I've got to be honest — the Sony FX3 has been a game-changer for me. It's not just another piece of gear; it's the best cinema camera I've ever enjoyed working with. So, why the big fuss?
For starters, this isn't just a random camera that caught my eye. I had my trusty C200, and don't get me wrong, it was good. But the FX3 just hit differently. I was a Canon guy since 2014, but now I've jumped ship. Team Sony all the way.
Don't get it twisted. The FX3 isn't flawless. If you're thinking about getting one, I will break it down for you — the good, the bad, the stuff I'm not crazy about, and who I think this camera is a perfect match for. This is my one-year review, so buckle up and let's dive into it.
The Sony FX3 Cinema Line camera brings the visions of passionate content creators to life. Cinematic expression is matched with reliable performance and streamlined operation to serve the needs of tod...
Add for $3898The Sony FX3 Cinema Line camera brings the visions of passionate content creators to life. Cinematic expression is matched with reliable performance and streamlined operation to serve the needs of today's creative community. Compact and lightweight, it's easy to carry and handle. The FX3's full-frame image sensor combines innovative light-gathering techniques to let you capture clear and usable images even in dim light. The standard ISO sensitivity of 80–102400 for movies is expandable all the way up to 409600.
The FX3's full-frame image sensor combines innovative light-gathering techniques to let you capture clear and usable images even in dim light. The standard ISO sensitivity of 80–102400 for movies is expandable all the way up to 409600.
Detailed 4K imagery is captured even at high frame rates thanks to the FX3's high-precision AF and high-speed readout capabilities. Slow and Quick (S&Q) mode gives you complete control over the shooting frame rate for beautiful motion sequences at up to 5x slow motion (with 24p output).
Brand: Sony
Product Type: Compact Cinema Camera for Filmmakers
Best For: Beginner to advanced filmmakers who want to make short films, YouTube videos, or short form internet videos.
To discuss what I love about this camera, I'll compare it to the Canon C200, alongside other compact cinema cameras one might buy for less than the cost of an FX3.
Image quality is an essential feature of your camera. Overall, how the footage actually presents itself is stunning on the FX3. Sony’s color science used to create that unwarranted yellow hue to certain skin tones, but now they’re just as smooth and true-to-life as Canon’s. After converting to REC709 and tossing on a grade, the footage looks absolutely seamless when the 4K 10bit footage is at XAVC S-I.
On the C200, I had to shoot 4K at 8-bit or 4K RAW at 12-bit; there was never a proper middle ground. The cheaper mirrorless cameras won't have as good quality across all frame rates as the FX3 boasts. For reference — 10, bit saves 64x the color information as 8-bit. That's a significant number! This allows the filmmaker more flexibility in posting for creative color grading.
Finally, the slog 3 performs beautifully, as this camera received 15= stops of dynamic range, maximizing a boot load of data. That coupled with the fact Sony has a free-to-download conversion LUT I can grade on top of that. Workflow, perfected.
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Read moreYou can’t beat the size of this camera. The image quality to size ratio offers punches well above their weight, making life on the road much more manageable.
The body has 1/4 20’s screw holes for mounting motions, which is fantastic. You can attach accessories to this thing directly and efficiently.
Build an entire rig without issue — throw on a top handle, matte box, V-mount batteries, or even a shotgun mic. Those accessories don't change the image, leaving infinite possibilities for quality, cinema-level footage.
Overall, I love this damn thing, and I'm confident you will too. Be sure to watch the YouTube video above for a better feel of the footage.
This camera is for beginner to advanced filmmakers who want to craft short films, YouTube videos, and short-form videos with extremely lovely quality. With this camera, you can virtually create anything you want, making it worth the extra penny for its versatility. I’ll definitely use the FX3 for everything from home videos of family trips to short films for clients.
That said, if you are on set with a crew that requires multiple added features — like directors' monitors or various plugins for audio syncing — I'd suggest jumping up to an FX6, FX9, or a Canon C500 Mark II. Though, the FX3 will get the job done adequately. And the best part!? It’s under $5k. Plus, you can genuinely take this thing anywhere.
