Is the Sony FX9 sequel around the corner?

We’ve been hearing for a while now that Sony was planning to add to its FX range of cinema cameras. The FX9, which first released in 2019, has become one of the most popular cameras among cinematographers and videographers alike: offering exceptional imaging quality and shooting potential. But with five years of innovation between models, we are long overdue an upgrade. And with Sony’s roadmap for the future stretching out in front of us, they are yet to announce anything new in their highly profitable cinema range.

Sony FX9 successor rumors

Rumors about an FX9 sequel have been circulating since May, when Sony scooper Andrea Pizzini said that a trusted source had put it forward as one of two Sony camera releases coming in Q3 2024 - the other being a new Alpha model, though there’s still no consensus on whether that’s an A7V, A7SIV or even the highly-anticipated A1 II. Details were scant on specs or potential new features, but it was explicitly named as a follow-up to the FX9: meaning an E-Mount cinema camera. Whether it would be called an “FX10” or some other new product name remains to be seen, which brings us to the issue with this report.

As we approach the end of August, there has been no new word regarding this camera since, so time is running out for Sony to make that release window. With the recent announcement of the new 85mm G Master II lens, many were hoping for a tease from Sony regarding their next products - to no avail. So if there is to be a Sony FX9 successor successfully launched, when can we expect word?

In order to make a Q3 2024 release window, Sony would likely need to announce the new cinema camera by mid-September 2024. This would consequently lead to a release date in mid-October - namely Q4 2024 rather than Q3. Sony’s other product launches this year have been hamstrung by delays, with the ZV-E10 II initially slated for a May release that was suddenly pushed back to the end of July. Perhaps a supply chain issue or other problem has caused a production backlog?

Regardless, we don’t doubt that the FX9 successor will arrive before 2025, we just believe it will be later rather than sooner.

What can we expect?

Though the above information is effectively all we have, there are some elements that we can garner from Pizzini’s source. The explicit comparison to the FX9 as the predecessor highlights that this will be a full-size, full-frame cinema camera. Unlike models like the FX3 or FX30, which are pocket-sized cinema-oriented cameras, this will be a larger model with additional functionality and capacity for rigging.

Whether we can expect a larger sensor from this FX9 successor remains to be seen. Given that the FX9 is capable of 6K oversampled from 4K and 16-bit RAW output, image quality is near the apex of the industry. We certainly won’t see any change to the E-Mount lens system. Though Sony hasn’t manufactured any cinema lenses in some time, there is a huge suite of options available from third-party manufacturers that cater to a huge range of visual styles.

Other elements we think will remain are the dual-ISO capabilities, programmable 3D LUTs and the huge array of connection options for external monitors, microphones, and focus racks. The remaining question is what sort of price this new cinema camera warrants. Even a barebones FX9 kit can retail for as much as $9,000 - hardly a budget-friendly option for the next Roger Deakins. We’ll have to wait and see whether Sony announces the new model in the coming months, and what we can expect when the release date rolls around.