Sony FX3 Full-Frame Camera

Sony FX3

Full-Frame Camera for Cinematic Look and Enhanced Operability for Creators


FX3 Product Highlights

•     Compact and lightweight body design with high operability for hand-held shooting, gimbal and drone-mounted work
•     Multiple 1/4-20 UNC threaded mounting points to easily attach compatible accessories
•     Detachable XLR handle unit with two XLR/TRS audio inputs and one 3.5mm stereo jack
•     S-Cinetone™ look – inspired by the color science of the digital cinema camera VENICE – which is also used in FX9 and FX6 Cinema Line cameras
•     Built-in cooling fan enables effective heat dissipation to support uninterrupted 4K 60p recordingi
•     Records up to 4K 120pii
•     10.2 megapixeliii full-frame back-illuminated CMOS Exmor R™ sensor and BIONZ XR™ image processing engine
•     Ultra-high sensitivity with ISO expandable to 409,600 for very low light conditions and 15+ stops of dynamic rangeiv
•     Fast Hybrid AF (Autofocus), Touch Tracking (real-time tracking) and Real-time Eye AF, also used in other Alpha™ cameras
•     5-axis in-body image stabilization with "Active Mode"v supports handheld movie shooting

The Sony FX3 delivers a cinematic look and professional operability and reliability in a camera that is accessible to early-career creators, as well as suitable to be used alongside Sony's VENICE, FX9 and FX6 cameras. The new model provides outstanding image quality and usability for small scale and one-person shooting. The FX3 boasts industry-leading autofocus capabilities, 5-axis in-body image stabilization with Active modev, handheld shooting design and advanced heat dissipation for extended recording times. All this is combined in a compact, lightweight body that provides the performance and mobility to meet the growing demands of today's content creators.


Cinematic Look

The FX3 boasts Sony's industry-leading image sensor technology to achieve high processing speeds and outstanding image quality. The full-frame, back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS sensor (approximately 10.2 effective megapixel count for video recording and approximately 12.1 effective megapixels count for stills) and the BIONZ XR image processing engine team up to ensure high sensitivity with low noise. The standard ISO range is 80 to 102,400 (expandable to 409,600when shooting video), and dynamic range is an impressively wide 15+ stopsiv.

In response to a growing need for more expressive depth, the FX3, along with FX9 and FX6 Cinema Line cameras, allows users to create a cinematic look without post-production using the S-Cinetone color matrix. Inspired by the color science used in Sony's flagship VENICE camera, S-Cinetone delivers natural mid-tones, plus soft colors and smooth highlights that are essential to create a cinematic look.

Creators can record in 4K at up to 120 frames per secondii. Extraordinarily smooth slow-motion imageryvi (up to 5x) at QFHD (3840 x 2160) resolution with autofocus provides new expressive capability.



Designed for Comfortable Solo-Shooting

Sony's most compact and lightweight Cinema Line camera is ideal for handheld shooting, gimbal and drone-mounted work. It weighs just 1.58 lbs. (715 g), including the battery and memory cards, and the body is only 5.11 in x 3.33 in x 3.06 in (77.8 mm x 129.7 mm x 84.5 mm). The camera grip has been carefully designed to provide optimum flexibility, stability and comfort for long shoots.

Designed for mobility and efficiency, the FX3's body features five 1/4-20 UNC threaded mounting points to easily attach compatible accessories while remaining light enough for handheld shooting and making it easy to set up and carry. The supplied XLR handle securely attaches to the body via the Multi Interface Shoe without any special tools and provides three additional threaded mounting points for accessories. Optional accessories such as external monitors, recorders, wireless microphones, or other add-ons can be securely attached.

To enable 4-channel 24-bit audio recording, the supplied XLR handle includes two balanced XLR/TRS audio inputs and an additional 3.5mm stereo 2-channel jack. With an optional XLR or TRS microphone connected, the XLR adaptor on the handle takes care of the A/D (Analogue to Digital) conversion and DSP (Digital Signal Processing), and transfers the digital audio data directly to the camera for outstanding audio quality.  Because the XLR adaptor is integrated into the handle and does not require any additional cables or batteries, it offers easy set up. If the handle is not being used, the FX3 includes a 3.5mm stereo mic input on the camera body.

The FX3 provides Fast Hybrid autofocus (AF) by using the 627 pointsvii focal plane phase-detection system during movie recording. The camera is further enhanced with Touch Tracking (Real-Time tracking) where simply touching the desired subject on the monitor screen initiates auto focus and tracking on that subject. Precise and smooth focus is maintained with Real-time Eye AF – technology that pinpoints the eye even when subjects are looking down or up at steep angles. Additionally, other AF features have been included and refined in response to feedback from professional users, including AF Transition Speed, AF Subject Shift Sensitivity, intuitive control and AF support when focusing manually. These AF features have been implemented in the FX3 to ensure stable, flexible and precise focusing in any situation and are easy to operate for solo shoots.

The FX3 features 5-axis optical in-body image stabilization – highly effective for handheld shooting. A high precision stabilization unit and gyro sensors have made it possible to provide an Active Modev that is dedicated to movie shooting in each format, including 4K. In-body image stabilization means that effective stabilization can be achieved with a wide range of E-mount lenses, including those that do not include stabilization on their own. Alternately, the FX3 records image stabilization metadata that can be adjusted during post-production using Catalyst Browse/Prepare.



Expandability and Operability for Content Creators


Operability

FX3 was designed to optimize professional operability. The controls frequently used in movie shooting such as ISO, iris, and white balance adjustment are located on the grip and on the top of the body for easy access. In addition, 140 functions assignable to 15 custom keys allow for ultimate efficiency.

The zoom lever located on the top of the grip not only controls compatible powered zoom lenses, but also allows Clear Image Zoom to be used with unpowered zoom and prime lenses – reducing the number of lenses required for many projects. This lever also enables smooth zooming that is difficult for manual zoom-ring control.

Recording lamps (tally) are provided on the top, front and back of the camera, so that the operator and talent can easily confirm recording.  A side-opening vari-angle touch-panel LCD monitor allows for easy operation and is suitable for gimbal-mounted shots, complicated angles, handheld operation and more. Flexible Exposure Mode allows the FX3 to have a similar Auto/Manual switch operation as other FX series cameras for iris, shutter speed and ISO, which can be set independently.


Reliability

Creators need more than just refined features and performance; they also need reliability and durability. The FX3 combines a fan for active cooling with effective heat dissipation resulting in uninterrupted 4K 60p recording without thermal shutdowni. The newly developed fan provides high-efficiency cooling by drawing air into the camera via the bottom panel and exhausts via the side.

The new camera also features a dust and moisture resistant designix and durable magnesium alloy chassis. Moreover, USB PD (Power Delivery) supports fast chargingx for uninterrupted recording.


Expandability

The FX3 is compatible with several recording functions including S-Log3 gamma and S-Gamut3.cine, which record in a high dynamic range and wide color gamut. It also supports internal recording in XAVC S™ (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 Long GOP) and XAVC S-I (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 Intra) formats in 4K (QFHD) and FHD, and XAVC HS™ (MPEG-H HEVC/H.265, 4K only) format. 4K 60p video in 10-bit 4:2:2 or 16-bit RAW formatxi can be output to an external device via the FX3 full-size HDMI Type-A jack.

The FX3 also offers two fast, future-oriented media slots that contribute to unprecedented shooting freedom by being compatible with either CFexpress Type A or SDXC cards. The same data can be simultaneously recorded to both cards for backup and a "relay" mode will automatically switch to the second media card when the first media card becomes full during recording.

The new camera has been developed with advanced connectivity features to better assist professional creators with high-speed wireless LAN functionality (2.4 GHz or 5 GHz bandxii) and wired LAN connection via a compatible USB-to-Ethernet adaptor. The FX3 supports video and still file transfers to a specified remote FTP server.  This FX3 also allows for remote shooting from a PC using the Imaging Edge Desktop™ application's "Remote" function via Wi-Fi, or Superspeed USB 5Gbps connection over USB Type-C® terminal.



FEATURES

Image sensor with blazingly fast readout speed
The back-illuminated full-frame Exmor R™ CMOS sensor boasts a blazingly fast data readout speed along with high sensitivity and wide dynamic range. An advanced colour filter array boosts colour reproduction accuracy, while focal plane phase-detection AF enables solid autofocus stability and excellent precision, all of which contribute to outstanding image quality.

High performance image-processing engine
The BIONZ XR™ image-processing engine is designed for high speed, minimising latency while providing impressive real-time processing capabilities. The engine performs real-time processing of AF, image recognition and image quality adjustments, while also handling data transfer, user interface and other camera operations.

High sensitivity, wide dynamic range
The full-frame sensor enables high sensitivity with low noise throughout the camera's range by optimising the sensor’s output. Capture clear motion even in low light conditions with an impressive ISO expanded range up to 409600. It has an extended dynamic range of 15+ stops, without blown highlights. Together, the camera's high sensitivity and wide dynamic range expand your flexibility in post-production.

Acclaimed cinematic colour with S-Cinetone™
The inclusion of Sony’s acclaimed S-Cinetone look, inherited from the development of the FX9, allows cinematic colour to be achieved directly in-camera. S-Cinetone is optimised for natural skin tones and mid-range colours, with gentle highlight roll-off, for impressive subject depiction even without post production grading.

All-Intra internal recording
In addition to Long-GOP inter-frame compression, internal intra-frame (All-Intra) recording is supported. XAVC S-I recording compresses each frame independently at a high bitrate, up to 600Mbps, so is ideal for capturing complex motion, and allowing maximum flexibility and playback performance during post-production.

4K High Frame Rate 120fps recording
You can record full-frame 4K (QFHD) at up to 120fps with autofocus thanks to the high-speed readout capabilities of the image sensor and the powerful BIONZ XR processor. Even at high frame rates, 4K (QFHD) images are captured using full-pixel readout without binning, for clear post-produced slow motion (up to 5x slower than real time). The high-precision AF even allows beautiful full-frame bokeh to be achieved during slow motion shooting.

16-bit RAW data output
Facilitating improved image quality and more flexible and efficient editing in post production, the FX3 supports 16-bit RAW data output to an external recorder via the HDMI Type-A terminal. RAW video output is from a full-frame image sensor with 4264 x 2408 [16:9] resolution, to suit 4K (QFHD) or DCI-4K
workflows, with a choice of frame rates (59.94p/50p/29.97p/25p/23.98p).

HEVC codec with high compression efficiency
XAVC HS format recording, using the MPEG-H HEVC/H.265 codec, roughly doubles the compression efficiency. Compared to a normal 4K XAVC S format, XAVC HS allows for detailed 10-bit video with 4:2:2 colour sampling at comparable or lower data rates, delivering even better image quality as well as manageable file sizes.

Proxy recording for more efficient editing workflow
Low bit-rate HD proxy files can be recorded simultaneously with higher bit-rate formats such as XAVC S-I 4K, and these smaller proxy files can then be used for editing and previewing prior to final production delivery. This reduces computer load and allows faster and more efficient workflows. Proxy files can be captured in either 10-bit XAVC HS (1920 x 1080) or 8-bit XAVC S (1280 x 720).

Expand your vision with Creative Look
Looks emulate pro monitoring and post-production tools inside the camera. The Creative Look presets are available in-camera, and each of these can be used as is, or further customised using individual parameter settings such as hue, colour depth, brightness, contrast, and sharpness. Fine adjustment of preset looks can be made according to the user's preference, and you can also register your favourite settings as a custom look.

Flexible exposure mode
Flexible Exposure Mode allows the Auto and Manual modes for iris, shutter speed and ISO to be set independently. The lock function, activated by a short press on the respective custom buttons, locks the related controls to prevent changes if the dial or wheel is accidentally moved. The frequently used iris and ISO can be controlled by the easily accessible front and rear dials as well as by the dial on the top panel.

Fast Hybrid AF for dependable focus during movie shooting
Fast Hybrid AF combines focal plane phase-detection AF with contrast-detection AF. This results in highly precise, smooth tracking of fast-moving subjects even over a wide range with a shallow depth of field. AF Transition Speed and AF Subject Shift Sensitivity parameters allow more flexible focus control, as demanded by professional users.

Fast, easy touch focus control
Touch focus control allows you to precisely specify the point of focus simply by touching the LCD monitor. It's fast, easy, and intuitive to perform rack focusing through touch operation—ensuring you have full creative control of the FX3's powerful AF technology.

Cage-free accessory mounting
Five 1/4-20 UNC mounting screw holes allow stable attachment of accessories directly to the camera body, without the need for a cage. Three additional mounting holes are also available on the included XLR handle. The result is a system optimised for incredible mobility and hand-held shooting as well as quick setup for fast-moving productions.

REC lamps and highlighting during video recording
There is one tally light on the front and one on the back, and an LED-illuminated REC button on top that works with the tally lights. In addition, by displaying a red frame on the monitor screen during video recording, even if the screen is difficult to see with a rig or gimbal attached, you can immediately confirm recording status. Light operation can be set on or off for specific applications.

Flexible camera positioning with vari-angle monitor
The FX3 is equipped with a horizontally opening vari-angle LCD monitor that is rotatable for precise framing or interesting angles, regardless of whether you are shooting movies hand-held or gimbal mounted. The screen can even be rotated for direct viewing by the subject or when shooting dramatic low angle shots. The 3.0-type, approximately 1.44 million-dot large touch panel LCD has high visibility and clarity.

Power for professional length
For extended shooting sessions, the FX3 is compatible with large-capacity NP-FZ100 batteries. USB-PD (Power Delivery) support also enables fast charging
or continuous shooting when connected to a compatible USB Type C® power supply or portable powerbank battery.

Reliable durability and weather resistance in tough situations
In response to feedback from working professionals, sealing has been applied to all body seams and around the battery and media compartments, terminal covers and chassis joints. All routes for dust and moisture entry have been examined to ensure reliable operation in challenging environments.

SPECIFICATIONS