Should I use an FX5 on my corporate video production?

Short Answer: Not Necessarily. When you are asking for specific equipment to be used on your production, it’s important to consider the reasons you are needing to produce a video in the first place. Here are some of the specs on the FX5 that you may want to consider prior to making a decision on what kind of camera you would like on your set.

The Sony FX5 features a 16.6 Megapixel Full Frame Sensor, which does offer incredible clarity for video productions. Sony has always been known for sharp visuals, so this does not deviate from the norm with them. Something important to keep in mind is that you don’t need the highest megapixel count when it comes to using a camera for video work. Photography is the best use case for megapixels above 30MP.

A color science powerhouse, the FX5 boasts the ability to record in internal 16-bit X-OCN RAW Recording. This is fantastic when you are recording something in a live environment that may feature a lot of color depth and you want to make sure that you are getting the most out of the quality. In a controlled studio environment, however, this may not serve you more than one of the other models.

Something that the Sony FX5 does have over its predecessors is its ability to shoot in Open Date 3:2. This makes use of its larger sensor, and gives you the ability to frame your shots with social media and traditional HD formats in mind. Again, in a controlled studio environment, this may or may not serve you too much.

Just like its sister cameras, the FX5 features a high range of ISO effectiveness, featuring a Triple Base ISO, this time including 4000 ISO in its toolbelt. The camera still uses 800 and 12800 ISO as bases, which gives it up to 16 stops of dynamic range. This is great, but again, is it necessary in a controlled studio environment?

All in all, this camera is an excellent addition to the family of Sony Cinema cameras that are used frequently in corporate video production. If you feel that you can make use of its features, do not let this dissuade you. I do not think it is a big enough step to warrant overhauling your system, however. When it comes to Richie Media, we have the experience to understand what equipment is needed for every video scenario, and we would love to help you with yours!