Sony launches FX5 cinema camera with open gate recording and internal RAW

Sony has announced the FX5, a new full-frame addition to its Cinema Line range, bringing features previously reserved for higher-end production cameras into a more compact body.

The FX5 introduces a newly developed full-frame stacked CMOS sensor, offering more than 15 stops of dynamic range, three base ISO settings and a new Dual Gain Shooting mode designed to improve tonal range and reduce noise in challenging lighting conditions.

The camera is positioned as an evolution of the popular Sony FX3, adding several features aimed at professional video workflows, including Open Gate recording and internal capture of Sony’s X-OCN RAW format.

The FX5 can record 5K video at up to 60 frames per second, 4K at up to 120 fps and Full HD at up to 240 fps. It supports multiple recording formats, including full-sensor 3:2 readout, 17:9, 16:9 and Super 35mm modes.

Sony says the camera’s new sensor and BIONZ XR2 processing engine improve low-light performance, with selectable base ISOs of 800, 4000 and 12,800.

The addition of X-OCN RAW recording allows filmmakers to capture 16-bit scene-linear files without requiring an external recorder.

Autofocus performance has also been upgraded, with AI-based human pose recognition designed to track eyes, heads and bodies, along with improved subject tracking in difficult lighting conditions.

A new Auto Tracing White Balance system combines visible-light and infrared sensor data with machine learning to improve colour consistency.

For handheld shooting, the FX5 includes five-axis optical image stabilisation, with Sony claiming improved roll correction compared with the FX3. Active Mode and Dynamic Active Mode stabilisation options are included for smoother handheld footage.

The camera features a larger 3.5-inch touchscreen LCD than the FX3, mounted on a multi-angle arm, along with a revised menu system shared with Sony’s higher-end Cinema Line cameras.

Sony has also announced two optional accessories for the FX5: a detachable OLED viewfinder and a new XLR handle unit.

The Sony DVF-EL1 OLED Viewfinder features a 0.58-inch OLED panel with approximately 7.07 million dots, HDR support and a wide colour gamut aimed at professional monitoring.

The Sony XLR-H2 Handle Unit adds four-channel audio recording via two XLR/TRS inputs, supporting in-camera recording at up to 96 kHz, 32-bit float.

The FX5 is scheduled to be available from mid-August 2026. The FX5 with XLR handle unit will retail for $8,849 while the body-only FX5B will sell for $7,849.

Sony also says a future firmware update planned for 2027 will add features including higher-resolution high-frame-rate X-OCN recording, Open Gate XAVC S-I recording, improved vertical shooting support and a frame grab function.

You can find out more on Sony's website.