David breaks down nine years in the Sony ecosystem — A7R II to A6500 to FS7 to the FX9, FX6, and FX3 — and the real lesson underneath all of it: your camera system isn't just a creative choice, it's a business decision. He gets into why agencies build workflows around specific gear (and why DTC clients couldn't care less), why he's sticking with Sony for at least two more years, and closes with a breakdown of the incoming FX5 — including why its rumored price tag might be a red flag rather than a win.
Key Takeaways:
Buying into a camera system means buying into the agency network built around it — DTC clients don't care about your gear, but agencies often require a specific camera on their job listings.
The FS7's internal NDs, built-in XLRs, and strong 4K codec made it a true do-everything camera — until it aged out and the FX9 became the natural upgrade.
The FX6 isn't just a cheaper FX9 — it trades away full-frame 5K crop and Super 35 mode for better low light and a smaller, easier-to-rig body.
The camera market has caught up fast: cameras like the Canon C50 and Blackmagic Pixis 6K now undercut Sony on price while matching or beating it on features.
The rumored FX5 pricing ($6K–$7K) without internal NDs is a concern — David argues that price point without NDs makes it a B/C camera, not a true A-camera successor.
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