Sony has officially expanded its Cinema Line with the launch of the Sony FX5, a lightweight full-frame cinema camera aimed at filmmakers, documentary creators, and professional video producers. Positioned between portability and high-end cinema performance, the FX5 introduces several firsts for the Cinema Line, including Open Gate recording, enhanced dynamic range, and advanced AI-powered autofocus.
The camera is scheduled to go on sale in August 2026, with a starting price of CNY 32,000 (approximately US$4,500, subject to exchange rates and regional pricing).
New Full-Frame Stacked Sensor
At the heart of the FX5 is a newly developed full-frame stacked Exmor RS CMOS sensor, paired with Sony’s latest BIONZ XR2 image processor.
The new imaging system is designed to deliver improved sensitivity, faster readout speeds, and reduced rolling shutter while maintaining the cinematic image quality expected from the Cinema Line.
Sony has equipped the FX5 with three native ISO settings:
- ISO 800
- ISO 4000
- ISO 12800
When shooting in S-Log3, the camera delivers more than 15 stops of dynamic range, providing filmmakers with greater flexibility during color grading.
The FX5 also introduces the Cinema Line’s first dual-gain capture mode, which optimizes highlight and shadow transitions while reducing image noise in darker areas.
First Cinema Line Camera with Open Gate Recording
One of the FX5’s standout features is support for Open Gate recording, making it the first Sony Cinema Line camera to offer this capability.
Using the sensor’s full 3:2 aspect ratio, the camera performs full-pixel readout to capture 5K footage across the entire sensor area.
This gives filmmakers greater creative flexibility by allowing footage to be cropped into multiple aspect ratios during post-production without sacrificing image quality—particularly useful for producing content across cinema, television, and social media platforms.
Professional RAW Recording
Sony has significantly expanded the FX5’s recording capabilities.
The camera records internally using Sony’s proprietary 16-bit X-OCN RAW codec and offers three compression options:
- X-OCN LT
- X-OCN C1
- X-OCN C2
These formats allow creators to balance image quality and storage requirements based on production needs.
Supported recording formats include:
- 5K at up to 60fps
- 4K at up to 120fps
- Full HD (1080p) at up to 240fps
Sony has also confirmed that a future firmware update will unlock even higher frame rates, including:
- 5K at 120fps
- 4K at 240fps
These upgrades are expected to benefit commercial productions, sports cinematography, and high-end slow-motion filmmaking.
AI Autofocus and Enhanced Stabilization
The FX5 combines five-axis in-body image stabilization with an upgraded gyroscope system that improves roll-axis compensation for smoother handheld footage.
Sony also introduces an enhanced Dynamic Active Stabilization mode, further reducing camera shake during handheld shooting.
Autofocus performance benefits from AI technology derived from the company’s latest Alpha cameras, enabling reliable recognition and tracking of:
- People
- Birds
- Animals
The advanced autofocus system is designed to help solo filmmakers capture stable, sharply focused footage without requiring external stabilization equipment.
Compact Cinema Body
Despite its professional capabilities, the FX5 retains the compact form factor familiar to users of the FX3.
The camera measures approximately:
132.3 × 79.0 × 86.95 mm
It features a larger 3.5-inch 16:9 articulating touchscreen, offering a brighter display and improved framing compared with previous compact Cinema Line models.
Physical controls include:
- Six customizable function buttons
- Full-size HDMI output
- Dual USB-C ports
- Ethernet port
- Dedicated audio interface
The compact design makes the FX5 well suited for documentary filmmaking, travel productions, gimbal work, and run-and-gun shooting.
Professional Accessories
Sony is also launching two dedicated accessories alongside the FX5.
DVF-EL1 OLED Electronic Viewfinder
The optional DVF-EL1 features a 0.58-inch OLED electronic viewfinder, providing filmmakers with a high-quality viewing solution for outdoor and professional production environments.
XLR-H2 Audio Handle
The optional XLR-H2 professional audio handle supports high-end onboard audio recording, including:
- 96kHz sampling
- 32-bit float recording
This allows creators to capture professional-quality audio without requiring an external recorder, making the FX5 suitable for documentary, interview, and independent film production.
Pricing
Sony has announced the following pricing for the Chinese market:
| Product | Price |
|---|---|
| Sony FX5B body | CNY 32,000 |
| FX5 kit (including XLR controller) | CNY 36,000 |
| DVF-EL1 OLED electronic viewfinder | CNY 5,000 |
| XLR-H2 professional audio handle | CNY 6,000 |
| VMC-BNCU1 timecode adapter cable | CNY 670 |
International pricing and regional availability are expected to be announced closer to launch.
A Powerful Addition to Sony’s Cinema Line
With the FX5, Sony delivers one of its most capable compact cinema cameras to date. By combining Open Gate recording, 5K RAW capture, AI-powered autofocus, advanced image stabilization, and a highly portable body, the FX5 is positioned to appeal to independent filmmakers, commercial production teams, documentary creators, and content professionals seeking a flexible, high-performance cinema camera in a compact package.