In this Sony FX3 review, Sony Alpha Universe content creator River Shepherd reveals why this compact full-frame camera offers the freedom and performance professionals crave.
Written by River Shepherd
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When I was a kid, I found a Sony Cybershot in my dad’s office and quietly I smuggled it out.
And I swear it really was a Sony.
Out of pure curiosity, I started snapping photos on my dad’s stolen camera and posted them to Facebook. That one decision changed my life forever.
The response was overwhelmingly positive from my classmates, and everyone wanted to see more. This was a surprise, as I was never popular in school. I was very much a C plus student, so the response really was just about the photography.
Photography became my obsession and thankfully my father nurtured that curiosity. That initial spark eventually blossomed into a love for cinema and everything to do with image making.
Almost 10 years later, I had the opportunity to shoot my first feature film. It was nearly impossible to make because it was shot almost entirely at night using only available light from the city, and every single shot was on a steady-cam. We did not have the luxury of a single professional light fixture.
At that time, the only camera capable of handling this was the Sony Alpha 7S. It was best low light camera in the world. I fell in love with Sony cameras on that film and upgraded every time new versions came out … and I thought I had my dream camera.
Eventually Sony made the version I had been waiting a decade for, the Sony FX3.
It had all the performance of the Alpha 7S line but in a cinema-oriented body. With pro features like an audio top handle, built-in 1/4 20 mount for easy rigging and pristine 4K 120fps slow motion.
Oh, and the low light was still out of the world.
The Sony FX3 could handle whatever I threw at it without a problem.
The FX3 became my go to camera and actually saved my career in a way. I had a period in my career where I lugged around giant cinema cameras that weighed more than me, simply because they came in a cinema body. This period left me with a permanent shoulder injury that I still struggle with today.
At one point the shoulder pain was so bad that I had decided to quit and change careers. I firmly believe the FX3 saved my career. It gave me everything I needed in terms of features and quality but in a significantly smaller body.
Fast forward years later, I’m still using the Sony FX3A as my main camera and look forward to every firmware update. I never plan on switching.
The FX3A has opened so many doors for me in my career. It has helped me push past technical barriers and literal physical barriers too. For aspiring filmmakers or working professionals tired of looking for the perfect camera: it exists folks, it’s the Sony FX3A.
It’s more than a camera, it’s freedom. It’s an opportunity to finally stop chasing specs, and to bring your wildest ideas to life without fear or limitation.
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