Many video makers have been eagerly waiting for the Sony FX3 Mark II. However, Sony has surprised everyone by releasing an entirely new addition to the Cinema Line series. The FX2 comes in a similar body design to the FX3 and FX30 but notably adds a new tilting electronic viewfinder (EVF).
Tilting EVF
The Sony FX2 has a very similar design shape to the current FX3 and FX30 camera models, with a slightly deeper body. However, one significant change is that, in addition to the vari-angle LCD touchscreen, the FX2 features a tilting EVF. This offers a high-resolution 3.68-million-dot display, a viewing angle optimized for video production and a deep eyepiece.
Full frame sensor
The Sony FX2 features a 33.0 effective megapixel1 back-illuminated Exmor R sensor. This seems to be the same sensor as that used in the A7 IV and A7C II mirrorless cameras. The sensor delivers up to 15 stops of dynamic range when you shoot in Sony’s S-Log3 profile. The FX2 also has Dual Base ISOs of 800 and 4000, again, when you use S-Log3. Also, you can expand the ISO sensitivity for video up to 102400. The Sony FX2 includes 5-axis In-body Image Stabilization (IBIS).
Video recording
The Sony FX2 can record 4K video at up to 30fps using the full width of the sensor. You can also record XAVC S-I DCI 4K at True 24fps. However, to shoot at 60fps in 4K, the camera does crop to a Super 35 section of the sensor. Additionally, when you drop the resolution to HD, you have the option to shoot up to 120fps for super slow motion. You can record your video clips in 4:2:2 10-bit All-Intra for better color grading and playback in post-production.
Autofocus
The Sony FX2 features a new Real-time Recognition autofocus with improved accuracy for human subjects. It also recognizes animals, birds, vehicles and insects.
The FX2 includes focus breathing compensation, AF Assist and customizable autofocus transition speed and sensitivity. The camera offers an Auto Framing feature as well. This automatically crops the image to track your subject, keeping them in a prominent position. Your camera will need to be mounted on a tripod, however.
Other features
The Sony FX2 uses Sony’s BIG6 home screen design. This is based on the user interface of the flagship Venice cinema camera. The camera’s body also features a number of ¼-20 mounting points, so you don’t need to use a cage to rig out your camera. In addition, the FX2 supports dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) and wired LAN via an optional adapter. The FX2 features active cooling with a built-in fan so you shouldn’t have to worry about the camera overheating on a long shoot.
What we think
The FX2 is an intriguing camera. Price-wise, it sits between the current FX3 and FX30 models. However, cropping the sensor to shoot at higher frame rates means that the FX2 doesn’t give you an advantage over the FX30 in terms of the sensor size. The EVF seems to be the main selling point of the FX2. Perhaps this indicates that Sony’s intended market is users who want to shoot stills as well as video. This is also backed up by the new log shooting option for still images, which delivers photos ready for color grading. The FX2 has a lot to offer for the right shooter, but you should also consider the FX3 and FX30 to see which model is best suited to your needs.
Availability
Sony says that the FX2 is available to pre-order now, with shipping scheduled for July 2025. The camera will retail at $2,699 for the body only, or $3,098 when bundled with Sony’s XLR handle.
