Sony has announced the FX5, a new camera designed for professional filmmaking that fills a gap between two existing models in Sony's cinema camera lineup, the FX3 and the FX6. The FX5 uses a newly developed sensor — the light-capturing chip at the heart of any digital camera — with roughly 18.2 megapixels, and it is the first in Sony's FX series to use the full surface of the sensor for recording, at a 3:2 shape that matches the sensor's physical dimensions (Sony). This matters because using the full sensor gives filmmakers the maximum image area to work with and the flexibility to crop or reframe later. The camera is scheduled to ship in August 2026 (Amateur Photographer), with the US model listed at $4,899.99 on Sony's official store (Sony US).

The FX5 can record in a high-quality format called RAW, which captures far more color and detail information than standard video. Sony says this RAW mode can represent 280 trillion colors (Engadget). To put that in perspective, most consumer cameras record video in formats that capture millions of colors. The jump to trillions means the camera preserves vastly more subtle gradations, which is important when color grading — the process of adjusting color and tone during editing. The camera can record 4K video at up to 240 frames per second (using a cropped portion of the sensor), 4.5K at 120 frames per second, and 5K at up to 120 frames per second using the full sensor. Higher frame rates allow for slow-motion playback.

Not all of these recording modes will be available when the camera first ships. Sony states that 4K at 240 frames per second in RAW, along with certain full-sensor recording modes and an updated interface for vertical shooting, are expected to arrive via a free software update by August 2027 (Engadget). A separate update adding 5K full-sensor RAW at 120 frames per second is also planned for August 2027 or later (Sony US).

The sensor has three base sensitivity settings — 800, 4000, and 12800 — which let the filmmaker choose the best starting point for bright outdoor scenes or dim indoor lighting. A special mode provides up to 16 stops of dynamic range, meaning the camera can capture detail in both very dark shadows and very bright highlights in the same shot, at the cost of a distortion called rolling shutter that can make fast-moving objects appear slightly warped (Engadget). The camera includes built-in image stabilization to smooth out shaky handheld footage, with an additional electronic mode for extra correction. For filmmakers who prefer to lock the sensor in place, Sony offers a paid service to permanently disable the stabilization.

The camera body weighs about 735 grams (1.62 pounds) and includes a removable electronic viewfinder and a 3.5-inch flip-out screen on the back. It has four memory card slots: two high-speed slots for the most data-heavy recording, and two standard slots that accept cheaper, more widely available cards. A built-in feature corrects the visual squeeze that occurs when using certain professional cinema lenses (Engadget).

Sony's cinema camera lineup now runs from the FX3 at roughly $3,900, through the FX5, up to the FX6 and the top-of-the-line VENICE 2. The FX5 brings several capabilities that were previously only available on more expensive models into a body priced under $5,000.

The staggered software update schedule suggests Sony chose to ship the camera on time rather than wait until every recording mode was fully ready. For a professional filmmaking camera, this is a reasonable approach, since software updates during a production cycle are normal. Buyers should simply be aware that some advertised features will not be available until roughly a year after purchase.

The permanent, paid option to disable image stabilization is telling. Professional cinematographers who mount cameras on stabilizing equipment like gimbals — motorized arms that keep the camera steady — often find that the camera's own internal stabilization introduces tiny vibrations that are invisible on a small screen but noticeable when projected in a theater. By offering a physical lock rather than a software switch, Sony is recognizing that some buyers will never want the stabilization feature and want it eliminated completely.

For the intended buyer, the FX5 offers a straightforward deal: recording formats and sensor technology derived from Sony's top-tier VENICE cinema cameras, in a body that costs less than many individual professional lenses. The August 2026 ship date and staggered feature rollout mean the camera's full capabilities will not be complete until roughly a year later, but the features available at launch should cover most filmmaking needs.