Sony FX30 Review
Combining affordability with cinema quality. Commissioned by BorrowLenses.
To encapsulate the essence of Sony FX30 in one sentence, it's a 'pint-sized cinema camera, brimming with deluxe features at an affordable price.’ It's compact for dynamic, on-the-move shooting requirements, equipped with a mount that opens doors to Sony’s premium e-mount collection, coupled with a layout that’s instinctive to use, enabling effortless recording of high-quality S-Cinetone & S-Log3 footage. You can make this your maiden camera for filmmaking or make it a constant inclusion in your already rich camera arsenal. While there's an abundance of reasons to adore it does come with its own set of nuances that prospective filmmakers should be conscious of before picking one up. Let’s dive in.
Who is it for?
In devising the FX30, Sony packed in 6k oversampling, the latest in-body stabilization, and 10-bit log options. A recipe designed to hand over a cinematic package to anyone with the opportunity to use the camera. This level of technology and quality greatly exceeds what's currently offered by smartphones, yet it still maintains the 'user-friendly' design approach that phone companies consistently aim for.
The user/buyer profile I've envisioned (which likely represents my category too) is someone who's relatively new to the domain of filmmaking, yet has made the effort to comprehend the different frame rates (and their effects), resolution preferences, post-production alternatives, and the array of accessories that assist in producing high-quality videos using their smartphone. They've successfully acquired an understanding of storytelling, or perhaps intuitively possess a knack for framing scenes well, and maybe have been requested to film for small projects or have received compliments about their work.
The camera market is massive, to put it mildly, inundated with a variety of types - photography-centric, hybrid, video-forward, film emulation, and all-rounder cameras, to name but a few categories - and it shows no signs of shrinking. If someone approached me and they fell into the previously mentioned user group, I would hand over the FX30. The instant they look through the camera, they'll readily grasp the frame rate choices, be thrilled by the 4k quality, and after a brief exploration, be energized by having the capabilities of S-Log3 now within their reach.
First Impressions
When I first held the FX30, the initial features that struck me were its compact size and deep hand grip. In comparison to cinema cameras I've previously seen in action or on display, its whole body was miniature. Essentially, I was handling a camera from Sony's A7 series but in a somewhat smaller version that lacked a viewfinder. It radiated portability, yet didn't compromise its premium quality, emphasized by the words 'Cinema' etched in white on the back.
Turning the camera in my hands, the word 'premium' kept reverberating in my thoughts. In terms of modern-day costs, this camera was affordably priced as an entry-level unit. Yet, something about the body's exterior and the button's responsive touch gave me the sensation of being a filmmaker on a multi-million dollar film set. This might be overstating it a bit, but it nonetheless encapsulates the experience I was having.
After gushing over the look and feel of the camera, I then shifted my attention to examining the menu setup. The layout was intuitively designed and comprehensible at first glance. It had been some time since I last interacted with a Sony camera, thus my anticipations were largely uncertain. However, after a brief span of a minute or two, I was surprisingly at ease navigating through the options.
I found that the readability and clarity of the features allowed a quick mental mapping of their locations, an aspect I deeply appreciated since easy menu navigation can between the difference between capturing or missing a key moment. Despite the ease, one concern I registered though was the excessive 'depth' of the menu options. Occasionally, I found myself delving into as many as five to six screens deep to access certain functions, sparking doubts about my ability to efficiently locate those precise settings in the future.
Breaking it in
Like most people do when they first use a new camera, I pointed it at a random item in my home and pressed the shutter button. The camera didn't instantly glorify the bowl of cereal that I recorded, but it helped me recognize the quality piece I held in my hands. The recording button on top was illuminated in red, signaling that filming had commenced; the rear screen was angled out, showing my frame rates and histogram nicely; and I was pleasantly surprised to find the large grip enabled me to maintain an impressive steadiness with just one hand. To put it simply: the content was poor, but the camera was impressive. All I needed next was to identify a scene or two packed with elements that would allow me to properly test the camera's capabilities.
Even though I live in San Francisco and there are a million iconic places I could think of to take the FX30, I wanted to truly throw it into a trial by fire. So, I decided to make it my main camera at a wedding I’d been hired to film. Weddings are some of the most unpredictable photo/video situations I’ve ever been in. They’re thick with the human element and they bring an entire suite of variables that do not make it easy to get the shots you need/want. In essence, it makes it the perfect place to put a new camera through its paces.
Before the wedding, I took the time to preload the camera with a couple of preset shooting modes. I programmed these into a custom button that enabled me to switch between the two upon command. The two modes were 4K at 24fps and 4K at 60fps, my personal favorites for filming ceremonies and b-roll at weddings. Both modes encompassed shooting in S-Log3 and playback in Rec-709. This allowed me to monitor my exposure accurately (since it's necessary to shoot overexposed in S-Log3) and watch my playbacks in Rec-709 to assess how my shots were turning out. Overall, by setting up these configurations, the camera practically ‘got out of my way', allowing me to just focus on capturing the content necessary to film the wedding.
With everything set up prior, the wedding was a cinch to document. Knowing that my settings were set up, the high-quality of S-Log3 was churning, and I’d be able to check on my footage properly kept me feeling secure throughout the day.
The Benefit of Hindsight
While it's easy to rave about cameras that, on paper, possess every spec you might be looking for, it's even more challenging to enthuse about those you've actually had the chance to use. The FX30 is a camera about which I think just about anyone could gush. It's impressive what Sony has managed to bring to the entry-level market, and it's a potential green flag for what's
to follow in the future. It's the whole package and then some for creating cinematic footage, and it's got accessories, lenses, and functionality up the wazoo. So, where's the 'but?'
The inevitable 'but' in this case is not intended to imply something wrong with the camera, rather its purpose is to aid in clarification. Here it is: "The Sony FX30 is a great cinema camera designed to make cinema-level video quality accessible to all, but it's not intended for established filmmakers and content creators." The additional point I would make, albeit somewhat contradictorily, is that established filmmakers would probably love this camera, but if they depend on creating videos as their full-time job, they would most likely be better off with the FX3 - the FX30’s superior counterpart. They would likely prefer the depth, dynamic range, and lens coverage that the full-frame series offers and may not entrust an APS-C sensor with their most significant tasks. That’s just what one person thinks though and I’m sure there are plenty out there who would disagree with me.
Aside from the 'but', I found the FX30 to be a great camera. If I owned one, I would feel confident using it for any shoot. Its ease of use makes me want to use it as much as possible - which is arguably the best quality to look for in a camera. I could envision owning one of these long-term, or merely continuing to rent it as necessary because I could always trust it. It has few flaws and could help anyone elevate their filmmaking game.
One Last Spec Blast
Camera specs aren’t what’ll get you amazing footage, but they are tools that’ll help you do so. Here are a few more ‘worth knowing’ bullet points:
Flexible ISO, Cine EI Quick and Cine EI Log modes.
Dependable autofocus with real-time eye tracking AF.
Uninterrupted 4K 60p recording with fan ventilation.
Dual card slots.
Up to 4K 120p with autofocus.
S-Cinetone (trademark Sony footage) for a cinematic look straight out of camera.
All in All
The FX30 is worth purchasing or renting for virtually any filmmaking endeavor. Have a wedding to film? The FX30 can handle it. Heading out to shoot for fun? Grab the FX30. Want to create cinematic-looking footage? The FX30 will be your ally.
It's exhilarating that Sony has dedicated time to producing a product that a significant portion of the creative community can enjoy using. Personally, I'm even more thrilled to see where it goes in the future, especially as cameras shrink, capabilities become more universally accessible, and technology becomes increasingly affordable. For the time being, the FX30 will occupy a nice space on my mental shelf as a practical and enjoyable camera.