The Sony FX2 Cinema Line is a full-frame cinema camera designed for filmmakers seeking a balance of portability and professional video quality. It’s aimed at a variety of users, from content creators who are just beginning to more experienced filmmakers, and its layout reflects this.
Compared to the previous FX3, which targeted solo videographers, the FX2 brings in several updates. You’ll find a dedicated tilting electronic viewfinder, expanded manual controls, and a grip that is noticeably larger and easier to hold. That’s handy when pairing the camera with heavier, cinema-style lenses.
A prominent record button makes for easy operation. Plus, a four-way joystick next to it lets you quickly change focus points, which can be helpful when quickly changing subjects and tracking movement in a scene.
The articulating viewfinder is a practical change, making it easier to compose shots from low angles or in bright sunlight. The LCD on the camera is not as bright, especially under direct light. Still, it is adequate for most general shooting scenarios.
The lack of certain familiar controls found on mirrorless cameras, such as dedicated exposure mode dials, means that users looking to toggle between Aperture, Shutter Priority, and Program modes have to use the function button and menu rather than a physical dial.
While this adds a minor learning curve for new users, the broad ability to assign specific settings to custom buttons offers a level of flexibility that will be appreciated by those who want more control over their shooting setup.
Accessory mounting options on the FX2 are quite good, with dual tripod mounts and four accessory mounts. This lets you rig lights, microphones, or recorders without the need for a full camera cage. In other words, a setup that’s lighter and better balanced.
Notably, a cooling system helps the camera last longer during shooting sessions. It uses a fan and heat sink to maintain safe operating temperatures even in high-resolution or extended video recording situations.
The FX2 features a 33-megapixel back-illuminated full-frame sensor, similar to those found in recent Sony Alpha mirrorless cameras. This sensor produces sharp, high-definition 4K video. It features a dual gain architecture, which enhances highlight and shadow detail, especially at the base ISO 800 setting, and maintains video noise at lower but workable levels even at ISO 4000.
Recording fast-moving subjects can result in a visible rolling shutter due to the slower sensor read-out speed. This is most relevant when using the oversampled 4K modes. To record 4K video at 60p, the camera switches to an APS-C crop, which requires a wider lens to match the full-frame field of view, This, however, may limit you to certain shooting options.
One notable feature on the FX2, not found on all video-first bodies, is the inclusion of a mechanical shutter. This primarily benefits photographers who also want to use the camera for stills, as it provides more consistent flash synchronisation and more precise actuation, which are less reliable with an electronic shutter.
The mechanical system supports flash sync up to 1/160th of a second. In contrast, purely electronic shutter usage, especially for high-speed still photography, may still be limited by rolling shutter.
The FZ-1000 Battery, included with the camera, lasts a typical day of shooting 4K videos. The camera can also be powered externally through a USB port, which is helpful for event, documentary, or long-form production jobs.
The Sony FX2 also comes with built-in timecode functions which are especially useful when working on shoots with more than one camera or when audio is being recorded separately. Timecode is essentially a running clock that stamps every frame with an exact time, so when you bring everything into your editing software, the clips line up automatically.
Once the reference clock is locked in, footage from different sources and cameras drops neatly into place on the editing timeline. For most creators, this means less stress in post-editing.
Media flexibility is an advantage with the Sony FX2 as well. It works with both SD UHS-II and CFexpress Type A cards. All recording formats except the highest data-rate All-Intra 4K require only SD cards, so most users can get away with lower costs unless they need maximum-quality capture. There is a single slot for each card type, which balances compactness and versatility.
Performance-wise, the FX2 takes advantage of Sony’s modern image processor and autofocus system, which means fast operation and quick subject focus lock. The autofocus system is the same as in Sony’s recent mirrorless models, which tracks faces and eyes reliably for both video and still shooting.
Crucially, internal stabilisation works well with compatible lenses that also have built-in stabilisation. This reduces vibrations during handheld shooting.
For those who want more control in post-production, the Sony FX2 captures footage in S-Log3 and in 10-bit 4:2:2 internally. This means there is ample colour and dynamic range flexibility for colour grading and high-end editing.
A RAW video output is also available through HDMI, but only in an APS-C crop format, which limits those seeking an entirely full-sensor RAW workflow. For simple work or field review, the S-Cinetone profile produces a pleasing look straight out of the camera with very little post-processing needed.
Connectivity on this camera is in line with what you’d expect from a professional unit. Full-size HDMI and USB-C ports are included, supporting various accessories as well as charging and data transfer. Additional ports include microphone and headphone jacks. The ports are exposed so if you’re using the camera in harsh environments, you may want to use weather plugs to keep out moisture or debris.
Users who find the Sony Alpha mirrorless cameras a bit too limiting or less customisable may appreciate the more purposeful ergonomics and abundance of assignable controls on the Sony FX2. It’s made for filmmakers and professional videographers, after all.
The new camera should meet most needs of a hybrid shooter albeit with a slightly steeper learning curve because of the different placement of exposure controls for still images. The Sony FX2 is priced from S$4,099 for the camera body alone.
