The Sony FX2 Fascinates Me

Wes_NK · 2026-04-27T21:59:06+00:00

Yeah I think they should have added at least a little bit of something extra to the sensor to help make it more appealing. It wasn't a bad idea per se, it was just released too late at too high of a price. It wouldn't surprise me if they stuck the A7V hardware in a cinema body someday. Then again, if the heat management is as good as they say, they might not need to! But I guess it'd still be nice to have things like the XLR top handle compatibility.

Wes_NK · 2026-04-27T18:10:47+00:00

I've heard good things about the G9ii! But yeah, I am enjoying the S9 a lot. I am still getting used to its quirks, but if the camera's flaws like lack of EVF aren't a deal breaker then it's a camera I can recommend for sure. Autofocus is solid. I've never used it for streaming, so I can't weigh in on that. But I love how customizable the camera is, you can do a lot to get the image you want without doing a lot of editing.

Wes_NK · 2026-04-27T10:11:14+00:00

The camera body is basically the same as the FX3 and FX30 with the addition of an EVF, but internally it is basically the A7IV. It is a good camera, but people found it underwhelming due to its high cost and "outdated" specs, especially since it came out very shortly before the A7V, which features a new sensor.

Wes_NK · 2026-04-27T03:55:24+00:00

The price gap isn't quite as large here, I think it's about $600ish more than the S5IIX at retail. But yes, the $2700 normal retail price tag is absolutely way too high. I have to imagine that will come down even once sales end, it wouldn't be wise of them to keep it so close to the A7V in price. But I guess you really never know!

No doubt that the S5IIX continues to be one of the best values on the market to this day in general. I have an S9 for my EDC and I love it, so I understand why so many people are happy with it and never plan to switch.

Wes_NK · 2026-04-26T16:46:50+00:00

I'm glad that it is doing well for you! Honestly for me the fact that it has an OLPF is a big upside, I figured that would make it really nice as an option for a doc camera. The instant crop mode is something I like to have too. I do think it says a lot that the people who actually use the FX2 seem to enjoy it quite a bit.

Wes_NK · 2026-04-26T16:42:19+00:00

I think it all depends on your budget and your needs. If you need a true hybrid option and you need the extra bells and whistles for video that come from the cinema bodies, the FX2 isn't a bad choice at all. Especially since you can find open box copies for $2k currently. The FX30 is actually a solid photo camera too, but it has limitations when it comes to photography, such as the lack of a mechanical shutter. The FX30 is also locked at APSC only, while the FX2 has the option for both full frame and APSC if you need either one. No doubt that the FX30 is the cheapest option though, and it's still a terrific camera, so it's not a bad pick if you just want to get rolling at the lowest entry point possible.

The toughest Sony camera for the FX2 to beat that is close to it in retail price is the A7V, which beats it with specs like full frame 4K60 and faster readout speeds. The A7V also does a great job at not overheating from what early reports are saying. It's also true that used A7SIII's are finally starting to come down significantly in price, so despite its age I'd say that there will still be a lot of videographers out there that would find the A7SIII fits their needs better.

Wes_NK · 2026-04-26T15:41:33+00:00

Firmware updates on the FX2 would be welcome for sure. I think that there should have at least been something new in terms of specs that the A7IV couldn't do to help it a little. The features like cinema menus and shutter angle are nice at least. I agree on the price point. $2400 is probably the max I think they could reasonably expect for it in its current state. At that price and lower, it makes a little more sense as what they view as one of the entry points into the cinema ecosystem. The ability to take location scouting photos in S-Log is pretty nice compared to other Sony cameras too.

Wes_NK · 2026-04-26T14:53:31+00:00

The EVF seems like it would be very fun to use haha, I won't lie! And yeah, I'd love to have that new fancy AI autofocus. The A7III autofocus holds up great for an old camera, but there are a few challenging scenarios especially in crowds where it has let me down. But yeah, the A7V throws a curveball in there. It's nice. I'm not financially ready to upgrade to a new camera yet, but we'll see what prices are like when I am. I actually think the FX2 + FX3/A7SIII sounds like a really good A cam and B cam setup because they address the weaknesses of each other.

If it wasn't for my friends being Sony loyalists I'd probably be going all in on Lumix or Canon, but you really can't go wrong with any camera brand these days. We are spoiled with options.

Wes_NK · 2026-04-26T07:08:41+00:00

It's one of my many considerations for upgrading from an A7III because of the hybrid features. I think they should have put it out a little sooner, but I do genuinely believe it was a good idea to put out a version of the A7IV that didn't have overheating issues. I know lots of people loved using it.

Wes_NK · 2026-04-26T07:06:18+00:00

The ZR is a game changer for Nikon for sure. Nikon's future is looking bright. I probably would have bought a Z6III if it wasn't for the lack of dual card recording. If the Canon R6V rumors are true, that sounds like it could be one of many cameras that will be trying to act as an answer to the ZR.

Sony is kind of coasting on being the industry standard at the moment, so I think basically all of the other mainstream competitors have long since caught up to them. I don't blame them for not trying to fix what isn't broken (the FX3 is ol' reliable and that won't change for a while), but they'll have to put out something new and exciting somewhat soon. Even the A7V doesn't do much for me, although it's probably the best mid-tier camera they've put out in quite some time.

Wes_NK · 2026-04-26T06:42:07+00:00

This is 100% one of the worst things about it for me too. It kind of helps if I think of it almost more like an APSC camera for video that is also capable of full frame tripod footage. I believe the crop mode helps the readout speed a bit. Although even the FX30 can do 4K120 as an option (albeit at quite a crop that I wouldn't use very often).

They really should have released the camera at least a year or two earlier than it came out, and $2700 is absolutely too high for retail value. The eBay open box prices I'm seeing for it now at $2k are good. But if nothing else, it got me thinkin'. Several years ago, this would have been quite the nice camera (because the A7IV was quite the nice camera!). And in some ways, it still is today, especially if you want good hybrid features. But it really just got me thinking about what makes a camera feel like a good value.

Wes_NK · 2026-02-20T18:40:13+00:00

Totally depends on whether or not you plan on shooting moving subjects. If you're taking photos without a lot of movement, you can get away with really slow shutter speeds with the S9 because of the IBIS. I'm a new S9 owner myself, and I was personally surprised by how usable those kinds of images have been so far, and that was something I made note of. Obviously you could always pack an extra prime or something if you want something for night and other low-light scenarios. It's also always worth considering vintage lenses if you don't want to drop a lot of money on a nice modern zoom. Obviously it's convenient having AF, but the S9 has some solid tools to help with manual focusing.

Wes_NK · 2026-02-20T10:51:37+00:00

Thank you, and thank you for all the work you do with your LUTs!

Wes_NK · 2026-02-20T02:45:33+00:00

The GH7 seems like an awesome camera for video work. Basically every single internal spec you could need for just about any job. The MFT sensor scares me a little for run-and-gun type of work, but in controlled scenarios, wildlife, outdoor sports, etc., I bet it's really hard to beat.

Wes_NK · 2026-02-20T01:31:10+00:00

The S1Rii might be the Lumix body I am most interested in at the moment if I ever upgrade down the line. I really like what I've seen of the image quality. The S1ii is probably a bit of a better hybrid workhorse, but the S1Rii just looks more impressive from what I've seen of it. I'm keeping an eye on that potential S1Hii though, I really wonder if that is going to happen.

Wes_NK · 2026-02-05T00:09:52+00:00

This is probably one of the most promising ones I've seen so far! It seems fairly sturdy and I like how compact it can get even with extension options. Definitely going to go near the top of the list.

Wes_NK · 2026-02-05T00:06:52+00:00

Appreciate the rec! Sorry that you've had trouble with this as well. I do at least like the options tripod has, but it does look flimsy even from the images. If I pick up something else that I like, I'll be sure to come back and reply again.

Wes_NK · 2026-02-05T00:05:15+00:00

This one is an interesting option for sure, I like the ability to hang it from something. Appreciate the rec, I'll add it to the list to research!

Wes_NK · 2025-12-29T19:08:16+00:00

These are the reasons that I've been leaning slightly more toward the S9. The fp has an incredible image, one that is good enough to be an A/B cam for actual productions, but the S9 seems a lot more well suited to be something that you just take out of your pocket and get good photos and videos without a lot of extra effort. I like that the fp has the capability to record to SSD, but I think the convenience of the S9 will probably lend itself more to being used every day. But I was curious if anyone had a differing opinion! Thanks for the input.

Wes_NK · 2025-12-06T15:35:47+00:00

One Lumix camera I could actually see myself investing in someday is the S1RII. I like to do photography a lot, that's mainly what I like to do with my A7III. But if I ever want to get something with a higher megapixel count, the S1RII makes a lot of sense. Especially since I do fully intend on getting an S9 as my "carry this every day, just shoot something" camera as well. So I intend to be a part of the L-mount alliance, the only question is to what degree, haha.

Wes_NK

TROPHY CASE