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Sony’s FS7 broke the mould for indie filmmaking and documentary production. Today, it’s a serious bargain cinema camera
Sony PXW-FS7
ony’s FS7 quickly became one of the most important cinema cameras of the modern era, dominating documentaries,
Officially called the PXW-FS7 but universally called FS7, it became famous for its reliability. And now, it’s one of the best-value cinema cameras on the used market – available for around a grand for a good one from a reputable dealer. For a fraction of its original price, you can own a camera that still delivers superb colour, has professional audio inputs, SDI outputs, long battery life and great images. If you pair it with modern lenses and grading tools, you’ll find that the FS7 remains highly capable even to this day. On the more recently released Mark II version, the standard lens mount was replaced by a more sturdy, lever lock type E-mount, the number of user-assignable buttons rose from six to ten, and the LCD monitor arm and mic holder was altered. But pretty much everything from sensor to autofocus system was the same. That’s the mark of a well-made piece of kit that is proven to go the distance.
TV productions, corporate shoots and indie filmmaking for years. And it’s still in use by many crews today. It’s so iconic because it was the first mainstream camera to deliver true cinema performance with interchangeable lenses at a price filmmakers could afford. It was a sell-out success, with long waiting lists as word spread about just how good it was for so many types of project. Its Super 35 sensor produces lovely, cinematic images with up to 14 stops of dynamic range, while internal 4K recording, 180fps high-frame-rate slow motion and robust XAVC codecs make it a genuine production workhorse. The ergonomics were revolutionary too, with its adjustable Smart Grip, shoulder-friendly design and built-in ND filters that shooters simply loved.
Price now: Around £1000/$1000 Sensor size: Super 35 Exmor CMOS Formats: Up to 4K DCI in XAVC-I 10-bit 4:2:2, 12-bit 4K/2K Raw via external recorder Frame rates: 60p for UHD, 180p HD, 240p via external recorder Filters: Variable ND 1/4-1/128 Storage: 2x XQD slots, 1x SD Dimensions (wxhxd): 15.6x 23.9x24.7cm/6.14x9.41x9.72in Weight: 2kg/4.41lb
Next issue: Full test with Canon’s creator-friendly EOS R6 V hybrid
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July/August 2026
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