Sony has introduced the FX5, the newest addition to its compact cinema camera lineup. Unlike its predecessor, the FX3, which launched in 2021, the FX5 enters the market at a higher price point while the FX3 remains available for purchase.
The FX5 offers enough innovative features to entice both current and potential FX3 buyers. It is equipped with a 16.6MP full-frame stacked Exmor RS CMOS sensor and a BIONZ XR2 processor with integrated AI capabilities. Customers can currently record video at 5K 60fps and 4K 120fps, with upcoming firmware updates enabling 5K 120fps and 4K 240fps recording.
The standout feature of the FX5 is its open gate recording, which utilizes the entire width and height of the sensor for video in a 3:2 aspect ratio. This feature is particularly useful for vertical cropping, as it maximizes the use of all vertical pixels.
Moreover, the FX5 supports 16-bit linear RAW recording internally, eliminating the need for an external recorder. This allows users to capture the full 3:2 sensor output in 5K 60fps (and later in 120fps) in RAW format directly from the camera. It employs Sony's professional X-OCN format, featuring LT, C1, and C2 codec variants for efficient recording with varying compression ratios.
The FX5 is the first camera in the FX series to implement Sony's Dual Gain Shooting function, which merges output from both low and high gain settings to enhance dynamic range and reduce noise. It features three base ISOs: ISO 800, ISO 4000, and ISO 12800, offering improved performance in low-light conditions, and is reported to have over 15 stops of dynamic range.
Additional features include AI-based human pose estimation for autofocusing, Auto Tracing White Balance using both visible and IR sensor data, the option to disable in-camera noise reduction, a de-squeeze function for anamorphic lenses (contingent on disabling autofocus), and an upgraded 3.5-inch touchscreen with 2.76 million dots—a significant improvement compared to the FX3. It also features a built-in cooling fan, a larger NP-SA100 battery, dual USB ports for power and data, a wired LAN port, and a new menu system inspired by CineAlta cameras.
While the FX5 does not come with a built-in viewfinder, Sony has announced a new DVF-EL1 detachable viewfinder as an accessory, along with the XLR-H2 handle.
The Sony FX5 is priced at $4,900 for the body alone, or $5,500 with the XLR-H2 handle, and is set to hit the market in mid-August.
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