Whether you’re shooting documentaries, events, reality TV, education, or corporate productions, the PXW-FX9 XDCAM 6K Full-Frame Camera System from Sony has you covered with its powerful and flexible 4K interchangeable lens camera system. The PXW-FX9 features a full-frame, oversampled 6K Exmor R CMOS sensor that allows you to capture 4K images with cinematic depth of field. The camera’s E-mount is machined from stainless steel and allows you to use E-mount lenses.
The PXW-FX9 input and output features include 12G/6G-SDI and HDMI outputs for 4K video, a 3G-SDI output for HD, and genlock and timecode when using a multicamera setup. The Fast Hybrid AF autofocus system allows for accurate focus and even allows facial detection to automatically detect human form with 561 points of detection. Advanced image stabilization is achieved using the PXW-FX9’s internal gyroscope for shots so smooth it’ll look like you used a gimbal. Its 4-channel audio recording allows you to use external microphones and record ambient sound with the internal mics simultaneously.
The camera features a 15-stop dynamic range, supports dynamic HDR, hybrid log gamma mode (HLG), and records 10-bit 4:2:2 to dual XQD media card slots that support simultaneous and relay recording, as well as multiple backup recording modes that utilize proxy files. The camera can record UHD (3840 x 2160) and HD (1920 x 1080) internally at a selectable frame rate from 1 fps up to 60 fps in XAVC-I, XAVC-Long, and MPEG HD formats. Its 7-stop electronic variable ND filter can perform in auto or manual mode, smoothly adjusting from 1/4 to 1/128 density. The camera’s default S-Cinetone color look offers the same soft, vivid tone as with Sony’s VENICE camera.
In addition to its wide dynamic range, its enhanced color and light features include a dual base ISO of 800/4000 with a maximum ISO up to 102,400, which is helpful when in low-light situations or using a slower lens. Other improvements with the latest firmware include improved white balancing in sunlight with a more natural look, user-created 3D LUTs, improved AF, audio improvements, USB tethering, T-value metadata, password enhancements, and an S35 2K imager scan mode.
The FX9 includes an integrated Multi-Interface (MI) shoe and comes with a BP-U35 battery, BC-U1A battery charger, AC adapter with two power cords, body cap, viewfinder, eyepiece, remote control, and USB cable. The PXW-FX9 is also compatible with the separately available XDCA-FX9 extension unit, which provides ENG shoulder-style support, networking features, and a slot for an optional wireless audio receiver.
Firmware Version 3.0
The v3.0 firmware update offers:
- S700 protocol over Ethernet
- B4 lens support:
- S16 scanning mode (up to 1080p at rates up to 180 fps)
- B4 lens control using the LA-EB1 lens mount adapter
- ALAC (Auto Lens Aberration Correction) function
- Assignable center scan
- Anamorphic lens support
- Clip naming (Cam ID + Reel#)
- Real-time tracking (touch-tracking autofocus)
- Additional items can be modified in the status screen
- SR Live for HDR metadata support
- Recording proxy clip real-time transfer
- Camcorder network setup using smartphone app
- Remote control using smartphone over USB tethering
- USB tethering activated using iOS 14 iPhone and iPad
6K CMOS Exmor R Sensor
15 Stops of Dynamic Range
ISO Control
Electronic ND Filter
Recording Formats
Adjustable Frame Rates
S-Cinetone Look
Fast Hybrid AF
Effortlessly track fast-moving subjects with pin-sharp focus, even when using wide-lens aperture settings to maintain a shallow depth of field with the camera’s full-frame sensor. Enhanced Fast Hybrid AF combines phase-detection AF for fast, accurate subject tracking with contrast AF for exceptional focus accuracy. In addition, Face Detection intelligently recognizes and locks on to human faces. The dedicated 561-point phase-detection AF sensor covers approximately 94% of the whole image area width and 96% of the height, allowing for consistently accurate, responsive AF tracking, even with fast-moving subjects.
Seven-level AF transition speeds from fast-switching between subjects as quickly as possible to slow, where speed is reduced to fit a more measured shooting style, such as a historical TV drama.
Five-level AF subject shift sensitivity ranges from locked-on, ignoring other moving subjects in the frame, to responsive that switches focus from one subject to another—ideal for snapping between race cars as they speed by.