- Report claims Sony FX3 cinema camera replacement to launch later this month
- The FX5 comes with an all-new sensor that offers a much-needed upgrade
- Optional EVF add-on kit to go with the camera
It’s been over five years since Sony launched the FX3, and in that time it’s become one of the most beloved small cinema cameras around. But it has always had a gap that professional filmmakers have complained about: no open port shooting.
According to a new report from SonyAlphaRumors, that’s about to change. A story on the site says that Sony will officially announce the FX5 on July 22nd at 15:00 BST, and among the leaked specs is Open Gate 5K recording in a 3:2 aspect ratio.
If you’re not familiar with the term, open port simply means that the camera records using the entire surface of the sensor instead of cropping it to the standard 16:9. In particular, the extra height gives editors far more room to reframe, wrap, or reuse the same image for square, vertical, or widescreen content in posts. It can be a huge deal for anyone making videos for multiple platforms from a single shot.
That’s exactly what TechRadar’s Pete Sheath asked for back in 2025, along with an increase in resolution, when he wrote his wish list for a next-generation FX3.
It’s also rumored to arrive in the FX5 in the form of a new 16.6MP fully stacked sensor. On the surface, 16MP might seem modest for a 2026 cinema camera. But for a camera built around motion rather than stills, a lower pixel count could work in the FX5’s favor: it could mean better dynamic range, cleaner low-light performance, and room for punchier frame rate options (don’t be shocked if 4K at 240 fps ends up on the spec sheet).
The trade-off is that 8K recording appears to be off the table, which is likely to disappoint anyone hoping the FX5 would jump into that territory.
Space for a view
There is also good news for anyone who missed having a viewfinder on Sony’s FX series cameras. The report points to a new external tilt EVF that should make a real difference to shooters working outdoors in bright sun or in dim, light-sensitive spaces like concerts and theaters, where a glowing rear screen isn’t always welcome. It sounds optional rather than built-in, which can be the best of both worlds: skip it and keep the FX5 almost as compact as the FX3, or clip it on when you need it.
Other rumored additions include the BIONZ XR2 processor with AI autofocus (borrowed from the Sony A7R VI), a triple ISO system, false color exposure tools and a Venice-style menu overhaul.
Nothing is official yet and Sony hasn’t confirmed a single spec. But if the leak turns out to be accurate, the Sony FX5 looks set to answer several of the loudest requests from the FX3 faithful at once. We should know for sure in a few weeks.
