- Report Claims Sony FX3 Cinema Camera Replacement Will Be Launched Later This Month
- FX5 will come with an all-new sensor that will offer a much-needed upgrade
- Optional EVF add-on set that will arrive along with the camera
It’s been over five years since Sony released the FX3, and in that time it has become one of the most beloved small film cameras out there. But there has always been a gap that professional filmmakers have complained about: no open-door recording.
According to a new report from SonyAlphaRumors, that’s about to change. A story on the site says that Sony will officially announce the FX5 on July 22 at 3pm BST, and among the leaked specs is Open Gate 5K recording in a 3:2 aspect ratio.
If you’re not familiar with the term, gated simply means that the camera records using the entire surface of the sensor, rather than cropping it to the standard 16:9. That extra height in particular gives editors a lot more room to reframe, pinch, or repurpose the same shot for square, vertical, or panoramic content in post. This can be a big problem for anyone making videos for multiple platforms from a single take.
It’s exactly what TechRadar’s Pete Sheath asked for in 2025, along with an increase in resolution, when he drew up his wish list for a next-generation FX3.
That resolution increase is also rumored to be coming to the FX5, in the form of a new 16.6MP fully stacked sensor. At first glance, 16MP may seem modest for a 2026 cinema camera. But for a camera built around motion rather than stills, a lower pixel count can work in the FX5’s favor: it can mean better dynamic range, cleaner low-light performance, and room for more powerful frame rate options (don’t be surprised if 4K at 240fps ends up on the spec sheet).
The downside is that 8K recording appears to be off the table, which will likely disappoint anyone expecting the FX5 to jump into that territory.
Space for a view
There’s also good news for anyone who’s missed having a viewfinder on Sony’s FX series cameras. The report points to a new tilting external EVF, which should make a real difference for photographers working outdoors in bright sun or in dark, light-sensitive spaces such as concerts and theaters, where a bright rear screen isn’t always welcome. It sounds optional rather than built-in, which may be the best of both worlds: skip it and keep the FX5 almost as compact as the FX3, or plug it in when you need it.
Other rumored additions include the BIONZ
There is nothing official yet and Sony has not confirmed a single specification. But if the leak turns out to be accurate, the Sony FX5 looks set to answer several of the FX3 faithful’s loudest requests in one fell swoop. We’ll know for sure in a couple of weeks.
