Sony FX30 Sensor
The Sony FX30 has a powerful APS-C Exmor R CMOS sensor measuring 23.3 x 15.5 mm that brings professional-grade capabilities to the filmmakers. It offers a nice balance between image quality and portability. The sensor has 26 megapixels for still images, it utilizes approximately 20.1 megapixels for movie recording. This difference allows for optimal performance in both photography and videography modes.
ISO Performance
The FX30’s sensor provides impressive ISO performance, giving you flexibility in various lighting conditions:
- Native ISO range: 100-32000
- Expanded ISO range: 50-102400
This wide ISO range allows you to capture clear, detailed images in challenging low-light situations.
The FX30 features a dual base ISO system, which is particularly useful when using Cine EI mode. This system provides two different base ISO settings, allowing you to switch between them for optimal image quality in varying light conditions.
Sony FX30 Display
The Sony FX30 comes with a 3.0-inch (7.5 cm) LCD screen with approximately 2.36 million dots. The touch screen display has a fully articulating design. The screen opens at an angle of approximately 176 degrees and rotates about 270 degrees. This gives help in comfortably frame your shots from various angles, whether you’re shooting low to the ground or holding the camera above your head. The touch panel functionality adds to the user-friendly nature of the FX30. You can easily navigate menus, select focus points, or review images with simple taps and swipes.
Live View Display Settings
The FX30 offers customizable Live View Display settings to suit your shooting preferences:
- Setting Effect ON/OFF: You can choose whether to display the Live View with all shooting settings applied (Setting Effect ON) or without them (Setting Effect OFF). The latter option is particularly useful when you want to focus on composition without distractions.
- Frame Rate Low Limit: This setting helps maintain a smooth Live View even in low-light conditions. When set to ‘On‘, it prevents the frame rate from dropping too low, although this may result in a darker display.
Screen Display Modes
You can customize the information displayed on the screen using the DISP (Screen Display) Set feature. Here are the available options:
Display All Info: Shows all recording information
No Display Info: Hides recording information
Histogram: Displays luminance distribution graphically
Level: Indicates if the camera is level in front-back and horizontal directions.
The Level display is particularly useful for ensuring straight horizons in your shots. When the camera is level, the indicator turns green. By setting up these display features and customization options, you can set the FX30’s screen to your specific shooting needs
Controls and User Interface
The Sony FX30 allows you to navigate menus, adjust settings, and capture your shots with ease. The control wheel serves as a central hub for many of these functions, providing quick access to essential features.
When using the menu screen or the Fn button display, you can navigate by turning the control wheel or pressing its top, bottom, left, or right sides. To confirm your selection, simply press the center of the control wheel. This design allows for smooth and efficient menu navigation, enabling you to focus on your creative process.
The control wheel also comes with pre-assigned functions for quick access:
- Top: DISP (Display Setting)
- Bottom: PEAKING (Peaking Display Select)
- Left: ZEBRA (Zebra Display Select)
- Right: SHUTTER (L.PressTv Auto/Manual)
You have the flexibility to customize the left, right, bottom, and center buttons of the control wheel, as well as its rotation, to suit your specific needs. This level of customization ensures that your most-used functions are always at your fingertips. During playback, the control wheel proves equally useful. You can browse through your images by pressing the right or left side of the wheel or by rotating it.
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The FX30 also features a function menu, accessible via the Fn button. This menu provides quick access to frequently used settings such as audio recording level and focus mode. You can customize this menu to include up to 12 functions for both still image and movie shooting modes.
To use the function menu:
- Press the Fn (Function) button.
- Use the control wheel to select the desired function.
- Turn the front dial to choose your setting and press the center of the control wheel to confirm.
- Some functions allow for fine-tuning using the rear dial.
For more detailed adjustments, select the function icon and press the center of the control wheel. This action opens a dedicated setting screen with an operating guide to help you navigate the options.
The FX30 also supports touch operations when [Touch Operation] is set to [On]. This feature allows you to interact with the menu screen directly and even open the [Fn Menu Settings] by holding down the icon in the function menu.
Build Quality
The Sony FX30 is designed with a focus on durability and versatility. It is a compact and lightweight camera. This portable design has several advantages:
- Improved mobility for handheld shooting
- Compatibility with gimbals and drones
- Ease of use with various attached equipment
The camera’s lightweight nature doesn’t compromise its durability.The main body and covers are constructed from a magnesium alloy, which enhances the camera’s ability to withstand harsh conditions.
Built-in Cage and Mounting
The FX30 has a built-in cage design, setting it above non-cinema Sony cameras. This unique aspect provides several mounting points spread across the body, allowing you to attach accessories without the need for an external cage. The user friendly button layout and the inclusion of recording lamps making it easier to upgrade in the future. This ease of use, combined with the camera’s ergonomic build quality, makes the FX30 a significant upgrade for those transitioning from earlier APS-C cameras.
Sony FX30 Video Recording Features
The camera downsamples 6K footage to create 4K images, providing exceptional detail and clarity. This oversampling process is most effective at standard frame rates of 24, 25, or 30fps, where you’ll achieve the best balance between image quality and noise reduction. The FX30 offers a range of internal recording options, with the 25fps 4K 10-bit 4:2:2 footage standing out for its excellent quality. The FX30 has 4K video recording along with multiple codec options:
- XAVC HS 4K: This format uses MPEG-H HEVC/H.265 compression, offering high-quality footage at efficient bitrates. You can record 4K at up to 120fps with bitrates ranging from 30 Mbps to 280 Mbps.
- XAVC S-I 4K: This intra-frame codec uses MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 compression, providing 4K footage at up to 60fps with bitrates up to 600 Mbps.
- XAVC S 4K: Another AVC/H.264 option, allowing 4K recording at up to 120fps with bitrates between 60 Mbps and 280 Mbps.
For slow-motion video, the FX30 offers impressive high frame rate capabilities:
Format.
- XAVC HS 4K 120fps 3840 x 2160
- XAVC S-I 4K 60fps 3840 x 2160
- XAVC S 4K 120fps 3840 x 2160
- XAVC S HD 240fps 1920 x 1080
For 1080p, the FX30 provides excellent Full HD recording options:
- XAVC S-I HD: Records at up to 240fps with bitrates up to 222 Mbps.
- XAVC S HD: Offers frame rates up to 240fps with bitrates ranging from 16 Mbps to 100 Mbps.
Slow and Quick Motion
The camera comes with a wide range of frame rates for creative slow and quick motion effects. In NTSC mode, you can select from 1fps to 120fps, while PAL mode offers 1fps to 100fps, depending on the selected format. With these video recording options, the Sony FX30 is able to make high-quality footage for a variety of professional applications, from documentaries to commercial productions.
Stabilization
The Sony FX30’s excellent stabilization sets it apart from traditional methods. Instead of relying solely on in-body image stabilization (IBIS), the FX30 incorporates gyro sensors that embed camera movement data directly into the recorded video. This innovative feature provides enhanced stabilization options during post-production. The FX30’s gyro sensors capture detailed information about camera movement as you record. This data is then embedded within the video file, allowing for more precise stabilization during editing.
Sony FX30 Autofocus
The Sony FX30 has an extraordinary autofocus system. You’ll find the same AF capabilities as in the Sony a1, Sony a7S III, and Sony FX3. This system offers face tracking and Eye AF, including options for animal subjects, making it versatile for various shooting scenarios. The FX30’s AF system maintains tracking when the image is overexposed or underexposed by a few stops, ensuring consistent performance. You have the flexibility to customize the AF system to suit your needs. You can adjust tracking sensitivity and transition speed between subjects, allowing you to achieve smooth rack focus shots effortlessly.
One standout feature is the focus breathing compensation option for select Sony lenses. The AF assist function keeps the manual focus ring operational during autofocus when using Sony lenses. This feature allows you to override autofocus by simply turning the focus ring, proving invaluable when AF struggles to lock onto your desired subject.
The FX30 offers various focus area options to cater to different shooting styles:
- Wide: Automatically focuses on subjects across the entire screen.
- Zone: Allows you to select a specific zone for focusing.
- Center Fix: Focuses on the center of the image.
- Spot (S/M/L): Enables precise focusing on small subjects in narrow areas.
- Expand Spot: Uses surrounding focus points if the selected point fails.
- Tracking: Follows the subject within the selected autofocus area.
Image Quality
The Sony FX30 captures high-end images due to its 26.1-megapixel backside-illuminated (BSI) sensor. This sensor configuration allows for excellent light-gathering capabilities, resulting in stunning stills straight out of the camera. In low-light situations, the FX30 performs admirably. The camera features Dual Base sensitivities of ISO 800 and 2500, helping to keep your footage clean even in challenging lighting conditions. For still photography, the sensitivity range extends from ISO 125 to 32,000, with an expanded option up to ISO 102,400. The focus breathing compensation crops the image slightly to counteract any focus breathing in the lens for smooth focus transitions.
Battery and Power
For still photography, you can expect to take approximately 570 images on a single charge. This estimate is based on the CIPA standard, which assumes one picture taken every 30 seconds and the camera being turned on and off every ten shots. When it comes to video recording, the FX30 doesn’t disappoint. You can expect:
Actual movie shooting: Approx. 115 min
Continuous movie shooting: Approx. 175 min
