Sony FX30 Review

The Sony FX30 combines the FX3 body with a brand new APS-C sensor to create a very compelling option for video shooters. Jordan has had one for a few weeks, and has some thoughts on this exciting, affordable new cinema camera.
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Rental equipment provided by The Camera Store
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0:00 - Intro
0:43 - New sensor
2:00 - Photography
2:24 - Recording modes
3:03 - Display
3:57 - Stabilization
5:18 - Cine EI
6:39 - Interface
8:13 - Autofocus
8:42 - New features
10:15 - Raw video
12:04 - Conclusion
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[@jdodson1297]

Dude. The low key humor in this video is A+

[@gianni.camporota]

Such a concise and straight to the point review, good job Jordan !

[@mjsvitek]

Finally - this is the FX30 review I've been waiting for. ❤️

[@jeffschaap]

Thank you for the extremely informative review. My FX30 arrives tomorrow and I can't wait to get my hands on it.

[@50shadesofNV]

this was the BEST REVIEW on FX30 filling all the gaps others left out, THANKS!!!!!!!

[@nsnoesuarez]

At last, i been waiting for this since last week. Thanks Jordan & Chris..

[@RandumbTech]

You forgot to mention timecode!!! For those of us that record externally, this is a big deal.

[@ndiondoindsoisniddnbixnobu2082]

nobody talks about it because sony asked for it

[@Jpeglism]

it costs 169usd to get the timecode cable. just a reminder..

[@davidconsumerofmath]

​@@Jpeglism that's cheap... have you seen the price of the others?

[@Jpeglism]

@@davidconsumerofmath it's a cable, not a timecode generator. means that you also need to get a generator lol

[@jon112media]

Thanks for the vid! I was definitely waiting to hear Jordan's opinion after it was announced. I didn't even think that the 4.7 raw was binned or line skipped until he mentioned it- it's a good thing to keep in mind!

[@smallbatchsessions6892]

I thought it was down sampled

[@smallbatchsessions6892]

I missed you saying RAW ! My bad

[@rzero21]

Best review around. It doesn't take that long to go through all major features.

[@crowonawirehome]

Really well made video. Good backgrounds

[@andrewlankes]

Best Reviews. Love you guys!

[@dannoringer]

Nice review. Keepup the good work.

[@MarcoAries]

Completely agree about the EVF, I use it all the time as well!

[@eatsimplefood]

EVF is essential! I will get the xh2s I guess.

[@bitspacemusic]

Are there any good external options for this camera?

[@MarcoAries]

@@bitspacemusic Not that I know of...

[@timelinesfilms2347]

Same, now I hate having to shoot outside without it ! Especially with tiny, crappy Sony monitors...

[@existphotography8091]

great review

[@demetriusmichael]

Amateur here: please compare cameras to a phone as a benchmark. I watch content on my phone, so seeing the AB comparison is helpful in making a purchase to a dedicated camera again. Not saying phones are better - but it’s a relatable baseline in visually seeing the image stabilization, dynamic range, colours, low light performance, etc at this size.

[@markzabo8988]

Been waiting for this review before I pulled the trigger on this camera, thanks…..

[@jgharding2]

Great, 13 minutes and covered it well, makes a change from the fashion for 50 minute epic movies about cameras 😂

[@steadicamwalker]

Very informative. Thanks

[@goddyab]

Yeah!! Chris is back! The team is back!

[@OrigEntertainmentOfficial]

More Jordan and video reviews, please!

[@rajaindian]

Thank you for the wonderful review I was eagerly waiting for this since last week and wondering why it was delayed?

[@BalancedLugger]

Jordan, please explain why your clothes change colour. Is it the camera or your grading? Thanks.

[@TheYouTubeMechanic]

He's a chameleon

[@ModernMallus]

That crop and line skipping on HDMI output is something nobody else is talking about. That is just poor. Thank you so much for talking about this. Let’s just hope Blackmagic comes with a new pocket camera. Not that 6K pro is bad any way.

[@daniellove162]

If Black Magic came out with a mirrorless lens mount on a pocket camera I’d get it. I sold my EF lenses a looooong time ago and I do not want to reinvest in more.

[@himanologanor4093]

great show ty

[@alpenfoxvideo7255]

I love CINE EI on the FX3, one tap base-iso change is so useful everyday

[@patrickdizonfilms]

I wish it has my a7s3.

[@NathanYoungman]

Thanks Jordan & Chris. Been looking forward to your review. Do you plan to elaborate on recommended APS-C lenses for the FX30?

[@grahamfjlaws6108]

That would be very welcome. There's a good chance that this camera is going to be very popular; I'm certainly attracted to it and I come from a camcorder background. I'm new to APS-C, so some up-to-date advice on lenses would be gratefully received.

[@CoffeeScribe]

You'd make a great used car salesman. Great review.

[@razvanyke]

Top video like always guys, really enjoyed watching it. I am so curious to understand how did you recorded such a clear voice in that crazy windy day and I see no lavalier. How did you do it ? :)

[@hasenmyer]

Thumbs up for the review and the Stillwater Oklahoma shirt

[@terrencetroope]

Watching from a military base abroad. Great informative review. I think you’ve helped me find my new camera sir! Lol

[@MasterOfBasses]

Love you guys. This is my favorite camera show.

[@JasonExplainsThings]

I love the electronic viewfinder on the A7S3. I use it more than the LCD. 🤜🤛

[@user-iw2xe8sx9b]

A7000/A6900/ZVE20 with this sensors make perfect sense.

[@Eikenhorst]

Now hopefully they also release a A6700 with this new sensor and with a decent EVF and a manual shutter in addition to the electronic one. They do have quite a nice travel lens lineup and the A6600 isn't bad, but the sensor isn't fantastic.

[@shueibdahir]

You're a wizard

[@Q_QQ_Q]

It happened

[@filmdigital]

I'm with you Jordan, I much prefer an electronic view finder for outdoor work, than an LCD screen.

[@niyibanks9881]

Great review. Not sure you mentioned anything about the low light capabilities.

[@tomviethoang]

This video looks way better in clarity and color than your usual video posts.

[@AlYuDesign]

Add a viewfinder and a mechanical shutter for wildlife photo = the perfect hybrid Sony APS-C camera!

[@craigcarlson4022]

Am interested solely for what insights we can get (hope for) for a stills photography oriented version of this in the future. Hopefully near future.

[@villageblunder4787]

Love the T-shirt.

[@alpha56]

Note to those trying to use the Premiere Plugin, it's $100 US per year. It also completely slowed down every aspect of Premiere Pro. So tread lightly.

[@christianwmeyer]

Thanks for the review. As always, perfect and focused. As a result, choosing between the Fuji X-H2S and the FX 30 is even more difficult. 🤣🎥📷😉

[@roxisarobot]

Same decision for me! So difficult 😮

[@richaneesh]

Purely for video, FX30 all the way. But if you want stills too, then you have to look at the sacrifices you will make going for either.

[@VideomakerMax]

many complain about the lack of the EVF but this camera is the direct competitor of the Bm6k and no one has ever complained about the lack of the EVF 😃

[@dpreview]

Many did. That’s why the 6K Pro and G2 accept an optional EVF. -Jordan

[@markshirley01]

The BM has a pretty desent rear screen - this has a pretty middling one

This camera with the small sigma 18-50 is a creator dream 😮

[@JeffBourke]

My gripe with the audio grip is that for the same money, you can get a much more convenient external recorder.

[@Keilikeramen]

the best review among other channel for 4k 120p Do sd card ushii fast enough for record or need to be only cfexpress type A?

[@4WDoffroadexperience]

Hi Jordan. First of all thanks for you professional reviews. I have a question. Can I, should I use this camera in back trigger recording mode in High Frame rate recording situation? Thanks

[@StreetsOfVancouverChannel]

Very pleasing image quality for the skin tones as well as for the background with that camera/lens combination. I think that this camera will be the equivalent for video shooters what the A7III was for hybrid shooters: A MASSIVE SUCCESS!

[@martysender5539]

we must have different eyes. the skin tones do not seem natural to me, typical Sony. I prefer Panasonic/Canon//Fuji to this.

[@captainkirk3000]

@@martysender5539 he shot this in Slog 3 and graded it, the skin tones were his personal creative decision

[@markshirley01]

Lets hope Final Cut gets a gyroscopic stabalisation plugin soon 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@jamisonshaffer2059]

This video confirmed that i'm going to buy one

[@pancakesupremacy77]

Awesome camera! It even turned my 50mm lens into a 600mm

[@lawrencewight3013]

Thank you for the review, it is very helpful. I film with the a6600 now and I think the FX- 30 would be good for slow motion in 4k video as the a6600's slow motion is in HD only but they both capture in 6k video.? I don't know any other Sony that has slow motion in 4k at this price.

[@CO8848_2]

This is appropriate, no Chris to even talk about its photo abilities. I agree, even for a video camera, I want the EVF, more resolution, no reflection and much easier to see everything.

[@nyobunknown6983]

I wonder if Sony will release an EVF that utilizes the top flash shoe like they did with their RX1 cameras.

[@stevenjones4835]

I've you guys content thank you.

[@WillemvanderPijl]

Watching the conclusion to this review, it's amazing how much they were able to put into the a6700. All video options just for a shorter amount of time due to no active coolinf

[@bikelifewithalex120]

That look at 5:18 you were serious there.

[@CallMeChato]

Is this a stake to the heart of the GH6? Nice job colour grading this video.

[@roscosart1888]

Nope! No evf, essential for outdoor video/photos.

[@NoSuRReNDeR001]

@@roscosart1888 Personally...I think its weird Sony doesn't make "a little detachable evf" for its Mi shoe...dont these FX3 and 30 cameras have that shoe?.... they could easily solve this problem and make more money. I shoot lit cinema so for me it is critical- *it isolates you in the world you are filming and its much easier to compose in bright situations.

[@ltrono]

One thought on the lack of an EVF, I have found that on my A7iv, I need the EVF much less because the autofocus is so good. It is a giant leap to trust it. I hope that this is the case with the FX-30. There is the focus assist mode to help double check. The detail "slope" seems to make it a bit more useful than some of the earlier Sony cameras. I also have found the EVF on the newer Sony cameras somewhat less compelling since for some reason I have trouble focusing my eyes on the higher resolution image. I find the A7iv ok but the A7Siii is a problem for me. Maybe it's just me since I have not seen this mentioned in reviews. At any rate I would rent one to try it out first.

[@Q_QQ_Q]

Try a7v

[@extremelydave]

WOW, the quality of this video, color, focus and saturation are phenomenal!!!! It really looks like a high grade full-on cinema camera.

[@DrWNoLs]

Funny, I thought the exact opposite. His face has ugly green undertones at 0:25 near his chin. And it looks overly sharpened throughout with an iPhone type look.

[@BTMovieSecondChannel]

I think it looks generally very nice, but sometimes I find the highlight detail very poor. The way Jordan’s face blows out in the end looks very digital to me (11:44). The autofocus is awesome!

[@krishnansrinivasan830]

Nice & Thanks :)

[@AMomentInTimeProductions]

here is something you all should know about the Sony Fx30 i have this camera and done some tests doing video's and found out unlike other Camera's such as canon or Fuji. Just simply setting your shutter speed to 60 or 120 or 240 for the Sony Fx30, WILL NOT Avoid Flickering from lights, Like Banding from lights. you MUST use the (Anti-flicker Set) from the menu to set the shutter angle to the correct number to stop the banding, I shot at 4K-30P 4K-60P and 4K-120P And had to use specific shutter angles that i found that stop the banding, here is a short list of what worked for me for preventing Banding from LED lights Systems.. Shutter Angles to prevent Light Flickering.. for 120P use shutter angle at 239.9 for 60P use shutter angle at 119.9 for 30P use shutter angle at 59.95 now how i found out the numebrs was just looking at my monitor and test recording specific numbers and that was what i found, but i probably doubled the value that i needed, which wouldn't make a difference because it's all synced in the correct cycles that the lights flicker.. But these values here below might be the correct ones to use.. 30P use shutter angle 29.97 60P use shutter angle 59.94 120P use shutter angle 119.9 Notice the shutter angles values are what the frame rates are, well 60P is not 59.94 but when recording to the Ninja i believe that's what it's writing the video's frame rate to.. So when you set your Sony to 60p the ninja is actually recording at 59.94 not 60P, i believe that the Sony does write the videos' frame rate at 60p not 59.94 when recording internally. So there is a bit of a Difference there not much but enough to notice a slight banding.. Any way those numbers up there worked for me incase some one needs to know..

[@baqcasanke]

The fx30 shoots in ntsc 59.94. It simply displays “60p” as a monicker. Same for “30p” is really 29.97 and “24p” is really 23.97. Its just to make naming easier.

[@AMomentInTimeProductions]

@@baqcasanke you are correct even tho you still have to set that shutter angle in the ani-flicker menu because you will see banding, if your recording in doors and or using lights that are power by A/C current, i tested this and just setting the shutter speed to lets say 125 to record a 60fps video is not going to help you in banding you have to go to the ani-flicker menu and set the shutter angle or else you will see banding i tested this and 24 fps 30 fps and 60 fps they all show banding unless you set the shutter angle. How ever On My FujiFilm XT-4 you don't have to do that for some reason not sure why, but i found this out with the Sony FX30 the hard way.

[@tomfwatson]

The random bush location 😂

[@sk32md]

No open gate raw output :( Could you imagine a Sony camera with open gate 6k output. Then you could use all that anamorphic glass thats hitting the market every couple days.

[@ExclusiveTravelReviews]

A great video as usual. You mention that now, Adobe Premiere has this gyro stabilization feature, as Catalyst Browse has, but I have not heard about it on Premiere. Could you please give us more detail about it? THanks!

[@jeffschaap]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qqK5gaiKoLern8k

[@AndyLSB]

all the recording modes and codecs can be recorded to the SD card ? So I don't have to buy CFE type A cards ?

[@danieldougan269]

This camera and the a6700 need to have a baby. They need one APS-C camera with dual card slots, an EVF, and a mechanical shutter. The least they could do is make a removable accessory EVF for the FX30.

[@wkmpellucid]

Great review - according to B&H Photo no more Sony FX30s until February 2023.

[@UrbaneHobbit]

Just seems like there should be a third-party EVF company that makes just one nicely-spec’d model, with different cable options to match various bodies to keep things tidy

[@garfieldirwin]

Sure wish there was a dedicated option for an EVF. Adding a Kameleon would make this a frankencamera.

[@hoodaffairstv]

what lens was used in this video

[@raredreamfootage]

When adjusting the exposure in CINE EI, what is Sony changing in the camera to darken or brighten the image?

[@michaelpetersenfilm]

Thank you for this. You didn't mention the lack of ND filters. If the best image quality can only be obtained with 800/2500 ISO then you need some ND filters in your bag to compensate I guess!

[@agenericaccount3935]

This is not news

[@firstandlastproductionsllc]

No mention of experience with low light with this camera? Was just curious on your opinion for this part of the camera.

[@ziginox]

Jordan, how are the pramps on this? I assume good since you didn't mention anything about it, but usually you do!

[@dyleduja]

yes found this video about photography

[@quiztasiarocks]

I pre ordered the FX30. I wish it did BRAW though. Jordan, could you talk more about the pixel binning in Raw, would be nice to know more about the impact of this? Also, would you say the internal codecs are a good quality and good for editing in Davinci?

[@bitspacemusic]

Here's hoping for the FX60.

[@brettrohlfingvideo]

Would the raw have a noticeable increase in dynamic range? I would have thought so, but then in the review it sounded like that wasn't one of the benefits, so I'm curious. Thanks!

[@professionalpotato4764]

Since it's cropped, likely DR is decreased.

[@RileyEndicott]

Raw won’t add more dynamic range but it will slightly increase how much you can push the dynamic range that is there. I’ve done extensive tests with my a7siii and pro pres raw and found this to be the case.

[@TechnoBabble]

A lot of these cameras that record ProRes RAW externally don't gain any dynamic range. Even some cinema cameras don't have better dynamic range in RAW, it all depends on if the 10-bit log is the limiting factor.

[@MarioBenites]

I know this could be an odd question: can I use an external flash on the fx30?

[@joseegonzalez4894]

I enjoyed the video Chris. I’m going to buy a Sony FX30. Could you recommend what 2 lenses I should have since I’m starting switching from video to Cinema cameras like the FX30? I primarily shoot commercials, interviews, b roll inside and outside. Thank you Chris!

[@calebsnyderdicesare3026]

Would love to see Nikon put this sensor in their new aps-c mirrorless cameras!!!

[@SlavGuns]

and most of all.... IT DOESN'T OVERHEAT!

[@videofiletransfer]

That tiny LCD screen can never totally replace an EVF

[@kimtillie3104]

Please don’t let Chris operate a video camera 😂

[@frigbychilwether]

Hi, at around 3:57 there is a massive change in colour of Jordan's shirt and coat. Are they blue or green ?

[@ps-films]

Hi! As a little background, I'm a satisfied Lumix m4/3 user but before the anouncement of the new S5ii I thought Panasonic was going to be stuck forever with its archaic focus system so after 6 years of using my lumix m4/3 camera I decided to switch to Sony for the superb autofocus. I chose the fx30 as it was the almost perfect camera. It had all good things from the fx3 but for a much more affordable price with the aps-c sensor. So I ordered it after having watched a ton of reviews and tests, where people on youtube claimed that it was all around an almost perfect camera. I received it and checked it out, made all the settings right and did some testing to see how/if I could work with it to replace/improve on my former Lumix camera. I found some flaws however that don't seem very small, I could enumerate them but maybe it's not required for this comment. The biggest of the flaws was its REALLY BAD IBIS system :(( I'm thoroughly dissatisfied with it and I'm wondering what to do?! I can't use the camera with such an IBIS as I shoot events and my former camera was very good for handling walking and movement, unlike the sony which sensor makes erratic movements and sensor shifts that render the video footage useless (Now having watched a ton of more videos I see that all sony mirrorless cameras, even the most expensive ones, behave like this concerning their IBIS) :(( I don't want to buy and shoot with a gimbal, as it would be another complication for my setup and Catalyst products seem to be an innovative way to deal with this issue, however the shutter speed must be really high in order to overcome the motion blur during stabilization. I tried with shutter speed of 200 and the footage came out still muddy. Maybe at above 250 it starts to work. This workflow of stabilizing each clip in Catalyst however seems very inefficient and time and energy consuming. So my final question after this whole dissapointment is: IS THERE A WAY TO STABILIZE SONY FOOTAGE without so much hassle? I have informed myself about a few possible solutions, mostly adding weight to the camera, but for event videography I don't want to add a ton of weight and go around with it all day long and as a result it doesn't help that much either. So I don't see as a solution these options as gimbals, having a heavy rig or extensive stabilization and render times in post. I tried handles with moderate success but the sensor shifts still persist and make the videos unpleasent the least. WILL EVERYBODY JUST STOP PROMOTING CAMERAS THAT HASN'T TESTED personally and properly. If any of the audience knows some solution for the Sony IBIS problem, I'll be happy to hear it. If I don't find any, it would be a pity, but I'd have to sell this otherwise potentionally good all around camera. Thank you.

[@MrPFMneto]

KZbin is a place for confirmation bias and impulse buying. It's very hard to find truthful reviews. Even the bad aspects of a product are provided by the company. If you pay attention you will see that most KZbinrs say the same thing: a few minus points but definitely worth the buy (through their affiliate links).

[@THEJOKEYJOKER]

could you please fix the video markings.. autofocus is under interface label and autofocus label should be audio.. thanks for the review.

[@smallbatchsessions6892]

Will Sony ever bring focus breathing comp to the a7siii ?

[@peterlelievre3724]

How do i setup my fx30 so i can see how the video is really going to look like. i want to know that my iso isn't washing out in my video until i get home and add the luts to my video in final cut pro x

[@JeffBourke]

It’s a shame that the external “raw” is line skipped. Better not to even include that feature in the camera at all.

[@jsjamesok]

Tulsa Oklahoma person here. I am curious how you came to have the Stillwater OK shirt Jordan?

[@SuperZardo]

what happens at 0:23 with those large pixel blocks on the leaves to the left of the subject?

[@NathanBuildsRobots]

I always like your videos guys. However, I thought it funny that Chris wasn't allowed to talk in this episode because it's a cinema camera.

[@alejandroortiz4565]

Is a great camera 😊

[@somewhatboxes]

that line skipping over HDMI bit really breezed by. i already own a ninja v and i was thinking about getting rid of my canon gear out of frustration with their behavior towards 3rd-party lens makers. dropping my R6 or my BMPCC6k for a camera that does line skipping over HDMI... seems like a huge price to pay to be able to record to an SSD (i don't wanna record internally to expensive SD cards...) thank you so much for pointing this out. i had no idea about that limitation, so i dunno how i would've known about it if not for this review

[@thatjordandrake]

You can get oversampled 10-bit 4:2:2 video out of the HDMI. It's only when outputting ProRes Raw video that there will be an additional crop and subsampled video.

[@somewhatboxes]

@@thatjordandrake i see - i think my idea was that i would be going from Blackmagic Raw to ProRes Raw since i already have a ninja v, but i might be asking a bit much considering my situation doesn't really warrant all this color grading and whatnot. i'll still think about it, but getting a better sense of the FX30's abilities is giving me a much better picture of what i would be signing up for if i switched from my bmpcc6k to this. thanks so much

[@MarioCastillion]

Great review again. I'm curious...which microphone did you guys use for this video? The audio is very clean and pleasant.

[@laowaibaba]

Amateur video guy question: at the 9:27 point, your sky color stays a nice blue throughout. If I shot that same scene, the sky would jump between different hues and shades of blue. It's especially obvious when the background is white clouds, and it jumps between different shades of white and gray. Help! What am I doing wrong? Is it auto white balance? Aperture? and I don't know how to word the question on Google. Any help would be much appreciated. Great video Jordan and Chris. Always to the point, and very helpful! Cheers.

[@hy7968]

Would probably because you’re not shooting manual and the camera is automatically adjusting the exposure.

[@laowaibaba]

@@hy7968 I have it on M setting, but I must have exposure on auto or something. Thanks, I'll look into exposure settings. Peace

[@geopapa80]

I think Sony should provide an external EVF option

[@rudolphlagarrigue5072]

hope we will see wifi viewfinder a day.....come on Sony! like a pirate!

[@techjedi2878]

@@rudolphlagarrigue5072 You could always try the goggles that are used by drone pilots to have a first person view while flying.

[@schoeferfilm]

I think this would be a great b-cam for my fx6 😅

[@fastihavet]

Here in Europe this camera is priced very differently from the US and Canada. You can always argue about tax and conversion rates of course but the fact is relative to its competition the FX30 is a less appealing deal over here. The FX30 is 2300 Euro(without the handle) while the GH6 is 1960 euro and the Blackmagic Pocket 6K Gen 2 is 2000 Euro. Seems like a good camera otherwise! Hopefully the new sensor can also revitalize Sonys APS-C lineup.

[@Vinterloft]

In Norway the GH6 is exactly the same price as the X-H2 at about 2500 euro, and the FX30 is only 100 less making the X-H2 a no-brainer.

[@fastihavet]

​@@Vinterloft Here in Sweden the GH6 is 23000 kr, Fuji XH-2 is 25000 kr and the FX30 is 26000 kr.

[@PMSchaft]

I definitely agree with this, although youtubers tend to hide the reality that $1799 is before tax even in some US states. I would rather get the a7iv as the price difference is insignificant if and only if I need to choose between the two.