My name is Sjoerd – a typical Dutch name which is impossible to pronounce if you don’t speak our strange language! I started experimenting with film at the age of 12, but it took me another 12 years to realise that filmmaking is actually a way to make a living, and a means to express yourself. Without any form of film education and no idea where to start, I created a YouTube channel to share my videos. At the same time I started working on film sets as a PA to gain experience and make some money. Over the last 4 years, I’ve gained a strong interest in documentary filmmaking and telling stories through strong visuals.

First impressions shooting with the Sony FX30

Since I mainly work with the Sony FX6 and FX3, shooting with the FX30 was a blast, as the functionality was pretty much the same. I especially enjoyed the super-fast autofocus which you can actually rely on. Even in strange situations – like using it in an underwater housing – it worked beautifully. The dual base ISO comes in very handy in most situations. I assigned my base ISO switch to my ISO button on the top, to switch between the two quickly. But I think my favourite aspect of the FX30 is that it’s exactly the same form factor as the FX3, which means all my accessories fit, including my underwater housing! Oh, one more thing. The size. Since it’s such a small package, travelling with this camera is a dream.

I shoot lot of remote work, such as the jungles of Indonesia or on a sailing boat in the Fjords of Norway. Working quickly means I either get the shot or lose the shot, which may never present itself again. I am a huge fan of manual focus, but for many shots the autofocus system of the FX30 outperforms my ability big time. The size of the camera also matters to me. Travelling to a deserted island in Indonesia with a bigger camera wouldn’t have worked, but because the camera is so small, the accessories you get for it are too. This made it possible to bring everything we wanted, yet kept the gear list to a minimum.

I believe this camera closes a gap between still photo cameras with a video function and a proper cinema camera (that also takes pictures). Having features you find in high-end cinema cameras in such a small and compact body is amazing. Also, the APS-C sensor enables creators to use cheaper glass, this definitely puts the camera in a top spot for many creators that are wanting to up their game. The footage the camera produces is just beautiful. When you’ve exposed your shot properly, it’s easy to make it look like it was shot on a bigger FX camera.

Image look and lenses used during the shoot

As mentioned before, I work with the FX6 and the FX3 a lot, so my initial thoughts were to use my favourite G Master lenses: 16-35mm f/2.8 , FE 24-70mm f/2.8  and the FE 70-200mm f/2.8 with a 1.4x extender. For some shots in the film, we used the E 16-55mm f/2.8 and the E 15mm f/1.4. These lenses are extremely compact, so they’re great when going for a hike in the jungle. For the water sequences, I used the Salty Surf housing for the Sony FX3, which fits the FX30 perfectly. The project didn’t rely on live sound, but using an onboard mic to record the natural ambience was important since it made the sound design a lot easier. For this, I used the top handle with the Sony K3M Shotgun microphone.

Advice for aspiring content creators and last thoughts?

A huge shoutout to my friend and fellow cinematographer, Wouter Boes. He joined me on this crazy adventure to shoot something unique. In the beginning of my career, I tried doing everything by myself, but since I’ve been collaborating and sharing knowledge, I feel like my work has gotten a great boost from that. Filmmaking is a collaborative process, never forget this.

For me, this project was super special. When I started my journey on YouTube, I could only dream of an opportunity like this. Yet 3 years later, here I am filming for Sony in one of the most remote and beautiful locations in the world. If you’re reading this article and you have just uploaded your first video, or planning on doing so, keep at it. Don’t expect things to gain traction right away. This is absolutely a marathon, not a sprint, and be okay with experimentation. I started my channel as something totally different, yet over time it grew into what it is today.

You can’t guarantee it will be about cameras and lighting for ever though. I keep experimenting.