Sony teased it under the tagline “Lighting the Way Forward,” showing nothing but a silhouette, tally lights, and a top handle. On July 22, 2026, the camera underneath the teaser was revealed: a new Cinema Line body carrying the FX5 name. Despite reusing a familiar model number, Sony has been clear this isn’t an FX3 Mark II refresh — it’s built around what the company describes as four pillars: a renewed imaging system, higher image quality, professional operability, and expandability paired with reliability.
A new sensor, three base ISOs
At the center of the camera is a newly developed, fully stacked CMOS sensor. Sony is quoting 15+ stops of dynamic range and a Dual Gain shooting mode running across three selectable base ISOs, which in practice means more flexibility to shoot clean in both bright exteriors and dim interiors without leaning as hard on ND filters or gain tricks in post.
Open Gate and internal RAW
The new FX5 records Open Gate, using the full width and height of the sensor rather than cropping to a fixed aspect ratio — useful for productions that need to reframe for both horizontal and vertical delivery from a single take. It also records internally to X-OCN, Sony’s proprietary RAW format, without needing an external recorder. Frame rate headroom is generous for the class: 5K up to 60fps, 4K up to 120fps, and Full HD up to 240fps.
Built for a rig, not just a hand grip
Physically, the camera pairs a detachable OLED viewfinder with an XLR handle unit, leaning into the modularity that’s made the Cinema Line popular with run-and-gun crews and studio shooters alike. For anyone currently on an FX3 or FX6 wondering where this slots in, expect more detail as Sony publishes full specs and pricing in the weeks following the reveal — but the pitch so far is a camera aimed squarely at working DPs who outgrew the FX3’s compromises without needing the FX9’s size and price.