Could the Sony a6300 change the way you think about an APS-C sensor camera??
The new Sony a6300 might be the camera that changes the way you think about small form-factor, APS-C sensor cameras. I know it has me falling back in love again with the APS-C format.
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I’ll admit it, I’ve always been a bit of a “full frame” camera snob (24 x 36 mm sized sensor). I learned on that format (35mm film) and shot for a LONG time with those focal lengths from prime lenses burned firmly into my brain and my muscle memory. Change can be difficult (but not impossible).
When I first got into digital capture in the late 90s, those cameras had something like a 2.5X crop (if I remember correctly) and it was merely a black line placed within the actual optical viewfinder.
Not terribly precise and that crop factor really altered how lenses worked on your cameras!
My first assignment with a digital camera was photographing a U2 concert in 1997 and using the 70-200 lens it was a wee bit tight, but it worked.
But my appreciation for cropped sensor and especially APS-C began to change when I got into mirrorless cameras in 2012 (what you see is what you get with the built in EVF) and when I switched to Sony with the a6000 the camera became my “go-to” camera when I needed a bit of reach and if I needed AF focus performance (plus speed). At 11 fps it was a scary little camera beast when you considered how little it cost and how tiny it was.
So when Sony announced the a6300 earlier this year (Feb. 3, 2016) I let out an audible yalp (the release of the 3 new lenses didn’t hurt either) but I had been waiting for this little camera for quite a while. It was worth the wait.
Recently I got 6300 camera and I have to tell you, it might very well be the best camera I’ve ever used when you consider size, features and price.
The size is small — under 1 lb. (14.25 oz with a card and a battery), the features include 11 frame per second with over 400 Phase Detect AF sensors, 8 fps in continuous Live View (making the experience more like an optical viewfinder), Face Detect, Eye AF in AF-C mode, Silent Shooting mode (and I mean SILENT), an electronic level, 4K video with no pixel binning in Super 35m size video, Slog2, Slog3 and Gamma Assist and comes in at a price of just under $1k.
It is, I firmly believe, the kind of camera that could be at the core of a six figure wedding and portrait (and maybe even a video business?), it’s simply that good of a camera.
And as much as I love my a7R II cameras and the a7S II cameras (which are full frame) that a6300 has made me SERIOUSLY rethink some of the lens choices I might be making in the coming year.
I’ve always felt that one should get the full frame FE mount lenses for Sony because they’ll work on both the full frame cameras and the APS-C sensor cameras but now with this camera I am totally thinking I might be investing in lenses that are specifically for E mount or APS-C sensors (and the added bonus with Sony is that they can STILL be used on full frame cameras like the a7R II in cropped, APS-C mode. How cool is that?)
One of the reasons is that the size of the camera makes taking it out and about a serious joy. It’s a fraction of the weight of a full sized or even cropped sensor DSLR and depending on the lenses you select, they can be smaller and lighter too. It’s a camera that won’t tear down your body and when you consider the longevity of a career in photography, that is an important consideration.
I had the chance to use two of the a6300 cameras recently when shooting an assignment for Hail Varsity magazine on the University of Nebraska women’s beach volleyball team playing in Southern California and the camera performed like a camera six times the size and six times the cost. It was that good.
(I’ll have a separate report on that shoot very soon — the magazine is finalizing the edit on the photos and I can’t wait to share it!)
If you stick with the Sony glass you have the ability to have a small package in camera and lenses: the 10-18, the 16-70 and the 70-200 f4 G OSS lenses are all relatively small, and allow you to cover a range basically from 15mm to 300mm with 3 lenses.
And there are two Sigma (yes Sigma) zooms that are made specifically for APS-C sensors and when you couple them with the soon-to-be-released Sigma adapter to mount their EF mount lenses on Sony E mount (MC-11, for about $250, coming in April) you’ve got an incredible range of optics and speed options — options that were unheard of or unimagined even as little as two years ago.
The two lenses that I am thinking of specifically for the a6300 are the 18-35 f1.8 zoom and the 50-100 f1.8 zoom. When you consider the crop, they are basically a 27-52.5 f1.8 and a 75-150 f1.8 lens. Where were these lenses back in the day when we didn’t even have decent high ISO sensors? I sure could have used the f1.8 aperture. Plus Sigma just announced a 30 f1.4 lens for $339 which should be an awfully great “normal” focal length (like a 50mm focal length on a full frame camera). For weddings, portraits and for videographers those three lenses alone could be the making of a complete kit and then supplemented
with perhaps a 70-200 f4 FE G OSS or the soon-to-be-released 70-200 f2.8 G Master with the 1.4X and 2X tele extenders. If you need anything wider, then the 10-18 f4 Sony lens with OSS would complete the set.
The cost of the kit with the Sony lenses would be:
a6300 $998
a6300 $998
Sony 10-18 f4 OSS lens$848
Sony 16-70 f4 Zeiss$998
Sony 70-200 f4G OSS $1499
Total: $5341
The cost of the kit with the fast Sigma lenses and adapters would be:
a6300 $998
a6300 $998
Sigma 18-35 f1.8 $799 (Canon EF mount)
Sigma 50-100 f1.8 $1099 (Canon EF mount)
Sigma 30mm f1.4 $339 (Sony E mount)
Sigma MC-11 adapter $249 (Canon EF to Sony E mount — Sigma lenses only)
Sigma MC-11 adapter $249 (Canon EF to Sony E mount — Sigma lenses only)
Total: $4731
For that kit built around the Sigma lenses, you might add the 10-18 and the 70-200 f4 G OSS (or even the soon-to-be-released 70-200 f2.8 G Master lens).
Sony 70-200 f4 G OSS $1499
Sony 70-200 f2.8 G Master ($?)
Sony 10-18 f4 OSS $848
Sony 16-70 f4 Zeiss $998
Talk about some amazing options for photographers with gear that doesn’t break the bank or the back.
Sony continues to raise the bar and change the game and I only expect that to continue.
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The Sony a6300 arrives today and here's a quick unboxing video!
Today the Sony a6300 arrived and this little unboxing video shows what is included with the camera and kit lens package. Hard to believe a 4K camera coming in at just under $1k (for video)....and for still shooters it's got 8 fps continuous live view and Silent Shooting!! Pretty darn amazing little camera.
Sony's a6300 and new G-Master Lenses and what they mean for wedding & portrait photographers!
Sony created quite a stir in the photographic world last week when they announced the highly anticipated a6300 which will supersede their wildly successful a6000 camera.
This will be a 24 megapixel, aps-c sized sensor that fires 11 fps and 8 fps in continuous live view.
Not only is it a potent still camera, this camera has 4k video as well as the hotshoe/multi-interface shoe that accepts the sony XLR K2M microphone adaptor (as well as a microphone in port). This camera will sell for just under $1000 US.
In addition to the new camera, Sony released three G-Master lenses: a 24-70 f2.8, 70-200 f2.8 and an 85 1.4 lens. These lenses are designed from the ground up and are built for the future of digital imaging.
These lenses are three of the most popular lenses for a variety of photographic genres, including wedding, portrait, fashion and journalism.
Mastering Digital Wedding Photography (Coming Soon!!!)
I'm pleased and proud to share the cover design for my new book called "Mastering Digital Wedding Photography"
This book has been months in the making (far too many as my wife would say!) and is an updated guide to Wedding Photography since my first book that I wrote in 2004.
SO much has changed since that time.
That was the beginning of the digital revolution in the wedding and portrait space and now digital is the standard for working professionals around the world.
Now, though, mirrorless cameras are beginning to become a serious alternative for folks that want a change from the world of DSLRs.
I've been a Sony mirrorless photographer since mid 2014 and am so excited to write a book about wedding photography that talks about the profession and how to adopt mirrorless cameras to this genre.
Publication is slated for March 1, 2016. Updates will be coming via this website and on Facebook.
Thanks to all who have supported me on this project, especially my wife Nicki who is my sounding board and who believed in me at times more than I believed in myself.
Can't wait to share this book with the wedding photography world. Wedding photography has given me and my family so much and I want to give back to help the next generation of wedding photographers!
Countdown to WPPI (and some tips to get the most out of it!)
We’re less than a month away from the premier convention and gathering for wedding photographers in the USA — WPPI 2016 in Las Vegas.
This year’s event starts on March 3-10 and the very popular trade show is held from March 7-9, 2016.
To find out more details about classes, sponsors and to sign up, go to: http://wppionline.com
I will be presenting in the Sony booth again this year and could not be more excited and more proud to be included. Changing to Sony in 2014 has not only impacted (and I would say improved) my photography but it has given me a reason to share about the tools that I feel are the best in the industry. These new style of tools help us make photographs like never before. I feel I can make such a contribution to the industry by being there and sharing what I know about using these tools, configuring them for maximum efficiency and what they have allowed me to do.
Last year was, by all accounts, Sony’s best WPPI ever and this year’s event is sure to be even bigger and better for the company.
The size of the booth is expanded this year and while I have not seen any preliminary designs, it is certain to be a world class presenting and visiting space.
Last year’s WPPI had a palpable buzz of electricity in that space and I’m not the only one who noticed it. People who were already interested in Sony really “got” that buzz and folks that might never have considered Sony before got a real dose of what the future will bring with these mirrorless cameras fed off that energy. It was so exciting to present and see the faces of photographers in the audience.
Once I get the schedule of speakers I will post it, but please be sure and carve out time on your busy conference schedule to hear wedding and portrait professionals in the booth including: Brian Smith, Robert Evans, JeZa, Scott Robert Lim, Mike Colon, Patrick Murphy-Racey and others.
What makes this year’s event even more special is that Sony just announced a new (and highly anticipated a6300 camera superseding the a6000 as their premium small format, aps-c body in E mount) and three new G-Master Series lenses that are certain to appeal to wedding and portrait photographers.
Those lenses are the 24-70 f2.8 G-Master, the 70-200 f2.8 G-Master and the 85mm f1.4 G-Master lenses. These are the lenses that wedding photographers have been waiting for and now they’re here!
I know this will draw a huge gathering because WPPI will be the first place to get a look at them. It’s a good thing Sony expanded the booth size — they’re certain to need it. Last year’s booth had so much energy and it was coming on the heels of the announcement for the 35 1.4 and the 90 macro. These lenses were not available until the summer as was the breakthrough a7R II. Photographers around the world are certainly seeing that Sony is for real and playing for keeps. I can’t remember any photographic company that has made such revolutionary changes and new lens introductions on the scale of Sony since I have been in the industry (going back to the early 80s. Back then 10 year replacement cycles were the norm for pro grade film cameras).
So see you in the Sony booth and let’s catch up!
Tips for Attending
If you’ve never been to a WPPI at the MGM-Grand, prepare to walk. A lot. Your fit bit will go crazy with all the walking. So be sure and bring comfortable shoes.
I prefer staying at the MGM or the Signature (my favorite because it’s a non smoking hotel) because then I don’t have to build in time to get from one hotel to the next. Even a nearby hotel like could take upwards of 30 minutes to get to the floor. That being said, give yourself plenty of time to get from your MGM room to the floor especially for big events or the opening of the trade show. There tends to be a bottleneck at the doors.
Take advantage of the folks that are there — not only presenting on the big stages for WPPI but also in the trade show booths. It can be crazy, almost a three-ring circus feel to the trade show, but there are some wonderful speakers presenting and be sure and take advantage of those talks. At the trade show booths it can be a smaller setting allow you to ask questions and even have a conversation with your favorite photographer after the talk.
Most companies offer trade show specials so if you’re wondering what bag to buy (Think Tank ;-)!) or if there are any new cool lights to purchase, you might consider holding off those big purchases until the trade show. You might check with the companies, even if you’re not there in person perhaps they will honor a WPPI special. Never hurts to ask.
A backpack is a great friend if you’re carrying a bit of gear and computer and doing a lot of walking around….shoulder bags tend to get really heavy at the end of a week. I’m planning on using the Think Tank Perception 15 for much of that time (https://www.thinktankphoto.com/collections/perception-series-backpacks/products/perception-15-backpack?variant=1235195047 )
Take advantage of Photo Walks that WPPI is presenting along with the manufacturers and presenters. I know I have one scheduled but the times are still being worked out.
Plan your trip through the trade show by seeing who is presenting and see what meshes with your needs. For example, I am going to check out a few different areas that I want to see in person, including: studio management (CRM) software, LED lighting for video and any studio flash units that are battery powered.
Be prepared to be surprised. You never know who you’ll meet and I am pleasantly surprised by the people I randomly meet. For example a few years ago I met a fellow from Indiana at the food court who is a wedding videographer. He was sporting a mirrorless cameras and that caused me to strike up a conversation (I had been beginning my quest into mirrorless about a year before and they were not as prevalent as they are now)
And even though I’m not a wedding videographer as such, I’ve been following him since then on Facebook and we’ve PMed and stayed in touch. I’ve enjoyed watching his business grow and change since then. It’ll be nice to reconnect with him this year. (By the way his name is Garrette Baird and you can find him at: http://www.eyenamics.com/
Be sure too to drink plenty of water, bring your chapstick and try (I know it’s hard, there’s so much to see and do) and get enough sleep. I hope you found this helpful and look for me at the Sony booth at WPPI!