Upwardly mobile: Sony a6300 Review

We test with a variety of lenses. The test scene is shot with sharp, prime lenses but we spend time shooting with the kit zooms, too.

The Sony kit lens isn't optically great but it's very small: that's the trade-off you make.

Feb 4, 2017permalink

rana 101

Hello Richard,just one more question using the sony a6300 with the kit lens nd using the fuji xt10 with 18-55 2.8-4 will there be a prominant difference in picture quality(focusing speed and accuracy, dynamic range,hight iso performance etc) ?

Feb 5, 2017permalink

rana 101

am really confused between sony a6300 and fuji xt10. i normally do street and documentary photography(where at times i encounter low light and low contrast situation). i use single af points mostly. i dont care for megapixel and high bust mode. all that i really want is 1) good auto-focus speed and accuracy 2) good image quality raw and good dynamic range 3) good low light performance. and one more thing, in my country,India, somehow the sony a6300(70k) is quite cheaper than fuji xt10(80k). And il be using the kit lens only,as for now.So, what do i choose, plz help?

Feb 3, 2017permalink

DaveClark

Assuming the kit lens on the a6300 is the same as the a6000, can someone tell me what the max f-stop is a 20mm? I want to compare it to the 20mm F 2.8 pancake lens.

Jan 14, 2017permalink

gehairing

I have a question (maybe a stupid one) : How can i find what lens was used in the above sample pictures ?

I've downloaded some files but the only info i see is the focal length.

Oct 19, 2016permalink

Which sample pictures are you referring to?

Oct 19, 2016permalink

gehairing

I mean those with the 30mm focal length at the end of the gallery. Some of the files show the lens used but not all.

Oct 19, 2016*permalink

I've gone back and checked: they're all shot with the Sigma 30mm F1.4 DN | C. I've added that metadata to the gallery - I'm not sure how I overlooked doing that when we published the review. Sorry about that.

Oct 19, 2016permalink

gehairing

Thanks a lot :)

Oct 20, 2016permalink

Ken Takes Photos

I do notice that having come from Canon, that these cameras, with the EVF, are heads and tails better than their equivalent priced DSLR counterparts. Sony users judge this camera based off our experience with other Sony mirrorless products. If you're coming from a mirrored camera like I was, these comments can be very deceiving. The EVFs make these cameras much better than the competition but we take that for granted and critique other areas pretty harshly.

Oct 5, 2016permalink

sirhawkeye64

I had the chance to work with an a6300 about two months ago and I'll say that I'm impressed. But there isn't that much difference (at least in terms of IQ) comopared to the a6000 in my opinion. I would have gotten the a6300 in a heartbeat but the one thing that bothers me about the a6000 and a6300 is that there is no second dial on the top (for aperture/shutter speed control) like you have on some of the higher-end DSLRs. In order to change the focus point, you have to go into the menu and use the little click wheel to adjust, and it just seems clunky, whereas I have a little stickpad on my NIkon that I can just use the arrows and move the single point whereever I want it and not have to go through menus., That and dual memory card slots would be nice (even dual micro-SD card slots). If they employed those two features, I would get one.
The only difference i see w/ this one at the a6000 is slight improvement in AF. I don't do video so 4k doesn't matter to me at least.

Sep 19, 2016*permalink

bluevellet

I find it interesting DPR only bothered to test continuous AF in very good light. I may be in the minority but I don't live outdoors with a midnight sun.

Sep 14, 2016permalink

Ryan Rosenberg

I'm a bit shocked that this got a gold rating given the video overheating issue. This is a very real issue -- a large number of people get perhaps 10-20 minutes of video and then the camera overheats. The only mention in this whole review was "we didn't encounter it". Fair enough, but the overwhelming data is that this issue is for real. So perhaps the testing was poorly done. I think overheating should have at least been noted on the summary page as a potential issue. And I believe the video rating should have taken a hit for this.

The rest of the review is reasonable, just this part seems to me an egregious oversight.

Sep 14, 2016*permalink

It's listed as a Con and there's also the following line in the conclusion:

'With the latest firmware, the camera appears able to shoot 4K for longer without overheating. It can capture 4K video for up to 29:59, but this number can drop in warm ambient conditions. Whether you notice this will depend on your shooting style.'

Sep 16, 2016permalink

teddoman

I have missed one, but I have literally seen zero overheating complaints in the Sony forum since the firmware update. Those threads have all stopped, it seems.

Sep 30, 2016permalink

el touristo

It is just me or is the spec published here importantly incorrect? : Image stabilization No

Aug 25, 2016permalink

No. The camera does not feature image stabilization.

Stabilized lenses are available and there's digital stabilisation available in video, but there's no still image stabilization in the body.

Aug 25, 2016permalink

DKE10

Sony finally solved the long lasting annoying auto switching function between EVF and LCD in the A6300. Now you can toggle between EVF and LCD (assign to a Function Key) so the LCD does not switch automatically to EFV when you hold the body (too) close to your body (monitoring the LCD from above). I only wish this function would also become available in all A7 & A6000 bodies in future firmware updates.

Aug 21, 2016permalink

chris boettcher

I am hoping that Sony will incorporate some of the ergonomic features that are present on the A7 series in their next APSC model akin to what is now available on the Lumix GX8 and PEN-F. Hopefully we won't have to wait another 4 years for those improvements.

Aug 8, 2016permalink

In what way? They basically only have an exposure compensation dial over the A6300. The rest is just rearranged buttons, generally further away from the right thumb (especially a potential AF-ON button). And the GX8 is actually down a dial on both.

The A7_II body is much more functional, with two extra custom buttons and two extra dials (4 dials total). That said, Sony didn't want to include IBIS on the A6300 because it would have increased the size of the body, so don't expect any large body A6500 in a year or two, even if a potential 2nd gen IBIS can be crammed in.

Aug 13, 2016permalink

chris boettcher

I have to say that in terms of IQ, the A6300 is not a big step up from the NEX-7 body. I bought the A6300 and used it for about a week, shooting a variety of subjects side by side with my NEX 7s, using the same lenses on both cameras. I really wanted to like the new model, but besides the menus being much more accessible and rational, and the quicker autofocus, I thought the ergonomics had actually taken a step backwards. It feels more like a brick than the NEX7 and has a less secure handgrip profile. It just doesn't feel right to me. In terms of APSC IQ nothing is as good as the Sony APSC sensor and their image processing engine. I tried out the Oly EM1, the Pen-F, the Lumix GX8 and the GX7. There is a lot to like in those cameras: In body stabilization, good ergonomic design of the dials and buttons, nice prime lenses too, but the bottom line is that their image quality is not as good as the Sony's either the NEX7 or the A6000-A6300.

Aug 8, 2016permalink

Hmmm, judging from DPR's tests, the A6300 is at least 2/3 stop better at mid/high ISO than the NEX-7, up to 6400, and then skyrockets ahead after that. If you use low ISO, then no, most ILCs will look the same, minus DR.

Aug 13, 2016permalink

amolkolhe

Its true the biggest improvement from NEX to a6300 is improved AF-S/AF-C, few usability improvements and 4K, all of these are nice to have's but hard to justify for ~$1000. Anyone that has used NEX for long has already made peace with the old menus and are able to work with it. So as much as people like to make a deal out of Sony menus, I don't find it a huge improvement, its just different and in both cases you have to learn the menus.

On the contrary all those MFT cameras have lot of mid-range features, but the sensor is nowhere near Sony's APSC sensor. Even an NEX camera easily outperforms the latest MFT camera in terms of IQ.

Sep 8, 2016permalink

jeep

I rather agree with this post. I really liked my NEX-7 and got some great images with it. No doubt the a6300 has many benefits and I will keep it, but it is brick like compared to the more elegant and pleasing design of the NEX-7

May 13, 2017permalink

ebjerke

I have been pondering buying this camera for a while now, so I have come to this comment section again and again. I think more than anything else I have learned to appreciate the engagement of Dpreview staff in this thread, and the amazing level of professionalism in the staff comments. The way they handle the rude, silly, and highly critical comments is very admirable.

Aug 6, 2016permalink

oldnoob

I've never actually used this camera or tested it with my own hands, so i'm going to go ahead and say a bunch of negative things about it, and point out areas in which it falls short in comparison to other cameras costing much more.

Aug 5, 2016permalink

camera4me

If I'd known about the Sony 6300 battery self discharging problem I would not have bought it!!

Aug 2, 2016permalink

2JoeA7R2

You didn't buy it, and there is no such problem.

Aug 12, 2016permalink

camera4me

Hey, I don't need to prove it to you that I own one! do you have one? if do, does your fully charge battery go down from 100% to 85% without a single shot taken in 3 days?
I know there was an issue with 6000 self discharging and mine has the same issue. Maybe I got a defective one but Sony tech thinks this is normal!!

Aug 13, 2016permalink

SELEES

I own one, does not discharge. Brilliant camera.

Aug 20, 2016permalink

Lou P Dargent

Try another battery?

Aug 25, 2016permalink

HenryDJP

I have an a6300 and I've never experienced that issue. I've gone a whole week with a fully charged battery in the camera and I'll turn it on and it's still 100%. I would test it for longer than a week but I use my camera often for work.

Aug 26, 2016permalink

martinianox

i think sony wants too much out of Little cameras...its a great promise...but if you are a profesional, you know you can go great with Nikon, canon, ect gear wich is intended for the purpose, despite de bigger machines...
im an enthusiast photographer, but here in argentina these kind of equipment is really expensive for us...i got a canon powershot sx410is , automatic shotting camera and am very happy, for 1/5 of this sony's price...
i wouldnt be sure wich segment this camera is intended for...not for pros. neighter for southamerican enthusiast, for sure...i would get such camera provided i had money... But...if i had money to buy such things....i would have even a bit more and get a Nikon FX camera...or a sony A7 ..full frame! i wouldn't care about portability, because i can bare a small alternative camera for secondary use....i dont really undersand the gap of users to wich this technology is aimed at... almost-but-not profesional use.

Jul 24, 2016*permalink

It's probably aimed at people who want more than what a DSLR can do. You give up a little in the transition, but gain a whole lot more. Though, with a little tweaking, DSLRs are capable of doing the same. Of course, no self-respecting DSLR company would do such a thing, because it would be admitting defeat in their minds.

Aug 13, 2016permalink

amolkolhe

You mentioned 2 ends of the spectrum - a reasonably priced P&S and a Full frame DSLR/Mirrorless. A Full frame camera and lens requires spending upwards of $2K and results in gear weighing at least a few Kilograms (Canon/Nikon starts at roughly 5KG for the 6D body & 24-105). The lower end of the spectrum is a P&S which only weighs few grams (roughly <500).

In between is all the mirrorless MFT & APSC systems. If you go with APSC, your starting kit would be prices around a thousand dollars and weight less than 2KGs. If you go mirrorless, price might be similar to apsc but the weight will be even less.

Of course I've made broad generalizations here. The specifics depend on what you pick. But my point is there is a place for these gear. Some people don't need to spend and carry the weight of FF and they can get by with these intermediate options.

Sep 8, 2016permalink

Shank95

I have not invested in to any system......
Canon 80d vs Sony a6300
Loved the specs of Sony..... But is the lack of touchscreen and long menus is that bad.
I live in India which is usually very hot will it overheat?

Jul 19, 2016*permalink

milpai

I wouldn't choose a camera based on lack of touchscreen or long menus. But I would judge it for what it does and how it feels in my hand. The camera won't overheat where you live; unless of course you leave it out in the scorching sun for a couple of hours.

Aug 5, 2016permalink

probert500

The trick with the sonys is to use your customizable buttons so you don't have to dip into the menu. This works for about 90% of what you might need. The other 10% can be fidgety though.

Sep 21, 2016permalink

Banh Mi

D3300 = a joke. LOL, I have more than 20 camera in my life, and even Olympus E-M1, Canon 6D, 7D = a joke too. Seriously, A6300 is "almost" perfect. You can't find a perfect camera, you have to give up something in order to get some functions & design. But I like the idea: A6300 + Metabones Speed BOoster + Canon / Sigma / Tamron Lens with AUto Focus or any Legacy Lens adapted to E Mount. ISO Almost high like Full Frame. 11 fps shooting, focus is not like 7D mark II for sure, tracking not fast enough, no touch screen. BUT, i can get Full Frame with metabones plus auto focus, APSC, and the body + weight are so tiny and small. Also, 4k, slow motion at 1080x120. I got one included kit lens for $910 in BH Photovideo. Keep in mind, no camera is perfect, and this little boy is almost perfect. I will sell my Olympus E-M1 , E-M10 Mark II, my Canon Body, and keep this A6300. It mixed up my feeling, but I picked one, and I picked A6300 after 3 months used & tested it. You Pick one on what you need

Jul 18, 2016*permalink

E-M1 is some 10 yo?

Jul 24, 2016permalink

astevens54

Thanks for your input.

Sep 3, 2016permalink

mirrorlesslover

It is a bit cconcerning that Sony released a weather shielded a6300 body but no economical weather shielded lens for APSC ?

Sony need to put out some good Weather shield lens for A6300 to make use .

Jul 9, 2016permalink

HenryDJP

Sony may be going in the same direction as Nikon in getting customers to buy the full frame lenses for their APS-C cameras since they fit perfectly. Both companies are putting less and less emphasis on native APS-C lenses.

Aug 10, 2016permalink

lescrane

I had the a6000 for a year, got it with 18-55 and 55-250mm kit lenses for 699.00. Sold it as I was miserable. On paper, the a6000/6300 have great specs and functionality. A compact body, smaller than many m43 but w/aps-c sensor. Why did I hate Sony: 1. The lenses. yes, they were 'kit lenses' so i was happy to "invest" in better ones. I couldn't find them. I rented a few, including a heavy, expensive 18-105mm, and others. I would have been happy to pay 1000.00 for the Zeiss if it was worth that much
2. Handling. In making a compact body, they crammed all the buttons and dials too tightly. I have small hands. Despite NO TOUCH SCREEN, I found my camera was doing things I didn't expect I was hitting buttons, esp.the directional buttons on the rear dial. I tried all the customizations, finally gave up. I now own a Panny gx8 and find it easier to use. For me , the placement of the controls is more comfortable, u can use the touchscreen while looking thru the evf .

Jul 2, 2016permalink

http://camerasize.com/compare/#656,629

Clumsy people gonna be clumsy, I guess. The GX8's buttons are packed together even tighter than on the A6300:

I have normal size man hands, and have no issues with the A6000/A6300's controls, even coming from Nikon's enthusiast DSLRs.

Lenses aren't much of an issue now, either, unless you absolutely want to stick with the Sony brand. A good selection of native and adaptable lenses are available (much larger for the A6300 vs A6000).

Aug 1, 2016permalink

lescrane

It only takes one person calling names to ruin a good discussion. Too bad. In case you havent figured it out these are opinions . If we all liked the same camera we wouldnt need dozens of choices.

I'm very happy you like your Sony and I wouldn't call you any of the names that are running through my clumsy mind.

Aug 1, 2016permalink

D Alchemist

1. I would like to thank Mr. Butler for spending the time here to address comments. He'd make a good politician.
2. Kids here who get upset that DPR hasn't praised their homework (purchasing decision) as a good mommy (review site) should, and thus conclude that the reviewers MUST be horrible (biased) really need to grow up. Although I would say that I personally value ergonomics over IQ a good deal more than DPR.
3. Value comparison to the a6000: Maybe I just got lucky, but I bought a package at one of the big NYC outfits a few months back:
Body, 16-50 lens, 55-210 lens, Sony accessory pack (screen protector, 2nd battery, external charger), 64GB Class 10 card and a $50 gift card that I recently applied to the Sigma f/1.4 prime. A 3-lens kit and accessories I would have purchased regardless (except for card) and I'm still under $1k all-in with a fast prime? Not sure exactly where that puts the effective cost of the a6000 for me, but it sure is a far sight below $600.

Jun 27, 2016permalink

Sean65

Couldn't agree more, especially with point 1. I think it is unique and commendable that DPR staff engage with their readership. This is despite the fact that they have clear stats showing most read the headline and go straight to the comments pages to spout strong opinions about nothing in particular.

Jun 27, 2016permalink

HamdiR

Was is it used? Online it sells for 1k on all main vendors (adrama, b&h, amazon) and and used can't be found under 750$

So consider yourself lucky, I just bought mine from Souq Dubai with 16-50 kit for 900$, the a6500$ 1200$ without kit, it will reach 1.5kb if I add the items you grabbed

Sony is just milking the a6000 success with the weird pricing of the trio and fuji is playing along, the x-t20 was priced like the 6300 and significantly higher than the x-t10 (it's actually fujis pricing which led me to the a6300)

The 6300 missed a touchscreen but the 6500 touchscreen is meh this is why I skipped it

Sep 21, 2017permalink

muckypup

I looked very carefully at the a6300 but recently I have got used to touch to focus on my g7x so much that I don't every want to go back to a non-touchscreen: so much in fact I am selling my Canon 7D. If they had put this feature in it would have been a done deal (even without in body stabilisation).

Jun 26, 2016permalink

vidcam

I own one and I really hate it. I also own Nikon D750, Canon 5d Mark III and a Lumix FZ 1000. The problem with the Sony is that the menu has so many options and when you think you are in Manual, you may still have functions operating in auto. The menu just kills me and the video button is awkward and hard to reach. We bought them to record in video in tight quarters, but SURPRISE it only records for about 20 minutes then turns off. I had high hopes, but it is not a professional camera.

Jun 22, 2016*permalink

dbronson

i own one and i really love it.

Jun 24, 2016permalink

fingersitchy

I've had mine for a few months, love it, and the s-log and lut ability in video is invaluable. I did own the A7R, but this package and size/price is sweet (for me).

Jul 6, 2016permalink

SELEES

No, it is not a professional camera, nor is it marketed as such. If you need a video camera that records for more than 20 minutes then buy a dedicated professional video camera. Stupid complaints like this show naivety and ignorance, but sadly you are a member of a large crowd.

Aug 20, 2016permalink

You should add to the con list that it does not have Active Mode Steadyshot while shooting video. Sony has this on their Handycams and Cybershot models, and it makes the video so, so, so much smoother. This has been bothering me for years! Their VG models have it. Why can't these? This is such a huge deal to me that I have not been considering Sony mirrorless cameras because of this. They even left it out for the 4K mode on their RX10 III and RX10 II. When I found out about the III, I jumped to find out if they added Active Mode to 4K shooting, but nope. It must be a marketing decision, so if you add it to the con list, maybe they will reconsider.

Jun 18, 2016*permalink

It crops the frame to achieve it. Software stabilization.

Jun 23, 2016permalink

I think Dpreview should take price into account when rating a camera.

The A6300 is no doubt a very fine camera, but taking the price into account it is clear why so many people are much better off buying an entry level DSLR.

An entry level DSLR like the D3300 including a kit lens only cost around 1/4 of the price the A6300 body and will provide as good or better image quality and it is not even much bigger or heavier.

Of course you will only get a plastic fantastic camera with the D3300, but what the heck it takes as good images for most purposes.

Jun 15, 2016permalink

IQ on the D3300 doesn't come close. D500 is the best comparison, where they're neck and neck except for resolution.

Size is also significantly different, as well. You can pretty much put 2x A6300s face to face, and another 1/2 stacked on top, to equal the D3300's size. The A6300 is also slightly lighter, despite its full metal body.

Then there's the lack of controls, AF ability, video ability, burst ability, tiny, dark viewfinder, etc. It's clear that these cameras were never meant to compete with each other at any level.

Jun 15, 2016permalink

Judging from the samples I don't see any significant IQ advantage to the A6300,

At higher ISO the A6300 may have a tiny bit less noise than the D3300, but the D500 trumps it easily.

Also I would call the size difference negligible, even though the A6300 body is slimmer and lower (none of them are pocketable with a lens attached): http://camerasize.com/compare/#656,509

A6300 is 56 grams lighter which is negligible in my opinion.

As I said before, most users would be happy to get the same IQ for everyday shots for less than 1/4 of the price and few specialists may prefer the A6300 even with its overheating problems.

Jun 15, 2016*permalink

The question is: which price? Prices change over time an between territories. The D3300 was launched for $649 with the 18-55mm lens. Do we compare it at that price (in which case your characterisation of the price is a little off), or at an end-of-life, heavily discounted (where you live) price?

We do take price into account, but it's the easiest thing in the world to say 'you can get the same IQ from the entry-level model.' That's absolutely true. You can get very similar IQ from the a5100 and a6000, too, but that doesn't mean people should ignore the a6300 and buy those instead.

The a5100 is a touchscreen point-and-shoot, the D3300 is a single dial, inexpensively-built DSLR with a tiny viewfinder. They're great at what they do, but they're a pitiful substitute for those 'specialists' shopping for a sealed, enthusiast-level camera with some of the best autofocus we've seen in a sub $2000 camera and some of the best video, full stop.

Jun 15, 2016permalink

Yes, I agree that the D3300 was introduced at a much higher price. I also agree that the price may be pretty hard to get into the equation. I just see it as a sort of problem with prices that are going up and up and that the manufactures are just adding technical features, which may be nice for a very small minority of shooters, and charge a premium for those "crop sensor" cameras even though the essential parameter, which is image quality including high ISO performance etc. has almost come to a stand still. The AF may be fantastic on the A6300, but what about buffer clearing performance?, I think it is a lot less than fantastic. So even when you pay for pro performance you just don't get it.

Jun 15, 2016*permalink

But it's long been the case that you get the same image quality across much of a maker's range: I remember it being true when I was looking at the Canon 350D (Rebel XT) many years ago. It had a very similar sensor to the EOS 30D but was much cheaper (Nikon D50/D70s had the same relationship). However, you got more if you spent more (more controls, better build, faster frame rate) and those were things some people wanted, so both the 350D and 30D sold pretty well to their respective audiences.

The same is still true. Cameras, on the whole, aren't getting much more expensive. The D7200 doesn't offer much in terms of image quality over the D3300, yet costs a lot more.

The a6300 is a more sophisticated, better built camera than the a6000, that's why it costs more (the a6000 had some cost-cutting measures, relative to the NEX-6, the a6300 is much more of an NEX-6 replacement). However, $1150 isn't pro money, which is why you don't get pro performance. It's D7200 equiv, not D500.

Jun 15, 2016permalink

You have some good points, but I still think we are at least getting into semi-pro money bordering to pro money if you add some good lenses, which may be fine for some people, but not for me I guess :-)

Jun 16, 2016permalink

HenryDJP

That's not a fair comparison. If you're going to compare pricing then you should also compare features. Since the D3300 only records HD and not 4K then you should compare that to the Sony a6000 with kit lens. That would be $698, which is $150 more than the D3300. The wifi is built-in on the Sony and the D3300 requires an adaptor. The Sony has focus peaking. The Sony EVF gets 100% viewfinder coverage. The D3300 gets 95% coverage. The D3300 also has only a Pentamirror viewfinder.
I have a Nikon D810 and the Sony a6300. Both of them serve the purpose perfectly for me. I'm not a mirrorless camera fan per say but I can recognize when Sony's cameras offer better depending on which model Nikon or Canon they are being compared to.

Jun 16, 2016permalink

AKH - I take your point, with regards the cost of some of Sony's lenses are.

Jun 16, 2016permalink

For a person that's actually considering this camera, I wouldn't even consider the D3300 (to be honest, that is just ridiculous). A D500 maybe. You have to consider the camera as a whole. No one buys a camera solely for image quality. Do you know what's awesome about the A6300? Its AF system, 11 FPS (8 with AF tracking), 4K video....this is why I'm here. I already have a D600 with thousands of dollars of Nikon lenses. I also have a Sony FDR-AX100, so I know how awesome Sony is at video capabilities. I just borrowed my mother's A6000, and I am surprised by how much I like it. I only wish Sony would add Intelligent Active Mode Steadyshot to their mirrorless cameras.

Jun 18, 2016*permalink

Bach Photo

Just bought one and I'll be returning it, 72 degree air conditioned room and over-heat alarm goes on at 22 minute of recording time. That is not just unacceptable, it's ridiculous. This could be a great camera, I'm really not sure how it scored as high as it did with such a glaring flaw.

Jun 12, 2016permalink

Jim in AZ

Have you tested what it does at lower resolution setting? I'm interested in the camera for stills but would like the option of some video from time to time.

Jun 14, 2016permalink

Get it replaced. I shot 47 min outside in the sun at 71 degrees. Only thing that stopped the recording was card space.

Jun 15, 2016permalink

Interesting. I am considering this camera because they make a waterproof case for it. When a camera is in a case, it gets significantly hotter because it is essentially insulated by air. This may deter me from getting this camera. I just got a case for an A6000, so I'll have to see how it fares.

Jun 18, 2016permalink

furfoots

What I did with my RX100 is assign a button to toggle between AF and MF. This way you could control the moments when you want AF and turn it off again to stop it from deciding when to AF. Not sure if this is possible with the A6300.

I prefer Panasonic's setup of allowing you to use the shutter to activate a focus pull.

Jun 9, 2016permalink

pywiack

Overheating shutdown after 11 minute time lapse, day time, 75 degrees, direct sun. Not good!

May 30, 2016permalink

PVCdroid

Read the Nikon D500 (91%) review and then come back to this review (85%) and see what you think. There is a serious disconnect in the DPR scoring methodology.

May 27, 2016permalink

shooter mclens

How so? first of all the A6300's scoring is relative to other cameras in its class (APS-C sensor mirrorless); the D500's scoring is relative to high-end APS-C DSLRs. So the two cameras shouldnt even be compared side by side.

May 29, 2016permalink

Average User

Shooter is probably right, but.... after a lot of comparing the D500 and the A6300, I just purchased the latter. Reasons: This review says iq is about the same as the D7200 and the D500 review says it's iq is about the same as D7200. Makes sense: all three have the same upgraded new generation sensor. The focus in the a6300 will be amazing; the D-500 would probably be a little better. In fact there were a lot of factors favoring the D500 - mainly superb focus, and better lens choices and at better prices; lossless compressed raw, more pleasing jpegs, in camera editing, to name a few. But one big factor for the A6300: Size. I bought a D750 a year ago with the Tamron f 2.8 24-70; its simply awesome. Great pictures. But even though the D750 is better, when I go out, I carry my a6000 with Zeiss 16-70 f4. light, small, unobtrusive. Easy, and pretty quick. I will carry the A6300 everywhere. I would not, the D500.

May 31, 2016permalink

@Average User: exactly. That's why my D750 is up on eBay at this very moment. Less than 1 stop improvement in IQ isn't worth the size, weight, or lack of usable video.

Jun 15, 2016permalink

Anirban Banerjee

A question on the 6300:

Can I set up the camera to use EVF as live display in shooting mode, but use the monitor for playback and parameter settings?

I am now using C2 button as "Deactivate monitor" -- but would prefer to use C2 to enable/disable silent shooting.

May 25, 2016permalink

In december I bought the predecessor, the a6000, due to "superb sensor performance compared to competition", as the salesman told me. How good the sensor maybe whatsoever: When I take indoor photos in program mode "P", the camera defaults to shutter speed 1/60 - this results in 100% blurred photos of my 1 year-old son. My 11 year-old olympus did not have this issue (although the sensor-performance was poor, undoubtedly). With appropriate settings I got better pictures from my old camera...

May 23, 2016permalink

Tapper123

P mode is inappropriate on any camera for fast action. Use speed priority with a fast lens. Shooting kids indoors under poor light will always be a challenge.

May 24, 2016permalink

Thank you, this is what I have to do to solve the problem (i.e. 1/125). On the other hand: I would not call the indoor light on a bright day "poor", today with all the high sensitivity sensors. I see it as a workaround, that mode "P" is unusable under all conditions but outdoor shooting. A simple menu setting "lowest shutter speed in program mode" would offer me much more flexibility.

May 28, 2016permalink

shooter mclens

So, if you know that P mode defaults to 1/60, and 1/60 is too slow for action, why didnt you use Shutter-priority or Manual mode? Chalk this up to user error, not a fault of the camera.

May 29, 2016permalink

On the other hand: the "sophisticated" program mode is only able to default to 1/60 (not configurable in the menu system), unless you shoot outdoor in bright light. A simple menu system entry "lowest shutter speed in program mode" would make the whole program mode all that more useful.
I can always do everything manually - but why do cameras have processors at all, then?

Jun 4, 2016*permalink

Have you tried using the sports setting?

Jun 18, 2016permalink

Thank you for that question! Yes, I tried the sports-program, which is one of the scene programs. That solves the problem of long shutter speeds, as a matter of fact. On the other hand, the camera cranks the ISO sensitivity up to an extent, that is becomes visible if you zoom the photo. Probably that's invisible on prints - I haven't tried that. In the sports program the shutter speed is selected VERY short, I suspect.

Jul 24, 2016permalink

rlidal

@marcus_lang: "lowest shutter speed in program mode" is in fact called shutter speed mode, often abbreviated as "S" or "Tv". You're welcome.

Aug 19, 2016permalink

shooter mclens

So, you are familiar with manual modes, but you use scene and program modes anyway? Do you seek out situations where you fail, or has your need for rhetorical questions completely taken over your life? Wait... dont answer that. thanks.

Sep 3, 2016permalink

eestlane

why whining about battery!
buy 10000mah micro usb battery pack and u are wired (pack in pocket, little wire) and can shoot 10hours

May 21, 2016permalink

http://helpguide.sony.net/ilc/1540/v1/en/print.pdf

You'll have to come up with a way to make the connection water resistant. 10 hours though? I think not. I have an FDR-AX100 with a 26.5Wh battery, and it can shoot for up to 4 hours. A 10,000 mAh pack might have 37 Wh, assuming that's the true rating (usually it's not - you'd be lucky getting half of what it claims). Anyway, what you're suggesting is good though.

Jun 18, 2016permalink

lokenathM

Click the link below for User Manual

May 21, 2016permalink

Don't wate your money on the Zeiss 16-70mm f/4 lens, it has been roundly panned by nearly every review I've ever read. I would use my 17-50mm F2.8 EX DC (OS)* HSM A-mount, with an adapter, instead. My example is an early type with OS, unfortunately Sigma later stopped including OS into their A-mount version of this lens

May 20, 2016permalink

That won't help me when I want 70mm though.

Jun 18, 2016permalink

Try the Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 16-80mm f/3.5-4.5 ZA DT ( SAL-1680Z ), although there is no OS. IBIS will have to wait until the next generation E-mount cameras when, one would assume, touch screen technology finally arrives?

Jun 23, 2016permalink

The Tamron 18-200mm F/3.5-6.3 Di III VC Lens does have OS and is also a better choice than the 16-70 Zeiss.

Jun 23, 2016permalink

The Sony SEL P 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 OSS does have OS and is also a better choice than the 16-70 Zeiss.

Jun 23, 2016permalink

EvilTed

@EwanMC
I own the 16-70 F4 and the Sony/Zeiss 24mm F1.8.
The 24mm is the best lens I've tried on the A6300, even better than the 55mm F1.8 (and they are both Sonar designs).

The 16-70 F4 is not a cr@p lens by any means.
It is much better than the 16-50 kit lens and almost on par with the 24mm.
It definitely has that Zeiss look and using custom white balance and XFINE JPGs renders very nicely indeed...

Jul 9, 2016permalink

Nick Carrigan

What does this CON statement mean: Lack of external charger makes it hard to keep a spare battery charged???

There are plenty of Sony external battery chargers for the NP-FW50 battery. The Sony BC-VW1 is the best charger and works great. Charges the NP-FW50 battery in 1.5 hours.

May 15, 2016permalink

Yes, but that's not the product we're reviewing. We're reviewing a $1000 camera body with moderate battery life that doesn't provide an easy means to keep a second battery charged. It's a con we've included on just about every camera that fails to include a charger.

As with all pros and cons, if it's not relevant to you, ignore it.

May 15, 2016*permalink

Nick Carrigan

Richard thanks for the response. Not to start a semantics debate but I think the wording could be better. "Lack of included battery charger" would be much more simplified and to the point. The current wording makes it sound like the user has zero options...

May 15, 2016permalink

That's a good suggestion. I've amended the wording to make it clearer.

May 17, 2016permalink

SELEES

Richard, whilst you may think it relevant to comment on there being no way to keep a second battery charged, it implies the camera comes with one, it does not. Like the charger itself, a second battery must be purchased separately, and therefore it is a moot point. A cynic would think you were scratching around for cons...

Aug 20, 2016permalink

kapnobatai

Maybe I missed it, but no word on locking the screen on lowest brighness while in 4k video mode(or 100/120fps 100M mode also). This fault makes the screen unusable while using it outdoor and still no mention about it. So the logical question: was this review ordered and paid by Sony?

May 12, 2016permalink

OttawaTony

I am/was contemplating moving from my NEX-7 to the A6300. I am/was worried that I'd not have time to learn the new camera before my vacation in three weeks. It appears my worrying is for naught as the A6300 has a manual 47 pages long while the NEX-7 was 211 pages.

First these companies remove the paper manuals and now they can't even be bothered to put together a soft version.

May 8, 2016permalink

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/sony-a6300/sony-a6300A.HTM#overview_start

This 'Help Guide' is 286 pages and can probably be downloaded onto your phone.

Unlike a paper manual, you can search for specific words and find them, regardless of how good the indexing is.

May 10, 2016permalink

OttawaTony

Thanks, much better. Still miss paper though ;)

May 12, 2016permalink

Gerardjan

You could also get the Dutch version..... it's even a 342!!!! pages long one!! (I haven't got the faintest inkling why this is. We don't use that many words that are so much longer than English words...?) Of course you would need some one to translate that back into English. Or maybe you speak Dutch, which is possible since you call yourself Ottawa ..... Many Dutch live there. If not, you could maybe find a friendship for life? But I also agree with you, I like paper too.

Dec 5, 2018*permalink

(unknown member)

dear folks, I just cancelled an order for an A7R because of the batteries . I cant get past anyone charging money for a machine that like the 6300 shoots video, very good video, but for only an hour per battery and has no charger for home or car you can charge more batteries with. My thoughts will doubtless be mocked by many, but I can guarantee you will never be happy with a Nex outside the office, on a trip or in the rain, and a touchscreen waterproofedmobile will do 4k for a lot longer , amd unlike your average Nex, wont overheat amd shut down in video draining the baytety like my Nex7 did, yours sincerely, a photographer

May 4, 2016permalink

Graham Austin

serious videographers wanting battery life would get the battery pack adapter or the vlock battery adapter to put on their rigs.

May 5, 2016permalink

John Vedsegaard

serious videographers will buy a videocamera..

May 7, 2016permalink

art99

I am a serious videographer ( professional in fact) and have used many non videocamera types and have gotten fantastic results. GH2-3 &4, Canon 5D2,3, Sony A7s, 7r. I am not the only one using DSLR's/mirrorless for pro video work.

May 10, 2016permalink

EthanP99

A7rii has 2 batteries and an external charger included, sorry you missed that fact.

What a silly excuse

May 20, 2016permalink

Foxy2012

Fair points. Everything is a compromise at this level, size and price point. Some features are super advanced while the a6300 "cuts" corners with others. The A7rii also costs north of 3 grand. For the a6300, one can easily purchase additional batteries and chargers, if necessary. I would say the line between "video" cameras and DSLRs has become blurred in recent years. I definitely appreciate battery life, full size connectors and XLRs on "real" video cameras. Sometimes the lens selections (or lack thereof), size and cost of video cameras are not great either.

Jun 6, 2016permalink

keeponkeepingon

IR claims the A6300 locks up for 22 seconds after a burst. Yet no mention of this by dpreview?

Or did I miss it in the review?

"buffer clearing is slow and the camera doesn't allow you to do anything while the camera is clearing the buffer. Clearing an 11.1fps burst of 21 RAW+JPEG files takes 22 seconds, which is quite slow. "

May 2, 2016*permalink

sony shooter alpha

Keeponkeepingon, I shoot with an a6000 at dance, sport, and action events. The Buffer doesn't lock up the camera. It does prevent you from making a few small changes. Such as going from spot focus to full screen focus area, or going from af to mf with drive by wire lenses. Though if you're using a lense with mf-af switch you can make the switch.

You can pause shooting for a few seconds then click of 15-20 shots right away. If you don't believe me. I took over 4,000 in less than an hour. At EMP in Seattle for a BBoy/BGirl dance event. Where you need speed and sharpness. They came out great.

Having that smaller camera, with ability to use small drive by wire lense and full frame lense from Sony, Plus adapting to almost any lens out there, High ISO shooting capability, and great sharpness. You can verify that on DXOMARK.

A6300 should be even better for me in low light sport/dance/action shooting.

Jun 1, 2016*permalink