Sony
FX3 2021
Best for Professional video, documentary & cinematic filmmaking
£3579
new today at Clifton Cameras
Decision tools · Compare
FX3 vs Sony FX5
Quick take: The Sony FX5 has the highest resolution at 17MP; the FX3 is the most affordable.
16 specs side by side·15 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video and Clifton Cameras
How to read this page. Highlighted cells win that row on the spec alone. Genre scores are the engine's base scores (enthusiast, photo and video); Camera Match re-weights them for your level and priorities. Price buttons are affiliate links; the price you pay is the same.
Price buttons are affiliate links — GearFrame may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects a score. Learn more
Verdictwhich should you buy?
FX3 — Professional Video, Documentary & Cinematic Filmmaking: The definitive run-and-gun cinema camera — A7S III sensor quality in a body built specifically for video professionals.
Who should buy what
FX3 (2021)
is the right camera for you if…
- Professional videographers and filmmakers who need cinema-quality colour science in a compact body
- Documentary and run-and-gun shooters who need 4K/120p and built-in XLR audio
- Sony A7S III owners who want a purpose-built video body alongside their stills camera
- Gimbal and drone operators who need a compact full-frame cinema camera
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | FX3Sony · 2021 | Sony FX5Sony · 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £3,579Best | £4,699 |
| Sensor | 12.1MP full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS (same as A7S III) | 16.6MP full-frame stacked Exmor RS CMOS |
| Resolution | 12.1MP | 16.6MPBest |
| Video | 4K/120p, 4K/60p 10-bit, 12-bit RAW output, S-Log3, S-Cinetone | 5K/60p open-gate, 4K/120p, internal RAW/X-OCN, 10-bit Log, triple base ISO |
| Autofocus | Real-time tracking with subject recognition (human, animal) | AI-powered hybrid phase-detect AF (759 points) with subject tracking |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS — 5 stops | IBIS with Dynamic Active Mode |
| Burst Rate | 10fps mechanical, 10fps electronic | 10fps |
| Battery Life | ~640 shots (CIPA)Best | ~105 min actual recording, ~170 min continuous (LCD) |
| Weight | 715g (body only)Best | 734g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 129.7 × 78.0 × 84.5mm | — |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | None — monitor/external EVF use only | Optional detachable EVF (DVF-EL1), OLED |
| Screen | 3.0" touchscreen, fully articulating | Fully articulating touchscreen (4-axis arm) |
| Mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II slots | CFexpress Type A + SDXC (dual) |
| Connectivity | USB-C (10Gbps), full-size HDMI, XLR via handle, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | USB-C, full-size HDMI, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
Wins the row — price, resolution, burst, battery, weight and sealing are compared; text specs aren't ranked.
How they score by genreengine base scores out of 10
Genre
FX3
Sony FX5
Portrait
5.7/10
6.9/10
Street
4.3/10
5.3/10
Travel
5.6/10
6.2/10
Wedding & Events
6.0/10
7.0/10
Vlogging & Video
6.2/10
6.1/10
Filmmaking
9.1/10
8.7/10
Documentary
8.0/10
8.3/10
Sports & Action
5.5/10
6.8/10
Landscape
4.7/10
5.1/10
Wildlife
5.8/10
6.8/10
Casual
4.8/10
5.1/10
Food
6.7/10
7.4/10
Macro
5.5/10
5.2/10
Architecture
5.2/10
6.1/10
Astrophotography
6.7/10
6.7/10
Scores come from the same engine as Camera Match: verified specifications weighted by what each genre needs, with documented adjustments. The product page and this table show the enthusiast base score. See how scores are calculated →
Next
More comparisons with FX3
Camera family history