Sony has released firmware version 7.00 for its FX3 Cinema Line mirrorless camera. The update adds an option to display a BIG6 menu screen. It also adds the ability to record externally in Blackmagic Design’s BRAW file format. In addition, Sony’s FX3A and FX30 cameras are also gaining these features with firmware update versions 2.00 and 6.00, respectively.
BIG6 menu
Sony’s BIG6 menu was developed for the company’s CineAlta cameras, including the Venice, Venice 2, and Burano models. The menu clearly shows the camera’s frame rate, ISO, shutter, F-stop, LUT or look and White Balance. These parameters are displayed across the top and bottom of the BIG6 menu. The center of the menu also shows other settings, including the codec, shot number, remaining record time, battery level and audio meters. By default, you press the user-configurable button 4 to toggle the BIG6 menu on and off. However, you can set that to whichever button you prefer.
BRAW recording
Another headline new feature with the version 7.00 firmware update is the ability to record BRAW externally. Blackmagic Design’s proprietary BRAW file format gives you all the power of RAW recording but with smaller file sizes. You can change settings such as ISO and white balance in post-production. BRAW is also very smooth to playback, but you will need to use DaVinci Resolve or Premiere Pro to edit, as Final Cut cannot use BRAW.
Additionally, you will need to record externally with Blackmagic Design’s Video Assist 12G. Unfortunately, at the time of writing, Blackmagic Design has not released the firmware update for the Video Assist to work with Sony cameras.
No more S&Q mode
Firmware update 7.00 also adds a new Fixed/Variable mode to the FX3. This replaces the previous S&Q mode for off-speed recordings. In Fixed mode, you can’t change the frame rate via the BIG6 menu. Your files will also playback at the frame rate at which you recorded. Alternatively, if you switch to Variable mode, you can choose frame rates from 1 fps to 240 fps, depending on the resolution and file format you choose. However, these files will playback at your chosen standard base frame rate, giving you either slow motion or speeded up playback. It’s much more straightforward and intuitive than the previous S&Q menu.
Other new features
Firmware update 7.00 adds new anamorphic de-squeeze settings of 1.5x and 1.6x to the previous 1.3x and 2.0x options. Usefully, the FX3 now displays the remaining capacity of both memory cards separately, rather than one time-remaining total. You can now also record the density of your ND filters in the video metadata.
The update also adds support for the Focus Magnifier and Auto Magnifier in MF settings while using the Bright Monitoring feature. You can filter camera images for smartphone and FTP transfer using Clip Flag and directly upload camera videos to Creators’ Cloud based on OK/NG/KEEP flags as well.
What we think
With the latest firmware updates for the FX3, FX3A, and FX30, Sony is seeking to fully integrate these mirrorless cameras into its Cinema Line. The BIG6 menu is quick and easy to read in use, and much more intuitive than the company’s previous display. The new Fixed/Variable mode is also far more straightforward than the S&Q menu that it replaces.
The extra de-squeeze settings make it much easier to work with the growing range of anamorphic lenses on the market. Finally, the ability to record externally in BRAW is a game-changing addition to the cameras. Or at least it will be once Blackmagic Design updates its Video Assist models to accept RAW from the Sony cameras. Hopefully, Blackmagic will announce something soon.
Pricing ad availability
Firmware versions 7.00 for the FX3, 2.00 for the FX3A and 6.00 for the FX30 are available to download for free from the Sony website now.
