Sony Fx2

scorsesefan

scorsesefan

Veteran
Sony has introduced the FX2. According to PetaPixel it reuses the A7IV sensor (33MP) and includes a tilting EVF. MSRP is $2700 without top handle/$3100 with handle. Also, uses Sony's newest AF system. I like the inclusion of the EVF, but Sony's sensor recycling is getting to be a bit much. Thoughts?

 
It's attractive enough at $2700 for the next crop of camera buyers...and they'll milk the tech as long as they possibly can until USA's big tech starts making cinema cameras (which likely will never happen until they can figure out the light-field systems).
 
Is it worth not getting the A7iv or the A7CII? They can be had on sale from time to time. I agree, things are getting a little circular. Panasonic's new line is very confusing and overlapping as well. I think it shows the image quality is there and improvements are of diminishing returns.

When the A7sIII came out, it was the first part of a huge improvement cycle in mirrorless cameras across all brands. They seem to have planned to milk the lineups until enough time passes for the (maybe) next round of large improvements. The camera market is difficult and I saw that round of great cameras as a large push (maybe last gasp) to get folks to upgrade before everything is totally commoditized.
 
2020/1 is the year I think image quality/dynamic range sort of topped out. You had the a7siii/fx3/fx6, c70/c3003/c500II and the Komodo. Sony has been recycling sensors ever since. I think the main improvements now are in features like AF and image stab and resolution. Sony. needs to step up to 6K, which I think is the sweet spot for these cameras. If anything the fx2 is a roadmap form factor wise for the evolution of the fx line...
 
I can't understand these camera companies. Seems like the things they do are for their own reasons. What is the point of reusing A7 IV slow reading sensor that crops when shooting 4k60. Either they should have upgraded the processor or should have kept it a lower resolution sensor.

This seems like Sony repurposing A7 IV sensors into another model for cost efficiency and sales. It's nice they added a tilting EVF but who's buying it just for that and still have to suffer with 4k 60 crop? What is the point of this release? This is a reskin of the A7 IV. The FX line is supposed to specialized for video. Confusing overlapping models.
 
Last edited:
It's sometimes challenging to go back in time and remember because we all forget this stuff so quickly, but if you go back exactly 10 years ago to 2015 when full-frame cameras really started to get going after Canon's one-of-a-kind 5D Mark II and Nikon's D700 and Sony's a7S (2014), we had so many years of larger sensors with 8-bit and 4K/30p, just one after another.

Then they slowly get the 10-bit in and cropped 4K/60p in, then they let loose on 4K/60p FF for a few, then they squeezed out a couple 4K+ models...just milking and milking.

Eventually more consistent 6K and 8K models with appear or a few special 4K/240p models might drop...

I think camera history will keep repeating itself with whatever is just good enough to sell with a few golden goose eggs here and there.
 
Yes, that is the makers' business model. 2020/2021 was a large step forward for the industry imho. They finally decided to give us a lot of what we wanted in the mirrorless space. Outside of the big moves they milk. But I don't quite get the overlapping models approach. Are there really a lot of people out there that have not purchased an A7iv, A7CII, FX3 or any of the other brands that need an FX2? I guess Sony sees the FX3/2 body style as different enough to offer it again.
 
There are people like me (when I was like that) who will buy every new model (or most that come out) because they have no willpower and the thought of missing out on the newest camera is unbearable.

You get your fix then sell it the next day or return it.

They know this and laugh about it in meetings.
 
All this talk of milk, I actually went down stairs, heated up a cup of milk and put a teaspoon of honey in it.

The camera I should have bought but didn't have a need for until recently was the DJI Pocket 3 for a upcoming wedding. They almost doubled the price because of the tariffs. Funny enough they didn't raise the price of their action cams because no one makes a product like it and they're in high demand. The creative combo kit is $1,000 now and unavailable.
 
Last edited:
If I didn't own one before I would think in my head that it was just a gimmick and overhyped, but it's probably one of the most useful things I've ever used for video production.

So simple, so smooth, and if you keep the ISO low and shoot in LOG, you have footage that has no business looking as good as it does.
 
Bassman2003 said:
Yes, that is the makers' business model. 2020/2021 was a large step forward for the industry imho. They finally decided to give us a lot of what we wanted in the mirrorless space. Outside of the big moves they milk. But I don't quite get the overlapping models approach. Are there really a lot of people out there that have not purchased an A7iv, A7CII, FX3 or any of the other brands that need an FX2? I guess Sony sees the FX3/2 body style as different enough to offer it again.
Click to expand...
Yes, the a7siii was especially groundbreaking back then. Sony finally dropped the cripple hammer and forced Canon and others to follow suit.
 
Peter C. said:
The camera I should have bought but didn't have a need for until recently was the DJI Pocket 3 for a upcoming wedding. . The creative combo kit is $1,000 now and unavailable.
Click to expand...
Interesting. I hand't noticed the big price jump. Happier more than ever to have bought mine last year off of NorBro. It has already paid for itself through sales of stock from just one shoot. Everything else I've used it for is gravy.
 
scorsesefan said:
Yes, the a7siii was especially groundbreaking back then. Sony finally dropped the cripple hammer and forced Canon and others to follow suit.
Click to expand...
the 8K R5 came before the a7SIII, I consider it the first one that started the new era of cameras, that summer was insane
 
Yeah the A7s III was ground breaking. The AF, low light, etc. Then they sat back and waited for someone to beat it, when no one did they were like cool we'll keep selling it and not update it. . Had to check B&H they're still selling it 7 years later. lol Still selling for full price $3.500?

edit: caught my mistake "s"
 
Last edited:
Hmmm... Initial thoughts...Glad to see the tilting VF on this little baby... that's certainly progress... (as I'm in the camp that would never buy a camera that doesn't have a VF)
Specs are decent... but nothing too jaw dropping. Need to make a deeper dive into research on RS and the stills possibility.
 
Peter C. said:
Yeah the A7s III was ground breaking. The AF, low light, etc. Then they sat back and waited for someone to beat it, when no one did they were like cool we'll keep selling it and not update it. . Had to check B&H they're still selling it 7 years later. lol Still selling for full price $3.500?
Click to expand...
only 5 years...but that is a long time for some models
 
Btw I remembered Sony did the same thing before:

When they came out with the FX1 they used the A7s3 sensor
Now with the FX2 they use the A74 sensor
 
I think it's a big name in their line, but I really don't know. They could easily just focus on the FX models and make the a1 III a must-have hybrid.

Years ago, it was guaranteed they would go from a7S II to III (took 6 years), but not so guaranteed anymore with all the FX models that are actually more suited for what most people would be using a hypothetical a7S IV for (video).

FX6 2/II will probably be a tremendous release.
 
Looks like the "FX" line just means repacked in Grey these days. That old A74 sensor is a very very odd choice for video. It just so slow. So slow you need to crop for HFR and even then the read out speed is still too slow @ 26ms. In theory, it's 33MP sensor could capture 8K but the read out speed would what, 100+ms?
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top