@photonewspn | photographynews.co.uk
GEAR / 35
Hybrid hero gives stills equal billing TESTED: SONY FX2
£2499 sony.com Built for creators who move between photography and filmmaking, the FX2 packs some unique new features
Sony’s latest FX2 hybrid aims to do something its predecessors
never quite achieved by giving stills photographers equal footing with filmmakers. While the lower-resolution FX3 and FX30 catered primarily to video creators, the FX2 brings the 33-megapixel sensor from the A7 IV into the compact Cinema Line chassis, delivering serious all-round performance for hybrid creatives. The most noticeable change is the addition of a high-resolution 3.68-million-dot electronic viewfinder – the first on a Sony cinema camera. Mounted on a tilting mechanism, it makes the FX2 far more practical for daylight shooting, so photographers keep the familiarity of an eye-level finder without leaving behind the compact, rig-friendly design of the FX3. It also has a fully articulated touchscreen LCD for flexible composition at any angle. At its heart is a back-illuminated Exmor R sensor, powered by the Bionz XR processor and Sony’s dedicated AI chip. It shoots 10fps bursts with full AF/AE tracking and captures richly detailed stills with excellent dynamic range. Photographers will appreciate the latest colour science inherited from Sony’s Alpha range, producing improved skin tones and more faithful colour straight-out-of-camera. Sony’s intelligent autofocus is a standout. The Real-time Recognition AF system identifies and tracks subjects – humans, animals, birds, vehicles and even insects – while Auto mode lets the camera decide what to prioritise. It’s fast, confident and just as refined as on Sony’s top-tier stills cameras. Where the FX2 really merges disciplines is in its incredible ability to capture full-resolution stills while recording video. A single press of the shutter button during filming saves a high-quality image without interrupting the video. This isn’t a mere frame grab or low-resolution file but a true, full-resolution photo. This could prove a bonus for sports or event shooters who want to capture both motion and stills simultaneously. Of course, stills shots will be set at the same camera settings as the video, so that might be a big issue. Maybe one day we’ll be able to set different stills and photo settings to really make this feature a game changer.
SPECIAL FX The key feature of the FX2 is the tilting EVF which is very useful. Add a mic and you’re ready to shoot video
BOLT-ON READY The 1/4in-20 screw holes are perfect for accessories and the zoom rocker is video-focused
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