Sony’s new FX5 cinema camera adds open-gate capture and internal RAW recording to a compact Cinema Line body. Announced on 22 July, it is aimed at productions that need flexibility both while filming and when preparing different versions of the finished video.
The most immediately useful distinction is between what can be recorded at launch and the extra modes Sony plans to add later. A future firmware feature should not be the basis of a shoot scheduled before it arrives.
Why open gate changes the edit
The FX5 uses a newly developed full-frame sensor and supports 3:2 open-gate recording. Recording that taller frame gives an editor more room to produce horizontal and vertical compositions from the same shot.
It still requires planning. A subject kept near one edge for the wide version may disappear when the frame is cropped for a phone. Extra captured area provides options; it does not guarantee that every composition works in every format.
Sony specifies recording up to 5K at 60 frames per second, 4K at 120 fps and Full HD at 240 fps. The appropriate mode depends on whether resolution, slow motion, storage or the editing system is the priority.
Internal 16-bit X-OCN RAW recording is another major addition. RAW workflows can preserve flexibility for post-production, but they also require compatible software and an organised media pipeline. Check recording media, ingest time and storage requirements before making RAW the default for every job.
Audio, connections and the firmware boundary
The camera includes two USB ports, and Sony describes support for power delivery and a timecode arrangement using an adapter. An optional XLR handle adds 32-bit float audio recording. The handle is an accessory, so buyers should distinguish body-only and handle bundles.
Sony also outlines features planned for a 2027 firmware update. Those include additional high-frame-rate RAW capabilities and interface changes. They remain planned additions at this announcement date, not functions to assume in the first shipping camera.
The US announcement gives a mid-August sales window. It does not, by itself, confirm Australian pricing or delivery. For a working production, the important comparison is the complete usable package and the recording modes available when the equipment is needed.
ULKA’s technology news follows these distinctions between launch specifications and later promises.
Questions
What does open gate mean here?
The camera records a 3:2 frame, giving an editor additional area for reframing and different output shapes.
Is the 32-bit float audio handle included with every purchase?
Sony describes an optional XLR handle and separate bundle arrangements. Check the exact package.
Are the promised 2027 modes available at launch?
No. Sony identifies them as future firmware additions, so they should be treated as pending.
Sources
Sony Electronics, FX5 Cinema Line camera announcement, 22 July 2026. Cover: Sony’s published FX5 product photograph.
