Categories
Sony FX5 now available to hire
We’re excited to announce that the new Sony FX5 is now available to hire from Media Dog Hire, at £170 per day, with deals available for longer bookings. We’re one of the first hire companies in the UK to have stock, so if you’ve been keen to get your hands on Sony’s latest Cinema Line camera, you can now put it to work on your next production.
Why are we excited about the FX5?
The FX5 takes some of the best features of Sony’s cinema cameras and puts them into a compact body. The big attraction is the combination of internal 16-bit X-OCN RAW recording, 5K Open Gate capture and a newly developed full-frame stacked sensor. You get a lot of flexibility in post-production without needing to build the camera around an external RAW recorder.
Open Gate is particularly interesting for productions delivering in multiple formats. Capturing the full sensor area gives you more freedom to reframe shots for widescreen and vertical versions of the same project. Add 4K recording up to 120fps, 15+ stops of rated dynamic range and Sony’s latest autofocus system, and there’s a lot here for filmmakers who want high-quality images without moving to a much larger camera package.
Who is the FX5 best suited to?
We think the FX5 will be particularly interesting for independent filmmakers, commercial productions, music videos and documentary crews who want the flexibility of RAW recording in a relatively compact camera. It’s also worth considering for content production where the same footage needs to work across different platforms and aspect ratios.
If you already work with Sony E-Mount lenses or other cameras in the Cinema Line, the FX5 should fit naturally into your workflow. Its autofocus and compact body make it practical for smaller crews, while the recording options give colourists and editors plenty of room to work with the image.
Is it the right camera for every shoot?
Not necessarily, and there are a few things worth considering before booking.
The FX5 doesn’t have the built-in electronic variable ND filter found on the FX6. If you’re shooting documentary or run-and-gun work in changing light, the FX6 may still be the more practical choice. The FX5’s RAW recording also means larger files and more demanding media and post-production requirements than a straightforward compressed 4K workflow.
For gimbal work or a lightweight setup where internal RAW and Open Gate aren’t priorities, the FX3 remains a very capable and more affordable option. And for larger productions needing a more substantial camera platform, the FX9 or Sony BURANO may still be a better fit, depending on the recording, monitoring and operational requirements of the shoot.
Hire the Sony FX5
The FX5 is an exciting addition to Sony’s Cinema Line, particularly for productions that want the extra flexibility of internal RAW and Open Gate without stepping up to a larger cinema camera.
It’s available now from Media Dog Hire for £170 per day, with discounted rates available for longer hire periods. Get in touch to discuss availability and the best setup for your production.
