Sony FX30 VS Sony A7 IV Main Differences

So, if you are debating between the Sony FX30 vs Sony A7 IV which is a full-frame camera that was released at the end of 2021 both cameras look pretty similar in price but they are completely different types of Shooters.

Or you’re a Content creator and you’re wanting to upgrade to something closer to your camera instead of something that you’re coming from so you want to know what are the differences between FX30 and A7 IV.

So, the FX30 is an aps-c cinema line whereas the A7 IV is a photographer videography camera and thinking should you switch to the FX30 an aps-c format or selling your A7 IV, selling your Sony A7S III or FX3 whatever camera you use.

So, you want to know the comparison outside of the price and basic specs that’s going to make the difference of which one is going to better fit for your needs and who’s going to win overall.

What Are the Differences Between Sony FX30 VS Sony A7 IV?

When we look at the differences in both cameras they are different in their price A7 IV is $700 more than the FX30. And the Sony A7 IV is a hybrid camera. It can capture excellent video and stills whereas the FX cameras are definitely more video focused than Stills like A7 IV and the Sony FX30 is squarely aimed at acquiring a video camera.

Another difference between both cameras is the A7 IV is a 33megapixel and the FX30 uses a 26megapixel, the FX30 can only shoot single frames with no mechanical shutter at all, and the A7 IV has a mechanical shutter and can capture up to 10 fps along with the vast Stills features and settings than the Sony FX30.

One of the biggest differences is the EVF on the A7 IV has EVF whereas the FX30 does not have an EVF on its body just the rear LCD monitor.

What Are Similarities Between FX30 VS A7 IV?

Both cameras use backside-illuminated CMOS sensors, when you shoot in the crop sensor of the A7 IV that is the same as shooting as the FX30 Codex colors everything is very similar the only real difference is that with the A7 IV you could punch out to the full frame when you needed it and it gives you that full-frame sensor for photography.

Both of the cameras have variable shutter clear image Zoom Focus mapping Focus breathing compensation also have the gyro data Ibis active steady Shot, full-size HDMI, the multi-interface shoe as well they are pretty well High Featured.

Image Quality

So, in comparison to photo quality if you are coming from a camera like Sony A6000 or already using a camera like this some of the A6000 shots actually look better than the A7 IV because the depth of field is different as well as its full-frame versus aps-c but as per usual it really depends on what you’re going to be utilizing this for.

the FX30 and the A7 IV side by side utilizing that 4K at 25 fps look pretty much the same when it comes to the A7 IV you have less depth of field there are much blurrier backgrounds that’s the difference between aps-c and full frame.

So, both cameras produce greatly detailed images thanks in part to the downsampling happening in both of them.

the A7 IV does have APS-C mode sure the fx30 already is an aps-c camera it’s got clearer mid Zoom but with the A7 IV you can actually choose that super 35 mode in the video which gives you obviously high resolution 4K image with a cropped-in-field of view and you can use clear image zoom on top as well.

Body

the A7 IV has a red box around the screen so you can see its recording but you don’t have the red light on the front and you don’t have the red light on the rear and in case you are doing interview setups you can not see the screen but you can see for sure the red tally lights.

the A7 IV body design fits in line with the rest of the Alpha Series and it’s designed for still use whereas the FX30 body is better for video than the A7 IV.

The FX30 has a slightly different button layout and recording buttons it has three bright tally lamps, it also has a range of quarter inch threads across its body.

Menu

the FX30 has that same menu as the FX3 so it’s got that little second drop-down menu that you can actually swipe up on the screen as well to get that function menu and you can also use cine EI.

the A7 IV has a mode switch which you can switch from photo to video to S and Q mode if you are a hybrid shooter you need to go from photo to video or you need to go straight into that slow and quick mode. So, you can get some 1080p 100 fps footage whereas the FX30 doesn’t have that really fast menu.

Screen

In terms of the screen, the FX30 is getting a better screen of 2.3 million dots resolution instead of the A7 IV and both of these cameras have a lot of features that any video creator needs.

So, with FX30 you are looking at a flip screen with two SD card slots from CF Express type A to UHS-II which features incredible autofocus for humans and animals and a full-size HDMI port instead of what you’re used to on cameras like the Sony A&C or the Sony ZV-E10 where you’re getting a micro Port.

Sensor

The FX30 obviously is designed for video first it does take photos in one frame so it’s a single shot only it’s a 26 megapixel aps-c sensor versus the A7 IV is a 33 megapixel full frame sensor but you can do 10 fps.

Both cameras have two different types of sensors the FX30 has an APS-C crop sensor whereas the A7 IV has a full-frame sensor and the full frame is the way to go.

the FX30 has a faster sensor readout than the A7 IV mainly because its an aps-c sensor so it’s a smaller surface area.

The full frame is better in low light most of the time even though the FX30 has an APS-C crop sensor and it’s not full frame but it still does have a very good low light performance it may not be better than a full-frame but it does offer very good performance.

In terms of the latitude between the two cameras the A7 IV wins out very slightly but both do form very well and look to have a similar damage range.

the FX30 features a smaller sensor and opens up the camera to be used with a great range of lenses as well as speed boosters this means that you can use a lot more lenses on the FX30 than the A7 IV.

And lenses designed to cover aps-c are normally smaller lighter and more affordable than their full-frame counterparts and with Speed Booster you can achieve similar-looking images with larger sensors but you will lose the reliability of the excellent autofocus possible with other adapters and Native E-mount lenses.

Full Frame VS APS-C

When it comes to full-frame and APS-C and glass it does seem like there is better quality glass in the full-frame range you can utilize so much of the good glass, they’re both Sony E-mounts so you can actually use that full-frame glass on the aps-c camera as well.

Shutter

When it comes to rolling shutter comparison FX30 has a better rolling shutter and a slightly faster sensor readout than A7 IV when doing sports videography or photography.

the rolling shutter performance is great it’s not like the FX6 but it still is really good it’s definitely much better than the A7 IV.

Slow Motion

In terms of slow motion FX30 also does 1080p at 240 fps whereas the A7 IV maxes out at 120 fps in 1080P.

When it comes to overheating if you turn the internal temp sensor too high you have zero overheating issues with A7 IV whereas the FX30 has an internal fan so you shouldn’t get any overheating issues but you also have to turn that internal temp higher as well just like the FX3 and like the A7S III.

ISO Performance

the FX30 doesn’t perform as well as the A7 IV and Sony FX6 at ISO 800 because those cameras look super clean when it goes up to that second base at 2500.

now the FX6 does have control over your noise you can have low medium or high whereas the fx30 you don’t have any control over the noise so there would be some internal noise suppression it means if you record raw externally you will notice that it will be much noisier in post.

the FX30 and A7 IV and FX6 have different colors, the A7 IV, the FX6, and the FX30 have different red tones and the A7 IV generally does have more greenish skin tones.

Video Features

So, the basic video specs of what these cameras can do from a video standpoint A7 IV can record in 4k 60 fps this is in an aps-c crop so there’s no way to get access to that in a full frame mode it is 4:2:2 10 bit h.264 and H.265 with 1080p up to 128 fps.

When we talk about the Sony FX30 in comparison with A7 IV you’re looking at a 4K 120 fps and that’s a downsample from 6K 1080p 120 fps you also have 240p.

And back to the A7 IV that can do 1080p up to 120 fps as well you just get that extra bump in 240p in the full HD for the FX30.

FX30 can also capture full HD up to 240 fps with no crop whereas the A7 IV can capture 4K up to 60 which also has a crop or full HD 120p which does not and the FX30 has better options than FX3 and A7 IV.

the A7 IV only does 4K in 10-bit with UHS and Q mode at 1080p whereas the FX30 it does 4K 120 fps in HS which is your h.265 or it can do S and Q mode but 4K 120 fps 10-bit codec as well.

So, at the end of video performance about those cameras, the FX30 takes videos and photos but you’re not nearly getting anything close to what you would get in the A7 IV and this is really going to make a huge difference.

If you are a video Shooter there is the front and rear tally lights which are really important because you actually understand what you are recording.

Autofocus

The Sony FX30 features Sony’s Fast Hybrid AF system, which combines 273 phase-detection AF points and 759 contrast-detection AF points for fast and accurate autofocus.

It also has face detection and tracking technology, which allows it to lock onto subjects and keep them in focus, even as they move around the frame.

The Sony A7 IV, on the other hand, is a full-frame mirrorless camera with a 33-megapixel sensor and a variety of interchangeable lenses.

It features Sony’s latest Real-time Eye AF system, which uses AI-based algorithms to detect and track the eyes of people and animals in the frame.

It also has Real-time Tracking technology, which allows it to keep track of subjects as they move around the frame.

The Sony FX30’s Fast Hybrid AF system is particularly well-suited for capturing fast-moving subjects in challenging lighting conditions, thanks to its combination of phase-detection and contrast-detection AF points.

The Sony A7 IV’s Real-time Eye AF system is particularly impressive when it comes to portrait and wildlife photography, as it can detect and track the eyes of people and animals even when they are moving quickly.

Image Stabilization

When it comes to image stabilization, both the Sony FX30 and the Sony A7 IV offer impressive performance.

the A7 IV’s IBIS system is generally considered to be more advanced and effective than the FX30’s built-in stabilization.

The A7 IV’s IBIS system can compensate for up to 5.5 stops of camera shake, whereas the FX30’s built-in stabilization can only compensate for up to 3 stops of camera shake.

the sony fx30 also has a built-in 5-axis image stabilization system that can compensate for camera shake and reduce blur in both photos and videos.

In comparison, the A7 IV also has a 5-axis in-body image stabilization system that can compensate for camera shake and reduce blur in both photos and videos.

The A7 IV’s IBIS system also works in conjunction with lens-based stabilization systems to provide even more effective stabilization.

This means that when using a lens with its own stabilization system, such as Sony’s FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS lens.

the A7 IV’s IBIS system can work in tandem with the lens-based stabilization to provide even greater stabilization performance.

Low Light

When it comes to low light performance the A7 IV does perform better in low light situations due to that higher 7K sensor that downsamples to 4K.

The noise reduction performs almost just as well as the Sony FX6 both cameras have pretty bad roll and shutter artifacts you can easy to shoot around on both.

The FX30 does have a dual base of 800 and 2500 and it’s very similar to A7 IV but the A7 IV has a low-end base of 800 and 3200 so these are the two base isos that perform the best in s-log 3.

If you’re going to be doing low light stuff A7 IV might be your best bet if you’re going to be doing rolling shutter and Wildlife FX30 is probably going to be your choice.

Frame Rate

So, both of these cameras in one frame rate or another is going to experience some kind of a crop factor even the A7 IV which is a full-frame when you go into the high resolution of 4K 60 there is an aps-c crop and you’re not getting that full span of the sensor.

when you go into the 4K 120 fps that is going to put you at a 1.6 times crop on the crop you’re already experiencing the crop on an FX30 aps-c sensor.

Dynamic Range

When it comes to dynamic range we compare the full frame vs APS-C sensor you will get better performance with the full frame instead of APS-C you’re going to get that little bit extra performance as far as like the noise and AKA sprinkles in the shot.

Both of these cameras have the same 14 stops of dynamic range and we compare a cinema camera and a hybrid camera the difference is that full-frame sensor being bigger can collect more light to the sensor.

EVF

the A7 IV does have an EVF it’s 3.68 million dots whereas the FX30 doesn’t have one so if you are in really high situations somewhere outside you can utilize that EVF with the FX30 you need an external monitor most of the time if you are filming but if you’re trying to keep a really compact form factor the A7 IV is going to win.

Viewfinder

the viewfinder is excellent on the A7 IV it features a 3.6 million dot OLED display it can be helpful for certain shooting scenarios whereas to get an EVF onto the FX30 you’ll need to rig up a third-party one onto the camera which will add a lot of weight to get good quality.

So, it may be better off looking at a monitor instead of an EVF for the same price as the A7 IV you can get the FX30 with the top XLR handle that was originally released with the FX3 which uses the Mi shoe on top of the camera to directly communicate with the camera this handle adds much better preamps than the ones used on the 3.5 millimeter mic inputs on the camera and on the A7 IV.

this is an awesome option to capture better quality audio it offers two full-size XLR inputs with phantom power as well as a 3.5 millimeter mic input and then a bunch of controls you can also capture four channels of audio and monitor them all simultaneously.

the handle itself is pretty good but not the sturdiest you can make it better with some accessories if you want a similar XLR unit for the A7 IV you can grab the XLR k3m which will add pretty much all of the same functionality without the top handle.

Storage

the FX30 and Sony FX3 feature the same dual card slot that can take either UHS-II SD cards or CFexpress type A the A7 IV can take the same but only has one dual slot being able to take SD cards.

Ports

you’re getting two card slots for the SD card and type A cards, the flip-out screen, a touch screen, the updated menu Systems Great internal preamps there are some fantastic Cinema video features like the cine EIthat’s in the camera stuff like the16-bit raw that you’re able to get out via HDMI and you can still get 4k 60, whereas the a74 only has one type A card slot.

the FX30 can also Jam Time code via the USBC with the correct adapter cable which means you can keep a Channel of audio free whereas with the A7 IV, you will have to use the mic in port.

Battery

The Sony FX30 uses a Sony NP-FZ100 rechargeable battery pack with a capacity of 2280mAh and a voltage of 7.2V.

This battery is capable of providing approximately 430 shots on a single charge when using the electronic viewfinder, or approximately 530 shots when using the LCD monitor.

The FX30 also supports USB charging, allowing you to charge the battery via a USB port or with an AC adapter.

On the other hand, the Sony A7 IV uses a Sony NP-FZ100 rechargeable battery pack with a capacity of 2280mAh and a voltage of 7.2V, the same as the FX30.

According to Sony, this battery is capable of providing approximately 670 shots on a single charge when using the electronic viewfinder, or approximately 740 shots when using the LCD monitor.

The A7 IV also supports USB charging, allowing you to charge the battery via a USB port or with an AC adapter.

Which Battery Last Long?

the Sony A7 IV has a longer battery life than the Sony FX30, due to the fact that the A7 IV is a more advanced and power-hungry camera with features such as 4K video recording and a higher resolution sensor. However, both cameras use the same battery pack, so you can use the same batteries and chargers for both cameras if you have both.

Price

let’s cover the price you can get the basics outlined with the Sony A7 IV for around $2500 on BH Photo and Adorama with the same price that features a full-frame sensor and then you have the Sony FX30 that is $1800 super 35 APS-C sensor that is crazy cheap price, especially with the specs in this camera you can find on BH Photo and Adorama with the same price.

Key Advantages

the key advantage of the FX30 over the A7 IV is it does have a time code in as well it means if you have a Time code reader you can plug it directly into the FX30 and sync cameras so that’s really good for multi-cam usage and really good for usage on set as well.

If you want to try and keep the audio in sync with the camera that can be a big issue with both cameras you’re trying to utilize in a professional situation and it doesn’t have those professional features.

Which Camera Takes Better Images FX30 or A7 IV?

the FX30 is a sharper more detailed image that 12 or 10 megapixel sensor of the FX3 still looks incredible like the lower resolution just makes it look more filmic I think the FX30 does incredibly well it’s just like the A7 IV where it’s got a down-sampled 4K image.

If you are a photographer the FX30 is definitely not for you the A7 IV is probably the one to pick up when it comes to taking photos the Sony A7R V eventually is out and that would be one to get also Sony A1 obviously is one to get.

the FX30 is incredible when it comes to video specs it performs incredibly well but when it comes to steals obviously the A7 IV you just can’t beat because it actually has all photo features that the FX30 just doesn’t have.

Which Camera is Better for Video FX30 or A7 IV?

When it comes to video the FX30 is optimized for video so if you are a hybrid shooter the A7 IV is probably your best bet because takes incredible stills and has that downsampled 7K sensor to the 4K.

The FX30 can actually do a 26-megapixel single shot still so if you are like a hybrid shooter I recommend the A7 IV because it is absolutely phenomenal in low light situations and photos whereas the FX30 is pretty much 100% for videos.

Why You Should Buy Sony A7 IV Over FX30?

If you are looking for a hybrid solution then the A7 IV is a much better option to go considering they’re the same price and you’re not sacrificing on image quality whereas the FX3 is a much more expensive camera.

6 Reasons to Choose A7 IV Over FX30?

• the first reason being full frame I prefer to just have a full-frame camera and aps-c cropping in.
• the second reason you get a little bit better dynamic range.
• the third reason the Sony A7 IV vs Sony FX30 is because you’re going to get better low light because of that full frame sensor.
• the fourth reason you get a blurrier background is because it’s a full-frame sensor so if you have a 1.8 lens it’s going to give you a nice blurry background.
• the fifth reason it is a better photo camera when taking some photos it’s kind of a no-brainer.
• the sixth reason you are getting the newest and the latest gear.

Why You Should Buy FX30 Over A7 IV?

the FX30 is for those who don’t care about still photos but the majority of its features are geared towards videographers and the Sony A7 IV which is a hybrid camera is geared towards doing both photography and videography.

So, if you’re not shooting a lot at night or in very dark scenarios then the FX30 still is something that you should consider and the full frame sensors typically have blurry backgrounds.

Why the FX30 is a better camera over the A7 IV?

• Number one if you are a video shooter and want a camera that is able to record at long periods of time at a higher resolution without overheating there is a chance of overheating it actually have fans built into it to keep it cool this camera allows you to do that without having to worry about the camera overheating.
• the second big thing is the fact that the fx30 has better video features specifically video frame rates being it records in 4k 60 without an additional crop and the ability to shoot in higher frame rates but the image crops in even further.
• Another thing the FX30 also had a full-size HDMI port which supports 16-bit raw also allows you to plug directly into a monitor or you can pop in the SD card and plug it right up to the TV so you wouldn’t see that in a hybrid camera like the A7 IV.
• And lastly, you can get the FX30 cheaper than the A7 IV, the FX30 also comes bundled with an XLR handle which allows you to plug two XLR cables, and is priced around $2200 and $1800 without an XLR handle compared to the $2500 on A7 IV just for the body alone.