Sony PXW-FX9

Make: Sony

Model: PXW-FX9

Short Description: Full Frame E-mount Camcorder.

Main Description:

Full-frame creativity

Realise beautiful 4K imagery with the creative freedom made possible by oversampling a huge high resolution full-frame sensor. Capture every detail from the scene with shallow depth of field and stunning bokeh with a truly cinematic look. 15+ stops of dynamic range and Dual Base ISO enable capture of every nuance, from subtle shadow detail to specular highlights and with an immaculate colour palette.

Capturing the impossible

Make sure your story’s always clear with enhanced Fast Hybrid AF that tracks your subject with unprecedented speed, smoothness and precision. Its impact is transformative for premium documentary, commercials and event applications. Your ability to precisely capture your subject’s expression is further enhanced with Sony’s unique Eye AF and Real-time Tracking

Shoot in comfort, expand your horizons

FX9 revolutionises full-frame cinematography with peerless ergonomics and advanced technology for on-the-go shooting. The world’s first full-frame electronic variable ND filter transforms possibilities for shooting in variable lighting conditions. Built-in Wi-Fi and 12G-SDI support advanced workflows while the optional XDCA-FX9 extension unit further expands the operational possibilities of the PXW-FX9. Ver.2.0 firmware adds HLG and User 3D LUTs while Ver.3.0 enhances support for multi-cam applications with S700 Protocol over Ethernet and anamorphic lens support with de-squeeze x2.0 and x1.3 on viewfinder.

6K Full-Frame “Exmor R” sensor for stunning picture quality

The back-illuminated full-frame 6K CMOS sensor uses Sony’s Exmor R technology for improved sensitivity and reduced noise. When recording at DCI 4K, Ultra HD resolutions the ability to oversample and capture at 6K, combined with powerful image processing, ensures that subtle details and textures beyond those that can be captured by a conventional 4K sensor are retained while at the same time noise is reduced.

Compared to a 4K Super 35mm sensor, the FX9’s 6K sensor has over twice the surface area, providing a wider angle of view, making it easier to gain a shallower depth of field. You can also shoot with Super 35mm lenses without compromise, capturing at 4K in super 35mm with all the benefits of this advanced imaging sensor.

Phenomenal 15+ stops dynamic range for limitless expression

FX9 offers an exceptional 15+ stops of dynamic range – allowing for unprecedented creative freedom in colour grading and post. Camera operators can concentrate on framing the scene they want while relying upon the FX9 to capture every nuance and detail using either 4K 4:2:2 10-bit internal recording or 16-bit RAW external recording. In grading, colourists can find colour and detail beyond the normal viewing abilities of the camera operator to create a final image that exactly portrays the mood of the scene.

Dual Base ISO for stunning images in any light

Digital imaging sensors perform best at their base ISO as no unnecessary gain (voltage) is added to the sensors output. While a typical camera has a single base ISO, carefully chosen to provide the optimum settings for a wide range of shooting scenarios, the FX9’s dual ISO function offers far greater flexibility. Its low base sensitivity of ISO 800 is similar to most other digital cinema cameras offering an excellent balance between dynamic range and sensitivity for most normal types of production. The FX9 with its secondary High Base ISO of 4000* excels in low light conditions without adding extra gain. Low light scenes can be shot using High Base and 4000 ISO with near identical image quality to Low Base and 800 ISO. Combining Dual Base ISO with the camera’s electronic variable ND Filter provides superb creative control in almost any shooting environment, with truly next generation responsiveness to changing conditions.

Cinematic colour science with S-Cinetone™

S-Cinetone is the default look of FX9 that’s tuned to meet the requirements of today’s content creators with rich mid-range colours, alluring facial tones and a softer tonal look – developed with the same expertise as Sony’s world-leading VENICE digital cinematography camera. S-Cinetone means that straight out of the camera your content looks fresh and vivid, with subjects that really stand out while retaining plenty of latitude in post-production thanks to the high performance full-frame image sensor.

Accelerate your workflow with User 3D Luts and HLG

User Created 3D LUTs make it easy to customise FX9’s look to your preferences. It is possible to import LUTs files from an SD card and store up to 16 files on the FX9’s internal memory and switch between them as needed. This is particularly useful for shooting in S-Log3, allowing you to preview on camera whatever custom look you create.

FX9 can record HDR using S-Log3 or Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG).

• S-Log3 is optimized for premium applications, capturing the maximum dynamic range from a sensor and providing ultimate creative freedom when colour grading
• HLG* delivers content quickly without additional colour grading making it an ideal choice for day-to-day shooting, viewing and editing workflows

Selectable frame rates for full-frame, Super 35 and Super 16

Choose your desired frame-rate from 1fps up to 180fps for impressive quick and slow motion footage. FX9 creates an immersive image with a wide-angle look and shallower depth of field provided by its full-frame sensor in combination with quick and slow motion. Engage your audience with this new creative look. FX9 also offers a Quality priority setting that maximizes full HD image quality using full-frame 6K scan mode or Super 35 4K scan mode with advanced oversampling technology. With Ver.3 firmware, FX9 also supports Super 16 scan mode and enables B4 lens control (requires optional LA-EB1 and XDCA-FX9 for lens DC supply) with ALAC (Auto Lens Aberration Compensation). Imager scan area can be switched with Assign button that works like a digital extender.

Super 35 2K imager scan mode prioritizes frame rates, so image quality may be reduced depending on the shooting environment. In this instance, below settings are recommended.

• Cine EI mode: Set EI gain lower and exposure level higher instead
• Custom/SDR mode: Choose the gamma category setting of Original (S-Cinetone) or STD (STD1 to 6)

16-bit RAW capability

16-bit RAW offers a phenomenal increase in post-production creative freedom to fully exploit FX9’s exceptional 15+ stops of dynamic range. FX9 supports export of 16-bit RAW at either 4K or 2K resolution using the optional XDCA-FX9 extension unit with a single BNC cable connection to compatible external RAW recorders.

Catch the action with enhanced Fast Hybrid AF

Effortlessly track fast moving subjects with pin-sharp focus, even when using wide lens aperture settings to maintain a shallow depth of field with the camera’s full-frame sensor. Developed by Sony’s α camera engineers, enhanced Fast Hybrid AF combines phase detection AF for fast, accurate subject tracking with contrast AF for exceptional focus accuracy. In addition, Face Detection intelligently recognises and locks on to human faces.

The dedicated 561-point phase detection AF sensor covers approximately 94% of the whole image area width and 96% of height, allowing consistently accurate, responsive AF tracking, even with fast-moving subjects.

Eye AF and Real-time Tracking

FX9 is the world’s first professional camcorder with Sony’s world-leading eye tracking technology. High speed, high precision image processing maintains a pin-sharp focus. During an interview or portraiture shoot, you can rely upon Eye AF to capture your subject’s most subtle expressions while you concentrate on the interview and framing. Simply turn on Face or Eye AF priority for seamless AI-based tracking.

Using Real-time Tracking you can simply touch a subject on the viewfinder, or select a face with FX9 joystick, and the camera will track and maintain focus automatically.

Customisable AF settings

FX9’s comprehensive autofocus settings provide the creative flexibility to integrate with any project.

7-level AF transition speeds from Fast – switching between subjects as quickly as possible – to Slow, where speed is reduced to fit a more measured shooting style, such as a historical TV drama.

5-level AF subject shift sensitivity ranges from Locked-on – ignoring other moving subjects in the frame – to Responsive that switches focus from one subject to another – ideal for snapping between race cars as they speed by.

Proven ergonomics & accessory compatibility

FX9 chassis is the latest refinement of the revolutionary FS7 design, so you can be sure it will feel great to shoot with from almost any position, while also offering compatibility with a large proportion of the countless FS7 accessories including U-series batteries, chargers, E-mount lenses, plus arms and lens adapters.

The control arm is easily adjusted without tools, so FX9 adapts effortlessly to your physique and preferred shooting style – handheld, at waist level or shoulder mounted. The smart grip also features an updated design, more compact than before while still holding all the key shooting controls, allowing you to concentrate on the scene without distractions. FX9 also introduces a micro-USB interface for improved responsiveness and support for a wrist strap.

To withstand the rigors of real-world shooting, FX9 has a robust magnesium chassis which is almost one third lighter than aluminium equivalent, while offering high impact resistance. FX9’s buttons, dials and other parts are sealed to prevent dust and water spray from entering for even greater operational reliability.

4K Multi-Camera Remote Operation

PXW-FX9 supports S700 Protocol over Ethernet for simple, easy-to-operate multi-camera operation for local events and TV studio production. The optional XDCA-FX9 Extension Unit with RJ45 jack can take S700 Protocol control via Ethernet from a single RCP unit or you can control multiple FX9s with a PoE Switch using one RCP per FX9. A/V output over SDI can be routed via a standard SDI switcher and a monitor such as the PVM-X2400 can display up to four HD inputs simultaneously.

Adds shoulder-style operation, advanced networking

Further extend the capabilities of the FX9 with the optional XDCA-FX9 extension unit that optimises camera weight distribution and ergonomics for comfortable shoulder-style shooting – ideal for ENG (Electronic News Gathering) and documentary applications. The extension unit also adds advanced networking for streaming/file transfers and Timecode for multi-camera shoots.

4-channel audio input and recording

FX9 offers superb audio capabilities with independent control dials for each channel. In applications such as interview, 4-channel audio recording enables simultaneous use of an external microphone for recording ambient sounds, the built-in microphone for voice memos by the operator, and two optional UWP Series wireless microphones for voice of interviewer and interviewee. In addition, using the optional XLR-K3M, XLR-K2M or XLR-K1M XLR adapter – with two extra XLR inputs – allows even more devices to be connected.

Multi-Interface (MI) Shoe

Sony’s flexible Multi-Interface (MI) Shoe provides power, signal connections and coordinated on/off switching with compatible Sony accessories. For example, you can connect and control Sony UWP-D wireless microphone systems (optional).