In today’s review, we will be comparing two mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras: Sony a6300 vs Fujifilm Xa3.
The Sony a6300 is a semi-pro camera, while the Fujifilm Xa3 is an entry-level camera.
Our comparison of the Sony a6300 vs Fujifilm Xa3 is rather lengthy. If you need the information to make a really quick decision, the next three sections will serve that purpose.
We, however, encourage you to try and read to the end, as it will be worth the time spent. The thoughts of customers who have used these cameras and our take on them is contained in the last two sections of this review.
Comparison Overview – Sony a6300 vs Fujifilm Xa3
This section is divided into 4 major subsectors to help you better understand this summary. Let us get right into it.
Where Do They Both Get It Right?
First off, both the Sony a6300 and the Fujifilm Xa3 come with an impressive 24-megapixel maximum sensor resolution.
Next, if you are interested in action photography, the continuous shooting speeds of cameras will be of interest to you. And we are pleased to point out that these cameras provide fast speed continuous shooting.
To help with low lighting issues, both cameras come with a built-in flash. They also support the attachment of an external flash with the provision of an external flash hot shoe.
Still on lighting, both cameras provide auto exposure bracketing. This is sure to help a great deal when shooting in tricky lighting conditions.
Another similarity they share is RAW support. With either camera, your images will be stored in the most uncompressed form possible.
The face detection autofocusing systems of these two cameras make filming people and shooting portraits a lot made easier.
Choosing either the Sony 6300 or the Fujifilm Xa3 affords you flexible shooting positions as both cameras have articulating 3-inch sized LCD screens.
These screens are also with high resolutions of 922k dots and 1,040k dots respectively.
Also, both cameras under review come with wireless connectivity. This makes sharing pictures online and with other devices easier.
Finally, both cameras come with a smartphone remote control feature.
A Sony a6300 Demonstration Video
Where Do They Both Get It Wrong?
One major flaw of these two cameras is the absence of built-in image stabilization. This lack increases the likelihood of shooting blurry images once there is a movement in the camera’s position while it is in use.
It has been said that mirrorless cameras do not usually have very enduring batteries. These cameras – Sony a6300 vs Fujifilm Xa3 – coming with batteries that produce 400 shots and 410 shots per full charge respectively, have proved that saying to be the truth.
Also, you will not be able to track the location of your shoots with either of these cameras as none of them comes with a built-in GPS.
How Do They Differ From Each Other?
First off, only the Sony a6300 comes with environmental sealing, which ensures their resistance to water and dust particles. This means you can comfortably shoot in challenging weather conditions with these cameras.
Another major difference between the two cameras is that while mirrorless cameras usually have electronic viewfinders, only one of them does.
The Fujifilm Xa3 comes with neither an electronic viewfinder nor provision for an external viewfinder to be attached.
And, although both cameras have built-in connectivity, only the Sony a6300 has the near field communication feature.
Also, the Fujifilm Xa3 has a touch-sensitive screen, while the Sony a6300 does not.
Concerning boosting the audio quality of videos, only the Sony a6300 comes with an external microphone port.
A Fujifilm Xa3 Demonstration Video
What’s The Price/Value Like?
It is important to point out that the Fujifilm Xa3 is the less expensive one of the two cameras. It is about half the price of the Sony a6300 in price.
This is quite understandable seeing as they were launched into two different price categories.
However, we feel that these prices are justified considering the features and value these cameras offer.
We believe that you will be getting a better price/value ratio with the Sony a6300.
Brand Strength – Sony a6300 vs Fujifilm Xa3
Both brands are Japanese brands which are major players in the photography and imaging market. Sony is well known as the world’s largest producer of imaging sensors.
Some years ago, Fuji released a statement that their goal is to have the number one market share in the premium mirrorless camera market. And their competition is no other brand than Sony.
This competition makes both brands put their best foot forward. This makes their products worthy choices.
Comparison Table – Sony a6300 vs Fujifilm Xa3
| Sony a6300 | Fujifilm Xa3 | |
| Announcement Date | 3 February 2016 | 25 August 2016 |
| Weight | 404 grams | 339 grams |
| Touch-Sensitive Screen | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Electronic | No |
| Environmental Sealing | Yes | No |
| ISO Range | 100 – 25,600 | 200 – 6400 |
| Continuous Shooting | 11.0 frames per second | 6.0 frames per second |
| LCD Screen Resolution | 922k dots | 1,040k dots |
| Number of Focus Points | 425 | 77 |
| Battery Life | 410 shots per full charge | 400 shots per full charge |
| Maximum Video Resolution | 3840 x 2160 | 1920 x 1080 |
| Video Formats | MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S, H.264 | MPEG-4, H.264 |
| Automatic Exposure Bracketing | ±5 Exposure value | ±3 Exposure value |
| Flash Coverage | 6.0 meters | 7.0 meters |
| Time-lapse Recording | With downloadable app | Yes |
| Near Field Communication | Yes | No |
| Microphone Port | Yes | No |
| Image | Title | Price | Prime | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Sony Alpha a6300 Mirrorless Camera: Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera with APS-C, Auto Focus & 4K Video - ILCE 6300 Body with 3” LCD Screen - E Mount Compatible - Black (Includes Body Only) | Prime | Buy Now | |
 | Fujifilm X-A3 Mirrorless Camera XC16-50mm F3.5-5.6 II Lens Kit - Brown | PrimeEligible | Buy Now |
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Which Situation Is Each Best Suited For?
| Sony a6300 | Fujifilm Xa3 |
| The Sony a6300 is best suited for sports photography. This is due to its electronic viewfinder, fast maximum shutter speed, continuous shooting, focus points, and good low light ISO. These features in addition to its weather-sealed body and ergonomics equip you to capture so much sporting action. Also, its medium body weight, thickness, and sensor size will not constitute a burden to you. | The Fujifilm Xa3 is suitable for daily photography. Its bodyweight will make it convenient to carry it about, without putting a strain on the neck or hands. Its large APS-C sensor and maximum shutter speed complement its weight to ensure that you have a good photography experience. |
What Do They Have In Common – Sony a6300 vs Fujifilm Xa3?
Maximum Sensor Resolution
Let’s start with the maximum sensor resolutions of these cameras. Sensor resolutions are like the most popularized determining factors of a camera’s worth.
The higher the resolution of the camera used to shoot the image, the fewer details and sharpness you are likely to lose.
This ensures that images printed in large sizes still maintain their sharpness and details.
On one hand, Sony a6300 has a 24 megapixel APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 millimeters) sized CMOS sensor and features BIONZ X processor.
And on the other hand, Fujifilm Xa3 has a 24 megapixel APS-C (23.5 x 15.7 millimeters) sized CMOS sensor and features EXR Processor II processor.
Body Weight
Mirrorless type cameras have an average body weight of 423 grams, and the two cameras under review weigh less than that.
However, the Fujifilm Xa3 is remarkably lighter with 339 grams, as against the 404 grams of the Sony a6300.
It is also important to consider the thickness of the camera when trying to determine portability. The Sony a3000 and Fujifilm Xa3 have a thickness of 49 millimeters and 40 millimeters respectively.
As the average thickness of cameras in this class is 48 millimeters, we can say these cameras are quite portable. The Fujifilm Xa3 even more so.
Articulating Screen
An articulating screen is a camera screen that can be turned in several directions without moving the camera body.
This type of screen allows you to shoot from various positions. They are great for shooting portraits and also group photos.
The articulating screen is one of the prominent features of the Sony a6300 and the Fujifilm Xa3. Both cameras have articulating 3-inch sized LCD screens with a resolution of 922k dots for the Sony a6300 and a resolution of 1,040k dots for the Fujifilm Xa3.
Although the two cameras have articulating screens, only the Fujifilm Xa3’s screen can be tilted up to 180 degrees. This means that Fujifilm Xa3 is the only selfie-friendly camera of the two.
Automatic Exposure Bracketing
When shooting in conditions where the lighting is tricky, getting the best exposure is not easy. It is in such situations that exposure bracketing becomes necessary.
Exposure bracketing involves you shooting an image at a particular exposure, and then a couple others at adjusted exposures.
This can be automatically set up on cameras that come with the automatic exposure bracketing (AEB) feature, like the Sony a6300 and the Fujifilm Xa3.
Automatic exposure bracketing makes it easy for you to get stunning HDR photos.
While the Sony a6300 provides you with a bracketing range of ±5 exposure values, the Fujifilm Xa3 has a range of ±3 exposure values.
RAW Support
Shooting in RAW ensures that your images are stored as uncompressed files that contain minimally processed image data from the camera’s image sensor.
This means that the images are stored in such a way that no data will be lost when you need to carry out post-processing later.
However, when you shoot in JPEG, the images are stored as compressed files, making them lose a lot of image data. In size, JPEG images are smaller than RAW images.
Plus, when you are ready to print the images or share them online, you will have to process the RAW files and convert them to suitable formats.
With cameras that allow you to shoot in RAW, like the Sony a6300 and the Fujifilm, you will have access to the different formats whenever you need them.
Fast Continuous Shooting
When you shoot in burst mode or continuous shooting mode, you have a better chance of taking the best shot of a particular moment. How does this work?
A camera with this feature will allow you to take several rapid shots within a set timeframe before you release the shutter button.
Both cameras under review come with continuous shooting. While the Sony a6300 affords you 11.0 frames per second, the Fujifilm Xa3 allows you to take 6.0 frames per second.
Built-in Flash
These cameras have built-in flash which comes in handy when shooting in a poorly lit environment. This is super helpful when carrying an external flash becomes undesirable, probably for convenience’s sake.
We are in no way suggesting that the built-in flash holds the complete solution for low-lighting challenges. It, however, does not hurt to have the built-in flash when it is enough to enable you to keep shooting in those low-lighting conditions.
The Sony a6300 has a flash coverage of 6.0 meters, while the Fujifilm Xa3 has a flash coverage of 7.0 meters. This means that the Fujifilm Xa3 extends a longer distance than the Sony a6300 by 1.0 meter.
External Flash Shoe
As already pointed out, the built-in flash cannot completely take care of every low-lighting, so an external flash becomes necessary.
The two cameras under review are suited for flash photography, as they each come with an external flash shoe.
Face Detection Focusing
A camera with the face detection autofocusing system automatically sets its focus and exposure to take a shot once it detects human faces.
This feature makes the Sony a6300 and the Fujifilm Xa3 efficient tools for shooting portraits, groups, and filming people.
Built-in Wireless Connectivity
In today’s fast-paced world, being able to upload pictures from your camera to your computer or the web is a photographer’s desire. Fortunately, both cameras provide good connectivity as they come with built-in wireless connectivity support.
Smartphone Remote Control
Cameras that are fitted with the remote-control feature allow you to control your camera with your smartphone. Photography gets somewhat more convenient when you use cameras fitted with this feature.
In-camera Charging
The two cameras we are comparing have rechargeable batteries. It is important to note that they both allow in-camera charging, by way of USB cables.
While the Sony a6300 uses an NP-FW50 battery pack, the Fujifilm Xa3 uses an NP-W126 battery pack.
Both cameras also have unimpressive battery performances.
How Do They Differ From Each Other? – Sony a6300 vs Fujifilm Xa3
Viewfinder
A viewfinder is that part of a camera where you look through to correctly focus and compose your picture before shooting.
The viewfinder helps to reduce the need for cropping your images later, as it will ensure the image correctly fits within the frame.
Viewfinders are of two types: the optical viewfinder and the electronic viewfinder.
The optical viewfinder allows you to look through a window to compose your images. It shows you what the lens sees, and this type of viewfinder is commonly found on DSLRs.
On the other hand, the electronic viewfinder enables you to look at a screen and not through a window to focus your image. It shows you what the sensor sees.
With this type of viewfinder, the finished result of your shooting will be exactly what you see through the viewfinder. The electronic viewfinder is commonly found on mirrorless type cameras.
That said, the Sony a6300 has an electronic viewfinder and you and only enjoy the benefits of a viewfinder with the a6300 because the Fujifilm Xa3 comes with neither a viewfinder nor an option of using an external viewfinder.
Environmental Sealing
If you are more inclined towards outdoor photography, you will agree that your camera should not be left unprotected from the elements. This concerns the overall camera health and affects its durability and functionality.
A camera that comes with environmental sealing is a worthy choice, as it prevents dust and moisture from getting into it.
Of the two cameras, only the Sony a6300 comes with environmental sealing on its body, providing the much-needed protection against the elements.
Unfortunately, Fujifilm Xa3 is not weather-sealed, which raises the concern of its durability as an outdoor camera.
Number of Focus Points
The speed and accuracy of a camera’s focusing depend largely on the camera’s autofocusing system.
While the Sony a6300 offers 425 focus points to choose from, the Fujifilm Xa3 offers a lower 77 focus points.
The difference in quality of photos gotten from these two cameras might be really evident due to this huge gap.
ISO Range
A camera’s ISO tells us in numbers, how sensitive it is to light. That is, it tells us how much light the camera can capture when it is set to a certain number.
A camera needs to be set to a low ISO when shooting in conditions where there is a lot of light. This is because the camera takes minimal light on a low ISO to ensure that the photos come out looking good, without the light hiding all the details.
However, in low light conditions, the camera is to be set to a high ISO to make up for the lack of adequate light. No one will want grainy photos.
In all, the wider the ISO range, the better you can play around whatever lighting condition you find yourself shooting in.
It is important to note that the Sony a6300 is the leader in this regard. It has an ISO range of 100 to 25,600 (which expands to 100 to 51,200). And the Fujifilm Xa3 has an ISO range of 200 to 6,400 (which extends to 100 to 25,600).
Touch-Sensitive Screen
A touch-sensitive screen on a camera facilitates ease of use. Things such as changing menu settings become easy when using a touch screen. However, of the two cameras under review, only the Fujifilm Xa3 comes with this feature.
The absence of this feature on the Sony a6300 might not be much of a put off for you, especially if you know your way around a camera.
Maximum Video Resolution
As with many modern cameras, the two cameras under review do not just shoot stills, but also movies.
Their sensors have read-out speeds that are fast enough to capture motion pictures, but the Sony a6300 has better video resolution.
With the Sony a6300, you will be able to shoot 4K videos at up to 30 frames per second. On the other hand, the Fujifilm Xa3 will only be able to produce a Full HD (1920 x 1080) recording at about 60 frames per second.
Microphone Port
As already pointed out, these cameras can be used to shoot good quality videos. One thing that is paramount in getting amazing videos is great audio quality.
And so, videographers appreciate being given options for high-quality audio recording.
Although both cameras come with a built-in microphone and mono speaker, only the Sony a6300 has an external microphone port.
This means that you can record high-quality sound with the aid of an external microphone.
Near Field Communication (NFC)
The Sony a6300 comes with the NFC connection feature that promotes easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices. This works by simply touching one of the devices against the other. The Fujifilm Xa3 does not come with this feature.
Time-Lapse Recording
If you have ever looked forward to capturing a sunset, moonrise, or other time-lapse sequences, then you need a camera that supports this. The two cameras we are comparing can make that possible, albeit to different degrees.
On the one hand, the Sony a6300 gives the time-lapse recording option with a downloadable application.
Whereas, the Fujifilm Xa3 comes with a built-in intervalometer. This allows you to capture time-lapse sequences without you having to get an external camera trigger with related software.
So, when it comes to creative shooting, the Fujifilm Xa3 has got you covered.
What Are The Unique Pros Of Each Product? – Sony a6300 vs Fujifilm Xa3
What Are The Unique Pros Of The Sony a6300?
- This camera has a 400 percent wider ISO range than the Fujifilm Xa3.
- Of the two cameras, only the Sony a6300 can shoot 4K videos.
- The Sony a6300 has environmental sealings on its body, giving it added protection against tough weather shooting conditions.
- This camera’s electronic viewfinder affords you better composition and focusing on images.
- You will enjoy 5 frames faster continuous shooting with this camera with its remarkable 11 frames per second speed on burst mode.
- This camera provides a high-quality audio recording option, as it is fitted with a microphone port.
- Also, the Sony a6300 assures better focus images as it has 348 more focus points to choose from.
- At ±5 exposure value, this camera’s wider automatic exposure range is useful for High Dynamic Range.
- Only the Sony a6300 supports easy wireless connection with compatible devices through its NFC connection feature.
A Sony a6300 Demonstration Video
What Are The Unique Pros Of The Fujifilm Xa3?
- With a weight of 339 grams, the Fujifilm Xa3 is 65 grams lighter than the Sony a6300 which weighs 404 grams.
- And with its touch-sensitive screen, you can better control the Fujifilm Xa3 functions.
- The Sony Fujifilm Xa3 has a better battery life than the Sony a6300, as it affords you 10 more shots.
- With a resolution of 1,040k dots, the Fujifilm Xa3’s LCD is 12 percent higher than that of the Sony a6300.
- The fully articulating LCD screen of the Fujifilm Xa3 makes it a selfie-friendly camera.
- This camera’s flash extends a longer distance than that of the Sony a6300 by 1.0 meter.
- The Fujifilm Xa3 comes with a built-in intervalometer that enables you to capture beautiful time-lapse sequences.
A Fujifilm Xa3 Demonstration Video – Sony a6300 vs Fujifilm Xa3
What Are The Unique Cons Of Each Product? – Sony a6300 vs Fujifilm Xa3
What Are The Unique Cons Of The Sony a6300?
- You will need to find your way around this camera’s menu settings, as it does not come with a touch-sensitive screen.
- The LCD screen on this camera is not selfie-friendly.
- With no built-in intervalometer, you will have to download an application to be able to enjoy creative shooting.
What Are The Unique Cons Of The Fujifilm Xa3?
- To compose your shots, you will have to rely on this camera’s LCD screen as it comes with neither a viewfinder nor an external viewfinder option.
- The Fujifilm Xa3 comes with 77 focus points. This is about 5 times lower than what the Sony a6300 offers.
- This camera body does not come sealed against the harsh effects of the elements.
- With 6,400 ISO, Fujifilm Xa3 has a 300 percent lower maximum native light sensitivity than Sony a6300.
- External microphones cannot be attached to this camera, as it has no microphone port. This means you will not be able to improve on the audio quality gotten from the built-in stereo microphone.
- The Fujifilm Xa3 does not support data transfer via Near Field Communication.
What Pros Are Common To Both Cameras – Sony a6300 vs Fujifilm Xa3?
| Sony a6300 | Fujifilm Xa3 | |
| High Sensor Resolution | The Sony a6300’s 24 megapixels APS-C sensor allows you to shoot at a maximum resolution of 6000 x 4000 pixels with aspect ratios of 3:2 and 16:9. Plus, the camera’s native ISO range of 100 to 25,600 can be boosted to 51,200. | With the Fujifilm Xa3, you can shoot at a maximum resolution of 6000 x 4000 pixels with aspect ratios of 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9. Its native ISO range of 200 to 6,400 can also be boosted to 100 to 25,600. |
| Portability | For its class, this camera is rather portable, and won’t constitute a burden. | This camera is even more portable than the Sony a6300. |
| Articulating Screen | With this camera, you can conveniently frame low angle shots. | This camera’s 3-inch sized fully articulating screen makes it selfie-friendly. |
| Automatic Exposure Bracketing | The automatic exposure bracketing feature of this camera will prove beneficial when you have to shoot in tough lighting conditions. | With this feature, the Xa3 will be a handy tool when shooting high dynamic range (HDR) images. |
| RAW Support | The RAW support on this camera allows you to retain most of your image data. This provides you more freedom for post-processing. | With this camera, your images will also be stored as uncompressed files. |
| Fast Continuous Shooting | Its 11 frames per second of continuous shooting affords you a better opportunity to capture perfect moments. | With 6 frames per second of continuous shooting, you can also achieve great motion pictures. |
| Built-in Flash | This camera’s built-in flash comes in handy when you would rather not an external flash. | Same as the Sony a6300. |
| External Flash Shoe | With this support, the Sony a6300 is suitable for flash photography. | Same as the Sony a6300. |
| Face Detection Focusing | This camera intelligently takes a shot once it detects a face within its frame. | The face detection autofocusing of the Fujifilm Xa3 makes it a great choice for portraits and filming people. |
| Built-in Wireless Connectivity | You do not need a physical connection to easily transfer photos to compatible devices, thanks to this camera’s wireless connectivity. | Just like the Sony a6300, you can also transfer files using Wi-Fi. |
| Time-lapse recording | With a downloadable app, you can record time-lapse sequences using this camera. | Get stunning panoramic photos with the Fujifilm Xa3 at your convenience. This is because quite unlike the Sony a6300, this camera comes with a built-in intervalometer. |
| Smartphone Remote Control | This camera allows you to remotely control it from your smartphone. | The smartphone remote control feature is also present on this camera. |
| In-camera Charging | You can charge this camera’s battery on the go, using USB cables. | This camera also supports in-camera charging. |
What Cons Are Common To Both Cameras – Sony a6300 vs Fujifilm Xa3?
| Sony a6300 | Fujifilm Xa3 | |
| No Image stabilizer | Without a built-in image stabilizer, there is the likelihood of having blurry images due to camera shakes. | Same as the Sony a6300. |
| Low battery performance | This camera’s battery performance is unimpressive. And so, it will be wise to invest in spare batteries. | Same as the Sony a6300. |
| No built-in GPS | You will not be able to geotag images with this camera, as it does not come with built-in GPS. | Same as the Sony a6300. |
What Do People Think About Both Cameras – Sony a6300 vs Fujifilm Xa3?
| Sony a6300 | Fujifilm Xa3 |
| A lot of users believed that Sony delivered on its promise of improving on the Sony a6000 with the production if the Sony a6300. Being able to charge on the go brought great relief to users, seeing as the camera has a low battery life. With the USB in-camera charging option, they were able to charge on the go and continue their work. The ability to capture 4k videos had a thrilling effect on users. This just made the camera worth the price for many users. What’s a camera without great image quality? Most users thought that with the a6300, Sony delivered on its promise for impressive image quality. Users were pleased with the lightweight and yet solid magnesium alloy build-up of the camera body. This material build-up was responsible for the Sony a6300’s average body weight and durability. | This camera’s lightweight was a major source of joy for users. They found it easy to carry around for those fancy shooting sprees. Users were also impressed with the camera’s image quality, especially as the camera came very affordable. Vloggers found its LCD screen super useful. |
| A good percentage of users were disappointed that Sony did not include a headphone port to complement the provision of a 3.5 millimeters microphone jack. Another major complaint by users is the camera’s tendency to overheat while shooting 4k videos. | Despite the good reviews that users gave this camera, the majority were quick to point out that the Fujifilm Xa3 is not a professional camera. |
What’s Our Take On Them – Sony a6300 vs Fujifilm Xa3?
| Sony a6300 | Fujifilm Xa3 |
| Looking at the feature set of the cameras under review, the Sony a6300 is unarguably the winner in this contest. However, we emphasize that you choose according to your photography needs, as needs differ from one photographer to the other. If your budget accommodates the Sony a6300, then, by all means, go for it. | The Fujifilm has some things going on for it, including portability and affordability. But as always, it depends on what you want in a camera. Consider your needs and budget, and get a camera that fits them. You could also check out our Sony a6300 vs Canon 7D comparison article here. |
