Enter the World of Full Frame Cinema (FX2) for Less Than You Expect

The Sony FX2 preorder is a full-frame cinema camera that is set to shake up competition with its lower prices. For content creators, filmmakers, and indie videographers, Sony’s FX2 brings cutting-edge hardware and professional-level features starting at £2,699, set to ship in early August 2025.

Sony FX2 Pre-Order Brings Affordable Cinematography Power to Creators

The FX2 will sell for £2,699 compared to the FX3’s £3,899 selling price. At that price, it comes with the same sensor technology and features as the FX3, making it compete with lower options that offer inferior hardware. You can now preorder the FX2 on Amazon, B&H Photo Video, and Adorama, with shipping estimated for July. Equally as important, the FX2’s Exmor R CMOS sensor is the Sony A7 IV and A7C’s 33-megapixel, back-illuminated model. As with those cameras, this sensor is made for versatility. It can provide in excess of 15 stops of dynamic range when S-Log3 is used, meaning the FX2 can showcase incredible detail in both bright and dark areas, even in difficult lighting situations. The dual base ISOs of 800 and 4,000 on the FX2 enable shooters to easily transition from bright outdoor locations to poorly lit indoors, with the possibility to go up to 102,400 ISO in extremely dim lighting.

The system does feature downsides though; the sensor must be paired with a Sony’s BIONZ XR processor. This limitation ensures sharp, detailed footage with full pixel readout and no pixel binning during 4-frame 4k shooting but with 7k oversampling. This results in natural colour and noise-free footage. The FX2 is capable of recording in 4:2:2 10-bit All-Intra to enable deep colour grading and high-end post-processing. The FX2 functions as a video creation tool and is also a complete hybrid. As a hybrid, its main purpose is to capture cinematic video. Still, it also has sophisticated stills features like video photos and stills capture during recording while also being able to shoot in S-Log3 for easy colour grading. The camera comes with a mechanical shutter, which is uncommon for this class of camera. Moreover, this feature reduces the impact of rolling shutter distortions and enhances the masking requirement of creators who need high-quality video and stills. Thus, this camera is great for hybrid creators.

For filmmakers, the FX2’s 3.0-inch vari-angle touchscreen LCD and 3.68 million-dot OLED electronic viewfinder (which can tilt from 0 to 90 degrees) enable a wide variety of shoot options, from handheld run-and-gun to tripod shots. Because of the internal cooling fan and effective heat dissipation of the camera, continuous recording of 4k 60p for up to 13 hours is possible. This makes the camera well-suited for interviews, long events or documentary filming.

Networking and Schedule Flexibility

Sony has integrated multiple connectivity features into the FX2 to facilitate contemporary production workflows. It has dual-band Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, wired LAN via an adapter, and HDMI type A with 4k 60p 4:2:2 10-bit and 16-bit RAW video output and external recording capabilities. The camera also supports various formats of recording, including XAVC S-I in DCI 4K at 24p, and has Log shooting modes such as Cine EI, Cine EI Quick, and Flexible ISO. FX2 provides features like the ability to import 16 custom LUTs for on-site monitoring, making it ideal for colourists and DITs. Out of the box, the camera includes Sony’s S-Cinetone colour profile, which provides a light, cinematic appearance that is pleasing to the eye. For creative cinematography, the FX2 can support 1.3x and 2.0x anamorphic lenses, enabling a de-squeeze function, making it a versatile device.

The FX2’s AI-driven accuracy and dynamic focus maintain precise attention on the subject within fast-moving scenarios. We cannot fail to mention that the FX2’s active image stabilization works like magic in smoothing out footage, making it easier for solo and small crew shooters to capture decent quality footage without gimbals or heavy rigs.

FX2 competition considerations

With the comprehensive set of features that the FX2 offers, along with its competitive pricing, full-frame cinema and hybrid cameras are placed in direct competition with it. Take a look at how it stacks up against its competition considering only price:

Even though the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K G2 is cheaper than the FX2, it’s missing a full-frame sensor as well as a number of professional features that Sony offers. The FX2 does have a rival in the RED KOMODO that comes close to it in pricing and features. However, RED does not win, as many creators prefer Sony’s Cinema Line colour science and hybrid camera functions coupled with sophisticated autofocus.

Who is the FX2 for?

According to Sony’s messaging, the FX2 is aimed at freelancers, indie filmmakers, small production units, and hybrid creators who wish to achieve the cinematic aesthetic and professional-grade workflow of Sony’s Cinema Line at a fraction of the traditional cost. It is just as compact, making it easy to fit on gimbals, drones, or tripods, and is rugged enough to be used for documentary, narrative, commercial, and event work.

Future outlook and industry impact

The FX2 is a clear indication that the paradigm is about to shift in the cinema camera segment. With its top-tier specifications, hybrid capabilities, and professional workflows, Sony is significantly lowering the bar for entry to cinematic storytelling tools by the sub £3,000 price mark. Adoption of the FX2 is likely to increase, leading to the explosive creation of high-quality and visually stunning content on YouTube, streaming platforms, and more. Preorders opened on May 29, with shipping slated for early August. The FX2 will likely be a staple camera in the hands of the next generation of filmmakers. It’s a difficult option to resist for savvy filmmakers looking to enhance their production value without shelling out thousands.