Sony FX30 - Cinema Camera

The new Sony FX30, following in the footsteps of the popular Sony FX3 (FX3), is a small cinema camera with a 26MP stabilized APS-C sensor. This leaves room for interpretation for those interested in the Super 35mm format, while retaining all the great ergonomic features that made its predecessor so successful.

The FX3, announced in the winter of 2021 by Sony, is a mirrorless camera that falls somewhere between a cinema camera and a mirrorless. The camera took the codes of cameras such as the FX6 but had a size closer to that of the Sony Alpha 7C (A7C), albeit a bit bloated. This camera is now back with its little sister, the FX30.

The Sony FX 30 is similar to the Sony Alpha 7S III (A7SIII) in terms of features, but without the electronic viewfinder and with a fan included to prevent overheating and increase battery life.

In addition, it should be noted that the FX30 is approved for Netflix.

WHAT WE LIKE ABOUT THE SONY FX30 CINEMA CAMERA:

• Compact, lightweight Super 35mm cinema camera with professional features to take your videos to the next level.
• Record in high-quality 4K 120p upsampled 4:2:2 10-bit as well as high-speed FHD 240p for slow-motion playback.
• Enjoy 14-stop dynamic range in S-Log3 and take advantage of fast, reliable mirrorless AF with subject detection and tracking.
• Versatile recording with a wide range of settings, including XAVC S, S-Cinetone, Cine El and 16-bit RAW over HDMI.
• Professional features include a Tally lamp, zoom lever, TC input with dedicated adapter, custom LUTs and more.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE SONY FX 30 CINEMA CAMERA

The Sony FX30 Cinema Line camera is the first Sony cinema camera with an all-new APS-C format sensor. It is designed for creators who want to produce incredible video content.

The back-illuminated sensor with 6K oversampling combines perfectly with the ultra-fast BIONZ XR processor to create stunning XAVC S 4K/120p 10bit 4:2:2 and FHD 240p footage internally, with an amazing 14-stop dynamic range when shooting in Sony's S-Log3 gamma curve.

If you prefer post-processed RAW footage to the S-Log curve, you can record 16-bit RAW footage to an external recorder via a full-size HDMI interface.

The Sony FX 30 camera is a lightweight and versatile option for professional filmmakers. It includes features such as an internal cooling fan, 5-axis stabilization, hybrid AF with Eye-AF and tracking (human, animal, bird), a Tally lamp, a zoom lever, Timecode sync and more.

The Super 35 camera also compares to the Sony FX3 and Sony FX6 full-frame cameras, sharing features such as dual base ISO (s-Log3) and breath compensation.

SONY FX30 CAMERA FEATURES:

• New APS-C Super 35 4K backlit sensor
• BIONZ XR processing engine
• 4K 120p / FHD 240p upsampled recording in 10bit 4:2:2, Long GOP, All-I / H.264, H.265
• Dual ISO base in S-Log3
• 14-level dynamic range with S-Log3
• Fast and reliable hybrid AF / Eye-AF tracking (human, animal, bird)
• 5-axis stabilization (active / standard) in the camera
• 16-bit RAW output via HDMI Type-A to external monitor/recorder
• Tally lamp, zoom lever, TC IN with dedicated adapter, custom LUTs, etc.
• Two CFexpress Type-A / SD memory card slots
• Compact size of 129.7 x 77.8 x 84.5 mm and light weight of 562 g (body only)

THE SONY FX30 CINEMA CAMERA IN DETAIL

IMPRESSIVE IMAGE QUALITY

The Sony Cinema Line FX 30 camera delivers high-end performance and features for a true cinematic experience.

With industry-leading image sensor technology, you get high sensitivity, low noise and wide dynamic range with 4K Super 35 resolution, while maintaining excellent image quality.

In addition, the ILMEFX30B is equipped with S-Cinetone(TM) technology, inherited from other digital cinema cameras such as the VENICE 2, which ensures natural midtones, beautiful colors, and stunning highlights, essential elements of cinematic expression.

Recording with the S-Log3 gamma curve allows for smooth cinematic grading, and three modes are provided for this purpose. Imported custom LUTs can be recorded to reduce the post-production grading load.

Dual Base ISO (800 / 2500) also allows capturing high quality images in different lighting situations. 4K Super 35/ S-Cinetone/ PPLUT/ Dual Base ISO/S- Log3 recording is possible with this product.

BOOSTED AF PERFORMANCE

The Sony ILMEFX30B camera is renowned for its reliable and accurate autofocus performance, with wide-area tracking over the entire frame. Real-time eye AF tracks the face and eyes of humans and animals, making it easy to focus accurately on the subject.

This feature is effective even when using shallow depth of field or when tracking fast-moving subjects with Sony's AI-based real-time tracking.

The Sony FX30 also offers stable AF and flexible focusing for a wide variety of shooting situations.

Finally, support features such as AF Assist, focus map, and breath compensation are all additional reasons to choose the Sony FX 30 cinema camera.

COMPACT DESIGN WITHOUT CAGE

The Sony Cinema Line FX30 is designed to be both lightweight and compact for easy mobility. The housing has five threaded holes that can accommodate accessories, eliminating the need for a cage while providing optimal flexibility and stability.

Built-in stabilization allows the entire rig to be highly mobile and handle more challenging shooting situations, without the need for a stabilizer or gimbal in some situations.

FLEXIBLE OPTIONS FOR FILM MAKING

The new main menu gives you quicker access to the items you use most, so you can focus on taking great pictures and videos. You'll know when a recording is in progress with the lamp and recording display, so you can stay focused.

With the Sony FX30's flexible, high-resolution touchscreen LCD, you can freely position and frame gimbal-mounted shots. The zoom lever also gives you control over compatible motorized zooms and allows you to use Clear Image Zoom with non-motorized zooms and prime lenses while delivering excellent image quality.

In addition, automatic and manual modes for iris, shutter speed and ISO can be set independently for a more customizable exposure mode.

You'll also find vertical aspect markers useful for confirming framing in horizontal orientation.

THE CONNECTIVITY OF THE CINEMA SYSTEMS IS EXCELLENT

The camera has two XLR audio inputs for high quality recording.

An optional XLR microphone can transfer digital audio directly to the camera, providing exceptional sound quality without signal interference. Other connectors include USB Type-C, Multi/micro-USB, headphone, and a multi-interface hot shoe with built-in digital audio interface.

The ILMEFX30B's extensive expandability to meet a number of shooting needs makes it an excellent choice for photographers.

In addition, its support for UVC (USB Video Class) and UAC (USB Audio Class) standards allows the camera to act as a high-performance webcam when connected to compatible devices via USB.

WIDE RANGE OF COMPATIBLE SONY LENSES

E-mount lenses offer creators a wide range of creative possibilities.

Combining a Super 35 sensor and a Sony E-mount lens with a remote camera opens up new possibilities for cinematic expression, such as breathtaking sharpness and pleasing bokeh for content creation.

Only native Sony lenses allow you to take full advantage of the camera's performance and achieve outstanding image quality with the best stabilization and autofocus support.

CMOS EXMOR R™ APS-C SENSOR

Sony's new Exmor R APS-C back-illuminated CMOS sensor delivers high-resolution images with memorable detail.

This efficient imaging technology is built into a new Super 35 format sensor (20.1 megapixels), allowing you to capture the scene in 4K resolution with expressive depth of field, bokeh and cinematic freedom.

S-CINETONE™ KINEMATIC EFFECT WITHOUT CALIBRATION

The Sony FX 30, which uses the same color science as the FX9 and FX6 cinema cameras for natural skin tones, produces stunning midtones that are essential for healthy-looking skin.

The S-Cinetone also offers great highlights and soft colors that are easy to achieve without post-production calibration.

VERSATILE RECORDING FORMATS

Record full, natural gradations in 10-bit 4:2:2 video internally using Long GOP or All-Intra compression. The XAVC HS format approximately doubles the compression efficiency, resulting in exceptionally clear 10-bit video with 4:2:2 color sampling at comparable or lower data rates.

DUAL ISO BASE FOR SHARP SHOTS IN LOW LIGHT

The Dual Base ISO feature gives you two settings for your base ISO, one at 800 and one at 2500.

This feature allows you to get sharp images with low noise and optimize the Sony FX30's dynamic range when shooting in both low and high light conditions.

A latitude of more than 14 stops minimizes the chance of highlights or blackness in your photos.

RECORDING OF CINEMATIC LOGS

The Sony FX 30's S-Log3 gamma curve is designed for visually appealing gradations, making it easy to achieve cinematic image quality during post-production color grading - perfect for large productions.

Both S-Log3 and S-Gamut3 Cine provide excellent color reproduction over a wide latitude.

Sony has taken meticulous care in setting the camera output so that everyone can easily achieve the best possible image quality in post processing.

NEW SHOOTING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE NEWSPAPER

Three additional logarithmic shooting modes are available for use with the S-Log3 gamma curve.

1. Cine EI, found in Sony's luxurious Cinema Line models, allows for a wide range of shooting latitude to produce stunning image quality.
2. Cine EI Quick makes it easy to get started by automatically setting the camera's base ISO to the selected exposure index (EI).
3. Sony's s709 has been added to the available LUT presets, offering the greatest flexibility for exposure adjustments.

LUTS OF THE USER

With S-Log3, it can be difficult to know what the final recording will look like because of the way the image appears on the monitor.

However, with the FX30's customizable LUTs that can be applied to both the LCD monitor preview and the HDMI output, as well as to embedded clips in post-production, this problem no longer exists!

There are also preset LUTs in addition to the 16 user LUTs that can be easily imported into memory via a card.

FOCUS ON RELIABILITY

Sony's tracking technology keeps your subject in focus, so you can worry about composition and lighting.

Wide-area AF with Smart Tracking uses focal plane phase detection to tenaciously track the subject across most of the frame.

"Real-time Eye AF" ensures accurate focus on human faces and eyes, while "Real-time Tracking" delivers reliable results every time using Sony's recognition software.

RECORDING UP TO 4K / 120P

The Sony FX30 gives you the ability to record in 4K at up to 120 frames per second for incredibly smooth 5x slow-motion images with autofocus.

This allows for new capabilities of expression and opens up a new world of creative potential.

IMAGE STABILIZATION IN ACTIVE MODE

With the active 5-axis optical image stabilization mode, it's possible to capture stable 4K footage even when shooting handheld without a gimbal or while walking.

This feature measures camera shake with a precision gyro sensor and makes optical compensations accordingly.

CATALYST METADATA

Five types of metadata are recorded by the Sony FX30 camera: LUTs, image stabilization, breathing, camera rotation, and shot marks.

This metadata can be useful when viewing footage and preparing to edit it with Sony's free Catalyst Browse software or the paid Catalyst Prepare software.

TAKING STILL IMAGES

The Sony FX 30 is a versatile tool that can take stills or movies, which is very handy when you're scouting.

You can use it to take pictures for storyboards or presentations during pre-production, and for other purposes.

BODY DESIGN WITHOUT CAGE

The Sony FX 30 has five threaded holes (1/4-20 UNC) for mounting additional accessories, eliminating the need for an additional cage.

The optional XLR handle also has three additional threaded holes, allowing you to stably and securely attach other accessories if necessary.

By dispensing with a cage, Sony was able to keep size and weight to a minimum.

NEW MENU DESIGN

The new list-style main menu gives you easier access to frame rate, shutter speed and other key settings.

You can also assign the main menu display to a custom button for quick and easy access.

TALLY LAMPS

The recording lights on the top front and back of the camera let you know when it's in use, while the REC button on top of the camera also lights up.

This makes it easy to tell when the camera is recording, as does the red frame that appears on the screen.

VERTICAL ASPECT MARKERS

With so many creators producing images in a variety of aspect ratios and orientations, it's hard to keep up.

The Sony FX30 offers several horizontal orientation markers that can be used to ensure your image is framed correctly.

XLR AUDIO CONNECTORS

For high-quality audio recording, the optional XLR handle unit provides two XLR audio inputs.

With an optional XLR microphone, digital audio can be transferred directly to the camera for superior sound quality without any noise or signal degradation.

In addition, there is a 3.5 mm stereo mini jack for 4-channel recording, allowing compatibility with both 2-channel and 4-channel audio formats.

16-BIT RAW VIA HDMI

External recorders can capture 16-bit RAW footage at a resolution of 4672 x 2628 [16:9], which exceeds DCI-4K quality.

In addition, XAVC HS 4K, XAVC S 4K or XAVC S-I 4k and proxy files are recorded simultaneously in the camera.

ROBUST MAGNESIUM ALLOY BODY

The camera body and covers, made from a magnesium alloy, are lightweight but strong enough to perform well even in difficult shooting conditions.

LCD TOUCH SCREEN

The Sony FX30 cinema camera also features a variable angle rear LCD that opens to the side for more natural positioning and framing when shooting with a gimbal, handheld, ground level and any other shooting situation.

The 3.0 type 2.36 million-dot touchscreen LCD provides a clear display even in bright outdoor environments. You can quickly access the functions menu (Fn) by swiping upward.

BOX CONTENT OF THE CAMERA SONY FX30:

• Sony FX30 Super 35mm Cinema Line Camera
• Power Adapter
• Accessory shoe cap
• Housing cap
• Power Adapter
• Rechargeable battery NP-FZ100
• USB-A to USB-C (USB 3.2) cable

SONY FX30 REVIEW

Sony's latest professional cinema camera, the Sony FX30 Cinema Line APS-C 4K Super 35mm format camera, completes the line of video-centric hybrid mirrorless cameras.

This affordable professional camera is perfect for videographers and film creators who want to improve the production value of their films without breaking the bank.

Although small and easily portable, the Sony FX 30 is a powerful tool for creators with its advanced features, some of which are not available on other models.

You'll be surprised by the superb video quality, thanks to the new 4K sensor working in tandem with the award-winning BIONZ XR processor. The Super 35 sensor is used for 6K oversampling without pixel binning for 4K 120p / FHD 240p recording capabilities in a variety of formats and codecs, such as XAVC S, 10bit 4:2:2 Long GOP All-I and H.264/H.265

Sony's S-Cinetone allows you to record high-quality footage ready for use right from the camera. In addition, the S-Log3 format offers 14-stop dynamic range and flexible color grading options in post-production.

Finally, a full-size HDMI connection allows you to record RAW footage externally to an additional recorder.

The Sony FX30 is packed with great features like 5-axis stabilization for more stable shooting, Hybrid AF with subject detection and tracking, and professional video capabilities like Tally Lamp and Timecode IN.

Any videographer worth their salt would be happy to have this camera in their collection for shooting solo or team productions.