PWFeb 5, 2022

Sony A6000 vs A6300

The Sony Alpha A6000 and the Sony Alpha A6300 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively,
in February 2014 and February 2016. Both the A6000 and the A6300 are mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras that are equipped with an APS-C sensor. Both cameras offer a resolution of 24 megapixels.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Sony A6000

 

Sony A6300

Mirrorless system camera

Mirrorless system camera

Sony E mount lenses

Sony E mount lenses

24 MP – APS-C sensor

24 MP – APS-C sensor

1080/60p Video

4K/30p Video

ISO 100-25,600 (100 – 51,200)

ISO 100-25,600 (100 – 51,200)

Electronic viewfinder (1440k dots)

Electronic viewfinder (2359k dots)

3.0″ LCD – 922k dots

3.0″ LCD – 922k dots

Tilting screen (no touchscreen)

Tilting screen (no touchscreen)

11 shutter flaps per second

11 shutter flaps per second

not weather sealedWeathersealed body360 shots per battery charge400 shots per battery charge

120 x 67 x 45 mm, 344 g

120 x 67 x 49 mm, 404 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Sony Alpha A6000 and the
Sony Alpha A6300? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

The physical size and weight of the Sony A6000 and the Sony A6300 are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The A6000 can be obtained in three different colors (black, silver, white), while the A6300 is
available in two color-versions (black, silver).

In this particular case, the Sony A6000 and the Sony A6300 have exactly the same width and height,
and, thus, have identically-sized bodies. However, the A6300 is markedly heavier (17 percent) than the A6000. It is noteworthy in this context that the A6300 is splash and dust-proof, while the A6000 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses
that both of these cameras require. In this particular case, both cameras feature the same lens mount, so that they can use the same lenses.
You can compare the optics available in the Sony E-Mount Lens Catalog. Mirrorless cameras, such as the two under consideration, have the additional advantage of having a short flange to focal plane distance, which makes it possible to mount many lenses from other systems onto the camera via adapters.

The battery packs of both cameras can be charged via USB, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and
choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The A6000 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 40 percent) than the A6300, which puts it into a different market segment. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature an APS-C sensor and have a format factor
(sometimes also referred to as “crop factor”) of 1.5. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the medium-sized sensor cameras
that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

The two cameras under review do not only share the same sensor size, but also offer an identical resolution of 24 megapixels.
This similarity in sensor specs implies that both the A6000 and the A6300 have the same pixel density, as well as the same pixel size. It should, however, be noted that the A6300 is a somewhat more recent model (by 1 year and 11 months) than the A6000, and its sensor
might have benefitted from technological advances during this time.

The Sony Alpha A6000 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 25600, which can be extended to ISO 100-51200.
The Sony Alpha A6300 offers exactly the same ISO settings.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service assesses and scores the color depth (“DXO Portrait”), dynamic range (“DXO Landscape”), and low-light sensitivity (“DXO Sports”) of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The Overall DXO ratings for the two cameras under consideration are close, suggesting that they provide similar imaging performance. The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

 
 
Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall

1.

 

Sony A6000 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.113.11347822.

 

Sony A6300 APS-C 24.0 6000 40004K/30p24.413.71437853.

 

Nikon D5500 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.114.01438844.

 

Nikon D7200 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.514.61333875.

 

Sony A6500 APS-C 24.0 6000 40004K/30p24.513.71405856.

 

Sony A5000 APS-C 19.8 5456 36321080/60i23.813.01089797.

 

Sony A5100 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.812.71347808.

 

Sony A3000 APS-C 19.8 5456 36321080/60i23.712.81068789.

 

Sony NEX-3N APS-C 16.0 4912 32641080/60i22.812.510677410.

 

Sony NEX-6 APS-C 16.0 4912 32641080/60i23.713.110187811.

 

Sony NEX-F3 APS-C 16.0 4912 32641080/60i22.712.311147312.

 

Sony NEX-7 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60i24.113.410168113.

 

Sony NEX-3 APS-C 14.0 4592 3056720/30p22.112.08306814.

 

Sony NEX-5 APS-C 14.0 4592 30561080/60i22.212.279669

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, but the A6300 provides a better video resolution than the A6000. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/30p, while the A6000 is limited to 1080/60p.

Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The two cameras under review are similar with respect to both having an electronic viewfinder.
However, the one in the A6300 offers a substantially higher resolution than the one in the A6000 (2359k vs 1440k dots). The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Sony A6000 and Sony A6300 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

Core Features

 
 
Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab

1.

 

Sony A60001440 n3.0 / 922 tilting n 1/4000s 11.0/s Y n
2.

 

Sony A63002359 n3.0 / 922 tilting n 1/4000s 11.0/s Y n
3.

 

Nikon D5500optical n3.2 / 1037 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
4.

 

Nikon D7200optical Y3.2 / 1229 fixed n 1/8000s 6.0/s Y n
5.

 

Sony A65002359 n3.0 / 922 tilting Y 1/4000s 11.0/s Y Y
6.

 

Sony A5000none n3.0 / 461 tilting n 1/4000s 3.5/s Y n
7.

 

Sony A5100none n3.0 / 922 tilting Y 1/4000s 6.0/s Y n
8.

 

Sony A3000202 n3.0 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 2.5/s Y n
9.

 

Sony NEX-3Noptional n3.0 / 460 tilting n 1/4000s 4.0/s Y n
10.

 

Sony NEX-62359 n3.0 / 921 tilting n 1/4000s 10.0/s Y n
11.

 

Sony NEX-F3optional n3.0 / 920 tilting n 1/4000s 5.5/s Y n
12.

 

Sony NEX-72359 n3.0 / 921 tilting n 1/4000s 10.0/s Y n
13.

 

Sony NEX-3optional n3.0 / 920 tilting n 1/4000s 7.0/s n n
14.

 

Sony NEX-5optional n3.0 / 920 tilting n 1/4000s 7.0/s n n

Notes: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while
others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the A6300 is one of those camera that have an additional
electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or
shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the A6000 and the A6300 write their files to SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards. Both cameras can use UHS-I cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Sony Alpha A6000 and Sony Alpha A6300 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

 
 
Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support

1.

 

Sony A6000Ystereo / mono–micro2.0YY-
2.

 

Sony A6300Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0YY-
3.

 

Nikon D5500Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0Y–
4.

 

Nikon D7200Ystereo / monoYYmini2.0YY-
5.

 

Sony A6500Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0YY-
6.

 

Sony A5000-stereo / mono–micro2.0YY-
7.

 

Sony A5100-stereo / mono–micro2.0YY-
8.

 

Sony A3000Ystereo / mono–mini2.0—
9.

 

Sony NEX-3N-stereo / mono–micro2.0—
10.

 

Sony NEX-6Ystereo / mono–mini2.0Y–
11.

 

Sony NEX-F3Ystereo / mono–mini2.0—
12.

 

Sony NEX-7Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0—
13.

 

Sony NEX-3Ystereo / mono–mini2.0—
14.

 

Sony NEX-5Ystereo / mono–mini2.0—

It is notable that the A6300 has a microphone port, which can help to improve the quality of audio recordings
by attaching an external microphone. The A6000 does not feature such a mic input.

Both the A6000 and the A6300 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used
on ebay. The A6000 was replaced by the Sony A6300, while the A6300 was followed by the Sony A6500. Further information on the features and operation of the A6000 and A6300 can be found, respectively, in the
Sony A6000 Manual (free pdf) or the
online Sony A6300 Manual.

Review summary

So how do things add up? Is there a clear favorite between the Sony A6000 and the Sony A6300? Which camera is better? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

Advantages of the Sony Alpha A6000:

• Less heavy: Is lighter (by 60g or 15 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
• More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (40 percent cheaper at launch).
• More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in February 2014).

Reasons to prefer the Sony Alpha A6300:

• More dynamic range: Captures a broader range of light and dark details (0.6 EV of extra DR).
• Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/30p vs 1080/60p).
• Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
• More detailed viewfinder: Has higher resolution electronic viewfinder (2359k vs 1440k dots).
• Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
• Longer lasting: Gets more shots (400 versus 360) out of a single battery charge.
• Better sealing: Is splash and dust sealed for shooting in inclement weather conditions.
• More modern: Was introduced somewhat (1 year and 11 months) more recently.

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the A6300 is the clear winner of the contest (8 : 3 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges
from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera
is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

A6000 03

:

08 A6300

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Sony A6000 and the Sony A6300 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest
Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the A6000 and the A6300 in practical situations. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge,
reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just make your choice using the following search menu. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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Specifications: Sony A6000 vs Sony A6300

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

Camera Specifications

Camera Model

Sony A6000
Sony A6300

Camera Type

Mirrorless system camera

Mirrorless system camera

Camera Lens

Sony E mount lenses

Sony E mount lenses

Launch Date

February 2014

February 2016

Launch Price

USD 599

USD 999

Sensor Specs

Sony A6000

Sony A6300

Sensor Technology

CMOS

CMOS

Sensor Format

APS-C Sensor

APS-C Sensor

Sensor Size

23.5 x 15.6 mm

23.5 x 15.6 mm

Sensor Area

366.6 mm2

366.6 mm2

Sensor Diagonal

28.2 mm

28.2 mm

Crop Factor

1.5x

1.5x

Sensor Resolution

24 Megapixels

24 Megapixels

Image Resolution

6000 x 4000 pixels

6000 x 4000 pixels

Pixel Pitch

3.91 μm

3.91 μm

Pixel Density

6.55 MP/cm2

6.55 MP/cm2

Moiré control

Anti-Alias filter

Anti-Alias filter

Movie Capability

1080/60p Video

4K/30p Video

ISO Setting

100 – 25,600 ISO

100 – 25,600 ISO

ISO Boost

100 – 51,200 ISO

100 – 51,200 ISO

Image Processor

BIONZ X

BIONZ X

DXO Sensor Quality (score)

82

85

DXO Color Depth (bits)

24.1

24.4

DXO Dynamic Range (EV)

13.1

13.7

DXO Low Light (ISO)

1347

1437

Screen Specs

Sony A6000

Sony A6300

Viewfinder Type

Electronic viewfinder

Electronic viewfinder

Viewfinder Field of View

100%

100%

Viewfinder Magnification

0.70x

0.70x

Viewfinder Resolution

1440k dots

2359k dots

LCD Framing

Live View

Live View

Rear LCD Size

3.0inch

3.0inch

LCD Resolution

922k dots

922k dots

LCD Attachment

Tilting screen

Tilting screen

Shooting Specs

Sony A6000

Sony A6300

Focus System

On-Sensor Phase-detect

On-Sensor Phase-detect

Manual Focusing AidFocus PeakingFocus Peaking

Max Shutter Speed (mechanical)

1/4000s

1/4000s

Continuous Shooting

11 shutter flaps/s

11 shutter flaps/s

Shutter Life Expectancy100 000 actuations100 000 actuationsElectronic Shutterno E-ShutterYES

Fill Flash

Built-in Flash

Built-in Flash

Storage Medium

MS or SDXC cards

MS or SDXC cards

Single or Dual Card Slots

Single card slot

Single card slot

UHS card support

UHS-I

UHS-I

Connectivity Specs

Sony A6000

Sony A6300

External Flash

Hotshoe

Hotshoe

USB Connector

USB 2.0

USB 2.0

HDMI Port

micro HDMI

micro HDMI

Microphone Port

no MIC socket

External MIC port

Wifi Support

Wifi built-in

Wifi built-in

Near-Field Communication

NFC built-in

NFC built-in

Body Specs

Sony A6000

Sony A6300

Environmental Sealingnot weather sealedWeathersealed body

Battery Type

NP-FW50

NP-FW50

Battery Life (CIPA)360 shots per charge400 shots per charge

In-Camera Charging

USB charging

USB charging

Body Dimensions

120 x 67 x 45 mm
(4.7 x 2.6 x 1.8 in)

120 x 67 x 49 mm
(4.7 x 2.6 x 1.9 in)

Camera Weight

344 g (12.1 oz)

404 g (14.3 oz)

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