Sony FX 6 User manual

Sony FX 6
firmware version 2.0
Quick Start Guide and Tips
Centre for Digital Arts
Concordia University
2022

Contents
Introduction, P. 3
Important Features, P. 6
APR warning, P. 9
Power and Batteries, P. 10
Recording Media, P. 11
The kit zoom lens, P. 18
Menu navigation, P. 21
Audio, P. 29
Shooting Modes: Introduction, P. 40
Custom Shooting Mode: Settings, P. 44
Custom Shooting Mode: Exposure, P. 55
Focusing, P. 82
Cine EI Shooting Mode, P. 97
Cine EI Option One: Exposing Slog 3
with the s709 LUT, P. 103
Cine EI Option Two: Importing custom LUTs,
P. 1 2 9
Cine EI Option Three: Exposing Slog 3 without
a LUT, P. 136
S and Q Shooting, P. 143
Attaching the Viewfinder Loupe, P. 156
Tripod Tips, P. 170
Additional Resources, P. 180

Introduction
Sony FX 6

Introduction
This guide summarizes key information on the Sony FX 6 in one resource.
The guide is not written for the absolute beginner but it does explain some
fundamental concepts common to all video cameras.
It is ideal for the somewhat experienced person who wants to quickly
familiarize themselves with the camera.
I suggest the Sony Z90 and FS5 cameras in the EV Depot for beginners.
Additional resources are referenced at the end of the guide.

Introduction
The FX 6 is a full frame sensor Sony “cinema” camera.
The image quality is fantastic and the camera can serve as a good introduction
to the world of digital cinematography.
If you have never used a digital cinema camera that can import LUTs, read the
section on Cine EI shooting mode carefully.
The method of exposure using a LUT described in this section, is similar to how
many digital cinema cameras expose using LUTs, regardless of their
manufacturer.
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions about this guide. Please
email:
[e-mail]

Important features: Camera Specifications
In addition to NTSC and PAL options there is also a 4K DCI (digital cinema) 24 fps option.
4.2K Full Frame sensor: very good low light performance!
Shooting Resolutions: HD 1920 x 1080, 4K UHD 3840 x 2160, 4K DCI 4096 x 2160
Standard frame rates (called frequency scan): NTSC: 59.94p, 29.97p, 23.98p, PAL: 50p,
25p, DCI: 24p
S &Q frame rates: 4K: 1 to 120 fps, HD: 1 to 240 fps
Recording options:
XAVC-I 4:2:2 10 bit (I Frame) for HD and 4K
XAVC-L (long G.O.P) longer recording time and lower quality, HD: 10 bit, 4K: 8 bit
4K RAW recording requires an external recorder (4K 16 bit RAW output via SDI and HDMI)

Important Features: Shooting Modes and Dual Sensitivity
Shooting Modes:
There are two shooting modes: Custom and Cine EI. If you want to shoot in
Slog 3 then you must shoot in Cine EI mode. This is common to all Sony
cinema cameras. In this guide, the Custom shooting mode is presented
first, as it is the easiest choice.
ISO:
This is a dual sensitivity camera, meaning that the sensor is optimized for
two different ISO settings called base sensitivity: Low and High. The low
and high ISO ratings change according to the shooting mode. See next
page.

Important Features: Dual Sensitivity ISO
Base Sensitivity Settings (higher numbers mean more sensitive to light):
Low:
Custom (709) Low: 320 ISO
Cine EI Low: 800 ISO
High:
Custom (709) High: 5000 ISO
Cine EI High: 12800 ISO
The Base Sensitivity (ISO) settings change according to the shooting mode.
See the sections on Shooting Modes and Exposure.

APR warning
When you first power up the camera, it may ask you to “execute APR”.
This is the automatic pixel restoration feature that minimizes noise in
the LCD when lighting conditions change.
Put the lens cap on and press OK. It only takes 5 seconds.
If you cancel this option, do it next time. It should be performed on a
regular basis.

Power and Batteries
Power button on side of camera.
AC power on the back right side of camera (bottom
connector).
Smaller battery (BP-U35): 150 minutes
Larger battery: (BP-U100): 400 minutes
Shooting high frame rates will diminish the battery
time.
The batteries take several hours to charge. Charge
them overnight.

Recording Media
Sony FX 6

Recording Media: saving files
Connect the card reader to the computer. There is a USB C and USB A cable in the
bag. The .MXF video files are contained in the XDROOT/Clip folder on the card.
Simply back up those files. You can also back up the accompanying .XML files.

Recording Media: Two Codecs
The camera comes with two 160 GB CF Express A cards.
These can record XAVC I 4K up to 120 fps.
The camera has two internal codecs:
XAVC I (I Frame)
XAVC L (Long G.O.P)
Always use the XAVC I codec unless you need the extra recording time.
XAVC I is a 4:2:2 10 bit codec in HD and 4K.
Both codecs are in the cross platform .mxf container.

Recording Media: XAVC I Recording time per card
XAVC I recording times per card:
XAVC I HD 24p: 207 min.
30p: 168 min.
XAVC I 4K 24p: 83 min.
30p: 66 min.
XAVC I File sizes:
XAVC I HD 30p: 950 MB per minute
XAVC I 4K UHD 24p: 1.8 GB per minute
Higher frame rates will have shorter recording times and larger file sizes.

Recording Media: XAVC L Recording time per card
Only use XAVC L if you require a longer recording time.
The 10 bit HD 50 Mbps image quality is very good.
The 8 bit 4K image will be noisier in low light.
XAVC L recording times per card:
XAVC L HD (35 Mbps): 500 min. (approx.)
XAVC L HD (50 Mbps): 340 min. (approx.)
XAVC L 4K (150 Mbps): 200 min. (approx.)
XAVC L file sizes are much smaller than XAVC I.

Recording Media: Codec Bit Rates
XAVC I files are easier to play back than XAVC L. However, older computers
may struggle with the XAVC I 4K higher frame rate bit rates.
XAVC I bit rates:
HD and 4K 24-30p: 240-300 Mbps
HD and 4K 50-60p: 500-600 Mbps
HD and 4K UHD 120 fps: 1200 Mbps
XAVC L bit rates:
4K UHD 24-30p XAVC L (8 bit): 150 Mbps
HD 24-30p: 50 Mbps or 35 Mbps options

Recording Media: Proxy recording and Simultaneous Record
Proxy Recording:
Proxy recording creates compressed .mp4 duplicate video files while you record.
I don’t recommend it. The proxy files are not useful in an online/offline workflow
as they do not have the identical file names of the full resolution files. I
recommend creating offline files using Adobe Media Encoder and the Pro Res
422 Proxy codec.
You can turn on proxy recording in the status pages and menu if you wish.
Simultaneous Record:
If you want to have copies of the video files recording to each card
simultaneously, one copy per card, turn on simultaneous record:
Menu/Project/Simul Rec/Setting/ON

The kit zoom lens
Sony FX 6

About the lens
The included lens is a Sony FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS Lens (E-mount).
F stop 4 is available throughout the range from wide to telephoto.
This lens is designed for full frame cameras.
Always use full frame lenses on this camera when shooting 4K. You can
use APS C or Super 35 lenses when shooting HD but then you must
change the Imager Scan setting to Super 35 (status page 1).
The zoom is manual. The zoom rockers on the camera will not work
with this lens.
This is not a parfocal lens, the focus will change when zooming. So, it’s
best to use autofocus when zooming or tracking an object. See the
section on focus.

About the lens
There is an Autofocus button on the side of
the lens in addition to an auto or manual
focus switch on the front of the camera (see
the section on focusing on how to operate
the camera in hybrid focus mode).
When in manual focus you can lock the focus
with the large button under the ”G”.
Optical steady shot stabilization on the lens
is necessary since there is no in-body camera
stabilization.
Turn off the stabilization when on the
camera is on a tripod.