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Sony Alpha FX 30 Header - Foto Koch
Reading Time: 9 minutes - September 28, 2022 - by Lennart Filthuth

Sony Alpha FX30 - The new best entry-level cinema camera?

Sony FX30 vs. FX3 vs. a6600

With the FX30 , Sony has launched a new entry-level cinema camera. It comes with a newly developed 26 megapixel APS-C sensor and the body of the FX3. Find out what the camera can do and how it stacks up against the FX3 and a6600 in this video.

We've been using the Sony FX3 for almost a year now for our YouTube videos and benefit from the versatility of this cinema camera on every shoot. With the compact form factor, the many mounting points and the professional audio interface, it was the perfect entry into the world of cinema cameras - until now!

Because Sony has now launched its much more affordable brother, the FX30 . What this new camera can do and why it is probably the better choice for you, we clarify in this article!

Sony Alpha FX30 Cinema Line

Sony Cinema Line at a glance

But first, let's take a look at Sony's entire Cinema Line. In 2017, Sony introduced the VENICE, their first full-frame Cinema camera, setting a milestone in the film industry. Where previously only cameras with Super 35 sensors were used, filmmakers could now benefit from the full-frame look and particularly good low-light performance.
At over ?40,000, however, it was anything but affordable, which is why Sony launched the FX9 in 2019 and the FX6 in 2020. This made the Cinema cameras not only more compact, but also usable by more filmmakers. However, there were still many people who preferred the form factor and price of an Alpha 7s, and the FX3 was born.
With the same sensor of the 7SIII and FX6, a completely new body, and firmware that combined the simplicity of the Alpha menu and the professional features from the Cinema world, the FX3 found great favor among filmmakers from a wide variety of fields. But even the FX3, at a whopping ?4,700, is worth the money, but not an option for many, which is why the FX30 now offers an affordable alternative.

Sony Alpha FX30 vs. FX3

Case and ports

But let's take a look at the outside. Actually, there's not much to say at this point, because the difference between the FX3 and FX30 is hardly noticeable.
We have the same compact body here with integrated fan, the various threads for mounting accessories, the same ports like full-size HDMI, USB-C and 3.5mm jack and also the same button layout optimized for filmmaking.
The tally lights, menu and audio interface are also identical. Where there is a small but subtle difference here, however, is the weight, as the FX30 is a whole 70g lighter than the FX3, which is perhaps due to the lack of a mechanical shutter? When it comes to storage media, we also have the two hybrid slots with SD and CFexpress Type A support.

Sony FX30 Tally Lights

New 26MP sensor

The big difference is the sensor. Instead of the 12 MP full frame sensor, the FX30 has a stabilized 26 MP APS-C BSI sensor. So the FX30 is not just an a6600 in a Cinema body, like the FX3 is basically an a7s III in a different body, but comes with a completely redesigned sensor with higher resolution and better low-light performance than the a6600. The new sensor allows for different resolutions and framerates.
We can shoot here at 4K 4:2:2 10 bit all-intra at up to 60fps without and up to 120fps with 1.6x crop internally. By the way, at 4K with up to 60p, the camera records with 6K oversampling for a more detailed image. Via HDMI, as with the FX3, we can output our 4K in 16-bit Pro-Res RAW and record via a compatible external recorder, like the Atomos Ninja V.

Sony Alpha FX 30 vs. FX3 sensors

Dual base ISO & 14 steps dynamic range

But if you're now shying away from the APS-C sensor for fear of poor low-light performance, we can reassure you, because the FX30 has dual native ISO of 800 and 2500, respectively, which means that the sensor can use both ISO levels (depending on which ISO mode the camera is set to) without signal amplification and thus without any negative impact on noise performance.
For comparison, the FX3 has the native ISO here at 800 and 12,800 respectively. In SLOG3, by the way, up to 14 stops of dynamic range are possible with the FX30, although the FX3 is also ahead here with 15 stops.

Best autofocus in the Cinema Line?

The new sensor in combination with the Bionz XR processors now also supports all current autofocus technologies from Sony. We have here as the first camera of the Cinema-Line the realtime tracking of birds, which will of course please many nature filmmakers. This makes the FX30 only the third camera from Sony to support this feature at all, alongside the Alpha 1 and the 7 IV. A total of 495 AF points are used here, which is a whopping 93% of the sensor in 16:9 aspect ratio.

Optimized firmware

The FX3 got a firmware update a few months ago with a completely new quick menu for the most important video settings, and we have all these functionalities in the FX30 as well. In addition, however, it is even better optimized for individual users. Not only professional FX users will find their way around here, but also film beginners who might be used to the menu of the Alpha cameras so far. Features like Breathing Compensation, Focus Map and Active-IS are also on board here.

A really cool feature as far as post-production is concerned is the new Catalyst Prepare plugin for Premiere Pro, which allows the IBIS, as well as Breathing Compansation via. Gyro sensor data can be adjusted and fine-tuned afterwards. The plug-in and more information about it, we link you below in the video description.

Sony FX 30 audio interface

Price

But now to the most important point: What does the fun cost? Well, the FX30 stands out, because the camera costs 2,299? and thus less than half the price of an FX3 and with this performance! Not to praise the camera too much, but here's the kicker: Unlike the FX3, the FX30 doesn't come with the top handle and integrated audio interface. There is, of course, the option to buy the camera with audio interface as well, but then it costs a whopping 500? more. So if we want to make an honest comparison, we only have a price difference to the FX3 of 1,900?.

But beware: You should now think very carefully about which variant you buy now - with or without audio interface? The problem is that this handle cannot be purchased afterwards for the time being. Sony has announced that the handle can be bought separately in the future, but it is not yet clear when and for what price.

There is, however, an alternative, the Sony K3M audio interface, but this cannot be screwed to the camera and thus does not function as a grip. So if you need a grip with an integrated XLR audio interface, you will have to buy the camera as a set and thus pay the extra 500?.

Sony Alpha FX30 vs. a6600

Sony FX 30 vs. a6600

The APS-C camera that comes closest to the FX30 is the Sony a6600. Aside from the new sensor and autofocus, you could consider the a6600 as an alternative. But if we're trying to get the a6600 as close to the FX30 as possible, we'll need some accessories. For example, to make the camera as flexible, we need a cage.

On top of that, the FX30 has an integrated fan and, compared to the a6600, it also has a fold-out display. The a6600 also lacks many professional features, such as the inclusion of luts, the popular color profile S-Cinetone, RAW output and the simple and fast menu operation.

However, due to the lack of a mechanical shutter, as well as the electronic viewfinder, the FX30 is really not suitable for still photography. Sure, it can shoot stills, even in RAW and JPEG, but as I said - it's not really suitable for that.

What the a6600 also lacks, however, is 4K at 60fps, H.265 codec, 4:2:2 10bit All-I and the new bird autofocus. The price difference is around 700?.

Sony Alpha 6600 (ILCE-6600) body black

  • 24.2 megapixel APS-C sensor
  • lightweight & compact
  • 5-axis optical image stabilization for blur-free shooting
  • 425-point phase-detection autofocus covers about 84% of the sensor
  • reliable autofocus performance even under difficult lighting conditions
  • Real-time tracking
  • 4K movie recording with pixel readout without pixel binning in Super 35mm format
  • high-resolution 4K HDR movie recording (HLG) with a wide range of movie functions
  • Real-time autofocus with eye detection for video recording
  • ISO 100-32,000 (expandable to ISO 50 to 102,400)
Sony Alpha a6600 sensor

Sony FX 30 vs. FX3

The comparison with the FX3 is no less exciting, however, as the cameras are very similar in terms of features. The clear advantage of the FX3, however, is a better low-light behavior and the significantly better slow-motion shots, especially without additional crop. But that's pretty much it and the FX30 comes off really well here, because the APS-C sensor doesn't necessarily have to be a disadvantage.

Those who work with predominantly long focal lengths will certainly be happy about the lighter weight of the lenses and the extended focal length due to the APS-C crop factor. You can also set the FX3 to Super-35 mode and then shoot with an APS-C crop, but then only Full HD and no 4K is possible. For all nature and documentary filmmakers, the APS-C sensor of the FX30 might even be an advantage. As far as the professional cinema environment is concerned, there are also few differences here and you do not have to make any compromises.

Sony Alpha FX3 Cinema Line (ILME-FX3)

  • Full frame Cinema Line camera
  • Real-time eye AF & Touch Tracking, S-Cinetone
  • 5-axis image stabilizer with Active Mode
  • up to 4K 120p video recording
  • ISO expandable up to 409.600
  • suitable for low light shooting
  • incl. XLR handle

Conclusion

But now let's come back to a short conclusion. Who should take a closer look at the FX30 and for which areas is it the perfect camera?

The biggest target audience here is clearly nature and documentary filmmakers, for whom the APS-C cropfactor and fast autofocus (including real-time tracking of birds) can be really useful. However, the FX30 is also a true all-rounder, as it is designed for both professional filmmakers and first-time filmmakers. Indeed, we have a lot of professional tools and features on board here, but at the same time a simply designed menu and a low price point.... We can imagine the FX30 working very well in video podcast studios or live streaming setups and at the same time as a main camera for YouTube content. But true professionals could also use it as a third camera alongside an FX6 and FX3 without any problems.

In short, there's something for everyone here in terms of features!


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