Sony PXW-FX9 Full-Frame Camcorder

The Sony PXW-FX9 Full-Frame Camcorder has successfully merged the technology previously found in Sony's digital cinema camera VENICE, FS series and Sony Alpha ILC cameras. With Alpha's autofocus algorithm, VENICE's 15+ stops latitude, dual base ISO and advanced colour science as well as FS7's usability and expandability the PXW-FX9 Full-Frame Camcorder is a whole different beast altogether. It is a professional-grade full-frame 6K sensor camera that boasts Fast Hybrid AF, Dual Base ISO, and S-Cinetone for improved cinematic colour science. This fantastic piece of equipment is ideal for freelancers, production and rental houses as well as broadcasters.

Sony PXW-FX9 Full-Frame Camcorder Key Features:

• Ideal for professional productions including promotion videos, documentaries, event videography as well as news broadcasts and sports coverage
• Equipped with an Exmor R back-illuminated CMOS 6K full-frame imaging sensor that delivers extraordinary resolution and stunning bokeh effect even in low lit conditions
• The camera features a full-frame over-sampling technology that produces gorgeous 4K footage with 4:2:2 10 bit internal recording
• Boasts a spectacular fast-hybrid AF system
• Wide dynamic range with 15+ stops of latitude
• Revolutionary Electronic Variable ND Filter for a Full-Frame Sensor
• 16-bit RAW Capability
• The AF is compatible with all E-mount lenses for freedom of creativity
• Dual Base ISO that can be altered from ISO800 to ISO4000 and vice versa
• Contents Browser Mobile App allows for the remote control and monitoring of the X9 (zoom, IRIS, focus control)
• Built-in Wi-Fi and 12G-SDI support for advanced workflows
• Supports XAVC Intra/Long, and MPEG HD422 formats
• Offers two memory card slots compatible with XQD cards
• Compatible with high-capacity BP-U35/BP-U70/BP-U100 batteries
• The user is spoiled with a plethora of compatible accessories and expansion features including the XDCA-FX9 Extension Unit
• A large selection of FS7 series accessories is compatible with the X9

Expanded Sony PXW-FX9 Full-Frame Camcorder Key Features:

Full-Frame Over-Sampling Technology

The 6K full-frame sensor is ideal for projects where you know the footage is going to be cropped into and heavily edited. With 6K you can still achieve perfect 4K resolution even if the footage has gone through an extensive editing process. The oversampled by full-frame sensor offers a high-quality resolution that features an exquisite background bokeh. The sensor successfully eliminates large amounts of noise and instead rewards operators with 15+ stops of latitude, a fabulously wide dynamic range, and extremely high sensitivity. Additionally, the full-frame sensor can enlarge video expression, facilitating a wider angle of view. The full-frame scanning provides high frame rates. For example Full HD (1920x1080) offers 150, 180p whereas DCI4K (4096x2160) bids 1-30p.

A True Cinematic Gem

Colour is one of the formidable keys to producing memorable and impactful films. It is especially crucial when crafting emotionally charged scenes. To support precise colour design, S-Cinetone cinema colour science technology has been carried over from Sony's infamous VENICE digital camera. Thanks to it the sophisticated default look offers enthralling facial tones along with a softer, tonal feel. The colour space in the PXW-FX9 is S-Gamut3/S-Gamut3.Cine with S-Log3 gamma.

Fast Hybrid AF

The fast hybrid AF system encompasses phase-detection AF and contrast AF for a fast and smooth AF response capable of precise subject tracking. The AF settings are customisable in addition to being highly accurate to help you personalise the camera to your individual needs and projects. This is perfect when trying to establish your very own signature filmmaking style that can distinguish you from a pool of already highly skilled professionals. The X9's wide AF coverage features a maximum of 561 points split between 94% points in the horizontal direction and 96% in the vertical direction.

Highly Customisable AF Settings

The aforementioned customisable AF settings include AF Transition Speed function that controls the speed of focus switching. You can adjust the AF from Slow 1 to Slow 7. First one is great for promotional videos due to gradual changes in focus, and the latter is ideal for sports coverage as the focus changes with high speeds. Another customisable setting is the AF Subject Shift Sensitivity which governs the ease with which the focus can be switched from subject to subject. The locked on 1 option keeps the focus fixed on a single subject of your choosing. This option works significantly well during wedding videography or when conducting interviews. On the other spectrum, we have Responsive 5 selection that is well suited for capturing multiple subjects appearing one after each other. The Royal Ascot is a good example where such functionally might come in useful. In addition to the previously talked about features there is also the Face Detection AF that consists of Face Priority AF (focuses on faces when there are other objects present in the shot), Face Only AF (the focus is only on the face and not on objects), and Face Registration (camera can recognise multiple faces and remember them). There is also a focus area setting which can either be set to wide, zone or flexible spot. In wide mode, the subject is being tracked in the entire image area. Zone facilitates tracking the subject in a limited image area and Flexible Spot supports focusing on the specific and fixed subject. Yet another worthy mention is the AF assist that allows you to control the MF ring during AF shooting. For this option to work remember to turn the AF assist ON. You can also swiftly change from MF to AF with a single press of the One Push AF button.

Superior Operability

As mentioned before the X9 has combined highly sought-after features from previous Sony cameras including the FS7 series which championed the Run and Gun shoulder style filmmaking. Due to its popularity and functionality, Run and Gun is also present in the X9 model. This means that camera operators can enjoy grip and LCD panel flexibility, a well-balanced camera body as well as shoulder style operation. Saying that, the X9 offers a lot of usability improvement from the FS7M2. This includes aggregation of ND Filter control, easy change from AF to MF, multi-functional dial, 4ch audio control dials and more. The improved LCD provides users with HD 1280 x 720 resolution that is approximately 1.8x better than FS7M2's resolution. It offers great accuracy, high contrast and resolution and improvements in the robustness of its design. Thanks to this the operator can benefit from better visibility for focusing. Again building on the immense operability of the FS7M2, the X9 has an upgraded smart hand grip and a belt for secure camera handling. One of the improvements is the angle of the arm that makes the tight gripping of the camera much easier. Finally, the zoom control is far more response with a new control signal from the multi-connector. The X9 camera body also retains its conventional REMOTE jack for back-compatibility.

Revolutionary Electronic Variable ND Filter

For the first time in the history of filmmaking, the X9 offers a built-in variable ND filter for a full-frame sensor that eliminates the preparation process of multiple ND filers separately. Instead, these can be used with flexibility and instance. This is fantastic when shooting scenes with varying exposure, for example, when tracking a subject from indoors to outdoors. The ND Filter offers linear adjustment from 1/4ND to 1/128ND thanks to which a wide range of exposures can be tweaked exclusive of changing DoF (without iris control that is). The user can also adjust the IRIS of the lens to achieve a wide range of the depth of field expression under Auto Variable ND.

Image Stabilisation

No modern professional-grade cinema camera is completed without excellent image stabilisation. The X9 also records image stabilisation information to facilitate handheld footage that can be altered during post-production to look extremely smooth. In fact so smooth that it appears as though it was shot with a gimbal. This allows for significantly faster processing than conventional NLE stabilisation workflows. The built-in gyro records "shake" metadata within the clip. This in turns allows for the balance between shake-compensation and trimming area size to be adjusted.

Sony PXW-FX9 Video: