The Sony FX2, the company’s latest addition to its Cinema Line, is now available in several markets following its mid-year release announcement.

Recently, it was also officially unveiled in the Philippines via a launch event that gathered creators, filmmakers, and more guests for a day of hands-on discovery.

GadgetMatch attended the event with this article’s author, Manila Connoisseur, and resident video producer, Deric Claveria.

It’s priced at PhP 184,999 if you’re getting just the body and PhP 204,999 with the XLR handle. You can get it through Sony Authorized Dealers in the Philippines — both online and offline.

On paper, here’s what you’ll get with the compact full-frame camera designed for creators and filmmakers:

• 33MP Exmor R CMOS sensor
• BIONZ XR image processing engine with AI autofocus
• Dual base ISO
• 15+ stops of dynamic range
• 10-bit 4:2:2 recording
• Sony S-Cinetone color science
• Variable Frame Rate: Up to 60 fps in 4K (2.5x slow motion) and 120 fps in Full HD (5x slow motion)
• Up to 13 hours of continuous 4K 60p recording
• Log shooting: supports Cine EI, Cine EI Quick, and Flexible ISO modes
• User LUTs: import up to 16 LUTs for on-camera preview
• Active Mode and Dynamic active Mode for smooth handheld shooting

The Philippines launch event was also graced by distinguished guests: award-winning director Lee Briones-Meily and visual storyteller Miki Labarda.

Live demonstration

After a quick discussion, the event proceeded with a live demonstration. This put the camera to the test under fast-paced, real-world shooting conditions.

The scene filmed was a classic Filipino slice-of-life street setting with a local sari-sari store. The actors were that store’s owner, a customer, a dirty ice cream vendor, and a passerby.

That passerby was revealed to be a goon in the minute-long scene, trying to rob the female customer of her handbag.

Fortunately, the ice cream vendor came to the rescue with some combat expertise, eventually retrieving the bag for the lady.

Here’s a sneak peek although filming the result on a smartphone hardly does it justice. Anyway, it’s just to show how the Sony FX2 is able to capture everything in action:

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It was Mrs. Briones-Meily who shot the entire scene at 24fps, which was presented in real-time via large television monitors inside the venue.

Looking at the result from the monitor, it was very evident how smooth the result came out. Personally, I am a sucker for such continuous shots (or “oners”) in films and series. There are the ones in Atomic Blonde, Creed, and Echo, to name a few.

Impressive tracking, stabilization

Deric couldn’t agree more. He said the stabilization is impressive, even when the camera is just handheld. And take note, this camera doesn’t even weigh that heavy for its size and capabilities.

It’s a lightweight full-frame camera you’d take to film such scenarios, or even just to step up your content creation game for results that are to be viewed on small screens like smartphones.

Particularly, Deric mentioned that for fast-paced action, which likely involves a lot of panning, tilting, and further combinations of camera movements, the camera should be able to handle the workload.

More than that, the AI autofocus and AI eye tracking features will also make it even more seamless for specific subjects to be highlighted in frame.

Quick test and try

After the demonstration, all participants had the chance to hold the Sony FX2 for a while and just explore and experiment with it.

While we didn’t really have the chance to film something on it, the few minutes Deric held on to it gave him a glimpse of just how capable it is as a GadgetMatch for its intended market.

Going back to the minute-long scene, some of the aspects that stood out were its color accuracy and how illuminated the entire shot looked, thanks to the camera’s dynamic range and dual base ISO.

Even if the camera is primarily marketed for shooting videos, these features also make it a standout for stills.

Moreover, as the camera allows you to shoot in log or apply your LUTs so you can view it in real-time on the touchscreen panel, there’s more flexibility for creators.

Naturally, filmmakers have a color grading palette or template that they apply during post-processing. Seeing that look in real-time while filming gives you assurance and streamlines the workflow in a way.

Enhanced ergonomics

Some of the physical aspects of the camera that Deric also appreciated were its tiltable viewfinder and the three quick access buttons up to.

The viewfinder allows users to move while tracking subjects like a rolling ball or if they just want a dolly shot.

And of course, the buttons give you shortcuts when you have to adjust settings on the fly. These are also remappable. Also, there is a double standard screw mount at the bottom.

Overall, Deric said the layout of buttons are intuitive, as they are easy to master once you’ve been using the FX2 for a while.

For streaming and other versatile setups, the FX2 likewise supports various connectivity options:

• HDMI Type-A
• Dual-band Wi-Fi
• Wired LAN (via adapter)
• USB Type-C (SuperSpeed USB 10Gbps, USB Power Delivery)
• Built-in USB/network streaming

Overall, the Sony FX2 provides a step-up for those who want professional cinematic quality for the content they create.