One of My Main Cameras: The Sony FX9 5-Year Review

This is my review of one of the cameras that I own, the Sony FX9. This is often my A-camera, and I usually pair it with my Sony FX6 as the B-camera.

I have owned this camera for over 5 years now, and in that time I have used it on countless shoots. As a Director of Photography and Camera Operator in Atlanta, the Sony FX9 has become one of my go-to cameras for higher-end shoots, especially documentary work, corporate video production, interviews, and commercial projects.

When I bought the FX9, I knew it was a camera that a lot of TV shows, documentaries were shot on. It was definitely an expensive investment, but for me, it has paid off. Because I own this camera, I have had the opportunity to shoot countless docu-series, documentaries, YouTube videos, and high-end corporate videos.

The Sony FX9 really is a great camera. The image is very nice, and I do think it is a step above the Sony FX6. Although, if I am being honest, I do not always see a huge difference between the two cameras. The FX6 is also a great camera, and they match very well together.

One of the benefits of the Sony FX9 is that the image is downsampled from a 6K sensor, which gives the camera a very detailed, smooth, clean-looking 4K image. The footage has a professional look to it without feeling overly sharp or digital. Skin tones look great, and the camera handles interviews really well, which is a big reason I like using it for documentary and corporate video work.

In my experience, the FX9 footage also gives me a little more room to work in color correction than what I usually get from my FX6 or Sony A7S III. The files are noticeably larger, but the benefit is that the image feels more robust in post. I can adjust color, lift shadows, and bring down highlights while still keeping the footage looking clean and natural. That does not mean the FX6 or A7S III footage is bad, because both of those cameras are excellent, but the FX9 files do feel strong when I need to do more detailed color correction. Another thing I love about the FX9 is the dual base ISO. The camera has a low base ISO of 800 and a high base ISO of 4000, which gives me a lot of flexibility on set. The high base ISO makes shooting in darker locations much more feasible, but it is also useful when I want to close down my aperture and keep more of the image in focus. I would still usually favor the low base when I have enough light, but the high base ISO is clean and very usable. It has helped me a lot in certain situations where I needed more exposure without completely changing the lighting setup. The FX9 also makes recording audio in-camera a breeze. While I do often work with sound mixers, I also have plenty of jobs where I record audio myself. The quality of the audio inputs on this camera is really good, and I like having physical volume knobs on the side of the camera so I can make quick adjustments while shooting. When needed, I can also quickly switch the camera to auto level control, which can be helpful in fast-moving situations.

This camera is awesome, and it has helped me land multiple jobs. A lot of clients, producers, and production companies recognize the Sony FX9, so having it in my camera package has definitely helped me as a DP and camera operator.

But to be honest, when I am picking a camera for my own clients, I often find myself reaching for the Sony FX6 instead. While I do think the image is a bit better on the FX9, the camera is pretty massive. The size alone can slow me down a bit, especially on smaller shoots or fast-moving jobs. The FX6 is much more nimble and manageable, especially when I am running around filming B-roll.

Another reason I sometimes prefer the FX6 is battery life and media. When shooting off battery power on the FX9, I usually need to change batteries a few times during the day. The FX9 also fills up cards faster because of the larger file sizes. That is not necessarily a bad thing, because those larger files are part of what makes the footage feel more solid in post, but it does mean more battery changes, more media management, and a little more downtime throughout the day.

I have made a few modifications to my FX9 to make it work better for the way I shoot. I have a Wooden Camera V-mount plate on the back of it, and I love that addition. It allows me to power the FX9, a monitor, and other accessories right from the plate. You can also move the battery around and flip it up out of the way so you can access the back of the camera. It is not cheap, but if you are using a monitor or other accessories with the FX9, I think it is a must-have.

I also have a Wooden Camera top plate on the camera. This is another excellent accessory because it gives me more mounting points for monitors, wireless video, timecode boxes, audio equipment, and other useful accessories. I find this especially helpful when I am working with a sound operator, because they can easily mount their devices to my camera when needed.

Overall, I love the Sony FX9. It has been a great investment, and it has opened the door for me to work on some amazing projects. It is not always the fastest or lightest camera to use, but when I need a professional camera for interviews, documentaries, corporate video production, or commercial work, the FX9 is still one of my favorite tools.

If you need a DP or Camera Operator in Atlanta, Georgia, the Southeast, or anywhere in the world, feel free to reach out.