Sony is expanding its FX series and has launched the new FX3, a compact full-film camera that can shoot videos for long hours. The company says that its target market for the camera is the local filmmakers due to its features of shooting 4K videos for 13 hours and a built-in cooling system.
Many suggest that the FX3 has a similarity with the Sony A7S III. But based on the latter, the FX incorporates some features found on the more expensive cinema cameras in a smaller and lighter body.
Sony FX3: Perfect for Local Filmmakers
GSMArena reports that the Sony FX3 effectively redesigned A7S III as both cameras share the same features, such as the 12.1MP full-frame cameras that are compatible with Sony's E-Mount lenses and can shoot 4K/60 fps.
The two cameras differ from a physical standpoint, the FX3 lacks the built-in electronic viewfinder (EVF) seen on the A7S III but is replaced with a fan-assisted active cooling for more extended shooting and multiple handle accessory. With that said, the FX camera has a bulkier design to fit the fan inside and accommodate the handle accessories.
The Sony FX3 is designed to be a part of a rig and has five 1/4-20 threaded mounts, with three of them on top. This allows the camera to be mounted on a cage, a gimbal, or even a drone. The camera also has a dedicated backlit record button on top, a top-mounted joystick, a zoom control around the shutter button, tally lights on the front and back, a sliding power switch, and shortcut buttons optimized for video workflow.
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The built-in LCD is a vari-angle design that swings to the side and tilts to face forward, up, and down. It supports touch input, so users can tap to set a target for autofocus.
The Sony FX3 includes a handgrip, styled after stilled cameras, that houses the Z series battery. Also, for stable low-angle shots, one can use the included XLR handle that mounts on top and adds support for 24-bit, 4-channel audio capture as PCmag reports.
The Sony FX3 is a bit flatter on top with a silver finish that further sets apart from the A7S family design. The body is a magnesium alloy with a dust and water-resistant lens the protects from small debris and splashes, useful for filming in harsh conditions.
TechRadar reports that the Sony FX3 gains some other filmmaking extras that include a tally lamp to show when the camera is recording and avoid any mistakes. The camera's back is a 3-inch, 1.44m-dot touchscreen that flips out to the side for those looking to film themselves. Also, the Sony camera has twin CFexpress / SD card slots and a full-size HDMI port that can output a 16-bit raw video.
Sony FX3 Price and Release Date
The Sony FX3 camera weighs 715g with a card and battery and packs in some powerful features. It will be available to buy for the price of $3,899 / £4,200 (around AU$7,460) when it becomes available in mid-March this year.
There is some speculation that the Sony FX3 has been custom-made for the upcoming Sony Airpeak drone, and Sony has confirmed by TechRadar that the two will indeed make a good and expensive combo.
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Written by: Luis Smith
