If you are into cinematography, filmmaking or videography, you may have seen that we have been taking pre-orders for the Sony FX6 camcorder. Well, today we are happy to announce the news of the official release of the FX6.
What a camera and game-changer this is for the industry!
When first looking at the Sony FX6, you are likely to be presently surprised by the small form factor. The camera inherits some of the characteristics of the Sony FX9, but with added benefits. For instance, if you are planning on using a rig with a focus unit, the FX6 is the ideal choice. You can detach the smart handle and smart grip to cater for your setup. Some examples of the flexibility this camera provides includes:
- Detaching the smart grip and handle to reduce the weight of the FX6 for longer drone flight times.
- The ability to fit the FX6 into a custom made underwater housing for incredible versatility.
- Utilizing the smart handle at different angles to cater for high or low angle recording.
When looking for a camera which has a similar form factor, the FS5 comes to mind. The FX6 weighs 600 grams more; however, Sony has been able to deliver far more technology in the smaller body when compared against, the older FS5.
As Andrew from Georges Camera TV explains, there are a lot of benefits with this camera. Some of which include:
Quality and FX6 Reliability To The Highest Spec
Sony has come a long way since acquiring Konica Minolta all those years ago. Since then, the a7S camera evolved from the lineup to outperform other rivals. In this time, the full-frame “one-mount to rule them all” mentality has been a major part of Sony’s success – it’s great to see the FX6 adopt the same strategy.
Equipped in the FX6 is a 10.2 megapixel, back-illuminated sensor that’s capable of some sophisticated focusing. The focal plane allows phase-detection using fast hybrid autofocus which is compatible with over fifty native E-Mount lenses. Adding to Sony’s list of achievements in this camera is its ability to offer real-time eye autofocus as well as traditional face detection. While these features aren’t commonly asked for by cinematography manual-focus-purists, Sony won’t have any people winging over the lack of inclusion.
Recording ability with this camera raises the bar to other manufactures. Users can now decide to capture vision as XAVC-1 4:2:2, 10 Bit (Class 300). While this is a mouthful to newcomers, trust us that it is the best! This is all thanks to the dual power of the BIONZ XR Sony processing engines found within the camera. And if that’s not enough, Sony allows for internal recording for DCI 4K / QFHD at the same output as XAVC-1. So, regardless if you are recording 120p high framerate (up to 5x slow-mo) or 240p in full HD, the FX6 is versatile to cater to your vision.
Get It, Grab It and Shoot With The FX6 On The Go
Compared with competitors, Sony’s LCD monitor versatility leaves other camcorders looking outdated. Regardless of your setup, the FX6 provides various mount flexibility. This is exceptionally handy if you find yourself using a custom rig. Now, with the FX6 you can mount its 3.5-inch LCD screen in up to three locations. Locations include three areas on the top of the smart handle or two directly on top of the camera body. This level of adaptation makes the HD 1280 x 720 LCD resolution an asset to any filmmaker’s setup.
Operability That Professionals Have Come To Expect
As you can access the LCD in various locations, it makes sense that Sony has included quick menu control and touch operation. No more do you have to menu dive to find commonly accessed features. Now, with a single touch, you change the following settings:
- Codec
- Image Scan Mode
- Picture Size
- Frequency
- Base ISO/Sensitivity
- Shooting Mode
- Audio Levels
FX6 Connectivity For Everything You Have
Just because the Sony FX6 is smaller than the others that it doesn’t have the essentials tools onboard. Hidden across various ports, the flagship baby has a few tricks up its sleeve. For instance, most cinematographers and videographers using this type of equipment will have a horde of Atomos accessories to view and record their visual stories. The FX6 has you covered in this area. Using the selectable output, you can adopt 16bit RAW or 12G/6G/3G from the onboard SDI.
Alternatively, employing the use of the HDMI, you can record 240 fps for the ultimate slow-mo. Plus built-in WiFi also has you covered when you forget your cable (you can even remotely control the camera using the Contents Browser Mobile App)! If that’s not enough, the FX6 also goes a step further to ensure you gain the highest level of production quality. With two XLR inputs for audio, your audio can Time Code sync with vision as either an input or output method. Plus you can opt to use the MI shoe on the smart handle for additional accessories.
Advanced Post Production Stability Using FX6 Gyro Metadata
Metadata is a key focus for Sony. Rather than offer in-camera stability for its full-frame sensor, the FX6 utilizes post-production prowess. The built-in gyro smartly records “shake” metadata within each clip. This state-of-the-art tech allows handheld footage to be transformed when in post-production. The result is a smooth look, almost as if the footage was shot on a gimbal. The advantage of this method is that it is much faster with processing than traditional NLE stabilization workflows.
For this method to work, Sony’s Catalyst V2020.1 software is required. The Catalyst software, broken into two areas (Catalyst Prepare and Catalyst Browser) enables an editor to adjust the balance between shake-compensation and trimming area size freely. The huge advantage of this feature is that it shortens processing time drastically allowing you to get on with the post-production.
In addition to this, users can flag footage directly on the camera using the dedicated Clip Flag button. So rather than noting down Time Code, an editor can see the best take directly in Catalyst Prepare and Catalyst Browse. Flagged footage appears as either OK, NG, Keep and No Flag.
We Could Go On
The article certainly doesn’t cover all of the in-depth specifications of the Sony FX6. We could be typing all day long if we did. So, instead of us creating more pixels on your screen to read, we encourage you to speak with our knowledgeable team of Sony specialists. Georges has been in operation for decades, and our relationship with Sony Australia means you can get access to the best deals. So, when you are looking to get this camera with a CFexpress Type A and compatible UHS-II memory card, spare battery and tripod, give us a shout, and we’ll look after you.
