Sony E-Mount Lens Guide Here >>

New Sony A6300 and Three New GM FE Lenses Plus Teleconverters!

Sony A6300

Sony announced today the New A6300 Mirrorless Camera and a New GM lens Line consisting of three Fast FE Lenses! The new G Master lens line consists of the FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM Lens, FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM Lens and FE 85mm f/1.4 GM Lens. Sony also announced two New FETteleconverters for use with the new 70-200mm GM Lens specifically. A 2x and 1.4x teleconverter as seen below in more detail. 

The new lenses are very expensive, physically large, and were required by many working professionals in the full frame A7-series mirrorless camera world. Using lens adapters is awesome for versatility, but there is nothing like a perfectly flush mounting native lens to work with. I think these new GM lenses will make switching systems a much easier decision than before when it comes to Pro Photographers. These three new lenses were the most requested and asked about behind the scenes for sure!

Many critics often said without the fast native e-mount lenses, the full frame Sony mirrorless cameras will not attract any “real” professionals. I always thought that logic was laughable, but can totally understand the point being made. Scroll down below the A6300 breakdown for more details on these new FE Lenses.

New Sony A6300

The New A6300 has some serious upgrades in the hardware and video department in particular! Lets break it down, shall we…

  • New 24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS Sensor
  • BIONZ X Image Processor
  • New XGA Tru-Finder 2.36m-Dot OLED EVF
  • 3.0″ 921.6k-Dot Tilting LCD Monitor
  • Internal UHD 4K30 & 1080p120 Recording
  • Slow-Motion 5x – w/ AF Tracking! 
  • S-Log3 Gamma and Display Assist Function
  • Audio Input Jack
  • Built-In Wi-Fi with NFC
  • 4D FOCUS with 425 Phase-Detect Points
  • Up to 11 fps Shooting and ISO 51200
  • New 8 fps mode w/ live viewfinder experience
  • Weather-Sealed Magnesium Alloy Body
  • Reinforced Lens Mount
  • Weight = 14.25 oz / 404 g with battery and memory card
  • $998 US @ BHPhoto

Click photos for High Resolution Versions ~1500px

From the front the A6300 looks pretty much identical to the A6000 other than the finish.

Sony Alpha a6300 Mirrorless Digital Camera
Sony Alpha a6300 Mirrorless Digital Camera
Sony Alpha a6300 Mirrorless Digital Camera
Sony Alpha a6300 Mirrorless Digital Camera


Note the speckled finish on the full magnesium alloy body.

Check out the New the Audio Input Jack!!

Looks like the same exact grip, which I thought worked very well for the given form factor of the camera. Ideally the grip could be deeper, but that would make the camera notable larger. Sony is going for the smallest possible form factor so compromises will always be made in this regard.

The New A6300 has a New 24mp sensor that utilizes 475 phase detection points which are embedded in the sensor itself. A detailed view of this can be seen in this awesome illustrative video the Sony put out including how the 4D focus works. The A6000 has only 179 Hybrid AF points, but it was able to track moving subjects really well. See my Sony A6000 Review Here >> Therefore, 475 Phase Detection AF points should make the hit rate even better in most situations. It will really help with subject tracking in video when using shallow depths of fields as well. This is awesome for those video enthusiasts out there wanting to use the cameras AF while recording action footage and so fourth.. I can’t wait to test this!

A6300 -Advanced 4D FOCUS | Sony

Sony Alpha a6300 Mirrorless Digital Camera
Sony Alpha a6300 Mirrorless Digital Camera
Sony Alpha a6300 Mirrorless Digital Camera
Sony Alpha a6300 Mirrorless Digital Camera
Sony Alpha a6300 Mirrorless Digital Camera
sony-a6300-chasis


The EVF has also been upgraded to a much higher resolution version compared to the A6000. New XGA 2.4 million vs SVGA 1.4 million dots…

From the back we can see the New thicker beveled LCD screen design and also the New AEL and AF/MF toggle switch like the full frame A7-series has.

Note the A6300 LCD screen does not articulate anymore than the A6000 does.

From the top things look pretty much the same as the A6000 except you can notice the viewfinder protrusion looks a tad different and of course the new logos… You can also see the new toggle switch sticking out a tad below the Mode dial wheel from this top view.

From the bottom things look refined a bit, but overall very similar and basically the same. A larger flat bottom would be better for mounting tri-pod plates and heavy lenses, but the fully magnesium body should hold firmly enough for most applications.

4k Internal Video

Video wise, the new A6300 offers internal recording 4K and Super 35mm Mode! This feature is huge and what really mades the video quality look crazy sharp. The A7r II has this feature and the video quality was incredible I thought. Basically the camera captures the video in a better way on the sensor level which is further explained courtesy of BHPhoto:
[quote]Internal recording of UHD 4K movies is possible in multiple frame rates up to 30 fps and, based on the Super35mm recording area and effective 20MP (6000 x 3376) resolution, 2.4x oversampling renders greater detail and full pixel readout is possible, that is void of pixel binning, for higher quality imagery with reduced moiré and aliasing. Full HD 1080p recording is also supported in frame rates up to 120 fps, and both resolutions utilize the 100 Mbps XAVC S format contained within an MP4 wrapper with 4:2:0 sampling. The high-speed, 120 fps recording also enables 4x and 5x slow-motion movie recording with the frame rate set to either 30p or 24p. In addition to high-resolution internal recording, uncompressed HDMI output also enables the use of an optional external recorder for clean 4K recording with 4:2:2 sampling.[/quote]

A6300 -Ultimate resolution 4K movie in Super 35mm | Sony

A6300 -Fast Hybrid AF in 4K movies | Sony

A6300 -Fast Hybrid AF for movies comparison in Full HD | Sony

The new Sony A6300 also offers Slow Motion abilities with the 1080/120p feature as demonstrated by Sony below:

A6300 -5x Slow Motion in Full HD  | Sony

[quote]The A6300 can shoot high-image-quality Full HD* footage with AF tracking even at a high frame rate of 120fps (100fps). The footage can also be recorded with a high bit rate of max. 100Mbps. Otherwise, it can also record 4x/5x slow motion movies internally when the frame rate is set at 30p (25p) or 24p.[/quote]


Three New Sony GM Lenses!!

The three new G Master lenses are the FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM LensFE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM Lens and FE 85mm f/1.4 GM Lens. Sony Also announced Two New E-Mount Teleconverters, but they appear to be only compatible with the new FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM Lens as far as I can tell. 

G Master -Technology innovation behind G Master | A lens 

[quote]Previously divergent elements can now coexist “High resolution” and “appealing bokeh” in one lens.
These next-generation, top-performance lenses offer an outstanding combination of resolution and bokeh for stills as well as movies.[/quote]


Another GM Lens Promo Video from Sony >>

FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM Lens

  • E-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/22
  • One XA Element, Two Aspherical Elements
  • One ED Element, One Super ED Element
  • Nano AR Coating
  • Direct Drive SSM Focus System
  • Internal Focus Design
  • Focus Hold Button, AF/MF Switch
  • Dust and Moisture-Resistant Construction
  • Nine-Blade Circular Diaphragm
  • Weight = 1.95 lb (886 g)
sel2470gm

[quote]
Featuring some of the most advanced lens technologies in the market today, the new FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM (model SEL2470GM) is the ultimate choice for those seeking the highest possible optical performance for portrait, travel and event photography or even simple everyday shooting[i].
The new lens is built with three aspherical elements including a newly developed, extremely precise XA (extreme aspherical) element that reduces aberration and delivers the ultimate resolution throughout the entire zoom range and aperture range, as well as from corner to corner of all image files. Additionally, an ED (Extra-low-Dispersion) glass element and Super ED glass element keep chromatic aberration to a minimum while maximising resolution and bokeh without any unnatural colouration.
The lens features a 9-bladed aperture that maintains a near circular shape at all settings and is coated with Sony’s original Nano AR coating to suppress reflections and ensure spectacular contrast and clarity.
The new FE24-70mm F2.8 GM lens has a direct drive SSM (Super Sonic wave Motor) focusing system that works with incredible efficiency thanks to a new set of algorithms that position the lens elements quickly and accurately. The motor is smooth and quiet, making it an ideal choice for shooting both still images as well as movies.
To maximise usability, the lens is dust and moisture resistant and features a compact, streamlined design that includes AF/MF switch as well as focus hold, zoom lock and hood release buttons.
Two new matching filters for the FE24-70mm F2.8 GM lens have also been introduced, including the VF-82MP MC protector and VF-82CPAM Circular PL filter.
[/quote]

[divider]

FE 85mm f/1.4 GM Lens

  • E-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/1.4 to f/16
  • One XA Element and Three ED Elements
  • Nano AR Coating
  • Linear SSM Focus System
  • Internal Focus Design
  • Focus Hold Button, AF/MF Switch
  • Manual Aperture Ring
  • Dust and Moisture-Resistant Construction
  • Eleven-Blade Circular Diaphragm
  • Weight = 1.80 lb (820 g)
sel85f14gm

[quote]
Designed as the ultimate portrait lens, the long-awaited new FE 85mm F1.4 GM telephoto prime lens (model SEL85F14GM) strikes a perfect balance between resolution and bokeh in a compact package.
The lens features a new XA (extreme aspherical) element as well as three ED glass elements that work together to ensure that the in-focus areas are captured in extremely high resolution while the surrounding out-of-focus areas dissolve smoothly into a beautiful soft backdrop. It has a circular aperture with 11 blades – the most ever used in an ? lens – that ensures bokeh is smooth and visually appealing. Externally, the new model has Sony’s original Nano AR Coating, which is of particular importance in a portrait lens as it reduces flare and ghosting, even with backlit subjects or similarly challenging lighting conditions.
For accurate autofocusing, the FE 85mm F1.4 GM lens includes a ring drive SSM motor system that provides ample power and speed to drive the lens’ large, heavy focus group. It’s also equipped with two position sensors to support flawless focus control of the large, heavy lens elements.
This new professional portrait lens is dust and moisture resistant and also has an aperture ring with on/off switchable click stops that can be adjusted based on whether a user is shooting still images or movies. It also has an AF / MF switch and a focus hold button[ii].
[/quote]

[divider]

FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM Lens

  • E-Mount Lens/Full-Frame Format
  • Aperture Range: f/2.8 to f/22
  • One XA Element, Two Aspherical Elements
  • Four ED Elements, Two Super ED Elements
  • Nano AR Coating and Fluorine Coating
  • Linear SSM Focus System
  • Optical SteadyShot Image Stabilization
  • Internal Focus, Focus Range Limiter
  • Dust and Moisture-Resistant Construction
  • Eleven-Blade Circular Diaphragm
  • Weight = 3.26 lb (1480 g)
sel70200gm

[quote]
Covering the frequently used 70-200mm focal range, the new FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS telephoto zoom lens (model SEL70200GM) offers extremely high rendering, AF performance and image stabilisation, making it a versatile choice for shooting wildlife, sports, weddings and a variety of other events and locationsi.
The new flagship telephoto zoom model delivers extraordinary sharpness and clarity throughout the entirety of its zoom range thanks to its three advanced lens elements including XA, Super ED and ED glass components, as well as its Nano AR coating.
The new FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS lens features a floating focusing system – implemented in an ? zoom lens for the first time – that contributes to an impressive minimum focusing distance of merely 0.96m and ensures AF performance is optimised during both still and video shooting. The lens includes a SSM (Super Sonic Motor) plus dual linear motors that work together to move large lens elements quickly – a task that requires a high level of drive control and ensures focus accuracy. The new model also has built in Optical SteadyShot™ image stabilisation for capturing sharp, blur-free subjects at all focal lengths and a rotating tripod mount that allows the camera to be quickly removed from a connected tripod as needed.
The new 70-200mm telephoto zoom lens is dust and moisture resistant with an additional fluorine coating added to the front lens. It also has a focus hold button as well as a focal range limiter.
Sony has also announced new compact 1.4x and 2x Teleconverters – models SEL14TC and SEL20TC respectively – that offer even greater reach while maintaining the overall streamlined design and feel of the 70-200mm lens[iii].
[/quote]

Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens

Teleconverters

Sony also announced two new Teleconverters for the FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM lens.

Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter – SEL14TC

  • E-Mount Teleconverter/Full-Frame Format
  • 1.4x Magnification Factor
  • Communication Between Lens & Camera
  • Maintains Metering, Autofocus, and OSS
  • Dust and Moisture-Resistant Construction
  • Compatible with FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS
  • No Price Yet – Pre-order @ BHphoto
sel14tc

Sony FE 2x Teleconverter – SEL20TC

  • E-Mount Teleconverter/Full-Frame Format
  • 2.0x Magnification Factor
  • Communication Between Lens & Camera
  • Maintains Metering, Autofocus, and OSS
  • Dust and Moisture-Resistant Construction
  • Compatible with FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS
  • No Price Yet – Pre-order @ BHphoto
sel20tc

Closing Remarks on New Sony Gear

New Sony A6300

So the A6300 has a new fully magnesium body, a new Sensor that has significantly better AF than the previous, an audio input jack for external mics, 4k internal video with Super 35mm mode and Slog3 which allows for huge dynamic range gains in video quality for post production potential. To keep things simple, using Slog gamma is like shooting video in RAW quality, and therefore the video can be pushed hard in post production if needed. Highlights and shadow detail in particular can be greatly enhanced than using a normal compressed pre-processed profile. I have only played with this type of thing a little bit, but the concept of raw quality vs jpeg is a good way to look at in my opinion. Basically the video needs to be processed or “graded” they call it in the video editing world… Bottom line is, the A6300 camera can be used for video work on a Semi-professional to professional level! For folks in the video market, this is a huge opportunity to save serious cash on a high quality 4k video camera. Sony is closing the gap between their video and photography cameras more and more…

The New A6300 sensor clearly has better AF abilities, but does not look like much will come in the IQ department. Why not a Back-Lit (BSI) Sensor like the new A7r II and RX series cameras? Note how the A6300 sensor does not have the BSI in the title (24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS Sensor)

This basically means to me that Sony is still holding back the technology innovation they are capable of producing to some degree. Trickling out the technology bit by bit and I suppose this must be hard for a company when leading the pack so clearly in the best bang for the buck camera market. Why should Sony put out a better APS-C camera if the competition is not on par? Well, Fuji is hitting it out of the park with the high end APS-C cameras like the new X-Pro 2 for example, and they have an incredible lens line that continues to grow and be supported. Sony is still paying 95% attention on the full frame cameras and FE lens line. I understand why they are doing this and folks continue to flock over from Canon, Nikon, and others for the incredible full frame mirrorless experience Sony has created. Sony is trying to sweep up the full frame mirrorless market as much as possible, and is spread to thin to also grow the APS-C line at the same time I believe. It’s clear to me by now that Sony can not do both at the same time. Not without increasing production capabilities and/or expanded operations to some degree. I feel Sony does not want to take those risks, due to the recent finical issues and loss of plants a few years back due to floods. The camera and sensor portion of Sony are doing awesome, but other sections of this huge company are not doing so good… Overall Sony is being more fiscally cautious and taking less over production risks for sure! Keeping up with lens demand has always been an issue for Sony and some of the higher end E-Mount lenses however…

We need more high quality APS-C designed lenses, so folks don’t have to carry the full frame glass if they want the best quality. This needs to be addressed if Sony does not want to start losing people to to Fuji in particular. This is just my opinion mind you and can be totally wrong with a lot of this speculation… I honestly don’t no what Sony is doing or what their actual plans are clearly…

Is the New A6300 Worth Upgrading from A6000?

That really depends on if you are interested in 4k video? If so, then yes it’s totally worth upgrading! If not, then no I would not consider upgrading. The improved AF is awesome, but the A6000 AF is already awesome… The build quality is better, but the A6000 was good enough for most users. Your thoughts?

What is Next for Sony APS-C Cameras?

I can tell you many people are going to be upset that this camera is still not a Nex-7 replacement and that it does not have built in sensor stabilization (IBIS). Sony claimed the A6000 was the Nex-6/ Nex-7 replacement, but folks with the Nex-7 dis-agreed entirely with this. No Tri-Navi is a step backwards for many and Sony has yet to answer the call in this regard.
This really lends me to believe that a Nex-7 replacement is still on the horizon, and yes it will have IBIS along with a new BSI sensor and all the other goodies folks demand as higher end aps-c format enthusiasts… Tri-Navi controls, more custom buttons, an LCD screen on the top for night time use, full weather sealing, fully articulating touch screen and a large flat beefy camera bottom that will allow for tri-pod plates to support lens loads better.

New FE Lenses

Some seriously heavy and expensive new FE lenses! The demand for fast native e-mount glass has been tremendous, and Sony delivered, again. Pro prices for sure, and clearly not made for the average APS-C camera enthusiast. Full frame mirrorless pros and hard core enthusiasts with the cash required are going to be super happy though! All three of these new lenses were must have units for lots of working pros! They would not switch brands without the option, and Sony answered those peoples demands I would say. We still need more lenses, but the key lenses are pretty much all there now. Missing still we have the 50mm f/1.4 a 16-35mm f/2.8 lens, and a 100-400mm style lens off the top of my head. Then what will be the highest requested lens after those I wonder?

What is next for Sony Full Frame Mirrorless?

I now think Sony will come out with a New Full Frame E-Mount camera designed for Sports, that can perform like this A6300 in the AF department. A sports oriented A7-series camera with a huge buffer and lower resolution than the A7r II for speed. Perhaps a 32MP or something? Combined that camera with the New FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM Lens and 1.4x or 2x Teleconverter and you have a killer sports set-up! The cost is no where near cheap though and the prices have not been re-leased on this combo. Speculating?? Expensive is all I can assume based on the cost of the FE 70-200mm f/4 G OSS Lens @ $1498 US.
New Gear Pre-Order Links:

  • Sony A6300 Mirrorless Camera from $998 US @ BHPhoto
  • FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM Lens for $2198 US @ BHPhoto
  • FE 85mm f/1.4 GM Lens for $1798 US @ BHPhoto
  • FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM Lens for No price yet @ BHPhoto
  • Sony FE Teleconverters 2x and 1.4x for No Price Yet @ BHPhoto

Final Words

That is about for the new Sony gear as it stands now. I really hope you got what you were looking for in this breakdown style article and have a great day!
Please feel free to ask questions, comments, and speculate on what Sony will do in the future, below in the comments area 🙂

Fallow and Stay Current with all the Sony News, Rumors, Reviews, and more using any of the means below that work for you. The SonyAlphaLab Newsletter comes out about once per month and has been really successful so far. I post on my Google+ Community daily, so that is the best place to go for daily updates, and the forums are great for checking out the latest user photography, questions and answers, Photography Challenges, Sony News, Sony Deals, and more as well…

  1. Hi Jay,
    Great article. I would consider myself to be what you describe as an “average APS-C camera enthusiast”, and you’ve got your finger on the pulse pretty well. The new lenses are clearly not for me. The A6300 is much more exciting for guys who do a lot of video; I don’t. I wait so see whether the new sensor resolves better than my current A6000 sensor does in tests… but I’m not expecting much. Perhaps some DR improvement. I’ll also be comparing those results with the Fuji XPro-2, as you’ve mentioned (although it pains me to say it, it is very, very impressive when you look at the results – particularly in JPEG). So overall, Whilst Sony’s getting all excited, I’m not. Maybe for half the price in Christmas ’17.
    Sony are going after the Pro market because there’s more money there! Look at the premium they can charge – 2.5 x for an A7RII vs A6300…. and as for the lenses…..they have to screw people for more $ per purchase because the total number of purchases in the camera market is falling as iPhones fill the gap.
    I’m increasingly feeling that as an APS-C enthusiast that Fuji’s business model is more aligned with my needs. I don’t really want to leave Sony, but they’ve got to get their APS-C lens act sorted out. I mean, releasing the A6300 with the old kit PZ is embarrassing. No doubt I’ll get hammered for expressing these views, but they’re sincerely felt.
    Thanks for your excellent work.

    1. Hi Gareth and please don’t feel bad for expressing your totally legitimate opinions and concerns on the matter at hand. I agree with you that Sony is making a mistake and needs to address this very issue if they want to keep serious APS-C format camera users. The A6300 offers a lot, but the competition also offers a lot nowadays..
      I would take a serious look at the Fuji line and consider switching if Photography is your only concern and if you don’t have crazy money invested in lenses. Sony makes a great product for the money, but what Fuji is offering can be better depending on your personal needs. Killer build quality, more natural color rendering (to taste), and a better lens selection, Consider Fuji…. Panasonic also has some great cameras for the money as does Olympus… The competition is catching up, but non really compare with the amazing AF abilities of the A6300 yet..
      Sony is still the king of best bang for the buck with the best technology/ features overall. That is why it’s hard to consider switching even though the temptation is certainly their for folks like yourself. Lets say Sony comes out with a A7000 w/ IBIS, Tri-Navi Controls, and a new killer kit lens in 6 months. That is really all we are asking for. Then more quality lenses to fallow and we need a NEW timeline chart to give us confidence that Sony will actually do this lens expansion.. They did that with the FE lens line, but never the APS-C lens line…
      Thanks again for taking the time to comment and have great day,
      Jay

      1. I am a happy owner of A7 II but I am very disappointed with SONY’s new release of GM lenses. While there is a WOW factor with A6300, there is none with GM lenses. Sony has proved that there is no innovation in its GM lens design. It is still the same paradigm: “bigger, better more expensive” in lens design. For proconsumer, the size factor of the mirrorless camera system (camera body plus its lenses) is no longer a deciding factor. If price and lens availability are the remaining factors, then DSLR system may be more favorable for pro-consumer. For those who left Nikon or Canon DSLR because of weight and size. It seems there is one less reason for switching.

  2. I love my Sony a6000, however I will upgrade to the a6300 if the auto focus will be much better than what the a6000 offers. I take pictures of my children playing competitive soccer and the a6000 has done a great job so far; however I wish it was more accurate sometimes. For the price I paid, I cant really ask for more. I am considering getting the Nikon D500 just for sports action but now that Sony announced the a6300 I might have a to wait and see if the auto focus will do much better for sports photography. Overall the a6000 is great, if the a6300 gives me better AF for sports then I will be a happy man! Thanks Jay!

    1. Really excellent points Luis and thanks for the detailed real world experienced based comments! Competitive soccer is extremely demanding and I agree the A6300 focus system is a big improvement in the Hybrid AF matrix. High speed focus tracking should improve a lot. More DSLR like in that regard assuming the lens can keep up? SSM motors may be required. The FE 70-200mm f/4 OSS G lens and the new FE 70-200mm f/2.8 OSS GM Lens for example. The 55-210mm which I have focuses really well, but it’s not a SSM style focus motor. I don’t think it will be able to keep up with that type of demand @ 11fps or even 8fps. Testing will need to be done..
      Jay

      1. Good points Jay! I currently have the FE 70-200 f/4 and I really love that lens paired with the a6000, it does a great job for my needs shooting my kids soccer games; however sometimes I get blurred sequences even with a monopod. For the most part it does a great job and all the parents from both of my kids soccer teams love the pictures I post on each team site. I get nothing but good compliments.
        Overall i think the a6300 should work even better for sports, hopefully you can provide good world examples once you get the camera in your hands, it would be great to compare both in real world sports situations.
        Other than that, I am very happy about the new video features, especially the mic input! Now my 18-105 f/4 G lens will get more playing time!
        Thanks again for all your hard work and information you provide! Will keep watching in Youtube! Keep up the good work!
        Luis T.

        1. Thanks again Luis,
          I must agree the new A6300 should do a much better job in the AF department for high speed sports photography, especially with that lens or the new F/2.8 version. The AF system is much more advanced than I initial thought…I will definitely put it through the paces once I get my hands on one 😉
          Jay

  3. I consider the $450 I paid for my A6000 (used on Ebay), the best dollars I have spent on a single photo item. I find myself using it actually more than my A7RII. With the new A6300 available I suspect there will be some great deals on used A6000 bodies. It is nice that Sony is providing choices with new lenses, I am hopeful third party manufacturers will jump in and offer quality at more acceptable prices.

    1. Hi Paul and and thanks for sharing your thoughts on the matter!
      I must say, you raise some very good points and perhaps I am being to hard on Sony at times.. Us Nex-7 fans have been waiting for so long though, and that frustration is what you are hearing… That does not take anything away from the A6000 or A6300, but it does not replace the Nex-7. Even this latest model does not offer the basic tri-navi set-up that the Nex-7 had… It also has the a 1/4000sec max shutter speed which is not good enough for pro use in a lot of situations when using really fast glass. These key features in particular are what I’m “complaining” about. Like I said, it’s not anything against the A6300, it’s just not on the Pro level that many people are trying to say in my opinion. That is not to say it will not perform awesome in most situations, but in regards to what Pro’s demand, this unit is still missing several key things. IBIS is the biggest “must have” feature, but flash sync speed, max shutter speed, tri-navi, and a fully articulating touchscreen, are also key features we are still wanting.
      Thanks again for the great comments,
      Jay
      The A6000 should certainly be available for a while and will drop a hundred or two in price I suspect..

  4. hI all,
    great review and good feedback. As I am new to all this (only been doing this for 6 or 8 months now). But I work with technology and the 6300 is the next logical step for sony…I see this with High end computer IT gear and vendors hear what customers say and include it.I think Sony have taken some major points and added it in. Phase and contrast AF ,well thats a biggy I reckon. I see nothing wrong with what they have done and if they keep the 6000 series going strong and do another it will have many hard core users and fans….like me. We might see that the 6000 stays as entry mid level camera and with regular updates will become awesome. We may not see a replacement for nex 7.
    My 2 cents worth

    1. Hi Steve,
      Based on what SOny has done in the past two years with the APS-C line, this is the next logical step. But what a lot of us want is a Nex-7 replacement or Pro Oriented APS-C camera. Sony is pushing this as a semi-pro unit and it is to some degree, but not quite in a few key areas as mentioned above in my opinion. Still an amazing camera and nice upgrade from the A6000 for sure. I want to see the A7000 though more 😉
      Thanks for the great comments,
      Jay

  5. Great article, and the comments by readers are all very interesting and informative.
    I have to agree about the lens issue. For me it’s a reasonably-priced long zoom (at least 300mm max) that is missing. I love the idea of the a6300 (I got to try an a6000 and liked a lot of things about it) but I passed on the a6000 due to lack of long zoom lenses and that lack is still there.
    My alternative? Lumix GX8. I already have a couple of nice Lumix lenses (45-175mm PZ and 100-300mm) and I am about to splurge on the rather more expensive 100-400mm). With the MFT form factor this gives a very satisfying 800mm equivalent range for wildlife and long-range surf and ski photography and video.
    The a6300 has some major pluses over the GX8 (larger sensor, 24mp vs 20mp, faster 1080p video for slomo) but without the reach that does me no good. Here’s hoping that soon Sony will see fit to expand the long zoom lens line to at least 300mm. I came very close to selling my Lumix kit to get the a6300 and lenses, and I wouldn’t hesitate to do so if Sony decides to supply the lenses I need. I realize that not everyone wants to shoot at long range, but (just about) every other camera maker goes to at least 300mm in APS-C and in MFT. It’s time for Sony to join them.

  6. I currently own the A6000 with standard 16-50mm kit lens. I would have considered upgrading (or in addition) to the A6300, but the price is too much just to acquire 4K and the 425 PDAF pionts on the sensor. As you point out, the AF on the A6000 is already quite good. In considering I already have 4K video capability via my Panasonic FZ1000 as well as my smartphone, it further weakens the case to acquire the A6300. If the body was considerably cheaper I might have considered it but being Sony which generally likes to present inflated pricing (like Apple) versus the competition I’ll wait for some substantial changes. (i.e., a FF sensor-equipped E-mount body, etc.) before I make a purchase consideration again.
    Ditto for the G-master lenses. Pricing to rich for my budget. The 16-50mm pancake although a basic kit lens, still takes pretty decent quality shots. My zoom requirement is covered by the FZ1000 mentioned above (and with 4K) I also just ordered at the recent CP+ Camera and Photo Show in Yokohama, a lens from Zhong Yi Optics with Sony E-mount. it is a beautiful 35mm, F0.95 very bright lens. Coming March 15th.
    http://photobyrichard.com/reviewbyrichard/zhongyi-mitakon-speedmaster-35mm-f0-95-mark-ii-review/
    http://www.dpreview.com/news/5531901162/zy-optics-launches-improved-speedmaster-f0-95-35mm-lens-claiming-30-better-resolution
    For the duration of the show only a 20% discount was offered allowing me to get the lens for about a $500 USD equivalent. Not bad for the technology, and about 30% brighter then the first generation of the same lens. Although a prime lens it’s a practical one. And, it surely beats having to pay north of $2,000+ for just a lens. All comes down to one’s personal values and how fat one’s wallet is (or not).

    1. Hello again Jerry and nice to see you comments!! Great points and I pretty much agree with what you said 😉 That Speed Master lens is certainly fast, but the optics don’t look that great to me honestly based on that review you linked. Nice review though and best of luck with it! Modern top quality optics are always going to be expensive. Even the 24mm f/1.8 Zeiss lens is a lot of money and still is today for example… The larger, heavier, full frame coverage lenses have much more glass and if top quality is in the design, then really expensive glass elements must be used inside the lens. You then add OSS, great build quality, etc.. You get what you pay for in this particular area is what I am trying to say. Believe me I wish the lenses were much cheaper also, because I don’t have that kind of cash these days with kids. Back in the day when I could afford stuff like that I did notice the huge difference in optical quality compared to the say $500 dollar area lenses.. The contrast, color, sharpness, and “look” of the lenses was always mind blowing to me when using top quality glass! Once you use something that good and then go back to a standard lens, you see where the money goes. The fact is the kit lens does do a good job in the real world for what we need these days. The killer optics are luxury items for folks like me these days… You mentioned the full frame e-mount in your comment as if they did not exist? You are aware that Sony has several full frame e-mount A7 series cameras right? I just polished off my full frame Sony A7r Mark II review for example here >>
      Thanks again for the great comments Jerry and it was nice to catch up,
      Jay

  7. I really, really love my A6000, but I would love a faster zoom than my 55-210 4.5-6.3. I looked at the Sony E-Mount Asc list but nothing there. The 70-210 would be exactly what I want, but (1) it won’t fit on the A6000 and (2) the price – when they decide it – would probably give me a heart attack. It is not always clear to me when looking at a lens if it would actually fit. Does anyone have any suggestions or am I Stuck?
    Kathy

    1. Hi Kathy,
      All E-Mount lenses will fit your camera. Full Frame E-Mount lenses will fit exactly like the APS-C lenses. Therefore the 70-200mm f/2.8 GM lens would be the best option, but it’s clearly going to cost a small fortune. So then you have the FE 70-200mm f/4 OSS G lens which is significantly faster at the telephoto end than the 55-210mm lens, but also expensive. You could go for some prime lenses like the 50mm f/1.8 OSS Lens for example? E-Mount Lens Guide Here >>
      Another option is to strap on the Sony LA-EA3 or LA-EA4 lens adapter and then you can mount Sony A-Mount lenses to the A6000. See my recent articles on using those adapters here >> The A-Mount lenses are designed for the DSLR style cameras, but with the lens adapters you can use them and have a much larger choice.
      Yet another option is to use old school full manual lenses from back int he day with a passive lens adapter. You would have to manual focus and change the aperture, but you can get very fast lenses for really cheap on Ebay.
      I hope that helps,
      Jay

  8. Jay, Helps Tremendously!!!! I’ll check out the adapters. I really want fast for close up flower shots to get the blurred background. A6000 takes fabulous flower shots but I have not been able to get the blurred background that I want. Thanks again!! Great website by the way…..Kathy

    1. Jay, I am back. I am still pondering the lens purchase – so many options makes my head hurt. I saw the new Sony Lenses (24-70, 85mm and 70-200)–they are appealing, but not available yet and pricey. However, after you mentioned adapters, I decided to take an inventory of all of my Lenses:
      Canon FD 300 mm 1:5.6
      Canon FD 50 mm 1:1.8
      Canon FD 35-105 mm 1:3.5 ….all of these, as you can tell, are very old on a Canon A1-1 pre-digital, but if I can get an adapter for them, the 35-105 would come in very handy I am thinking.
      Nikon: AF Nikkor 70-300 1.4-5.6G Normally I carry two cameras on trips so I can
      use this lens, but I need to lighten the load for
      a trip to Norway and Scotland in June.
      AF-S Nikkor 18-70 1:35-4.5 G ED
      If I can find an adapter(s) for the Cannon FD and/or the Nikon AF to the Sony E mount, what do I lose in terms of functionality? Would I have to do manual focus and set aperture? “Hybrid AF” would not be supported probably.
      Thanks as always, Kathy

      1. Hi again Kathy and yes, you can find adapters for all of your older manual focus lenses. They will always be manual focus, because the lenses have no electronics to allow for AF to work. SO, yes, you would have to do all the work, but the cameras offer tools like focus peaking and focus magnify, which make it fairly easy to manually focus on still subjects.
        The lens adapters makes up the distance needed to have proper sensor to the back of the lens. The Sony E-Mount is only 18mm from the sensor to the flange, where the lens mounts. All DSLR style lenses pretty much have a much larger sensor to flange distance, which is why lens adapters work so well with Sony Mirrorless cameras. Any lens can work if the distance to the sensor and mount is correct basically.
        The newer AF Nikkor lens are another story, and you might be able to get an electronic lens adapter that actually does work the AF. I have not looked into this in detail, but have seen recent videos on electronic lens adapters that work for Nikon lenses. I have Canon EF lenses, so Nikon has never been on my radar 😉
        Canon FD to Sony E-Mount Lens Adapters on Amazon (Click Here) | Nikon AF to Sony E-Mount Lens Adapters on Amazon (Click Here)
        I hope that helps,
        Jay

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