Sony a6000 vs a6300 Complete Comparison: Which One To Buy?

Buying a new camera isn’t that easy. Sony has long been a trusted name in the photography industry, and the battle between the Sony a6000 and a6300 is a tough one.

As a seasoned photographer who has worked with numerous clients over the years,  I’ve had the pleasure of testing out both the Sony a6000 and Sony a6300.

The two cameras are top-notch options. However, the two cameras have notable differences that distinguish one from the other. 

In this article, I’ll provide a comprehensive comparison of the Sony a6000 vs a6300, looking at key features such as image quality, autofocus, design, and more. 

By the end, you’ll have a better understanding of which camera is right for you.

So let’s dive in!

At A Glance

The Sony a6000 is a continuation of the SONY NEX-6 line and was released in April 2014 as an entry-level mirrorless camera. In contrast, the a6300 came out in February 2016. 

Despite being over two years old, the a6000 remains a best seller due to its affordability and advanced capabilities that were previously only available in costlier models.

Both cameras come equipped with APS-C sensors and fast autofocus systems. 

At first glance, it may be easy to mistake the Sony a6000 and Sony a6300 for being the same camera. 

However, upon closer inspection of each camera’s specifics, you’ll see that they have some notable differences.

In a nutshell, if you’re working with a tight budget, the a6000 is an excellent choice. 

It’s lightweight, quick and adaptable – making it perfect for those just starting out in photography or those who primarily shoot still images.

On the other hand, if you enjoy shooting both videos and still images, then the a6300 will meet all your requirements. 

Its focusing capabilities and 4K video recording make it stand out from its predecessor. 

If you want the highest possible video quality or regularly capture action scenes, then the a6300 is your best bet.

Keep reading to find out more about how these two cameras compare.

Key Specifications Comparison

The a6300 boasts a quicker startup time than the a6000. Furthermore, its JPG mode buffer is superior, giving 76 continuous frames at 11fps in AF-C, compared to 60 on the a6000. 

The camera can still function when I’m writing images on the SD card after a long burst, something the a6000 doesn’t give.

Before diving into the particulars of the Sony a6000 and the Sony a6300 comparison, here’s a table containing a brief description of the camera’s key specifications.

Design, Ergonomics: A6300 Outperforms A6000

Design and ergonomics are important factors to consider when choosing a camera. 

A well-designed camera should be both portable and easy to handle, fitting comfortably in your hand.

Ergonomics refers to how easy it is to operate the camera and access its various functions. The perfect camera will fit seamlessly into your workflow and match your personal preferences.

Both the Sony a6000 and a6300 cameras feature a design that is reminiscent of contemporary rangefinders. 

One notable feature is the placement of the electronic viewfinder (EVF) on the left side of the body.

This design choice may appeal to photographers who prefer a more traditional shooting experience.

In terms of weight and size, there are some slight differences between the two models. 

The a6300 weighs in at 404g (with battery and SD card), making it slightly heavier than the a6000 at 344g. 

Additionally, the dimensions of the two cameras differ slightly: The a6300 measures 120 x 67 x 49 mm while the a6000 comes in at 120 x 67 x 45 mm.

The a6300 has a magnesium alloy exterior resistant to dirt and splashes, but the a6000 doesn’t have weather sealing. 

Although that adds to a6300s weight, the outcome is a sturdy, portable camera that can withstand the hardships of any photography adventure.

When I think about how my DSLRs have held up after four years of constant use, I can’t help but wonder how the Sony a6000 will fare over time. 

In contrast, the a6300 feels more robust and sturdy – just like a professional-grade camera should. 

The fact that Sony boasts that it’s waterproof gives me peace of mind when using it in challenging conditions.

I love how the a6000 and a6300 have large grips on the front for secure handling and a smaller thumb rest on the back.

These design features make them comfortable to hold for extended periods of time. 

However, I do have some concerns about the dial – its placement seems inconvenient and out of place.

The top panels of both cameras feature a hot shoe, pop-up flash, and mode dial for selecting shooting options. 

However, I’m stunned that the a6300 features two dedicated Memory Recall (1 and 2) dial options, whereas the a6000 has only one.

Both cameras feature a 3-inch 921K-dot screen that can tilt up to 90 degrees upward and down to 45 degrees. 

The screen is surrounded by a control wheel and multiple buttons for making adjustments. 

However, neither camera has a touchscreen, which would have been a convenient feature. 

Using buttons to navigate menus can feel outdated given the widespread availability of touchscreen cameras.

The a6000 allows me to customize seven buttons with 44 distinct functions, while the a6300 offers customization for nine buttons with 64 functions. 

Unfortunately, both cameras have poorly designed menus that require significant time to navigate. 

Even after two years of use, I still occasionally struggle to locate specific options.

While both cameras offer a 0.70x magnification ratio and 100% field convergence with their 0.39-inch electronic viewfinders (EVF), they differ in resolution. 

The standard EVF on the a6000 has only 1,440K dots while the XGA OLED screen on the a6300 boasts an impressive 2,359K dots. 

I’m continually impressed with a6300’s EVF support for live view, shooting bursts of up to 8fps with AF tracking. 

There’s little to no blackout time between photos because the camera doesn’t display a review of the most recent image like the a6000.

This function is particularly effective for wildlife and sports photography but can be annoying when tracking fast-moving targets due to flickering brightness variations.

Key Takeaways

Overall, the a6300 is the better option in terms of design and ergonomics due to its durability, extra dial options, and higher resolution EVF.  

However, it’s important to consider your specific requirements before making a final decision.

Sensor & Processor: Advanced Technology in Both A6000 and A6300

The most significant upgrade in the a6000 from its predecessors is its sensor. 

The APS CMOS sensor incorporates phase detection and captures a larger portion of the frame, resulting in improved AF tracking during continuous shooting.

Additionally, the a6000 features Sony’s latest Bionz X image processor which provides enhanced detail and reduced noise levels. 

This advanced processor allows for more complex processing operations and Sony claims it minimizes focus on edges to capture finer details – a feature I found to be quite impressive during testing.

The a6300 boasts an upgraded 24.2 Megapixel Exmor CMOS sensor with enhanced imaging capabilities due to its higher circuitry and copper wiring. 

This allows for low-noise images and faster readout speeds, enabling advanced 4K and Full HD video recording at 120 frames per second.

The Bionz X processor in the a6300 has been fine-tuned to improve resolution and texture in both stills and video, particularly at medium to high ISO settings.

Key Takeaways

Overall, both the Sony a6000 and a6300 cameras have advanced sensors and image processors that provide improved AF tracking, enhanced detail, reduced noise levels and faster readout speeds.

Autofocus: A6300 Excels Over A6000

A camera’s autofocus system is crucial for capturing clear images and bringing peace of mind to the photographer. 

When confident that most photos will be sharp, attention can be devoted to other aspects of creating a masterpiece.

Both the Sony a6000 and a6300 cameras have hybrid autofocus systems, but the a6300 features a “4D Focus” system with 425 phase and 169 contrast detection points throughout the sensor. 

This allows for precise focusing on objects anywhere in the frame with an incredibly fast autofocus speed of 0.05s.

In comparison, the a6000 has only 179 phase and 25 contrast detection points.

When testing it out, I did love how dependable the a6300’s autofocus technology is in action and sports photography regardless of lighting conditions.

My overall positive hit rate was 75 percent, unlike a6000’s 50 percent.

While full focus failure is rare with both cameras, it occurred more frequently with the a6000 than with the a6300. 

After missing focus on several shots, the Sony a6300 has better chances of restoring focus.

The camera uses advanced high-density tracking AF technology (7.5 times more than that of the a6000) to accurately track moving objects. 

With continuous shooting speeds up to 11 frames per second, it is possible to capture action with extraordinary clarity.

Furthermore, I can select from three different speeds, with the highest reaching eight frames per second. It’s all dependent on the following things:

• Shooting conditions
• Personal tastes

The A6300 also features focal plane phase-detection AF which works even when using A-mount lenses attached via an adapter.

Therefore, you may still enjoy the camera’s extensive coverage and smooth tracking while shooting with other lenses. 

The ability to use autofocus while magnifying an image’s portion in the LCD screen or viewfinder is also a very appealing feature.

Additionally, you’ll love the cameras’ eye and face detection. This feature lets the cameras mark and focuses on the subject’s eye. 

The manual focus experience with these cameras depends on the quality of the lens and both offer focus peaking with varying magnification and intensities. 

I often use magnification to achieve more accurate results.

Key Takeaways

Overall, the Sony a6300 has a superior autofocus system compared to the Sony a6000. 

It features more detection points and advanced tracking technology for improved performance. The A6300 also works with A-mount lenses via an adapter.

Video: Choosing the Ideal Camera Based on Your Needs

The higher the video resolution, the sharper and more detailed the final product will be. 

Video quality can also be judged by the total number of pixels that fit into a 16:9 display. 

Low-resolution videos have fewer pixels than high-resolution ones. 

In addition to pixels, frame rate can also impact video quality by determining how many separate images are displayed per second.

While the movie mode in the Sony a6000 does not differ significantly from its predecessors, it does include a zebra pattern function that monitors brightness levels in real-time and allows me to select a minimum brightness value. 

High-quality video can be obtained from the camera’s HDMI output.

In contrast, the Sony a6300 is capable of shooting 4K video and provides full pixel readout with no pixel binning. 

The information’s quality is so high that it’s practically identical to 6K data.

Moreove, the Sony a6300 can shoot in XAVC S codec at up to 120 frames per second in full HD and features marker displays/settings and video-specific picture profiles. 

This means that the photos and videos will have higher resolution and I can shoot slow-motion footage at 4 or 5 times faster than normal. 

The camera is a good choice for anyone looking to become a videographer.

While the Sony a6000 lacks many of these advanced video features, it is still capable of shooting high-quality videos thanks to its ability to record motion pictures in XAVC S format at high bit rates following a firmware upgrade. 

However, during my testing, the a6000 outperformed the a6300 in full HD image clarity due to the latter not providing full pixel readout in full HD.

Both cameras have rolling shutter issues, but it is more persistent in the a6300. 

Additionally, the a6300 may overheat when filming in 4K for extended periods. 

The camera does offer a “4K Output Selector” option that allows me to record videos on an external recorder while outputting the video signal via HDMI or outputting 4K data without recording it on an SD card.

The Sony a6000 only has a built-in stereo microphone, so if you want to capture higher-quality audio, you will need to invest in an external recorder.

Key Takeaways

Overall, which camera is better for video recording depends on your specific needs and preferences. 

If you value 4K resolution and slow-motion footage, then the Sony a6300 is the better choice for you. 

On the other hand, if you prioritize full HD image clarity and don’t need 4K resolution or slow-motion footage, then the Sony a6000 is more suitable for your needs.

Image Quality: Minor Differences, Both Cameras Impress

Image quality refers to a camera’s ability to accurately capture and reproduce an image. 

One important factor that affects image quality is the size of the camera’s sensor. 

A larger sensor typically results in better image quality because it contains larger pixels that can capture more light and detail.

The Sony a6000 offers good image quality and represents an improvement over its predecessors in terms of still photography. 

The camera provides accurate exposure, vibrant colors, and fast focus. 

However, the Sony a6300 takes even better photos with stronger patterns. 

Many users believe that Sony has weakened or eliminated the anti-aliasing (AA) filter in the a6300.

The a6300 features a new 24.2MP Exmor APS-C CMOS sensor with copper wiring for improved light-gathering efficiency and an upgraded BIONZ X processor. 

This represents an improvement over the a6000’s older BIONZ X processor and 24.3MP APS-C CMOS sensor.

In my experience using the a6300, its image quality is hard to fault. 

The camera’s sensor captures sharp images with vibrant colors and consistent focus.

The JPEG processing excels at preserving fine details and noise levels are impressively low. 

Additionally, the silent shooting mode on the a6300 makes it ideal for situations where shutter noise could attract unwanted attention.

While both cameras perform similarly up to ISO 6400, the a6300 exhibits superior chroma noise management at ISO 12800 and luminance noise control at ISO 25600.

The white balance algorithm on the Sony a6000 produces slightly greener tones compared to the Sony a6300. 

When shooting in JPEG format, it’s important to frequently check the white balance to ensure accurate color reproduction. 

Shooting in RAW format provides more flexibility for adjusting white balance during post-production. 

The a6300 offers the advantage of uncompressed 14-bit RAW files, while the a6000 only supports 12-bit RAW files.

In addition, the a6300 allows me to switch between focus and release priority in AF-S and AF-C modes. 

This is great news for sports photographers and videographers who need to quickly capture fast-moving subjects. 

The balanced emphasis mode prioritizes both focusing and shutter release. I usually choose focus priority to avoid taking blurry photos.

Both cameras feature built-in Wi-Fi for easy image sharing with compatible devices. 

While many digital cameras now include Wi-Fi connectivity, not all Wi-Fi features are created equal. 

In my experience, Sony’s Wi-Fi setup is user-friendly and leaves little room for error.

After the initial setup, both the a6000 and a6300 allow me to quickly enable or disable Wi-Fi by scanning a QR code. 

The integration with the PlayMemories app makes things even simpler.

Key Takeaways

Overall, both cameras perform well and the slight differences in image quality should not be the deciding factor for most photographers. 

An average photographer will rarely use ISO 25600 or need to recover every detail from a RAW file.

ISO Sensitivity: A6300 Excels in Low-Light Performance

A camera’s ISO (International Standards Organization) range helps in brightening or darkening an image by adjusting its sensitivity to light. 

Increasing the ISO value results in brighter images, allowing you to capture images in dark settings while maintaining control over aperture and shutter speed. 

However, raising the ISO value too high can result in grainy and unusable images.

The Sony a6300 differs from the a6000 because it has an extended ISO sensitivity range of 100 to 51200 compared to the standard 25600. 

This combined with its new processor and sensor allows for clear images even at moderate or high ISO values.

The a6300 also features an auto ISO minimum shutter speed setting in Program mode or Aperture Priority. 

This feature allows me to set the shutter speed at which the camera will automatically increase its ISO sensitivity. 

For example, I can instruct the camera to increase its ISO sensitivity if the shutter speed reaches or falls below 1/500. 

This feature was particularly useful when recording soccer players in low-light settings as it made it easy to maintain focus on them.

Key Takeaways

All in all, the Sony a6300 has a higher maximum ISO value than the Sony a6000, allowing it to capture brighter images in low-light settings. 

However, using a high ISO value can result in grainy images.

Lenses: Essential for Image Quality Excellence

A high-quality camera lens produces high-quality images by allowing adequate light to enter and accurately concentrating it on the camera’s light-recording sensor.

This results in clear pictures with lots of contrast and detail. However, a poor-quality lens may result in blurry, unfocused photos.

The kind of lens you have dictates whether you’ll shoot indoor or outdoor photographs.

For example, Sony’s a6000 and a6300 cameras offer a sturdy foundation to mount and withstand big, heavy lenses, including video and telephoto lenses.

When shopping for a camera with interchangeable lenses like these two models that use the Sony E lens mount with around 83 native lens options available for purchase separately.

Picture stabilization should be a key consideration when choosing a camera or lens.

The Sony a6000 and a6300 lack sensor-based image stabilization so purchasing lenses with built-in optical stabilization is necessary.

There are around 23 lenses compatible with the Sony E (NEX) mount that offer this feature.

Overall, the quality of a camera’s lens plays a critical role in the quality of the images that it produces.

To ensure that your photos are sharp, clear, and detailed, investing in a high-quality lens is a must.

The Sony E mount provides a wide selection of lenses to choose from, allowing you to select the perfect lens for your shooting needs.

Battery Life: A6000 and A6300 Comparable for Still Photography

The Sony a6000 and a6300 have similar battery life when taking still photos. 

However, using high-performance settings on the a6300 such as Live View or 100 fps refresh rate in the electronic viewfinder (EVF) can reduce battery life. 

I can expect to get around 300-350 shots out of a single charge. 

When using the a6300’s 4K video recording features, the battery drains quickly and may only last for a few hours of continuous use. 

These aren’t great numbers so it’s recommended to carry extra batteries or invest in a portable battery pack. 

For example, when filming in 4K for an entire day I typically need at least four batteries.

The a6300 also has a USB port that allows me to charge the battery or power the camera while it’s plugged in. 

While I can also charge the a6000’s battery via USB, I’ll need to purchase an independent AC-PW10AM AC adapter if I want to use the camera while it’s plugged into an external power source.

Key Takeaways

Overall, both the Sony a6000 and a6300 have similar performance in terms of battery life for still photography.

However, using high-performance settings on the a6300 can reduce its battery life.

Price: A6300 Commands Higher Price Point than A6000

The biggest apparent distinction between the Sony a6000 and a6300 is their respective prices.

The newer a6300 model is more expensive than its predecessor, with a retail price of around $1,000 on Amazon compared to $650 for the a6000. 

This price difference may be an important factor in your decision-making process.

If you’re willing to spend more on the a6300, you’ll get improved specifications and features such as an extended ISO range and 4K video recording capabilities. 

However, it’s up to you to determine whether these improvements are worth the additional cost.

It’s also worth noting that retail prices for cameras typically remain close to their launch price but may decrease over time as newer models are released.

Key Takeaways

Sony a6000 vs a6300: Who Wins Based on Budget and Prioritie

When deciding between the Sony a6000 and a6300 cameras, there are several factors to consider such as your budget, photography needs and desired features. 

If you’re on a tight budget, the Sony a6000 is an excellent choice as it offers many of the same features as its successor at a lower price point. 

However, if you’re willing to invest more money in your camera equipment, the Sony a6300 offers improved specifications such as an extended ISO range and 4K video recording capabilities.

Ultimately, both cameras are great options and it’s up to you to decide which one best suits your needs. Whichever one you choose, you won’t regret your decision.

Wrapping Up

The Sony a6000 and a6300 are high-quality mirrorless cameras. And since you’ve had fun reading our informative review, it’s time to purchase.

It’s recommendable you look into what they’re going for right now because the prices change occasionally.

Although reviewing the cameras’ technical specifications can give you a decent understanding of their capabilities, it shouldn’t replace the need to try out the camera for yourself.

Reading user reviews on Amazon may also be helpful but be cautious of skewed ratings.