The Sony FX3 is a powerhouse of a camera. I’ve been using it for a while now and I love the quality of footage it captures. In order to get the greatest possible footage, I built a full cinema rig around it. In this article, we’ll walk through every component of the rig, how it works, and why I chose do build it like I did. I also made a video on this topic on the Gear and Light YouTube channel if you’d prefer to watch instead. I’ll link to everything so you can check out any components that may interest you.
If you haven’t purchased your FX3 yet, you can buy it here: https://jerad.link/sonyfx3
The FX3 Cage
First off, we’ve got the cage that attaches directly to the FX3. I use a SmallRig cage. There are couple of SmallRig options. I opted for the full cage as opposed to the half cage version. I ordered and tried them both but found that the half cage just didn’t provide enough support for the rig I was hoping to build. The downside of the full cage however, is that it doesn’t allow you to use the handle that comes with the FX3. This isn’t a huge deal though, so we’ll be adding custom handles to our rig.
I’ve attached two nato rails to the cage.
One is on the top and will hold the handle and the other is on the side and will hold the handle grip. On the other side of the camera, I’ve attached a cable lockdown for the HDMI so it doesn’t get pulled out by accident.
On the bottom, I have the plate that comes with the Kondor Blue base kit.
Links to everything in this section:
https://jerad.link/smallrigfx3cage
https://jerad.link/smallrignatorailsm
https://jerad.link/kbuniversalbase
Handles
After attaching the cage, the first thing we’ll add is the handles. I opted for the Kondor Blue handle for the top instead of the SmallRig handle, (both are showed in the image below.)
Both handles are similar in build, but I found that Kondor Blue handle conforms to my hand a bit better, and its mounting points work a little more for what I’m trying to do. On the side of the camera I use a SmallRig Wooden grip. I’ve found that these two handles make it very easy and simple to hold my cinema rig.
Links to everything in this section:
https://jerad.link/kbtophandle
https://jerad.link/smallrigwoodgripkit
Attaching the Lens
After the handles, we’ll attach the lens. I use the IRIX 45mm CINE lens.
As far as cinema lenses go, IRIX lenses are very inexpensive but offer amazing quality. Overall, this lens offers a lot of bang for its buck.
Links to everything in this section:
https://jerad.link/irix45mmsony
Attaching the Base Plate
Next, we’ll attach the Kondor Blue base system to the plate on the bottom of our cage. I like this base more than the Small Rig base option because it locks everything in better and feels much more secure.
Links to everything in this section:
https://jerad.link/kbuniversalbase
Attaching the Rods
Once we have the base plate on, we can screw our rods into the base plate. I use twelve inch Kondor Blue Rods.
On the back of the rods behind the camera we’ll attach a SmallRig V-mount base plate that the battery will mount to.
I love this plate because it’s on a swivel which allows me to angle the battery as needed to balance my rig. Balance is very important for cinema rigs. If you have an unbalanced rig, filming is going to be a lot more difficult for you and you’ll wake up sore the next day.
Links to everything in this section:
https://jerad.link/smallrigvlockassy
Setting Up the Polar Pro Base Camp System
The Polar Pro Base Camp System attaches to the rods and your lens.
You can use it to add different filters like ND filters and polarizers to the front of your lens. This is a crucial part of the kit because it allows you to film in any environment while ensuring that the right amount of light is hitting the sensor. If you want to get the highest possible quality out of your camera, these filters are a must. I have the expanded version which allows me to add multiple filters all at once.
To attach it, slide the whole system onto the front of the rods and over your lens. Then you lock it down onto your lens and onto the rods.
Links to everything in this section:
https://jerad.link/polarprobasecamp
Setting Up The Atomos Ninja V+
Next we’ll set up our monitor. When you’re at a shoot, it’s unrealistic to rely on the small LCD screen on the back of your camera. You need a large view to ensure that your composition looks good and that your subject is properly in focus. I use the Atomos Ninja V+ and have loved it. It has a rich and accurate display that makes getting a good shot much easier. To attach it, I mount it to the adjustable swivel mount on our top handle.
Links to everything in this section:
https://jerad.link/kbmonitorswivelmnt
https://jerad.link/atomosninjavplus
Cable Management and Battery
Now we can move onto some cable management and battery attachment. I use a coiled USB cable to run power from our battery to the camera. The cable I’ve linked to below is amazing because it has a LED light on the outside that lets you know when your camera is actually charging.
Without this, it’s incredibly difficult to tell if you are getting a charge or not. I prefer to use USB charging to an external battery instead of using a dummy battery because it provides a little bit of extra redundancy in case something goes wrong. If the V-mount battery fails I can still film through my camera’s battery.
Now, we’ll mount the battery on the V-mount attached to the rods in the back. I use the IndiPro battery on the v-mount so that I can swivel and adjust it to get the best balance for my rig. Now that the battery is mounted, we’ll plug the usb cable into the camera and into the side of the battery. Lastly, we’ll attach our HDMI from the Atomos to the camera as well.
Links to everything in this section:
https://jerad.link/indipro98whvmount
https://jerad.link/90coiledusbcable
https://jerad.link/zilrultrahdmicable
Balance Check
The last thing you’ll want to do before powering everything on and rocking your first shoot is a quick balance test. Let the camera hang off your thumb from the top handle to see if the rig is leaning too far in any direction. If it is, go back and make some adjustments to make sure your set up is as balanced as possible. This will make a world of difference when you’re out filming a long shoot.
Final Thoughts
So there is my full cinema rig set up for the FX3. I hope this article was helpful for you as you’re building out a cinema rig of your own. If you’re interested in learning more about cameras and camera equipment, check out Gear and Light on YouTube for more videos like this one. I have a similar video about my cinema rig setup for the Sony a7siii here:
I also just posted a review of the brand new Sony a7IV here:
