Sony FX3 Full Frame Cinema Line Camera

Sony FX3 Cinema Camera Summary

The Sony FX3 Full Frame Cinema Camera ILMEFX3.CEC is generating a huge buzz with indie film makers and with good reason having launched as the most lightweight professional camcorder from Sony at just 715g. It has been designed with solo film makers Youtube vloggers and other pro videographers in mind packing high quality features into a compact magnesium body which shares technology with the latest Sony a7S III and FX6 cinema camera. Where the a7S III is a thoroughbred hybrid mirrorless camera the FX3 is without question for videographers designed without an EVF but adding a host of video specific features instead.

Users can record 4K/120p and Full HD 240p internal movies with full AF tracking for smooth 5x or 10x slow motion playback and the Sony FX3 also comes with a top mounting detachable handle with XLR/TRX audio inputs. The handle and body itself has handy universal thread mounts for mounting accessories such as video monitors and recorders lights like the Rotolight Neo 2 and transmitters.

Key Specs

• 10.2MP 4K full-frame back-illuminated CMOS Exmor R™ sensor with 15+ stop dynamic range
• XAVC-S 4:2:2 10-bit internal recording and 4K 16-bit RAW output with full HDMI
• ISO expandable 80-409600
• Compact for handheld shooting portability measuring 129.7mm W x 77.8mm H x 84.5mm D
• 16-Bit RAW S-Log3 and S-Cinetone™ profile inspired by VENICE colorimetry
• Fast Hybrid AutoFocus with up to 627 AF points Real-time Eye AF Touch tracking and customisable AF sensitivity
• Internal fan with heat dissipation cooling system for uninterrupted 4K 60p recording
• Built-in 5-axis image stabilisation
• Side opening vari-angle LCD monitor for pieces to camera

Firmware 3.0 for the FX3 camera available

Sony has released a software update for the FX3 which provides significant improvements over the previous version.

Highlight features in firmware 3.0 include:

• Adds Support for the Creators' App
• Note: The new Creators' App mobile application replaces the Imaging Edge Mobile app. The Creators' App allows you to transfer images from the camera to your smartphone shoot remotely and use various functions
• Adds a function that improves remote shooting and image transfer security when using the Creators' App and Imaging Edge Desktop software
• Note: Please update the Imaging Edge Desktop software to the latest version (Ver.3.6 or later)
• Adds support for Breathing Compensation
• Adds support for DCI 4K (4096 x 2160) and 24.00p recording
• Adds a function that during movie recording and playback movies compressed using an anamorphic lens are displayed on the monitor with correction (de-squeeze) to the CinemaScope aspect ratio according to the ratio of the anamorphic lens
• Adds a function that allows the Slow & quick and Movie modes to be switched with a custom key
• Adds support for the Long File Name format on Movie files
• Improves the operational stability of the camera

*1 Please use the latest version of Catalyst Browse or Catalyst Prepare to apply the LUT used for monitoring during shooting to the video during editing.

*2 You will Need a dedicated adapter cable which is sold separately to connect to the timecode source equipment.

Download firmware version 3.0 here:

Windows version:

https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/support/camcorders-and-video-cameras-interchangeable-lens-camcorders/ilme-fx3/software/00280263

Mac version:

https://www.sony.co.uk/electronics/support/camcorders-and-video-cameras-interchangeable-lens-camcorders/ilme-fx3/software/00280266

Sony FX3 Lens options

Naturally the FX3 is compatible with Sony E-mount lenses of which there are plenty of high quality models to choose from as well as Cine specific options like Sony’s FE C 16-35mm T3.1 cine lens. The body has also been designed with an integral cage allowing the supplied XLR handle to be attached along with other 1/4-20 UNC screw-mounted accessories. Connectivity is provided by WiFi Wired LAN via an adapter and USB-C connection for easy data transfers.

Sony FX3 Specifications in More Detail

Battery Operating Time: Approx. 95 min (Actual recording CIPA standard)

Approx. 135 min(Continuous recording CIPA standard)

Approx. 600 shots (LCD monitor) (Still image CIPA standard)

Recording Format (Video) MAX: [XAVC S-I 4K]

XAVC S-I 4K 59.94p 600Mbps 4:2:2 10bit MPEG-4 AVC / H.264

Recording Format (Audio): LPCM 2ch (48kHz 16bit) LPCM 2ch (48kHz 24bit) LPCM 4ch (48kHz 24bit) MPEG-4 AAC-LC 2ch

Recording Frame Rate: [XAVC S-I 4K]3840x2160/59.94P 50P 29.97P 23.98P 25P [XAVC S-I HD]1920x1080/59.94P 50P 29.97P 23.98P 25P [XAVC S 4K]3840x2160/119.88p 100p 59.94P 50P 29.97P 23.98P 25P [XAVC S HD]1920x1080/119.88p 100p 59.94P 50P 29.97P 23.98P 25P [XAVC HS 4K]3840x2160/119.88p 100p 59.94P 50P 29.97P 23.98P 25P

Recording/Playback Time: [XAVC S-I 4K]

XAVC S-I 4K 59.94p/50p When using CEA-G160T (160 GB) Approx. 25 minutes When using CEA-G80T (80GB) Approx. 10 minutes

Recording Format (Proxy Audio): XAVC Proxy: AAC-LC 128kbps kbps 2 channels

Recording Format (Proxy Video): [XAVC HS HD]

MPEG-H HEVC/H.265 1920x1080 4:2:0 10bit 16Mbps 1920x1080 4:2:0 10bit 9Mbps [XAVC S HD]

MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 1280x720 4:2:0 8bit 6Mbps

RAW Output: HDMI:4264 x 2408 (60p / 50p / 30p / 25p / 24p) 16bit

Recording format: JPEG (DCF Ver. 2.0 Exif Ver. 2.32 MPF Baseline compliant) HEIF (MPEG-A MIAF compliant) RAW (Sony ARW 4.0 format compliant)

Image size (pixels) [3:2]: 35mm full frame L: 4240 x 2832 (12M) M: 2768 x 1848 (5.1M) S: 2128 x 1416 (3.0M) APS-C L: 2768 x 1848 (5.1M) M: 2128 x 1416 (3.0M) S: 1376 x 920 (1.3M)

Number of pixels (effective): Movie: Approx. 10.2 megapixels Still image: Approx. 12.1 megapixels

ISO Sensitivity [Movie]: ISO 80-102400 equivalent (Expandable to ISO 409600) AUTO (ISO 80-12800 selectable lower limit and upper limit) [Still image] ISO 80-102400 (Expandable to ISO 40- 409600) AUTO (ISO 80-12800 selectable lower limit and upper limit)

Slow and Quick Motion Function: [XAVC S-I 4K / XAVC S 4K / XAVC HS 4K]NTSC mode: 1fps 2fps 4fps 8fps 15fps 30fps 60fps 120fps PAL mode: 1fps 2fps 3fps 6fps 12fps 25fps 50fps 100fps

Gamma Curve Off / PP1-PP11 Parameters: Black level Gamma (Movie Still Cine1-4 ITU709 ITU709 [800%] S-Log2 S-Log3 HLG HLG1-3) Black Gamma Knee Color Mode Saturation Color Phase Color Depth Detail Copy Reset

Latitude: 15+ stop (S-Log3)

Focus System Type: Fast Hybrid AF (phase-detection AF / contrast-detection AF)

Focus point [Movie]: 627 points [Still image] 35mm full frame: 759 points (phase-detection AF)

Sensitivity range: EV-6 to EV20 (ISO100 equivalent with F2.0 lens attached)

Focus mode: [Movie] AF-C MF [Still image] AF-A (Automatic AF) AF-S (Single-shot AF) AF-C (Continuous AF) DMF (Direct Manual Focus) Manual Focus

Focus area [Movie]: Wide / Zone / Center / Flexible Spot / Expanded Flexible Spot [Still image] Wide / Zone / Center / Flexible Spot / Expanded Flexible Spot / Tracking

Other focus features: Eye AF ([Movie] Human (Right/Left Eye Select [Still image] Human (Right/Left Eye Select) / Animal)

Interface: Audio Input 3.5 mm Stereo minijack XLR handle: [INPUT1][INPUT2] XLR/TRS-type 3-pin(female) (x2) line/mic/mic +48V selectable Mic Reference -40 to -60 dBu / [INPUT3] 3.5 mm Stereo minijack)

USB Terminal USB Type-C (x1 SuperSpeed USB 5Gbps (USB 3.2) compatible) Multi/Micro USB (x1)

Headphone Output 3.5 mm Stereo minijack

Speaker Output Built-in monaural

HDMI Output HDMI connector (Type-A

HDMI Output YCbCr 4:2:2 10bit / RGB 8bit

Multi Interface Shoe With Digital Audio Interface

LCD 7.5cm (3.0-type) Approx. 1.44M dots touch panel

Built-in Microphone Built-in stereo

Type CFexpress Type A / SD card (x2) Simult. Rec Sort Auto Switch Media Copy

Zoom: Function Zoom ring rotate

Image Stabilisation: Type Image Sensor-Shift mechanism with 5-axis compensation (Compensation depends on lens specifications)

Image Stabilisation Mode [Movie] Active / Standard / Off [Still image] On / Off

For more information read the comparison between the FX3 and a7S III and FX6 cameras in our blog review.

ILMEFX3.CEC

Optional Accessories

• Sony 160GB CFexpress Type A
• Sony 80GB CFexpress Type A
• Sony XLR-K3M Adapter Kit And Microphone
• Spare NP-FZ100 Battery