We liked the two-year-old D3200, which is still available as a $499 kit, but the newer edition is the one to get. Stills were set to maximum resolution (6000 x 4000 pixels) as was video (1920 x 1080/60p). We took the camera and its kit lens out to various locales in the U.S. This is similar to Sony’s popular Sweep Panorama where you just pan a scene and the camera stitches the images together, so you don’t have to bother doing it by “hand” with software. There’s the Guide setting to teach you the basics of the camera, and Effects, where you’ll find 13 special effects to jazz up your shots, such as Super Vivid, HDR Painting, Toy Camera and – new to the D3300 – Easy Panorama. You’ll find Smart Auto, flash off, PASM, and six specific scene modes (Portrait, Landscape, Child, Sports, Close-up, and Night Portrait). Like Canon’s T5, it has a combination of settings for both experienced and first-time users. The mode dial, on the top of the camera, is the main control. (As always, you need to do your own hands-on to make a final determination.) Controls are logically placed and changing camera parameters is a breeze.Īs for the photographs, the D3300 delivered on the details one expects from a 24MP APS-C imager. The D3300 has a good feel with a nice, deep grip. For more warranty information, including an optional two-year extended warranty, click here. Nikon includes a one-year limited warranty.
Also in the carton are the User’s Manual and a CD with Nikon ViewNX2 software for handling images and developing RAW/NEF files. You also get a USB cable, rechargeable battery, and plug-in charger. You’ll find the body and kit lens along with various caps and a strap.
Unlike Canon, at least Nikon offers it via an optional adapter ($60), but still, it would have been a nice plus considering the 3300 is pricier than the T5. It’s 2014, and there’s no reason why consumer cameras like this shouldn’t have wireless connectivity. One thing that Nikon didn’t include is Wi-Fi – neither did Canon with the T5. The battery is rated a solid 700 shots per CIPA – 100 more than the T5 – so you’ll have no problems shooting all day with this one, even if you go flash and video crazy. There’s nothing unusual or scary here if you’re not sure just check out the 120-page User’s Manual supplied with the camera. Like every DSLR, there’s a raft of keys and controls surrounding the LCD. It’s reasonably bright and readouts (f-stop, shutter speed, and so on) are very legible. The other key feature on the back is an optical viewfinder with 95-percent field of view. It’s linear and simple to understand, and, for those who are new to DSLRs, Nikon provides a Guide option on the mode dial that takes you through the basics. Making adjustments to the display is easy once you walk through the onscreen menu system. It’s a good one, handling bright sunshine well, once we cranked up the Monitor Brightness to +5. The D3300 has a quality fixed-mount 3-inch LCD on the back that’s rated 921K dots – double the spec of the T5.
These particular Nikon lenses mentioned here are not super-sharp or super wide-open but they’ll do the job for everyday shooting. Since the digital factor is 1.5x, that lens will bring you up close to most subjects (300mm). A good first choice for newbies is the Nikkor 55-200mm telephoto zoom for $200. Third-party suppliers like Sigma also provide options. Last time we looked there were 18 from Nikon, ranging from $200 to $1,500. The camera comes with a newly designed, more compact Nikkor 18-55mm kit lens, but there’s no shortage of additional AF-S DX-designated lenses to choose from. Nikon dropped the low-pass filter to improve image quality and sharpness. The D3300’s technical innards are also far superior to the T5 (more on this later) Although primarily made of plastic, it feels sturdier than the recently reviewed Canon EOS Rebel T5. It measures 4.9 x 2.9 x 3 inches, weighing 15.1 ounces for just the body. No matter the finish, the D3300 is just slightly smaller than its predecessor. If black is too boring, it’s also available in red or dark silver. Our review sample was all black with nicely textured grip. (Check out our D3300 versus T5 comparison here.) Features and designĭon’t expect any big surprises here: the 24.2-megapixel D3300 looks like every other DSLR introduced before or since. Read on to find out how good it is and how it compares to Canon’s new low-cost edition. While both the D3300 and T5 cater to the same consumer, the D3300 demonstrates stronger attributes over its rival – albeit it costs more. Like Canon’s new EOS Rebel T5 and the older T3, Nikon’s new 24.2MP D3300 entry-level DSLR isn’t wildly better than the older D3200 but it’s still a fine entry-level camera – great for those moving into this sector.