The film industry workhorse FS7ii has been given a major overhaul by the boffins at Sony, introducing the new mainstay for cookie-cutter production needs: the FX9.

Sony’s full-frame 6K sensor camera with Fast Hybrid AF, Dual Base ISO, and S-Cinetone™ color science.

Realize beautiful 4K imagery with the creative freedom made possible by oversampling a huge high resolution full-frame sensor. Capture every detail from the scene with shallow depth of field and stunning bokeh for a truly cinematic look. 15+ stops of dynamic range and Dual Base ISO enable you to capture every nuance, from subtle shadow detail to specular highlights, with an immaculate color palette.

The FX9 revolutionizes full-frame cinematography with peerless ergonomics and advanced technology for on-the-go shooting. The world’s first full-frame electronic variable ND filter* transforms possibilities for shooting in variable lighting conditions. Built-in Wi-Fi and 12G-SDI support advanced workflows while the optional XDCA-FX9 extension unit further expands the operational possibilities of the PXW-FX9. Ver.2.0 firmware adds HLG and User 3D LUTs while Ver.3.0 enhances support for multi-cam applications with S700 Protocol over Ethernet and anamorphic lens support with de-squeeze x2.0 and x1.3 on viewfinder.

The back-illuminated full-frame 6K CMOS sensor uses Sony’s Exmor R technology for improved sensitivity and reduced noise. When recording at DCI 4K* Ultra HD resolutions, the ability to oversample and capture at 6K, combined with powerful image processing, ensures that subtle details and textures beyond those that can be captured by a conventional 4K sensor are retained while at the same time noise is reduced.

Compared to a 4K Super 35­mm sensor, the FX9’s 6K sensor has over twice the surface area, providing a wider angle of view, making it easier to gain a shallower depth of field. You can also shoot with Super 35­mm lenses without compromise, capturing at 4K in super 35 mm with all the benefits of this advanced imaging sensor.

Phenomenal 15+ stops dynamic range for limitless expression

FX9 offers an exceptional 15+ stops of dynamic range—allowing for unprecedented creative freedom in color grading and post. Camera operators can concentrate on framing the scene they want while relying upon the FX9 to capture every nuance and detail using either 4K 4:2:2 10-bit internal recording or 16-bit RAW external recording.* In grading, colorists can find color and detail beyond the normal viewing abilities of the camera operator to create a final image that exactly portrays the mood of the scene.

Dual Base ISO for stunning images in any light

Digital imaging sensors perform best at their base ISO as no unnecessary gain (voltage) is added to the sensor’s output. While a typical camera has a single base ISO, carefully chosen to provide the optimum settings for a wide range of shooting scenarios, the FX9’s dual ISO function offers far greater flexibility. Its low base sensitivity of ISO 800* is similar to most other digital cinema cameras offering an excellent balance between dynamic range and sensitivity for most normal types of production. The FX9 with its secondary High Base ISO of 4000* excels in low-light conditions without adding extra gain. Low-light scenes can be shot using High Base and 4000 ISO with near identical image quality to Low Base and 800 ISO. Combining Dual Base ISO with the camera’s electronic variable ND Filter provides superb creative control in almost any shooting environment, with truly next-generation responsiveness to changing conditions.

Cinematic color science with S-Cinetone™

S-Cinetone is the default look of FX9 that’s tuned to meet the requirements of today’s content creators with rich mid-range colors, alluring facial tones and a softer tonal look — developed with the same expertise as Sony’s world-leading VENICE digital cinematography camera. S-Cinetone means your content looks fresh and vivid straight out of the camera, with subjects that really stand out while retaining plenty of latitude in post-production thanks to the high-performance full-frame image sensor.

Accelerate your workflow with User 3D Luts and HLG*

User Created 3D LUTs make it easy to customize FX9’s look to your preferences. It is possible to import LUTs files from an SD card and store up to 16 files on the FX9’s internal memory and switch between them as needed. This is particularly useful for shooting in S-Log3, allowing you to preview on camera whatever custom look you create.

FX9 can record HDR using S-Log3 or Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG).*

• S-Log3 is optimized for premium applications, capturing the maximum dynamic range from a sensor and providing ultimate creative freedom when color grading

• HLG* delivers content quickly without additional color grading, making it an ideal choice for day-to-day shooting, viewing, and editing workflows

Selectable frame rates for full-frame, Super 35 and Super 16

Choose your desired frame rate from 1fps up to 180fps* for impressive quick- and slow-motion footage. FX9 creates an immersive image with a wide-angle look and shallower depth of field provided by its full-frame sensor in combination with quick and slow motion. Engage your audience with this new creative look. FX9 also offers a Quality priority setting** that maximizes full HD image quality using full-frame 6K scan mode or Super 35 4K scan mode with advanced oversampling technology. With Ver.3 firmware, FX9 also supports Super 16 scan mode*** and enables B4 lens control (requires optional LA-EB1 and XDCA-FX9 for lens DC supply) with ALAC****(Auto Lens Aberration Compensation). Imager scan area can be switched with Assign button that works like a digital extender.

Super 35 2K imager scan mode prioritizes frame rates, so image quality may be reduced depending on the shooting environment. In this instance, the settings below are recommended.

• Cine EI mode: Set EI gain lower and exposure level higher instead

• Custom/SDR mode: Choose the gamma category setting of Original (S-Cinetone) or STD (STD1 to 6)

Some elements of this post were taken from Sony’s official product description.

If you’d like to rent our FX9 package or need production services in Puerto Rico or the Caribbean, contact us today.