Sony FX3 Review - 8 Months Later

bro its not a hybrid cam its a CINEMA CAM lol stick with canon bud

I have a metabones speed booster adaptor & external recorder, and focus primarily on manual video. The over-heating can be tricky, but I have learned to be patient using it optimally. Apart from that, it's only the lack of ND filters that bother me. Good review

Dude, I'm looking into getting an FX3 and this video was still super helpful. 🔥

This cam and FX30 changed my filming style! The 4K-120/60 cover all the ground I need to produce dynamic images. If they ever add a global shutter to these cameras…oh my goodness 😳🤯🙌🏽😎

Agree. Much to like with the FX3. Only had mine a short time and trying to understand what settings are best for me as a newbie to video shooting.

V3 firmware brings a heap of upgrades incl. focus breathing compensation on GM glass. So I'm sure you will be loving that now. I guess mixing systems is always going to bring another layer of complexity. I'm lucky now just working with Somy cameras and lenses.

Time moves on and solutions to yesterday's problems emerge. You will have probably found on eBay and elsewhere the low cost split-rubber rings that shim out the mike holder on XLR top handle permitting use of high quality mikes, circa 19-20mm diameter, like Sennheiser's MKE 600 or MKH 416.

No plug-in electronic viewfinder is a disappointment, but when I want to dhoot stills then I generally pack my a7iv which also does pretty good v video, even if not quite matching the FX3's low light and high frame rate capability.

You shoot the B-roll with a iphone didn't you.

Thanks for the review, very on point. I have been a C200 user for a while now and I am considering selling it to get an FX3. Do you think the image quality and colors are on par with a C200 and have you shot RAW with the FX3 yet? Can they be matched well?

Does focus breathing still available after firmware update 2.0/3.0 ?

The lack of EVF is such a bummer!😂

Great review! Also, its crazy how much you look like the full adult version of Martin Garrix haha respectfully of course.

That was just awesome, Rafael. Thanks so much for sharing your insights with the FX3.

To be honest, the focus breathing happens mostly with g master lenses. My 35g annoys me. I have the tamron trifecta and I barely have any focus breathing

Sony 35mm 1.8 has no focus breathing. It's a great versatile lens.

FX3 for video sounds like a great option . Hope they send a firmware update for the focus breathing

The high temperature option is there since the first firmware, the camera heated probably because it was on standard

I did not know about the focus breathing. I am working with a Sony a 73 and have used many other cameras, I am constantly switching between manual and auto focus. There is a real art in knowing when to use which.

Have the same sentiments with my FX3 but....I STILL LOVE IT! Pair it up with the Sony a7IV as the BCam...awesome!

Good to hear your views. Thanks very much.

Thank you, you answered all of my questions about this camera. Specifications are one thing, but real life is another story. I am a Canon user and I was just tempted by this small yet powerful camera...Anyway the breathing is really bad. And I am starting to think that every camera with IBIS will have such a week point... I have a feeling that C70 might win it...

focus breathing comes from the lens and not from camera, you have to use cine lenses, i mean real cine lenses to get rid of it

Some of your complaints are nonsense, because FX3 is a cinema camera.

What kind of Camera and Len have you taken on this video?

u have noise in your footage aabove the shelf

C70 user here. I just got the FX30. Thinking of switching to FX3 only to be able to use 20-70mm lens. The FX30 is an impressive piece of gear. Some annoyances - 2 channel proxy only? Why oh why? I’m not 100% sold on color science. The C70 looks better in more situations, Sony tends to look good in some scenarios and not so good in others. But I need to have more time with it.

One tip. I got Lyre mounts and unscrewed the Sony mic Mount, screwed on the Rycote Lyre mounts with the same screws. So easy, isolates better, is more durable, is more flexible. I highly recommend.

Also it seems like Sony haven't learned much from making A7S cameras. Other than make cinema camera to compete with black magic

Did you consider a bm 6k or 6k pro?

My FX3 not getting the focus breathing compensation upgrade is a complete letdown from Sony. And it is a plain stupid brand strategy as it stops me buying G Master lenses. In fact, this is such a letdown that I am currently looking into divesting entirely from the system. Especially since Panasonic now has finally moved to phase detect AF - the only weakness their cameras had.

Hey man, I'm a c200 shooter and like you looking for a good B cam, FX3 high on the list. Just on your canon glass 'not performing well' on the FX3, do you mean in terms of using an adapter and trying to get autofocus etc, or do they just simply not work? Issues with image quality? I'm always on manual focus anyway so that wouldn't be an issue for me, any advice would be awesome cheers mate

Is it worth to update it now? It was some update issues recently,reason why i haven’t did the update just yet

This or the a7rV?

You must have a bad copy or update issue. I have never ever had overheat or focus breathing with my copy

Hi Rafael... if you would have to choose between keeping C70 and R5C or selling them and taking FX3 + FX30 would you change (no money on the table)? I am a bit sick of Canon and the trade offs I have to face everyday and also I was deluded by Canon service (for repairs)... Your opinion really does matter to me. Thanks!

Yeah the screen isn’t great. You need a monitor to shoot with confidence.

You are pretty picky. Focus breathing is a bonus. It’s not expected in any camera. Changing the power off setting to high is a hate? It’s a setting that you touch one time and never think about it again…

Oh no that sucks about the overheating. They even included an entire FAN into the camera body to deal with that! 😒

My question is how the fuck do y'all aford this type of gear

so can u suggest best canon camera with the same specifications of fx3?

love this review! Thanks!

The focus breathing is a real issue for me also and I’m using Sony glass. I hope that they put breathing compensation on the next update.

Thanks for the comment on the auto-focus "breathing" by the way! I didn't know there was a term for the issue and I thought I was just an idiot who didn't know the right settings. Nice to know I am somewhat sane...LOL, very frustrating!

I'm not a pro yet but seeing as Sony designed this to be a video camera, it should probably be reviewed as such. And I totally agree, gotta use the right tools for the job. I never liked going the hybrid route, trying to do it all with one camera so I stayed away from the Sony A1.

I completely skipped over mid-range cameras, put away my old Canon S90 point 'n shoot, and dove completely into pro gear. I watched endless amounts of Canon and Sony video reviews and I am still happy with my FX3. This camera has seriously opened doors of opportunity for me. Everyone loves the videos it takes and they are blown away by its low-light capabilities. Great video sir.

Great points 👍🏽

The AF is a problem...I've never had any camera focus breathes so much. I hope there's an update to fix it.

Thanks for the cons, I’m getting the FX30 😂…. Saving some money and getting other stuff as well, the FX-3 was my first plan.

what lens are you using for the b roll in the intro of this video? looked really nice

Great review! I love that camera.

I double up rubber spacers for my sennheiser mic. They’re invisible inside the mic holder.

Fantastic review Rafael 👊