Sony announce PXW FS5. Smaller FS camera with S-log 4K 240fps and built in fader ND

News

by Tim FokSeptember 11^th, 2015

Sony got IBC 2015 off to a great start with announcement of a new FS camera, the Sony PXW FS5.

It was announced at Sonys Friday morning #missinglink conference, where the Sony A7S Mark II was also announced (more info on that camera to follow).

Sony spent the week leading up to IBC with teaser images of the PXW FS5, showing just where it’ll sit in the FS family line up:

At 0.8kg in weight, it’s substantially smaller than the Sony FS7. Where it differs in ergonomics is a rear mounted viewfinder (like the EOS Cinema Cameras), direct mounted swivel screen (no 15mm extension) and direct mounted handle grip.

The FS5 fits nicely in the palm of your hand, I think it was a nice touch leaving out the handle extension; Sonys attempt on the FS7 wasn’t up to much.

The camera will feature an inbuilt electronic ND wheel, 240 fps, s-log 3 and raw via output (later firmware upgrade).

More on the electronic ND wheel, this will be a digital variable ND wheel, offering 1/4 to 1/128 ND, very interesting stuff!

The Camera features 2 XLR inputs. Sony has very smartly installed one on the main body of the camera, and a second on the detachable handle part, I love this, and along with the multi interface hot shoe they’ll be a plethora of audio options.

Here’s the specs:

• Sensor Size: 4352 x 2662, 11.6 Megapixels (8.4 Megapixels Effective)
• Sensor type – EXMOR 4K Super35mm
• E-Mount Lens type
• S-Gamut3.Cine & S-Log3
• Native 3,200 ISO with 14 Stops of Dynamic Range
• Built in Electric Variable ND from 1/4 to 1/128
• Codec XAVC-L (not higher spec I version)
• 3840 x 2160 8-bit, 4:2:0, up to 30fps continuous.
• 1080 10-bit 4:2:2 up to 60fps continuous (but only 4:2:0 in 4K)
•  S&Q Mode: 120, 240, 480, 960 fps (buffered like FS700)
• Less than 5 sec boot time, Direct Access Menu, No rebooting for Rec format changes, etc.,
• 2K Center Crop
• Smart Grip like FS7
• Magnesium frame & body with active cooling
• 4K 4096×2160 output capable with paid future firmware upgrade
• 4K RAW via output Future Firmware
• Dual SD Card Slots
• Built in microphone
• Dual XLR input (one on body, one on handle)
• Multi-Interface Hot Shoe
• 3G-SDI, 4K HDMI, WiFi, Wired LAN,
• Same batteries FS7
• Weight: 0.8kg
• List Price: $6,700 without lens, $7,300 with 18-105mm f/4

PRE-ORDER HERE

All the juicy stuff:

This is a very interesting looking camera with a spec most will have hoped to have seen in the Canon C100 mark II. I can see this working very well in a FS7 workflow for B cam work like gimbal use and even drone.

Despite its residence below the Sony FS7 in the ranks I can see this working exceptionally well as an A camera solution for many filmmakers.

It puts the high speed framerates options of the FS700 in a much better form factor with a much more robust codec.

The Sony FS7 retains the edge with 10bit XAVC I options, the FS5 is limited to 8 bit 4:2:0 in 4K mode, but for many this will be more than suffice.

Expected availability: November 2015. PRE ORDER HERE
List Price: $6,700 without lens, $7,300 with 18-105mm f/4.