Sony
FX3 2021
Best for Professional video, documentary & cinematic filmmaking
£2999
new today at Wex Photo Video
Decision tools · Compare
FX3 vs ZV-E1
Quick take: The ZV-E1 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.
ZV-E1 — Video Creators, Vloggers & Filmmakers: Full-frame video quality in a vlogging body — exceptional low-light performance and a genuinely compact form factor.
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
ZV-E1 (2023)
is the right camera for you if…
- Video creators who want full-frame low-light quality in a compact body
- Vloggers stepping up from APS-C who prioritise image quality over resolution
- Filmmakers who want S-Log3 and cinematic colour in a run-and-gun package
- A7S III users who want the same sensor in a smaller, lighter body
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | FX3Sony · 2021 | ZV-E1Sony · 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,999 | £1,779Best |
| Sensor | 12.1MP full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS (same as A7S III) | 12.1MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS Exmor R |
| Resolution | 12.1MP | 12.1MP |
| Video | 4K/120p, 4K/60p 10-bit, 12-bit RAW output, S-Log3, S-Cinetone | 4K/60p (S-Cinetone, S-Log3), 4K/120p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Real-time tracking with subject recognition (human, animal) | Real-time Tracking AF with subject recognition |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis IBIS — 5 stops | IBIS — Active Mode for video |
| Burst Rate | 10fps mechanical, 10fps electronic | 10fps |
| Battery Life | ~640 shots (CIPA)Best | ~570 shots (CIPA) / ~105 min video |
| Weight | 715g (body only) | 483g (with battery and card)Best |
| Dimensions | 129.7 × 78.0 × 84.5mm | 121.4 × 71.6 × 54.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | None — monitor/external EVF use only | None — screen only |
| Screen | 3.0" touchscreen, fully articulating | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II slots | Single SD UHS-II slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C (10Gbps), full-size HDMI, XLR via handle, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3.5mm mic, Multi-Interface Shoe |
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
ZV-E1
Portrait
5.7/10
7.0/10
Street
4.3/10
6.9/10
Travel
5.5/10
6.7/10
Wedding & Events
6.0/10
6.4/10
Vlogging & Video
6.1/10
7.0/10
Filmmaking
9.1/10
8.0/10
Documentary
8.0/10
8.2/10
Sports & Action
5.5/10
6.4/10
Landscape
4.7/10
5.7/10
Wildlife
5.8/10
7.1/10
Casual
4.9/10
5.9/10
Food
6.7/10
7.1/10
Macro
5.5/10
6.7/10
Architecture
5.2/10
5.4/10
Astrophotography
6.7/10
7.2/10
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 →
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