Nikon D3300 DSLR Camera Review

Nikon and Canon have long dominated the entry-level portion of the DSLR market with plenty of strong interchangeable lens camera options, so when these two manufacturers offer new models into this segment of the market, photographers will always pay attention.

Nikon's latest entry into the low end of the DSLR market is the D3300, which Nikon calls an HD-SLR camera. (I'm not exactly sure what makes the D3300 an HD-SLR other than it shoots full HD movies, so I'll just refer to it as a DSLR to avoid confusion.)

Simply put, this is a strong still image camera offered at a reasonable price. Nikon has given the D3300 a large image sensor with 24-plus megapixels of resolution, and the image quality with this model is outstanding. So if all you want is a strong still image camera without some add-on bells and whistles, the D3300 is a terrific option for a first DSLR camera.

However there are a few drawbacks with this model that prevent it from receiving my top rating. The LCD has no touch capabilities, and it isn't articulated. There's no built-in Wi-Fi option either. If you use the camera's LCD to frame photos (called Live View mode) rather than the viewfinder, the camera's performance slows quite a bit. And even though Nikon is calling the D3300 an HD-SLR, your ability to have manual control over movie recording is very limited.

I liked the Nikon D3300 very much as an entry-level DSLR camera. But if you want more than just a strong still image camera -- and those add-ons are important to some photographers in the current market -- then the D3300 falls a little short.

Specifications

    Resolution: 24.2 megapixels
    Optical zoom: N/A (uses interchangeable lenses)
    LCD: 3.0-inch, 921,000 pixels
    Maximum image size: 6000 x 4000 pixels
    Battery: Rechargeable Li-Ion
    Dimensions: 4.9 x 3.9 x 3.0 inches
    Weight: 15.1 ounces (no battery and memory card)
    Image sensor: CMOS APS-C sensor (23.5 x 15.6 mm)
    Movie mode: Full HD 1080p (60fps)

Pros

    Image quality is above average versus others in price range
    Good starting price versus comparable models
    Fast performer when using viewfinder
    Can use as a fully automatic camera or in manual mode
    A bit smaller and lighter than other entry-level DSLRs

Cons

    No "extra" features like touch screen display or built-in Wi-Fi
    Movie controls are very limited
    D3300's popup flash must be opened manually; doesn't open automatically as needed
    When shooting in Live View mode, camera's performance slows
    Resolution choices are very limited