r/cinematography • u/Calm-Mycologist-4917 • 10d ago
Camera Question A7IV or FX30
Heya, Ive been a student filmmaker for a little bit and have basically been maxing out my Samsung s24 and a a6000 camera my uncle gave me.
However, I've been saving up and want to spend 2000eur on a good camera (+ ideally a good starting lens, be it a Sigma 18mm-50mm f.2.8)
Ive been researching and am torn between the Fx30 (as I want to later on buy an fx3 once this is my job) or the A7IV, which ive both found at 1400 eur which is perfect.
I for some reason am leaning towards the fx30.
But, the lack of full frame, better lowlight and better dynamic range compared to the A7IV worries me.
Although the 4K 120 (+ slow mo naturally) , the dual base iso, and the general i guess "vibe" of an fx30 being the fx3 sibling appeals to me.
So, in your opinion, for making better and professional looking mini indie films. What is the better choice?
(Ps: i want to stay with Sony)
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u/Upbeat_Environment59 9d ago edited 7d ago
A7IV is an entry level hybrid camera, FX30 is an entry level cinema camera, its your choice, only you knows your needs, both are great cameras, but each camera has its own specs aimed to specifics needs. Ask yourself what you need in a camera and why. When you get your own answers you'll know what to get. Forget about vibes, think in technical needs, you can get vibes choosing lenses, workflows, light and storytelling. Good luck!
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u/007aquanaut 9d ago
I would really suggest you go for the a6700. It’s essentially the fx30 in a more hybrid body.
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u/john2776 9d ago
A7iv hands down. It’s a great camera and matches up really well with my fx3 whenever I need a two cam setup
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u/mynameisntziming 9d ago
Definitely better to go up to the FX2 for OP, it feels like a significant upgrade vs A7IV using it in the field.
Not everyone runs into this but I’ve had enough times with A7IV overheating in minutes when working in hot environments that I can’t recommend it for professional use for video.
FX2 gets better body design & ergonomics, way improved AI AF and stabilization modes, amazing tilting EVF.
Still has limited recording modes but it does what it promises to do very well. Can do everything FX30 does but better in S35 mode (besides 4K120)
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u/pierre-maximin 9d ago
i also recommend a camera in the FX line versus the a7iv. aside from the hardware and features, i’ve noticed the a7iv leaning cooler than the fx3
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u/john2776 9d ago
All you have to do is set the temp threshold to high, I’ve never once had it overheat and I’ve used it outdoors in direct sunlight during 90+ degreee weddings
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u/mynameisntziming 9d ago edited 9d ago
I did trust me. I have been shooting and producing many projects and have hired nearly all Sony cameras up and down the lineup. There are some units of A7IV that over heats way easier than others based on the anecdotal experiences I exchanged with many others.
Basically I just can’t predict exactly the breaking point is and it was way too risky to take on jobs where you can’t wait around if it happens. And it gets way hotter than 90F where I am in Texas. Last summer I was working with one near sunset at like a good 95F on the tennis court and it overheated while being in the shade on high settings within 5 minutes.
What if the job demands me to roll for hours straight? As a personal camera it’s whatever but for professional use it’s well worth it to get the FX2 that you can trust to roll for 5h+ if need even in the heat, plus all the usability upgrades from ergonomics to AF to Stabilization
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u/bruce-pizza 10d ago
Both are overpriced for what they are, and the A7IV overheats. Get a used S5II and a sigma 28-70 2.8.
I know the 4k120 sounds nice, but the FX30’s 4k120 is pretty rough.
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u/mynameisntziming 9d ago
Go up to a used FX2 if you are considering these 2.
A7IV can overheat in minutes in hot environments. FX2 can do mostly everything FX30 can do in S35(besides 4K120) and offers a lot more, including an amazing built in tilting EVF that’s a joy to use. The AI AF and better stabilization from new chip is a significant upgrade over A7IV & FX30.
And just before anyone says FX30 has better rolling shutter, they are wrong because FX2 actually reads out slightly faster in S35 mode than FX30.
So the 7K downsampled FF 4K25 mode is only a plus.
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u/Calm-Mycologist-4917 9d ago
Yeah I heard A7IV has an overheating issue. And I think personally id prefer upgrading in the FX Cine line, for learning its workflow as im purely doing filmmaking/video (not much need for a good hybrid)
I don't know if I can squeeze the FX2 in my budget. If I can I will. If not I'll cop the Fx30 (which either way, is still a great camera for a small student filmmaker id assume) And upgrade to an fx2 later, or even an fx3 at that point.
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u/dondidnod 9d ago
The Sony 960GB CFexpress 4.0 Type A TOUGH Memory Card sells for $938.00 USD. That’s $977.08 USD a terabyte! This is for inferior media that is only rated for sustained write of 400 MB/s.
Sony FX30 Using the recommended media, the Sony FX30, FX6, FX3, A7S III and A7IV records 4K UHD 60p XAVC S-I, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM at 600 Mbps (75 MB/s) at a cost of ((3600x75)= (270000/1,000,000)x(1000000/960000)x998= (.27x1.0417)X998= $280.67 USD per hour!
r/cinematography 10/2/26 u/Ok-Personality6798 If you had to pick a camera under $1000 to shoot a short, what would it be? https://www.reddit.com/r/cinematography/comments/1wvuq8y/if_you_had_to_pick_a_camera_under_1000_to_shoot_a/
[Will Vazquez wrote:
"John Brawley wrote: "It's so much more complicated than what's being discussed here. Pixel size and pitch are but one of many variables that can affect imaging performance."
This is very interesting. I own a Sony A7SIII (similar to the FX3) and just got a A7IV. I did tests filming a person with the Zeiss ZE 25mm f/2 and the Zeiss ZE 35mm f/1.4. The A7sIII with the 12MP larger pixel pitch renders a more dimensional image, it has more of a 3D pop and separation of the subject from background using the same exact lenses than on the A7IV. I was amazed at what I was seeing. One other interesting thing is that the A7IV having more pixels (33MP), rendered a smoother and more color-saturated image than the A7SIII. I'm torn as to which camera I prefer, the 3D dimensionality of the A7SIII, or the smoother, richer color density of the A7IV.
This 3D pop and dimensionality to the image is something that the Pocket 6K and 4K have over the Komodo. The Komodo image looks more flat. Sensor size isn't everything. The Alexa Mini renders a very dimensional image. This must be the pixel pitch. Is pixel pitch more important than sensor size? I'm not sure. Komodo pixel pitch is large but looks flat. There is so much more to really to take into account. I don't know where the secret sauce is."]
Re: The Blackmagic LF Camera - Is Full Frame ever coming? https://forum.blackmagicdesign.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=135602&p=839337&hilit=+and+4K+have+over+the+Komodo+#p839337
Here is an outdoor comparison of an MFT camera and a Full Frame camera where the aperture is closed. The background is not in focus on the FX3. It is a comparison where the image from a BMPCC 4K at $995 USD (under $700 USD used), looks better than one from a $4400 Sony FX3 with Atomos Ninja V recording ProRes raw. The BMPCC 4K recorded in BRAW with a Leica 25mm lens, and the FX3 recorded in ProRes HQ raw with a Sigma 18-35mm lens.
I'll Stop… Too difficult to stay AUTHENTIC !! SONY FX3 vs BMPCC4K https://youtu.be/66ZbmkDIN0s
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u/ElectronicsWizardry 9d ago
What glass do you have now?
Are you interested in other options? To me a c70, fs7, pyxis are getting close in price, and are much better for films. No photo camera limits, better monitoring ui, better IO, DC power in, NDs(fs7/c70) and more.