Mathieu Le Lay tests FX9 V3 with wildlife documentary
Real-time tracking and S16 crop mode are key new features.
Sony Pro Ambassador Mathieu Le Lay was one of the first filmmakers in Europe to receive the PXW-FX9 V3 firmware update—a major upgrade with a host of much-requested new features and refinements.
Naturally, Mathieu wanted to put it to work in the application he excels at—wildlife documentaries. So, he set off for the mountains in search of a bearded vulture—capturing this fast-moving raptor in flight would be a real test for FX9’s real-time tracking feature. Another key feature with the V3 firmware is S16 crop mode. “It allows me to zoom in a bit more while keeping very good image quality,” Mathieu explains. “It will allow me to look for details, scenes, and animal behaviors.”
When I am tracking a bird, like this bearded vulture, the real-time tracking function followed the bird without losing it and the bird kept in focus.
Mathieu’s preferred approach is to capture animals in their natural environment, to see how they’ve evolved specific skills to survive. Of all the species he encounters in the mountains, raptors are the ones that fascinate him most. Bearded vultures are natural gliders, moving quickly and elegantly—so any encounter is always a little magical.
Watch Mathieu’s film above to see this fabulous creature in action.
