Sony launches a long-awaited firmware update for their compact cine duo, the FX3 (Version 6.00) and FX30 (Version 5.00). For quite a while, these cameras desperately lacked shutter angle exposure settings, somewhat fundamental for cine cameras these days (and pretty common among high-end hybrid cameras as well). Sony published this as a future update as early as January, and now it’s finally here, available for download.Aside from the coveted shutter angle, the firmware update also adds a 790tone color mode to the cameras’ picture profiles. Improved image quality when using 3D LUT software is also on board as well as OK/NG/KEEP flags that may be added to clips during or after movie recording.Firmware Ver.6.00 for Sony FX3 and Ver. 5.00 for Sony FX30 – new featuresShutter angle is the preferred exposure setting practice for filmmaking and all sorts of motion capture. It links the shutter speed to the frame rate, thus promising smooth-looking videos and consistent motion blur. When set to 180°, for example, the camera will use a shutter speed that’s half the frame rate. Shooting at 24fps will set the shutter speed at 1/48th of a second. Switching to 120fps will automatically set the shutter speed to 1/240 s, and so on. It will change the exposure but maintain the frame rate-shutter speed ratio, thus maintaining the desired motion blur.Today, shutter angle is just another way of setting the exposure by linking the shutter speed to the frame rate, but it stems from the very mechanism utilized in analog cine cameras. While current digital cameras use electronic shutters, the shutter angle practice helps us maintain a workflow honed and perfected by generations of cinematographers. I’ll suggest that workflow significantly affects the end product more than most specs will.A nice demonstration of the inner workings of a disk shutter and shutter angle.Shutter angle everywhereAs the hybrid revolution moved forward, shutter angle slowly trickled down into the mainstream. Once an exotic feature known to only a selected few, it can now be found in some sub-$2,000 hybrid cameras, say the Panasonic LUMIX S5II and others. Sony, which usually leads the way regarding innovations, was a bit late for this specific party, but has finally arrived.CineD co-founder and filmmaker Johnny Behiri with the FX3. Image credit: CineDPrice and availabilityFirmware Ver. 6.00 for the FX3 and firmware Ver5.00 for the FX30 are now available for free download. Both require specific previous firmware versions to be updated, so read carefully before updating. Updates can be installed using a memory card or the Sony Creators’ app (version 2.5.0 or later).For the full firmware release notes, please visit Sony’s website (FX3 / FX30).Will this firmware update make you reconsider the FX3 or FX30 as your next camera? Do you already own them and can finally work with shutter angle? Let us know in the comments.
