Sony Announces the FX5 Cinema Camera
Sony has announced the FX5, a full-frame Cinema Line camera positioned between the FX3 and the FX6, built around a newly developed 16.6-megapixel back-illuminated stacked CMOS sensor paired with the Bionz XR2 processor — the same processor introduced in the Alpha 7R VI. The stacked architecture improves readout speed relative to the FX3, though Sony has not yet quantified the rolling shutter improvement in official communications.
The two features most significant in the context of the FX series are open gate recording and internal RAW. Open gate — the ability to record across the full sensor width in a 3:2 aspect ratio — has until now been exclusive to Sony’s VENICE 2 and BURANO systems, making its inclusion here a meaningful shift for the compact Cinema Line. Internal RAW arrives as 16-bit X-OCN in three compression flavors, including two new formats called X-OCN C1 and C2 that produce substantially smaller files than the existing X-OCN LT, though editing application support for the new flavors is not yet available at launch. Recording happens to dual CFexpress Type A card slots. High frame rates reach 5K at 120fps and 4K at 240fps, both of which will arrive via a post-launch firmware update rather than at initial availability. Dynamic range is stated at 15+ stops, supported by three base ISOs at 800, 4,000, and 12,800 — a combination that consolidates sensitivity options previously spread across separate FX models. A dual gain function inherited from the VENICE 2 and BURANO further reduces noise through a double sensor readout, at the cost of some frame rate and ISO restrictions when active.
“The FX5 builds on Sony’s Cinema Line expertise, praised by cinematographers and video creators worldwide,” said Yang Cheng, Vice President of Imaging Solutions, Sony Electronics Inc. “We wanted to build on the FX3, taking it one step further with the inclusion of some VENICE 2 features, like internal RAW recording and Open Gate. Features like these have been highly requested and will allow creators more creative freedom with an easier workflow.”
For still photography, the FX5 supports continuous shooting with Real-time Eye AF and subject tracking for humans, animals, and — new in this generation — birds, with the Bionz XR2’s integrated AI unit improving autofocus acquisition and tracking specifically in low light. Interval recording for timelapse is also available in-camera.
The operating interface has been replaced entirely, adopting the professional menu structure from the FX6 and VENICE line in place of the Alpha-derived system of the FX3. The rear display grows to a 3.5-inch 16:9 panel on a four-axis mechanism, and monitoring tools now include waveform, vectorscope, and focus map alongside the existing histogram, zebras, and peaking. In-body stabilization has been updated with a doubled rotational range relative to the FX3, and the new NP-SA100 battery is rated for approximately 170 minutes of continuous 5K 30fps recording. Physical connectivity includes two USB-C ports, full-size HDMI, Ethernet, and audio I/O. Three accessories launch alongside the camera: a detachable OLED EVF at €750, an XLR handle with 32-bit float audio at €900, and a TC cable for timecode synchronization at €100.
The FX5 body is priced at $4,898 / €4,600, with a kit including the XLR handle available at $5,500 / €5,132. Sales are scheduled to begin in August 2026.
