Sony Set to Debut Full-Frame 12K FX8 Cinema Camera at IBC 2025
As the IBC show in Amsterdam approaches this September, anticipation is building for major camera announcements from leading brands like Sony and Canon. This year, Sony is expected to make significant waves with the introduction of two innovative cameras—most notably, the headline-grabbing FX8, the world’s first E-mount cinema camera with a full-frame 12K image sensor.
Sony Z380: Next-Generation Professional Camcorder
Alongside the FX8, Sony will unveil the Z380, a 3CMOS BIONZ XR XDCAM camcorder, designed for broadcast and documentary professionals. Equipped with a newly developed Exmor RS 3CMOS sensor, the Z380 sharply outperforms its predecessor, the Sony Z280, in both image quality and performance. The combination of the powerful BIONZ XR processor, intelligent AI features, and variable ND support, enables impressive 4K 120p recording in full RGB. The camcorder offers both a low base ISO for crisp images and a high-sensitivity mode that matches the acclaimed FX6, making it adaptable for various shooting environments. Further, significant upgrades to autofocus technology make the Z380 an operator-friendly solution, freeing up creative attention for composition and subject tracking rather than manual focusing.
Sony FX8: Pushing Cinema Boundaries with 12K Resolution
Stealing the spotlight, however, is the groundbreaking Sony FX8. This new full-frame cinema camera boasts a staggering 12K resolution, utilizing a 16:9 cropped CMOS sensor with a 3:2 aspect ratio and an incredible 96 million total pixels—four times the resolution of the FX9. While the FX8 does not support internal RAW or X-OCN recording, it does offer full-frame crop 3.8K 16-bit RAW video output via SDI at up to 120fps to external recorders, mirroring the workflow flexibility familiar to FX6 users.
Internally, the FX8 records in XAVC format, supporting 8K30p and 4K60p video in both full-frame and Super35 modes, and delivers super high-speed 4K at 120p in full-frame crop mode. While its readout speed is not as swift as some competitors like the URSA Cine 12K (due to processor constraints), the FX8 remains a versatile, user-friendly tool offering filmmakers immense creative freedom with high-resolution and dual-format capabilities.
The Competition
Canon is also hinting at the release of a new Cinema EOS camera around the IBC event, though details remain scarce. Nonetheless, Sony’s FX8 announcement is poised to set a new benchmark for cinema camera innovation, promising unmatched detail and flexibility for the next generation of filmmaking.
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