Sony Drops Affordable FX30 Cinema Camera with Crop-Sensor

Watch out Canon and Panasonic, Sony is shaking up the cinema camera market with their "affordable,” baby FX3. The new APS-C camera carries over the clean and practical body design of its older, full-frame packing sibling. The FX30 features the same processing engine, colour science and S-Log3 recording as the FX3, making it a doddle to match footage from both cameras. The camera is capable of 14-plus stops of dynamic range (in S-Log3) and can shoot 10-bit internally at 4:2:2.

The camera features Sony's industry-leading video autofocus system, covering 90% of the frame with 495 individual focus points. EYE-AF is present for both humans and animals, as is real-time subject tracking. As with the FX3 and A7IV, Sony includes the focus-breathing compensation system for clean cinema rack focusing effects. The FX30 also features 5-axis in-body stabilisation and support for Sony's popular Power Zoom lenses.

Sony FX30 Features:

• 4K 20.1MP Back-Illuminated APS-C sensor
• UHD up to 120p
• Claimed 14+ stops of DR
• AF with face detection and Eye-AF
• UHD 4:2:2 10-bit internal recording
• S-Cinetone
• External RAW recording with Atomos Ninja V/V+
• HD up to 240fps
• Four channels of audio recording
• Full-Size HDMI
• 5-axis in-body stabilisation

Sony is pitching this camera firmly at the semi-pro and dedicated hobbyist videographers and content creators, looking to move up to a true cinema camera. The Super 35mm backside-illuminated sensor offers 4K Super 35 60fps in 16:9 format, that's over-sampled from 6K. Higher frame rates of 120fps at 4K (cropped) and 240fps at 1080p are also available.

The full-frame FX3 retails at HK$31,490, with the new crop-sensor model coming in at almost HK$12,000 cheaper at an expected retail price of HK$19,700. The new model will also be available as a package, with a handle kit that adds twin XLR/TRS and single 3.5mm microphone inputs.

Check out this first impressions video from our friends at Potato Jet on YouTube.