Sony announces new α6300 camera

Angled view of the new Sony ?6300, fitted with the SEL1670Z 16-70mm zoom lens. (Source: Sony.)

Designed with the familiar ?6000 styling,  the new camera boasts a dramatically improved autofocusing system, with 425 phase detection AF points spread across the entire image area. These points are used by the camera’s High-density Tracking AF technology, allowing it to accurately focus throughout a wide area with improved subject detection and tracking performance. The Fast Hybrid AF system combines high-speed phase detection AF with extremely accurate contrast AF and allows it to capture and lock on to moving subjects in as little as 0.05 seconds. Another key feature of the ?6300 is its ability to support high-speed continuous shooting at 11 fps or at 8 fps in the new continuous live-view mode, which provides 100% accurate framing for fast moving subjects on the LCD screen or viewfinder.

The new 24.2-megapixel APS-C Exmor CMOS sensor  employs copper wiring in its structure, which improves light collection efficiency and significantly accelerates readout speed. An upgraded image processing algorithm in the BIONZ X image processing engine enables the camera to produce superior image quality throughout the ISO sensitivity range of ISO 100 to 51200.  

In another first for non-full-frame Sony interchangeable lens cameras, the new  ?6300  offers internal 4K movie recording in Super 35mm format. When shooting in 4K, the camera uses full pixel readout without pixel binning to collect 20 megapixels of information. This is roughly 2.4x  as many pixels as 4K UHD, which oversampled to produce high quality footage with great detail and depth. The camera utilises the XAVC S codec, which records at a high bit rate of 100 Mbps  during 4K recording and 50 Mbps during standard Full HD shooting. The camera can also record Full HD at 120 fps at 100 Mbps for recording 4x or 5x slow motion video files in Full HD (24p or 30p) resolution with AF tracking. S-Log gamma recording is provides  for wide dynamic range shooting, along with  a S-Log3 gamma setting and S-Gamut for a wider colour space to enable greater creativity for processing video post-production. Also included on the new camera is a microphone line input that accepts external microphones and also supports XLR input with Sony’s XLR adapter kit, as well as Gamma Display Assist, a new function that allows users to monitor images or check focus when recording S-Log movies. The new model has enhanced Zebra functionality for greater exposure control. Picture profile settings are available, as well as Time Code / User Bit functions.

The built-in XGA OLED Tru-Finder has a resolution of approximately 2.4 million dots plus corner-to-corner visibility. A new mode allows display of images at 120 fps, ensuring that action is displayed smoothly with very few afterimages for easy tracking. The camera body is built primarily of magnesium alloy with upgraded dust and moisture resistance, a reinforced lens mount structure and a new shutter release button and mode dial with improved operability and grip. There are nine customisable buttons that can each accept one of 64 different functions.

Also included are Wi-Fi  and NFC functionality and support for Sony’s PlayMemories Mobile application available for Android and iOS platforms, as well as Sony’s growing range of PlayMemories Camera Apps.

The  ?6300 is scheduled for release in March 2016 for an RRP of AU$1699 for the camera body only. For more information visit  http://www.sony.com.au/productcategory/interchangeable-camera.