Sony used an elaborate event in New York Wednesday to unveil its A6300 4K Ultra HD mirrorless camera (pictured at top) as a replacement for the popular A6000, and introduced a new G Master series of E-mount lenses developed for full-frame cameras, higher resolutions of 4K Video and high dynamic range (HDR).
The A6300 features a newly developed 24.2MP APS-C sensor and uses Sony’s ultra-fast 4D Auto Focus system capable of performing adjustments in as little as 0.05 seconds.
Other standout features include: 425 phase detection AF points covering the entire image area; burst still shooting at up to 11 frames per second with continuous AF, and continuous shooting at up to 8fps with continuous AF and exposure tracking with full live view capability.
The A6300 will be available in March 2016 for a $1,000 retail price for the body only, or $1,150 for a kit including the camera and 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens. Pre-orders begin on February 10th.
Read more about the Sony A6300 mirrorless camera after the jump:
Sony said the camera is capable of recording 6K video (Super 35mm format) off the sensor without pixel binning and then oversamples to output an 4K XAVC S video file at 100Mbps for internal recording. The 4K video is captured at frame rates of 24/30p.
Other video recording options include: Full HD 1080p XAVC S video captured at 50Mbps, and 120fps 1080p video captured at 100Mbps.
For HDR, the camera is equipped for S-Log gamma recording to capture wide dynamic range images across a 14-stop latitude in S-Log3 gamma setting. It also supports S-Gamut for a wider color space.
Other video features in the A6300 include: a new 24.2-megapixel APS-C Exmor CMOS sensor; BIONZ X image processor; XGA “Tru-Finder” — a 2.36M-dot OLED EVF; 3-inch 921.6K-dot tilting LCD monitor; built-in Wi-Fi with NFC and an ISO range of 100-51200.
The camera also features a mic input and a weather-sealed magnesium alloy body.
Sony said the A6300’s new high-density tracking AF technology improves subject detection and tracking performance over the A6000, by quickly activating a large number of AF points surrounding a subject. It is said to offer 7.5 times more density than the predecessor model, and intelligently adjusts the AF point in accordance with the subject’s motion. The technology is is highly effective for fast-action image capture, like sports events and combines well with the 11fps continuous shooting or 8fps continuous live-view mode.
Sony pointed out the camera’s 425 phase detection AF points, enhanced tracking and focus accuracy are all available on the α6300 when using A-mount lenses with a mount adaptor like the Sony LA-EA3.
“This is a first for Sony E-mount interchangeable lens cameras with an APS-C sized sensor, as the only other cameras to feature this capability are the full-frame α7R II and α7 II models,” Sony said.
Other enhancements to the α6300 include silent shooting; the ability to use AF in focus magnifier mode, expanded flexible spot AF, Eye AF in AF-C mode.
Sony said the new 24.2MP image sensor uses a special copper wiring structure that improves light collection efficiency and significantly accelerates readout speed, while the BIONZ X processor works with the sensor to produce low-noise images and high resolution in sensitivity settings up to ISO 512003.
Best Selling Soundbars and 5.1 Surround Systems
Meanwhile, Sony said it is supporting its next-generation 4K UHD recording cameras with a new family of G Master (GM) Series lenses, that are optimized for use with its full-frame cameras, such as the acclaimed A7 Mark II. The G Master lenses will be Sony’s new high-end lenses, sitting above the G-series lenses. Sony launched the GM series with three lenses including: the FE 24-70mm F2.8, FE 85mm F1.4 and FE 70-200mm F2.8 OSS.
Sony said it will also add two teleconverters (1.4x and 2.0x), which will support the new 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS lens.
Sony said the new lenses were developed to support both high resolution and a smooth bokeh effect.
“Being a leader in image sensor technologies, we have a unique insight into where sensor and camera technology is going, and we put this insight into our lens design,” said Mark Weir, Sony senior technology manager at the sendoff event.
G Master Series Lenses
Sony lenses and peripherals GM Yasuyuki Nagata presents the G Master 70-200mm F2.8 OSS lens.
The G Master lenses were designed to a 50-lines per mm standard, a step up from the typical 10 and 30-lines per millimeter.
To improve the bokeh effect in the lenses, Sony said it set out to achieve more lifelike images by smoothing out the transition from in-focus to out-of-focus areas. To accomplish this, Sony sought to improve the precision in the preparation of the lens elements, and more accurately position the optical cavity.
Sony said each G Master lens employs a different drive mechanism for optimal AF performance. The 24-70mm uses a Direct Drive Supersonic motor (SSM) and silent AF.
The 85mm F1.4 uses a ring drive, and the 70-200 uses two focus groups at either end of the lens driven by different actuators. A ring drive SSM drives the front AF group while dual linear motors drive a floating rear group. This is said to produce fast continuous autofocus and silent AF for video.
The G Master lenses are all dust and moisture resistant and offer dedicated control buttons. The 85mm F1.4 also has an aperture ring that can be switched between click and non-click operation.
Sony said the 24-70mm F2.8 G Master lens will carry a $2,200 suggested retail price, the 85mm F1.4 will be available in March at $1,800 and the 70-200mm F2.8 GM lens will be available in May at a price to be announced. Pricing and availability on the two teleconverters will also be announced later.
By Greg Tarr
Have a question for the HD Guru? HD GURU|Email
Copyright ©2016 HD Guru Inc. All rights reserved. HD GURU is a registered trademark.
Stay connected