As the summer of sport continues in Rio many will be heading to the local parks and beaches, embracing exercise and feeling encouraged and inspired by the exceptional performances we'll be witnessing over coming weeks.
Watching our friends and family trying in earnest to recreate the feats that have played out on our television screens provides the perfect opportunity for photographers to practice one of the great arts of photography.
As a photographer, encapsulating the action and excitement of a live sporting event in an image presents a particular challenge. Poor autofocus, tracking and slow shutter response can all contribute in ruining what could otherwise have been a great shot and once that moment has passed, it has gone forever.
With the a6300 - and its predecessor the a6000 - we've concentrated on addressing these issues and the result is a camera that takes autofocusing, imaging speed and overall performance to incredible new heights.
Put simply, the a6300 is the world's fastest focussing APS-C camera, with astonishing AF speeds of up to 0.05 seconds.
The ability to capture the expression of the runner as they cross the finish line or track the action of the build up to a spectacular goal requires fast, accurate focussing across the whole sensor.
Boasting 425 phase detection points densely populated over the complete frame it gives the most comprehensive cover of any camera on the market and the ability to track motion across the entire scene guarantees that nothing escapes its attention.
The camera also utilises our new 4D FOCUS system - an autofocus algorithm that predicts the subject’s next move - bringing a new dimension to traditional methods of focussing that deal solely with area and depth.
This is particularly important when it comes to shooting sports video, keeping everything in focus as the subjects move around the field. Add the ability to capture video in 4K and you have one of the best cameras available for shooting live action and registering greater detail and clarity than ever before.
In addition to tracking the action, it’s important that a sports camera has the ability to freeze it. With an expanded ISO range of up to 512,000 for still images and 256,000 for movies, combined with low noise at the higher end of the scale, the a6300 allows for fast shutter speeds even in challenging lighting conditions.
The capacity to shoot bursts of 11 frames per second in viewfinder mode and 8 per second using live view ensures that whether photographing friends at play or the professionals at work, none of those special summer moments are missed.
The capabilities of the a6300 aren't just limited to sports photography, the camera will also be of particular interest to wildlife photographers - or indeed anyone who wishes to track or freeze fast-moving subjects without compromising on quality.
A consummate player and gold medal winner in its own right? Numerous reviews will attest to the stellar performance of the Sony a6300.
If you're looking to capture the action and excitement of a sporting event this summer then this is the camera you've been waiting for.
