Sony FX2: A new standard in the Cinema Line is here

Sony’s Cinema Line FX series is a camera lineup aimed at professional video production. Following the FX9, which was once talked about as the pinnacle of the FX series, the FX6, a full-size sensor camera that pursues cinematic video expression, was released to the market in December 2020, becoming the forerunner of professional video cameras in Sony’s α series.

Now joining the FX Series- the Sony FX2.

The FX3 was released the following year in 2021, and then in 2022 the FX30, equipped with an APS-C sensor, was released to allow a wider range of video creators to enter the Cinema Line world.

High image quality is essential for visual expression

Sony’s new FX2 is a cutting-edge model equipped with a 35mm full-frame sensor, and represents a further evolution of the Cinema Line. This model is designed with the intention of being the first dedicated video camera for creators just starting out in filmmaking. For this reason, it is equipped with a wide range of functions to deliver maximum performance even in shooting environments with limited budgets and a small number of people.

A notable feature of this model is the oversampling video recording. This reduces the risk of moire and jaggies, enabling extremely high-quality video recording. Specifically, 7K oversampling is applied when shooting 4K30P and 4K24P. 60P recording is possible in 4K Super 35mm format. Although it does not support 4K120P shooting, 4.6K oversampling is performed when shooting 4K60P, allowing high-definition, smooth images to be captured without any loss. These technologies demonstrate that the FX2 is a powerful device that will support next-generation video production.

Recording Configurations of the Sony FX2

The FX2 offers a wide range of recording configurations, including support for XAVC HS 4K, XAVC S 4K, and XAVC S HD, as well as their respective Intra 4K and HD formats, offering a wide range of options just like previous Cinema Line products.

The maximum shooting setting of the FX2 is 4K60P, which allows for 2.5x slow motion shooting. On the other hand, when recording in HD, it supports 120P shooting, which can generate 5x slow motion footage. This will likely greatly expand the scope of video expression.

Furthermore, the slow-motion setting menu has been partially changed in the FX2. The “Slow & Quick Mode” that was previously available on the FX3 and FX30 was an independent setting, so there was a risk that the recording settings would differ when switching between normal shooting and Slow & Quick Mode.

FPS Setting

However, the FX2 introduces a new menu called FPS setting, which allows you to change only the FPS value without changing the shooting mode itself. This makes it easier to adjust the recording FPS, reducing the risk of setting errors and allowing for a smoother shooting workflow.

Although the Slow & Quick mode itself will be discontinued, slow-motion shooting will continue to be available as before. To get an idea of ​​how to use it, you can select the slow-motion setting as “Fixed” or “Variable” and assign it to a custom button, which will essentially allow you to perform slow-motion shooting with the press of a button. This makes for a more seamless shooting workflow than ever before.

Presets

In terms of creative looks, two new looks, FL2 and FL3, have been added to the existing 10 presets, bringing the total number of looks available to 12.

As with previous Cinema Line products, you can still use S-Cinetone, which allows you to create impressive videos without using Log shooting. In addition, you can assign PPLUTs 1 to 4 that can be used as picture profiles, and bake LUTs into videos, greatly increasing the freedom of video expression.

The FX2 has three Log shooting modes, just like previous Cinema Line products such as the FX3 and FX30. In addition to flexible ISO, which allows flexible ISO sensitivity setting, it also supports dual base ISO, and you can choose between “CINE-EI Quick” and “CINE-EI Mode.”

Dual Base ISO Sensativity

A particularly noteworthy point this time is the dual base ISO sensitivity when shooting CINE-EI. In the previous FX3, the highest sensitivity was ISO 12800, but in the FX2, the lower limit was set to ISO 800 and the upper limit to ISO 4000.

Although the FX3’s ISO 12800 boasted extremely high sensitivity performance, when shooting at night and there was a strong localized light source such as a fluorescent lamp, the ISO sensitivity would rise too high and it was necessary to reduce the light using an ND filter. The FX2’s upper limit of 4000 makes such switching easier, and it can be said that it is much easier to use depending on the shooting scene. A wide latitude of 15+ stops is achieved at both ISO 800 and 4000 settings in S-Log3 shooting.

Compact and lightweight body design

In terms of hardware, the FX2 has a small and lightweight body, weighing just 594g. This is lighter than the FX3 at 630g, and closer to the FX30 at 562g. This weight reduction will be a big advantage for creators who value mobility.

The FX2 inherits the design concept of the FX series and adopts a flat-top body specialized for video users, which improves operability from the top of the main unit.

The number of tripod holes has been increased from one to two on the bottom. Also, regarding the holes used to attach a rig or cage, the hole on the left edge of the top that was on the FX3 has been deleted due to the addition of a viewfinder. A hole for a cable clamp has been added to the left side, and the extension screw hole on the left side that was on the FX3 has been deleted. There are no changes to the housing design on the right side of the main unit.

Excellent AF performance for video shooting

What’s really appealing about this model is that it’s the first in the FX series to be equipped with an AI processing unit. This makes real-time recognition AF available, which is a huge advantage for solo creators, as they can leave focus and exposure to the camera and concentrate on composition. This is a groundbreaking feature that will drastically improve the yield of filming not only for solo creators, but for the entire video production site.

Equipped with an AI processing unit, the FX2 has dramatically improved its subject recognition capabilities. With people in particular, it is possible to recognize people with high accuracy using skeletal information. Compared to the FX3 and FX30, the accuracy of recognizing people’s eyes has improved by approximately 30%, enabling more accurate focusing.

In addition to people and animals, the FX2 now recognizes a wide variety of subjects, including birds, insects, cars, trains, and airplanes. This provides powerful subject tracking capabilities in a variety of shooting scenes. As with previous models, the real-time tracking function is still available.

Functions that make solo shooting easier

The image stabilization function now has a new Dynamic Active Mode, which improves stability by about 30% compared to Active Mode. This feature will be a great benefit for users who cannot use a gimbal or who want to avoid the weight of a gimbal.

A new switching mechanism has been adopted on the back of the camera body. As FX series users will notice, the layout of the rear buttons has been changed. Of particular note is the new still/video switch. By moving this lever dial left and right, it is possible to quickly switch shooting modes, realizing a smooth transition from video to still photography.

Cinema line operability, reliability and expandability

The Sony FX2 is equipped with tally lamps to prevent accidental or forgotten recording. These lamps are located in three places on the front, top and back of the camera, allowing both the photographer and the subject to easily check the recording status.

The layout of the custom buttons is the same as the previous model, with three on the top of the body, two on the back, and one on the front. In addition, a new custom button called C7 has been added to the tilt-type viewfinder (EVF). This allows for a wider variety of operations to be performed quickly.

Home Screen Revamped

The FX2 introduces a new home screen called BIG6, which is similar to the one used on the VENICE etc. On this screen, you can quickly check the main functions such as FPS value, EI value, shutter speed, ND setting, and white balance.

This screen can be accessed by pressing the home button on the back of the camera, allowing you to quickly check the current shooting settings, making it easy to check settings and operate the camera even in situations where it is difficult to operate the camera due to being attached to a rig or cage.

Sony FX2 Viewfinder – Most Prominent Feature

The most notable feature of the FX2 is the incorporation of a tilting electronic viewfinder (EVF). This EVF can be seamlessly moved from the horizontal position to 90 degrees upwards. This solves the problem of the rear LCD being difficult to see when shooting outdoors or in other bright places, and greatly improves visibility. By making it easier to frame accurately, photographers will be able to concentrate more and immerse themselves in creative work.

It uses a high-definition OLED panel with approximately 3.68 million dots and has a viewfinder magnification of 0.7x. This EVF is not removable, but the included eyecup can be inverted left and right.

   

Like previous Cinema Line products, the FX2 boasts stable recording performance for long periods of time. This is achieved by a built-in cooling fan, and it has an efficient heat dissipation design. Although the placement of the air intake and exhaust ports has been partially changed, it is designed to ensure an appropriate gap even when mounted on a camera tripod head, and it is designed to effectively dissipate heat.

Combine with Other Accessories

The Sony FX2 can combine with an XLR handle, which is sold separately. By purchasing and attaching this separately, you can record high quality audio via an XLR adapter.

The card slots are dual-format, but there are some differences from the FX3 and FX30. Slot 1 supports SDXC and SDHC memory cards (UHS-II and UHS-I compatible), as well as CFexpress Type A memory cards, but slot 2 only supports SDXC and SDHC memory cards. This is the change in the FX2.

The FX2 is equipped with a zoom lever, which is particularly useful when using power zoom lenses. It also supports 16-bit RAW external output via HDMI, and can record 4:2:2 16-bit footage in Super 35mm mode when connected to an external recorder. As with previous models, the timecode function is also available, and live streaming is also possible.

Sony FX2 offers possibilities for video and still images for professionals and beginners alike

The Sony FX2 has evolved significantly compared to the FX30, which was released about two and a half years ago. The specs are very appealing, with new features such as an AI processing unit, Dynamic Active Mode, and a tilting electronic viewfinder. Sony hopes that this model will not only cater to professional creators, but will also establish itself as a “new standard” for those just starting out in video production.

The still image performance is also noteworthy. The FX2 is equipped with a mechanical shutter, and like the FX3, it is capable of high-speed continuous shooting at up to 10 frames per second. This allows it to deliver high performance not only for video shooting, but also for still image shooting. The hybrid performance that allows you to seamlessly switch between video and still images is one of the great attractions of the FX2.