Sony a6300

The Sony a6300 is a mirrorless camera from 2016 built around an APS-C sensor and the Sony E mount.

It measures 120 x 67 x 49 mm and weighs 404 grams, so it slips into a small bag and stays comfortable on long walks. An electronic viewfinder lets you shoot with the camera at your eye.

That mix suits travellers, families and anyone who wants one light camera for stills and 4K video. The trade-offs that come with the size are covered in the sections below.

The optics score of 68 is good, and the a6300 sits around the middle of cameras in our database for Optics. A 24.2 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor pairs with the Bionz X processor, giving resolution for detail and room to crop.

Autofocus offers 425 points, which gives many focus positions to choose from, although the point count alone does not establish speed, accuracy, tracking or coverage.

The maximum burst rate is 11 fps, though the mode and conditions behind that figure are not specified, so treat it as a peak rather than a sustained-speed promise. Shutter speeds reach 1/4000, and sensitivity runs from ISO 100 to 25600.

There is no in-body stabilisation, so shake control depends on stabilised lenses or your own technique. The 2,359,296-dot electronic viewfinder gives a detailed preview of your framing before you press the shutter.

Video is a genuine strength here, and the score of 91 reflects that. The camera records in 4K, which gives footage plenty of resolution and leaves room to crop when you edit.

The maximum frame rate is 120 fps, fast enough to slow footage down for smooth slow-motion effects. The specifications list 4K and 120 fps as separate maximums, so check which combinations are available before an important shoot.

A built-in timelapse mode handles the interval shooting for you, which saves setting up extra gear for moving clouds or fading light.

Recording uses MPEG-4, XAVC S, AVCHD Ver. 2.0 or H.264 file formats, giving you several recording options to choose between depending on the job.

The features score of 54 is modest. The 3-inch LCD offers 921,600 dots and flips out for overhead shots, ground-level work and self-framed video, with live view for composing on the screen. There is no touch control, so settings change through buttons and menus.

A built-in flash handles quick indoor fill light, and support for an external flash lets you add a separate unit later.

Wi-Fi is built in, though what it can transfer is not detailed here. There is no Bluetooth and no GPS, so the camera will not tag your photos with locations on its own.

Weather sealing is present, though its exact dust and moisture limits are not specified here.

The storage and battery score of 24 is limited. A single slot takes SD, SDHC or SDXC cards, so there is no second card for backup or overflow. Pack a spare card for busy days.

The NP-FW50 battery is rated at 400 shots, though the figure lacks stated test conditions, so treat it as a guide rather than a promise of real-world endurance. A second battery is sensible insurance for heavy days.

There is no USB charging, so you cannot top the battery up over a USB cable from a laptop or a power bank. Factor charging time into your travel plans.