- Report claims Sony FX3 cinema camera replacement will launch later this month
- The FX5 will come with an all-new sensor offering a much-needed upgrade
- Optional EVF add-on set to arrive next to the camera
It’s been over five years since Sony launched the FX3, and since then it has become one of the most popular small cinema cameras. But there has always been one loophole that professional filmmakers have complained about: no open-door recording.
According to a new report from SonyAlphaRumors, that’s about to change. A post on the site states that Sony will officially announce the FX5 on July 22 at 3 p.m. BST, and among the leaked specs is Open Gate 5K recording in 3:2 aspect ratio.
If you’re unfamiliar with the term, open gate simply means that the camera records using the entire surface of the sensor, rather than cropping it to the standard 16:9 aspect ratio. This extra height in particular gives editors much more room to crop, insert, or reuse the same shot for square, vertical, or widescreen content in post. This can be a big problem for anyone making videos for multiple platforms from a single shoot.
That’s exactly what TechRadar’s Pete Sheath asked for in 2025, alongside an increase in resolution, when he wrote his wish list for a next-gen FX3.
This resolution boost is also rumored to come to the FX5, in the form of a new 16.6 MP fully stacked sensor. At first glance, 16 MP may seem modest for a 2026 cinema camera. But for a camera built around motion rather than still images, a lower pixel count can work in the FX5’s favor: that can mean better dynamic range, cleaner low-light performance, and room for punchier frame rate options (don’t be shocked if 4K at 240fps ends up on the spec sheet).
The trade-off is that 8K recording seems to be off the table, which will likely disappoint anyone hoping the FX5 would cross into that territory.
Room with a view
There’s also good news for anyone who hasn’t been able to get a viewfinder on Sony’s FX series cameras. The report highlights a new tilting external viewfinder, which should make a real difference for shooters working outdoors in bright sunlight or in dark, light-sensitive spaces like concerts and theaters, where a bright rear screen isn’t always welcome. It feels optional rather than built-in, which may be the best of both worlds: ignore it and keep the FX5 almost as compact as the FX3, or clip it in when you need it.
Other rumored additions include the BIONZ XR2 processor with AI autofocus (borrowed from the Sony A7R VI), a triple base ISO system, false color exposure tools and a Venice-style menu overhaul.
Nothing is official yet and Sony has not confirmed any specifications. But if the leak turns out to be accurate, the Sony FX5 looks set to answer several of the FX3 faithful’s loudest demands in one fell swoop. We should know for sure in a few weeks.
