Sony is understood for being one of many greatest producers of cinema cameras, offering cameras to the likes of Hollywood, businesses, and solo filmmakers. It is already produced fan favorites together with the compact-but-mighty Sony FX3 – and now it appears a extra reasonably priced model of that digital camera might be en route.

In the event you’re a filmmaker who was priced out the Sony FX3 (which price $3,899 / £4,200 at launch), this might be superb information certainly. The FX3 is a compact full-frame cinema digital camera that mixes the construct of the Sony’s Alpha sequence with the superior video options of its cinema lineup. 

This compact resolution supplied an entry-level gateway to Sony’s cinema cameras produced, whereas remaining acquainted to mirrorless Alpha followers. It is based mostly on the Sony A7S III, among the best video cameras you should purchase, however is much more of a pure video digital camera than that E-mount favourite.

Because the Sony FX3’s launch, it has proved in style amongst solo filmmakers and seasoned trade professionals in search of a small however highly effective B-cam. Now, a 12 months after its launch, the rumor mills are rolling with Sony Alpha Rumors (opens in new tab) stating {that a} new APS-C model of the cinema digital camera is on the way in which within the type of the FX30. However what video treats will it carry? Here is every part we all know to this point, plus a wishlist of the sorts of specs we might wish to see.

Sony FX30 launch date and value

It appears we could now have a precise launch date for the Sony FX30. The normally dependable Sony Alpha Rumors (opens in new tab) is fairly assured that the digital camera will launch on September 28, though this will likely range by timezone.

If that’s the case, that will see the digital camera land simply over 18 months for the reason that arrival of the Sony FX3, which arrived in February 2021. The FX30 would even be Sony’s first new mirrorless digital camera of the 12 months, with its final announcement being the Sony A7 IV again in October 2021.

There have been no main leaks or rumors concerning the FX30’s potential value but, however we will make some knowledgeable guesses. The closest cameras to this rumored new mannequin are the Sony A7S III ($3,499 / £3,800 / AU$5,999 at launch) and the FX3, which price $3,899 / £4,200 (round AU$7,485) when it landed final 12 months.

Each of these cameras are full-frame fashions. If the FX30 has a smaller APS-C sensor, then it appears extra prone to price within the area of $2,500, a determine that did additionally seem in an earlier leak from Sony Alpha Rumors (opens in new tab). That is nonetheless expensive for an APS-C digital camera, however might be justified if the FX30 retains a lot of the FX3’s options…

Sony FX30 rumors and what we need to see

Sony Alpha Rumors (opens in new tab) claimed on September 12 that it had seen the Sony FX30 and that it appears to be like the identical because the Sony FX3. Nonetheless, the digital camera’s rumored spec listing has modified twice already, so we’re taking the leaked data to this point with just a few pinches of salt. 

It was initially believed that the Sony FX30 would have a full-frame sensor. But it surely now appears to be like most certainly that the FX30 will as an alternative function an APS-C sensor, whereas holding the identical compact kind issue because the FX3.

One of the fascinating rumored specs for the FX30 is that it might have have the identical 26MP APS-C sensor because the Fujifilm X-H2S, a digital camera that brings some critically spectacular video powers together with ‘open gate’ 6.2K video (which comes from the sensor’s full 3:2 dimension) and the flexibility to shoot 4K/120p video, albeit with a 1.29x crop.

Sony Alpha Rumors claims that the FX30 will be capable of shoot 4K/120p video, however would not provide any extra particulars on whether or not or not it will include a crop. Actually, proper now that is about it for the rumored specs for Sony’s subsequent cinema digital camera. However that does not imply we won’t fill within the appreciable gaps with our personal wishlist…

Sony FX30: what we might wish to see

1. Open-gate recording
If the rumored specs are to be believed and the Sony FX30 will share the identical sensor because the Fujifilm X-H2S, then we’d like to see 6.2K ‘open gate’ video recording, the place you’ll be able to report the entire sensor in a 3:2 ratio.

2. Twin-native ISO
Prosumer mirrorless cameras which are capable of seize pictures and movies usually have a linear ISO vary the place the picture high quality introduces digital noise and color-cast when going up the dimensions. 

Video cameras can function dual-ISO which allow cinematographer to set a decrease ISO score when capturing outdoors, after which change to a different ISO vary fitted to low-light circumstances. This allows you to seize pictures at optimum efficiency, regardless of the circumstances. We might wish to see this Twin-ISO on the FX30 set at ISO 800 and 4,000.

3. CFexpress Sort B +  SDXC playing cards
The Sony FX3 supplied CFexpress Sort A playing cards, together with SDXC playing cards for quick switch charges. However as expertise strikes at an ever-evolving tempo it will be good to see CFexpress Sort B launched to supply nice learn and write speeds and permit for larger decision recording, like 6.2K ‘open-gate’.

4. Excessive frame-rate slow-mo
Though the FX3 was capable of report in 4K at 120 frames-per-second, it will be an actual bonus if the FX30 got here with a 240fps (and even 480fps) mode at a decrease decision, to provide us much more slo-mo choices and flexibility.