],  gtsam.noiseModel.Isotropic.Sigma(9, 0.1))
+    # graph.addPrior(P(0), mydata.tracks[0].p, gtsam.noiseModel.Isotropic.Sigma(3, 0.1))
+
+    # # Create initial estimate
+    initial = gtsam.Values()
+    # i = 0
+    # j = 0;
+    # for(const SfmCamera& camera: mydata.cameras) initial.insert(C(i++), camera)
+    # for(const SfmTrack& track: mydata.tracks)    initial.insert(P(j++), track.p)
+
+    # Optimize the graph and print results
+    # Values result;
+    try:
+        params = gtsam.LevenbergMarquardtParams()
+        params.setVerbosityLM("ERROR")
+        lm = gtsam.LevenbergMarquardtOptimizer(graph, initial, params)
+        result = lm.optimize()
+    except Exception as e:
+        logging.exception("LM Optimization failed")
+        return
+
+    logging.info(f"final error: {graph.error(result)}")
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
+    parser.add_argument('-i', '--input_file', type=str, default="",
+                        help='Read SFM data from the specified BAL file')
+    run(parser.parse_args())
+
+
+
+