Why Is The Sony FX6 So Popular?! 

With the advent of this camera, a saying has appeared - the operator of the FX6 shoots, while the rest change the ND filters.

We've been using several FX6s at our university media program for two years or so now, and our students love it (recently bought our 3rd and 4th). It's a great tool to teach students to use and manipulate auto focus. The only things we really miss from it are Genlock support and a minijack mic input on the body. It has become our main camera to invest in over the next few years to modernize our fleet.

I've been an owner operator of the FX6 since about 3 months after it's initial release. I was amongst the second wave of preorders from the United States. Gotta say this camera has held up incredibly well, and I don't see myself needing to replace it for a VERY long time. It provides me with everything I could need in an A camera. It could be nice to have 6k as an acquisition resolution but with Topaz AI, it feels less and less of a necessity to capture higher than 4k if I can continue to use the camera I already own. If anything, I will move to the second version of the FX9, whenever that comes out.

It's been a career changing purchase. I've been fortunate to have been working with the FX6 for almost 2 years now. Incredibly versatile camera and a joy to use.

Had mine for about 1 year now, best camera purchase I made, have been doing mainly TV ad's for the last 5 years and that work has slowed down a little. I picked the FX6 up to better suit bringing in corporate shoots and that's made this last year my most profitable ever - maybe not as exciting as bigger budget shoots but lots more of that style of work around. FX6 has been my favourite camera to operate, a true workhorse like you say and a pleasure to shoot with - actually ended up using it on a bunch of ad's due to the autofocus and speed you can work at - ended up getting used alongside footage from RED with Cooke S7's and with the right lighting it's nearly impossible to tell apart in the final ad's. One of the best features you don't often hear is the audio setup, I set 1 and 2 as manual levels for my Lav & Shotgun, then 3&4 as auto levels with limiter from the same tracks as a backup - never had an issue with audio as a result. I used to own a RED and to be honest I love working with the FX6 so much more (especially given how long the battery lasts). The RED worked out for me in a lot of ways, and at the time opened doors for me and got lucky that I sold it before the prices crashed whilst still being in demand. FX6 paid for itself in the first couple months - can't say that about any other camera I've owned. Colour science is much improved compared to the older Sony's I've used / owned (FS700, FS7, A7s) and pairs perfectly with A7Siii for gimbal stuff. If anyone is on the fence - i've used a lot of cameras over the last 10 years, and this is my favourite - very versatile, not too pricey and a joy to work with.

We've been working with the FX6 for over 2 years now & it's been a true workhorse. From smaller run'n'gun Shoots to big multi-day Productions. Together with the FX3 it's a hard to beat setup in that range if you ask me 👌🏻

Absolutely. I had one of the first ones (number 33) and it's been phenomenal since day one. The first camera that finally delivers on all of the promises that camera manufacturers have been pushing for decades

I've been running my FX6 for two years now so I guess that makes me an early adopter. All in all it's 95% of the way to the perfect camera. I love it and wouldn't trade it for anything other than ARRI. Few additional things I think are worth mentioning: Additional PROs: - This camera is rugged! pretty dust and moisture proof. There's no official rating but I've shot with it in rain and snow and dust-filled abandoned research facilities, and it handled like a champ. - You don't need CFxpress cards with this camera. I've been shooting for 2 yrs with my Kingston v90 SD cards and never had a single issue - The codec deserves additional praise. It's the golden sweet spot of quality and file size! Few people admit it but XAVC is way better than ProRes! - You haven't truly tasted life until you worked with Sony's variable electronic ND. It's a gamechanger. A killer feature. Every hyperbole applies. Can't live without it. - Client perception is a real thing. I've tripled my income with this camera over two years. It's hard to attribute it to just the camera of course but subjectively I'm sure it contributed. FX6 looks like a "real" camera to a lay person, especially when it's built out. I received many compliments on my rig from clients. It MUST have worked in my favor. Additional CONs: - Fx6 is not supported (and at this point will never be) by DJI RS2/3pro (no r/s or camera control). Cursory investigation leads me to believe it's Sony's fault - Lack of 3.5mm mic jack is horrible. Not only does it hamper the modularity of the camera it also means the only way to get 4 channels of audio is with Sony's proprietary Mi-shoe audio accessories. - The sad thing is that both these cons are not present on cheaper lower tier model - FX3. And even sadder - Sony could have enabled 3.5mm audio through USB-C port through firmware if they could be bothered! By this point I guess the 3.5mm debacle is forever unsolved. - It doesn't record audio into separate file in S&Q mode like Canon C70 does. Sony could have added that! - That mic holder is brittle AF, it's supported by a slim piece of plastic. The facebook group is full of people with broken mic holders - Special recording modes cancel each other out. Can't have any combination of proxy / s&q / interval / pre-rec It's only one at a time and that sucks big time. S&Q pre-rec especially would be extremely useful - Stock monitor is terrible - the screen itself and the arm. I ditched it almost immediately. But the monitor port has no rubber cover (unlike the top handle port) Small personal pet peeves: - Can't bind a button to MLUT on/off. Weird to not have LOG check button. But I never run the stock monitor so I don't care - I hate wiggle and play and this camera has it almost everywhere - side handle, power port, hdmi - everything has play out of the box. Only SDI and TC are rock solid - A lot of units (mine included) have bad multi-function dial right out of the box. It scrolls both directions unless you scroll it really slowly one click at a time - The main menu is incredibly badly laid out. Just the logic of which settings go into which section is so backwards! But you get used to it by building your own user menu - Having forced 8 tracks of audio in the file is inconvenient in post

I was actually at the BSC exhibition today talking to you guys about buying one of these - perfect timing for me that this video came out today haha

good concise 8mins on a popular camera. Thanks CVP.

I love mine so much I picked up a second one. It tics all the boxes and see this camera being a solid long term workhorse.

That huge jump from 0 nd to 2 was killing me on a shoot last week. Such fine adjustment after that but that 2 stop hit is savage

I waited 6 months until mine finally shipped! Totally worth the wait (besides the lack of 3.5mm jack). I had rented this camera once, but now that I own one, I am absolutely loving using this camera paired up with my FX3.

FX6 feels brand new still partly because they are so hard to find and partly because the last 3 years have absolutely flown by

Had mines for 3 months now and for documentary style shoots its been wonderful. Would love to have an anamorphic desqueeze option though

awesome video. you guys have been a good source of information about the FX6. it seems there isnt a ton of stuff available for it on youtube (compared to alpha cameras). i have had mine for a week now and its easily the greatest cam ive ever used. it is a damn near perfect all rounder. if you are a DP, solo operator, or run and gun filmmaker, i dont think there is any better choice. the image stacks up and holds its own against anything else. i've been on lots of sets and used lots of cameras. graded lots of footage. blackmagic footage is definitely special but the FX6 is very close with much more features and reliability on long shooting days or more intense projects. i was debating an FX3 to pair with my A7S iii, but the ergonomics/camcorder style body and electronic ND filter put the FX6 on top. i grew up with camcorders and the FX6 is like a full frame dad cam on steroids. it feels and works like a true video camera, and the variable auto ND is like a magic trick. wish it had a 3.5mm jack but you cant have it all lol

Ahhh beat me to the punch, I was working on a similar video waiting on 2 interviews, great content btw!

excellent video as always

Been checking this account every day to see the video on the proteus lenses 😀

It would be great to have stabilization. Any news on a mark 2 coming out soon??

Great video!

Hi Jake, really good reprise of this really good camera. It has a lot going for it and I rather wish now I had a stock of Sony lenses when it came out. Almost went for it, especially for the variable ND but possibly foolishly despite that I was put off by the viewfinder ..... decisions can turn on such small things ......

Dear Sony, we need the Sony FX60, a replacement for the FS5 for us the budget filmmakers. Also, another great video from CVP.

Great camera. Totally blows the competition out of the water for reality/documentary work

Can u please do an educational video how to match the Sony a7siii and the fx6 if one is using both cameras at a wedding or any kind of set.

looking forward to seeing you at BSC tomo

Fantastic camera

I love the FX6! Amazing little cine cam!

The only thing missing from this is active stabilisation (software only) and a 3.5 input jack on body.

It's an amazing camera. Incredibly useful and reliable. Covers everything but the highend productions where you'll easily have the budget to rent an Alexa/Venice anyways. I wish the user interface was just a bit more modern and faster to work with, but prefer it infinitely to the crap that's in my A7IV. Lack of audio inputs with gimbal use is the biggest workflow issue, it becomes a problem on many of my shoots and requires workarounds.

Great cam 👍🏻 I love my FX6 😍 very good review 👏 just uploaded my first FX6 trailer😅 best cinematic greetings from germany

The first time I took this body out the box (work gear) I thought it was fake due to being so light. The FX6 is top of my list the moment I can justify having "cine" focussed setup alongside a stills focus setup. Currently the XH2s is my best hybrid option - unless I step up into the Mark 2 options from Panasonic like the coming S1Hmk2

5999$ is huge amount of money but the quality of this semi-professional camera is deserved

One thing I found while using filming the Red Carpet of Cannes Film Festival last month is that the second base ISO makes the rolling shutter a bit slower (how much ? Don't know, but you can very clearly see it's slower with a the billion camera flashes from the photographers render on the footage compared to the low base ISO). I guess the same can be said avout FX3, A7S3 and every toher cameras Sony puts this sensor in.

FOR NARRATIVE AND DOCUMENTARY WORK, IN WHAT SHOULD I INVEST ? KOMODO OR FX6 ? BEST kit CINE LENSES + 1 or 2 variable lenses AT A BUDGET OF 15 K $? MIX OF LIGHTING sources AT A BUDGET OF 7K $ ? please can you list the items by name ?

can you customize colors, hue etc on the fx6 like on the fs7? or its just basic settings like the A7 series? also do you know if the power supply of the fs7 would work on the fx6?

This felt like the longest 8 minutes video ever 😂😂

It's almost perfect! Wishing for 6K, better color 12bit

I'm on the fence between a few FX sixes or a few FR7s for my live stream business.

I need this FX6! But at this point, I'm going to wait for a future FX6-ii. The a7RV have shown up some huge improvements to Sony's autofocus system which is what I need now so hopefully the future FX6-ii will have the new A.I. cpu in it. Yes, I do want that 8K resolution too but its the cpu that i want the most.

It's simply good...

We need to move to 32 bit audio to avoid all the pre amp bulk and Bluetooth sync

I’m currently user of a FX6 For advertisements and documental stuff. Guys, I searched hard and did not find if FX6 has been used for a movie, d’you know something about it? Just curious.

I personally think this was my best investment in the past few years. Is making my job easier and the quality of the footage is outstanding. I am really happy and satisfied with the Sony FX6. 💯

I can deal with the lack of audio issues however my biggest gripe is the lack of Genlock. If it had that I feel like it would hit the sweet spot for those looking to get into virtual production. Right now it's really only the Komodo or Blackmagic options. And after yesterdays Blackmagic announcement and their unwillingness to deliver a camera that is innovative that really only leaves the Komodo. And I really don't want to buy a Red camera.

if you have fx6, better go get a fx3 to pair it, fx6 is pretty good for set up work, fx3 will fill the gap when you need low profile, need lightweight, compact size and in body audio, that fx6 can't give, great combo

No link in the description to the comparison video 😢

This is it, a real tool camera. No emotions while using that thing, just shoot & make money. No cult, no worship, no snobs. Just grab it & chase the ROI. It’s like a Volvo, boring but a great machine. The only gate that needs to be unlocked is guarded by an atrocious user interface but you’ll learn that in a day. And the automatic focusing works, it’s crazy to use that as someone who has worked as an AC and later had great ACs. I’ll grab an ARRI if I want to drift and get inspired, I’ll grab that Sony if just want to get the work done.

Like the FX3, the Sony FX6 is a high-performance cinema camera that delivers exceptional image quality, impressive low-light performance, and versatile shooting capabilities for a range of professional video production applications. Additionally, its compact and lightweight design and robust build quality make it a also a versatile and convenient option for on-the-go shooting in a variety of environments. Love it.

I have owned FX6 for almost a year. The only thing I am not quite satisfied with is the design of the shotgun shoe, which protrudes too much and is unstable. Sometimes, the shotgun mic easily touched one's shoulder when having an over-shoulder shot. Though mine is intact now, many FX6 users complained that their shotgun shoes have broken easily in this way.

It was a home run this camera

Another excellent video. Imo the bmpcc6k has better details and a much nicer look if anyone really cares these days. The c70 with internal raw and it’s canon look has maybe a more pleasing image but the fx6 is very much the “workhorse” that you reiterate though for many that is a pejorative. It hits the sweet spot for broadcast and events that just want to capture the reality of the situation with no frills. I’m not sure why it struggles to do more than that and maybe it’s the resolution. For some reason the look of the f5 and f55 or even the fx7 had something about them that gave them a character. Clean and accurate now seems a social media broadcast norm but I’m not too sure that it has much more to offer that world than an iPhone or it’s own smaller siblings. I’m not sure that it gives corporate work that high end gloss naturally but broadcasters love that Sony look for docs and interviews. A little bit of filtering really helps. Now that canon has screwed up the c300iii and 500ii by over pricing them and then shooting themselves in the foot with the c70, it’s left the fx6 all the pitch that at least the c200 might have occupied as a functional practical corporate cine camera. £6k js still a lot of money and it might be that the fx30 is about to undercut the fx6 in the same way that the c70 did for the higher c line. The bbc are mixing up iPhones and fx3s by the looks of it and it’s got to be better to have three fx3/30 for a two up interview than bringing in an fx6. Still good enough for itvs prince harry interview so probably sets the new normal. Functionality the grip is hugely underrated imo. Thanks so much for the video.

Is it over kill for just sit in studio compare to FX3?

Look at that hair 🌊

It would be nice if sony, for us older users, made a viewfinder for this camera.I tried to contact them but did not get a response. Please suggest to them that it is necessary. I just don't want viewfinder from other manufacturers. I hope that soon they will release a new version of the camera that will have a viewfinder in the basic set.

@<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="298">4:58</a>. Canon?

Jake, why does Hollywood choose the Venice 2?

See you on BSC EXPO!

How does the ND filter works? Because with external rotating type variable ND filters we had complete destruction of contrast, colour, plus distinctive X pattern in the middle.

I have the FX6 and FX3. The first time I tried to do a multicam and shoot in S-Cinetone, the difference between the two cameras was very noticeable. So I have since been shooting in log on both and that way they match easily with a LUT in Resolve. Has anyone else had this issue when using S-Cinetone on the FX6 and trying to match it to the FX3?

Small audio glitch at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="6">0:06</a> ;)

I'm still trying to clear something up here... does the FX6 ONLY spit out .mxf files or is there an options for straight up .mp4 and HEVC options like the FX3? I don't need or want an .mxf workflow and don't want to have to transcode everything.

Anyone here with experience from both FX6 and the EVA1? In terms of IQ how do they stack up? When I was testing the A7S3 vs the Lumix S5 there wasn’t even any competition in terms of IQ. Panasonic seems to have a huge win in that department.

hello thank you very much for this explanation but I am a music video videographer and soon I want to make short films while would you advise me between the blackmagic 6k pro, the sony FX3 and the dony FX6. THANKS

Full Frame, Good Autofocus, perfect ND, light body, SDI out, RAW, 120p, comparatively cheap. Combined with a body that is ready to shoot handheld out of the box. Nothing else comes close.

Strongly considering getting this and selling my Ursa 12k.

the best camera body in the history.

Does anyone use this for high-quality live streaming?

can the ND control be remoted from ~4 meters away with a cable of some sort?

I did tests in static and complex scenes (with leaves in the rain) and XAVC L actually performs better than XAVC I. There's less compression artefacts, less grain smearing and better color definition and sharpness.

Give me an FX3II with ND's inside and I will be stoked...

Global stutter right? I think i missed that part in the video.

I prefer FX6. Small size, east to handle and more versatal.

Can its sensor scan the whole <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="182">3:2</a> area during video recording?

Even though I am currently running with the Sony FX30, I am still torn between the FX6 and the C70. The reason being, as a low budget/indie filmmaker, the C70 has that DSLR body style that draws less attention then the cinema body style of the FX6. It's easier to shoot in public places when your camera looks like a photographer's camera. Any recommendations for making the FX6 "blend in" more? :P

C 70 ✌🏻

Sony finally seems to have discovred that cameras should be about the art of photgraphy or videography and not the technology. However, a technology driven approach finally seems to be paying off. I always choose my Sony cameras for efficient good shots, but find that more artistic but not as technological choices can give those special shots.

1. small af 2. electronic VND 3. iso12800

i remember when it costs 4999eur. now 5999eur. i bought a FX3 back then for 4000eur. should have bought fx6....

Fx6 video ? maybe mk2 coming hmm

Honestly the image from the fx6 is way too clinical/boring/digital. I like the body, but I'd take a BM or komodo or C70 over this camera.

I wish I saved a little more and got this instead of the pocket 6k pro. Would be nice to use AF sometimes.

A bunch?

STOP SELLING ME MY DREAM CAMERA! I CANNOT AFFORD IT!!! Sad jokes aside video is amazing as always ;)

I think FX6 is even overall better camera than FX9. gimbal friendly design, better lo-lit performance, low noise level, no crop in 4k60p, similar image quality versus FX9. 6k to 4k oversampling only shows minimal difference, which makes FX9 somewhat meaningless.

Alllllllll the way back in 2020! Ah, the perspective of youth!!

I love this channel, but why do I always get the sense Cinema DNG is considered worthless by this host? i've yet to see him compliment for example Sigma FP for letting us shoot uncompromising cinematic footage with that little camera.

Be advised that Sony's menu design has been known to trigger suicidal thoughts.

Sony will need maybe another 10 years, to get rid this ugly FS type menu,. This plus autofocus was my real dealbrakers for my previous FS7.Terrible, and thats why I sold it.

Because most people are noobs with very little experience with cameras. C70 is a much better camera and an ecosystem.

Because most people are normies and use what others are using

I sold mine back in 2021, and made enough money to buy two C70s. I like the FX6, but it’s not for me!

Sony's isnt that popular in Europe

Say no to Sony

Fs700r for the win

Fantastic camera