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Nikon D3300 Review

April 2014 | By Allison Johnson

One of the biggest camera announcements at 2014's Consumer Electronics Show may well have been the little Nikon D3300 and its collapsible 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 VR II lens. It may not shoot 4K video or offer a curved LCD (those shows are all about the tech trends) but it does represent the next generation of Nikon's very popular entry-level DSLR line, and that in itself is noteworthy.

The D3300 sits at the bottom of Nikon's entry-level series, positioned as the friendliest of beginner-friendly DSLRs, just below the D5300. Don't be fooled by their class bearing though, both cameras use a powerful 24MP APS-C sensor. Opting for the D3300 rather than the D5300 means living with a fixed 3.0-inch LCD, rather than one that's fully articulated, and no built-in Wi-Fi.

Nikon D3300 key features

24.2 MP DX format (APS-C) sensor
Expeed 4 processor
Fixed 3.0" 921k-dot LCD
1080/60p HD video
5 fps continuous shooting
700 shot battery life

The D3300's Expeed 4 branded processor is responsible for many of its gains over the previous model, the D3200. This model gets an upgrade to 1080/60p video recording, an extra frame per second in burst mode, and a higher ISO range up to 12800 (25600 with expansion).

Specs comparison

The table below illustrates the differences between this model, its predecessor, and the step-up model. It should be noted that the D3300 appears to give better battery performance than the D5300, but actually they use the same EN-EL14a battery. The D5300's lower claimed battery life reflects a calculation for use of the camera's built-in Wi-Fi and GPS. By any measure, the D3300 is well above its peers in terms of battery capacity.

	Nikon D3300	Nikon D3200	Nikon D5300
Sensor	24.2 MP DX format CMOS (23.5 x 15.6 mm)	24.2 MP DX format CMOS (23.2 x 15.4 mm)	24.2 MP DX format CMOS (23.5 x 15.6 mm)
Image processing	Expeed 4	Expeed 3	Expeed 4
LCD	Fixed 3.0" 921k-dot LCD	Fixed 3.0" 921k-dot LCD	Vari-angle 3.2" 1037k-dot LCD
AF system	11-point (1 cross-type)	11-point (1 cross-type)	39-point (9 cross-type)
Viewfinder	0.85x (95% coverage)	0.80x (95% coverage)	0.82x (95% coverage)
ISO range	100-12800 (expansion to 25600)	100-6400 (expansion to 12800)	100-12800 (expansion to 25600)
Connectivity	With optional WU-1a Mobile Adapter	With optional WU-1a Mobile Adapter	Built-in
Video capture max. resolution	1080 60p	1080 30p	1080 60p
Continuous shooting	5 fps	4 fps	5 fps
Battery life	700 shots	540 shots	600 shots
Dimensions	124 x 98 x 76 mm (4.88 x 3.86 x 2.99″)	125 x 96 x 77 mm (4.92 x 3.78 x 3.03″)	125 x 98 x 76 mm (4.92 x 3.86 x 2.99″)
Weight	460 g (16.23 oz)	505 g (17.81 oz)	530 g (18.70 oz)

Moving up the chain of Nikon's crop-frame DSLR line AF systems get increasingly sophisticated. The D3300 sits at the very bottom with an 11-point system and a single cross-type sensor at the middle - nothing that would tempt a sports photographer, but perfectly capable for its class. Outside of this, Wi-Fi and a vari-angle screen are the only other clear hardware advantages to the D5300 over the entry-level model.

The comparison paints a picture of a nicely specified entry-level model with excellent battery life, a new processor and a whole lot of resolution. Aside from the lack of Wi-Fi, there's not much to complain about here and we don't feel that there's anything that this camera is seriously lacking feature-wise.

However, the days when an entry-level Nikon only really had to worry about its latest rival from Canon have gone. So, although the D3300's specs are very impressive - especially in terms of battery life - it also has to hold its own against the smaller mirrorless cameras that match it for image quality and offer a more compact-camera-like live view shooting experience.

Though a little long in the tooth, the Panasonic Lumix GF6 offers a tilting touch screen, and the Olympus E-PM2 provides a fixed touch screen (and is a steal price-wise compared to the rest of the class). Elsewhere in the category the Pentax K-500 offers a 100% coverage optical viewfinder and 6 fps burst shooting, while the Fujifilm X-A1 offers twin command dials and built-in Wi-Fi.

Kit options and pricing

The Nikon D3300 is available in black, grey and red variants, kitted in the US and UK with a collapsible 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 VR II lens with list prices of $649.95 and £599.99, respectively. In the UK there's also a £499.99 body-only option, not offered in the US.

Without the D5300's built-in Wi-Fi, D3300 owners will need to add Nikon's WU-1a mobile adapter for connectivity features. The adapter dangles from the camera's AV port, making it possible to wirelessly transfer images to an Android or iOS device. Read more about it in our review of the Nikon D3200. It's available separately for $59.95/£54.99.

Nikon's DSLRs aren't by any means the cheapest in their respective classes, and that's true of the D3300. It's about $100 US more than a comparable Canon kit, and costs well over twice as much as the (very aggresively priced) Sony a3000. For that premium, you get one of the highest resolution APS-C sensors on the market, a very good 1080/60p video spec, and exceptional battery life among other things. It's slightly pricier, but does the feature set justify the tag? Or would your entry-level dollars be better spent elsewhere?

If you're new to digital photography you may wish to read the Digital Photography Glossary before diving into this article (it may help you understand some of the terms used).

Conclusion / Recommendation / Ratings are based on the opinion of the reviewer, you should read the ENTIRE review before coming to your own conclusions.

We recommend to make the most of this review you should be able to see the difference (at least) between X, Y, and Z and ideally A, B, and C.

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Nikon D3300 Black SLR Digital Camera Kit w/ 18-55 mm Lens

$496.95

Nikon D3300 Black SLR Digital Camera Kit w/ 18-55 mm Lens

$496.95

Comments

Total comments: 235

Can I use a zoom lens (AF 18-135 3.5 5.6) from my D40X on my D3300 camera and the 18-55mm lens from my
d3300 on my D40x without damaging either? The zoom lens has a nicer picture than the 18-55. Maybe my imagination.

1 upvote

I 'm new to the world of photography and I want to buy a new camera. I am deciding between two cameras for beginners the nikon D3200 or D3300, they both are at the same price, the difference is that the D3200 comes with two lenses (a 55-200 mm) and the nikon D3300 only with 18-55 mm, which one should I buy?
I need some help to decide..

0 upvotes

Just ordered my D3300 with 35mm f/1.8 DX as everyday travel camera. Had the D3100 before: while my D800 and D600 are the perfect tools for specific projects and events, the D3xxx is the one I just throw into my office rucksack every day, sometimes just by itself, sometimes in combination with the little BeeFree-tripod and pano-head. The D3xxx never let me down: with its light weight and robust construction it takes more abuse than most so called semipro bodies. Best value for money you can buy!

0 upvotes

I agree! The D3XXX line are excellent snapshot and travel cameras. They take superb photos and you're not out a lot of money if something happens to it. And feature-wise they're a much better value than mid-range compacts. It's annoying that reviewers insist on assigning users to a camera. The D3300 is much more than just a beginner's camera.

0 upvotes

maybe you guys can help me..

0 upvotes

I go for the 3200 twin lens as there is not much to choose from as the 3200 is excellent anyway

0 upvotes

The only thing I am not being able to learn is how to use the zoom to get far away shots of my birds like the old cannon I am used to with the pull lever.. any ideas on this one appreciated. ( I mean get far away things up close and personal) Am I needing a special lens for this one?

1 upvote

1. Read the manual.
2. Turn the large ring on the zoom. No lever on DSLRs.
3. Get a longer lens. Standard zoom is not long enough for birds, you will need the 55-300 or similar.

0 upvotes

I don't know if I got a faulty kit lens (55-200mm) but I have the same problem. I have been unable to obtain focused zoom images of birds with this camera, no mater the AF mode. Center weight is best but I should be able to track a MOVING bird. At distance with too many competing AF targets (branches/leaves) — even with excellent light — images lack focus or appear to have shallow depth of field.

My research reveals one possible culprit. The D3300 has only one cross-linked AF point, whereas the F3.5 maximum kit lens aperture doesn't allow that cross-lined AF point to operate (requires a brighter/faster lens apparently).

The review for this camera briefly mentions that this isn't the best DSLR for sports enthusiasts. Well, that also applies to birders too.

See "Pratical Consequences":

http://www.digitalbirdphotography.com/2.6.html

Without a tripod and a fixed-in-place taxidermy bird this camera (or kit zoom lens) is not up to the task. A faster shutter only goes so far.

Comment edited 2 times, last edit 11 minutes after posting

1 upvote

Can anyone recommend a good inexpensive (under $100) stereo mic to use with the D3300? Or have you found the internal mic is "good enough"?

Thanks

0 upvotes

I’m most interested in the video capabilities of this camera. This site provided the first downloadable raw sample i have seen so far.
I see no bad focus on the video, at 100% zoom (cars passing in london, passing under a bridge).
The quality of the video is also fine, given it’s 50p.
I would rather see a 24fps sample, since it would have much less compression, and that’s what 90% of the people use 90% of the time. 50p is just a low quality feature in case slow-motion is needed.

1 upvote

I realize that this came about 7 months ago.
I was once a full blown Nikon supporter use Nikon.
As it was stated earlier the Nikon quality has gone down to pot.
I bought the all mighty d7100 after a year....one year there are now oil spots on the sensor. Spots that I can not afford to pay to remove .It will cost me up to 400.00 to fix the problem because no longer under warranty.
I will no longer recommend a Nikon to anyone!!
Better going with the Canon. There are two cameras as soon as I can afford one of the 2 . One Fuji x10-1 And the a6000.
The nay Sayers will get on their soap boxes. But ask why are most of the pros going to these cameras? not the ones that hold workshops to make money but the real pros out making taking real photos. Not the armchair expert wanabes.
Enough Never ever buy a Nikon!
I cant even trade for a different ca,mera!

0 upvotes

Yet another person with one comment making up a problem with a camera he claims to own.
I don't believe he even has a D7100, let alone been quoted 400 (anythings?) to clean the sensor. My guess would be Rupees.
Scattered through every thread on this site are these names which just appear for one or two posts, make up some story about how they bought a Nikon/Canon/Pentax something and it killed their dog and burnt the house down.
Most sensible realise the true value of these posts is precisely nothing.

7 upvotes

Phil - That made me laugh - good reply. Rupees!! haha

0 upvotes

this CIPA rating for the battery is funny, I get at least 1500 images and battery is still good (about 2/3 charge left)...

Comment edited 28 seconds after posting

1 upvote

For the price I would argue that this is the best budget DSLR camera on the market. Excellent photo quality, and the high mega pixel means that you can crop out any unwanted crap without a huge loss in photo quality

4 upvotes

Another class of photographer for whom this camera might be a very good value, is the older person looking for an easy carry, and minimalist quality imaging. I've yet to take an image that can't give everything I want through a few steps in raw processing. And I'm using the scene and Auto modes almost exclusively for family and travel. The older generation digital cameras I sold off to pay for the D3300 kit and second lens, were much more fiddly.

2 upvotes

Nice review, i realy love Nikon D3300, D3XXX is a very successful series from Nikon, easy to use while provide great image quality.
i even write an article where i compare Nikon D3200 to all other cameras under 700$, you can learn much information about it:
http://nikond3200news.blogspot.com/2014/06/nikon-d3200-is-it-best-dslr-camera-for-beginner.html

0 upvotes

Can you please tell me how you know the bitrate of video recording , i can not find it anywhere in camera manual or nikon website?

0 upvotes

If you can buy a $600 camera that delivers images only a pro can tell the difference from a $3,000 camera why not Then in two years when the next Nikon problem surfaces instead of being out thousands of dollars you throw away the $600 one We paid $1350 for a D70 Three years later card reader error rendering camera useless. Years later find out this was common to every D7O and Nikon would not stand behind. D600 people pay thousands for and find oil spots on lens causing picture anomalies. Buy a D800e might as well place 3k on the back porch and burn it, get it over with instead of waiting for the camera to fail just when you need it most and Nikon do nothing. So the idea of a low priced Camera delivering Nikon quality shots at a price you can just throw them in the garbage every couple years aligns better with Nikon's inability to deliver reliable performance and stand behind their known issues. Nikon should sell just the body and maybe even in a three pack in a dixie cup dispenser?

1 upvote

You talk about Fuji X-A1...but tell me! How much cost the (excellent) Fuji lenses??? If you are reviewing Interchangeable lenses cameras you must take into account the price of the lenses. Fuji lenses are all +400€ lenses. So much for the cheap body...

1 upvote

Nikon D3300 or Canon 100D(SL1) ? In my country the 100D is about $70 cheaper. In terms of image quality and video what's the better one?

0 upvotes

My comments apply to both the D3300 and D3200. Nikon USA is, I think, underrating these cameras by marketing them as "entry level" only and refusing to sell them without kit lenses. I started in serious photography in 1955 and have been satisfied with the feature set of the D3100, but wanted the higher resolution and ISO levels now available. I shoot RAW with a specified ISO and don't care about jpeg in camera processing. I have 2 "CPU" lenses which replace the kit lens, as well as 4 excellent older prime lenses which can take advantage of a higher resolution sensor. Why on earth would I want to pay for another lens I don't use.

Nikon sells these cameras abroad with a body only option. Why not here?

I just bought a refurbished D3200 body to bypass this problem. Had a new D3300 body with a USA warranty been available I might have gone for it.

3 upvotes

Check RAWs ISO100 to ISO400 in comparison to ISO800. They are not focused right, cause ISO800 appears sharper than the lower ISO settings. This little camera has an excellent potential to produce a class leading output paired with something really sharp like Nikkor 40mm f/2.8 micro or some other good prime. And why did it miss-focuss at those settings, well AF matrix also matters...

0 upvotes

Good observations. Anyone care to comment?

As a recent D3300 owner, this camera would appear to have a mind of its own.

1) Under full sun it will "decide" to use flash whereas I shot an entire event in deep mid afternoon shadow and found it frustrating that the flash would not activate in many auto/scene modes. (Also, am I correct in that there is no manual override — that is, "force on" — for fill flash use? Or am I missing something?)

2) In my own tests, ISO 400 images will instead be shot at 3200 and so on --- even when the camera is NOT in a default auto ISO setting. Consequently, I have begun to question if my D3300 is defective?

3) The sample images in this review contain very little in the way of architecture. My fist trip out with this camera did, and the "modest" distortion at wide angle using the kit lens seemed rather severe to me, in spite of distortion control enabled. Toggling the Distortion Control on vs. off is of no apparent benefit.

Thoughts?

0 upvotes

I should add:

4) My D3300 seems to struggle in conditions where my P&S Nikon L610 doesn't. In low indoor light colors that should be teal green are royal blue. Outdoors, reds/yellows are exaggerated. Attempts to set a manual white balance indoors produced severe magenta or blue casts whereas I had no issues setting manual white balance with my old DSLR.

5) Default JPEG color is too punchy/contrasty, requiring Gamma Correction in Photoshop. Subjects shot outdoors under shadow have a bluish or magenta cast, while under bright sun there is a pronounced orange/yellow cast, which dulls the blue of the sky, makes foliage look brown and fair skin-tones look Sunkist Orange.

6) When I run auto levels and auto color under Photoshop, PS wants to shift JPEG images captured under direct sun to a drastic Cyan or Yellow.

I'd like the option to go from "Standard" to "Neutral" color capture but those choices are locked out of most of the scene/auto modes, available only in the PSAM settings.

Comment edited 2 times, last edit 7 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

Looking for input… From the sound of things, do I just need to spend more time learning the ins-and-outs of the D3300 or does it appear to have "issues" above and beyond the fact that it is new to me? My previous DSLR was an Olympus E-300; it's been awhile since I've ventured into the DSLR market. Hence, I'm wondering how much of this is an acclimation issue vs. camera malfunction?

0 upvotes

For the ISO changing even when you set the ISO this is probably due to "Auto ISO" in the menu being on. It drove me up the wall on my D40 shooting in full manual mode and the camera was still overriding what I set by changing the iso. Setting this to off in the menu fixed it.

I guess it would be best to learn to shoot in a PASM mode so that you can set the picture control. You should be able to adjust things like contrast, saturation etc... to your liking. White balance is harder if you shoot jpegs. I shoot raw so I always readjust white balance later if I need to. You should be able to choose white balance presets and see how that works out

1 upvote

Thank you for the info. Very helpful!

0 upvotes

I was considering buying a Nikon D3300. My background is very much an enthusiast photographer, coming from the film days.

Nikon D3300: looks good, the 24mp is of course attractive, but the menu driven system mostly is a put-off for me (I would have liked some more physical controls). The 95% viewfinder coverage is also not good and the so many auto settings not good for me either. You need to question whether you really need the 24mp (I personally do not print large photos and do not either crop a lot).

I went the extra mile of adding £200 to my budget and ordered the Nikon D7000 with 18-105 lens. With 16mp (enough for my needs), 100% viewfinder coverage, good AF, LCD screen on the top, tilting 3in screen, weather-proof body, and good build quality (still quite far of my Nikon FM3a though) I am happy.

Any comments welcome.

1 upvote

I had the D7000 with 18-105 and liked it very much. I tried the 18-200 for extra reach but preferred the 18-105 as lighter and provided good enough photos for me.

0 upvotes

I.m sure you've found out by now, D7000 has a fixed screen, not tilting.

1 upvote

Kostis, The D33/53 series bodies are marketed at those who don't use/need the settings you want to access easily. You made a wise choice with the D7000, and would have been fine with the D7100 as well.

0 upvotes

Does it really cost hundred$ of dollar$ to add a tilting screen and to unblock bracketing in it's internal software?
Meet the D5300.
This is why I no longer buy Nikon.
You KNOW the D5300 could sell for the price of a D3300, because they have identical production costs, but you can't have it for that price. Pay a couple hundred extra if you want the $1 in extra hardware and the unlocking of the software.

6 upvotes

Not to mention WiFI and GPS build in, its much more convenient.

0 upvotes

How is that different than what you see from any number of companies? Everyone does that sort of thing from computer to camera to car companies.

6 upvotes

Buy a Leica T and get your moneys worth. Seriously, why complain about some of the best perfomance/money compromise you could buy? I am thinking of getting a D3300 or an even cheaper D3200, as a complement to my serious DSLR, and pair it with some of my better lenses, like 70-200 VR which will produce some serious IQ that will rival anything on the market short of FF.

Comment edited 2 minutes after posting

1 upvote

Value for money? When I saw the prices for Leica T with its Japanese lenses I thought it was a rip-off. A used Leica M9 makes much more sense. Not that I have handled the T. The price of M240s seem to be falling. Now there's a camera.............
Philip

2 upvotes

MY POINT WAS...
usually (even with the others) you get more resolution, or a better or bigger sensor, faster engine (processing), better stuff like that... not just an extra HINGE and not having some lines of code left out! that is just an insult!

@Kryz... ok, d5200 vs d3200 then.
I don't care for wifi or gps anyways. I have wifi in my nx20 and never use it. and I'm seeing news reports that people are getting tracked online via their photos now, because of that gps feature. I can do without the gimmicks and invasion of privacy thank you.

Comment edited 38 seconds after posting

2 upvotes

Yes, you do not have to have it on for all the pictures taken.
WiFi is a big gimick, but for me GPS is great for traveling :)

But at the end I seem to choose a camera that does not have GPS, I will survive :)

0 upvotes

Just pair it with a good lens, even the older D3100 produced a good result for enthusiasts

0 upvotes

The D3300 is a solid camera. As the review states, though, times they are a-changin'. Is it better than, or does it even have a reason to exist next to, mirrorless cameras carrying a similar price and feature set? That is the question...

With each generation, the entry level dSLR becomes harder and harder to recommend to people just looking for a casual camera with good image quality.

Once it was a no-brainer: "Yeah, get a D40. Sure, the D60. The D3000, definitely." Today... no. I wouldn't. I can't even in all honesty imagine what kind of person I would recommend the D3300, or even its discounted predecessor, the D3200, to.

3 upvotes

Agree, casual camera users would not be best surved by this. Mirrorless would make most people happy. But people very rarely look to logic.

1 upvote

"Does it even have the right to exist next to mirrorless?" Please, this gadget fetischism is going to far.

3 upvotes

I bet ten rolls of Ilford that it focuses faster and the battery lasts longer than any mirrorless. Cheaper than most too.

A mirror is a feature.

Comment edited 4 minutes after posting

9 upvotes

it's also larger you don't see what your doing through the viewfinder. the viewfinder is smaller and dim in this case.
It has less features as the em-10 less direct controls.

The d3300 does have cheaper good primes and other lenses. Also a better larger sensor. It's a solid choice just like the mirrorless em-10. choice is good.

1 upvote

Like I said in another post. And what's the price of lenses of mirrorless cameras? Not to mention you get less quality of lenses for a higher price. You re saying that people will buy only one body one lens? But that's not what you're supposed to do with an interchangeable lens camera. Show me a quality 50mm for 150/200€ and I'll buy a mirrorless...

1 upvote

0 upvotes

Nikon's 50mm 1.8g just cost as my beer budget, lol serious

0 upvotes

TRULY A MASTERPIECE!

1 upvote

I would not go that far, its only a new camera.

0 upvotes

Haha when you work at a Camera Store and you leave your DPreview logged in on your day off. Your coworkers WILL mess with your account and make comments on articles. I'm keeping the dog with the mustache display photo though. I think it's fantastic.

3 upvotes

And to You talkin' about incremental upates, the 3300 is a leap: New high resoulotion sensor (same as the 5300/7100), new processor, and new kit lens (good one). That's 3 outta 3 in my book.

7 upvotes

unfortunately, the new high resolution sensor further limits the apertures available before diffraction sets in. This is assmuing a diffraction limited system however, which is somewhat debatable.

0 upvotes

A lot of talks from people reading a review. I have the D3300, and with 2900 shots with three different lenses, I KNOW what the camera is like: Shooting only RAW, I get the pictures I want, and even underexosure of 2 EV I can get almost fully recovered pictures(!). Easy handling, fast operations, amazing battery life, all the buttons I want/need, lightweight, no wi-fi/gps (thanks! I hate it, drains battery & adds weight). I am actually stunned by the quality of the images. At ISO 6400, using a 50mm 1.8 in very low light, the output is fantastic. Compared to 5D Mark II, the IQ up to ISO 800 is on pair. And don't argue, if You don't have the experience with theese cameras - I do. 'Nuf said!

13 upvotes

This camera plus the Sigma 35mm 1.4 would be an unbelievable combination for street shooting or events. Why would you need anything else

1 upvote

Or pair it with a Nikon 35 1.8G DX and get some of the most outstanding value/performance ratios on the market. And light weight and compactness.

Comment edited 55 seconds after posting

6 upvotes

I wish I could like that reply more.
Too bad that there is no 23mm f1.8 DX.

3 upvotes

High IQ doesn't satisfy me. I would never buy such a camera because I am a status obsessed snob and spec loving geek.

5 upvotes

so... Leica then?

2 upvotes

The Hasselblad Lunar with the wooden handgrip! :) I would love one of those, to replace my Nikon Df! Complements my 30 meters yacht better...

0 upvotes

and shooting with cigar between the fingers,by then I should hire a pro photographer or i just clowning around?

0 upvotes

I really hope that you can turn the screen off on this model. I look at my images when I get home. Dont want that screen glowing like a torch in the night when trying to be discreet.

1 upvote

USB2? No WiFi? No GPS?

They still don't understand their competition and market.

4 upvotes

Nikon understands product differentiation. You don't put every available feature in your bottom-of-the-line DSLR.

5 upvotes

People who are used to these features on their phones are likely to want them on an entry level DSLR.

0 upvotes

what, no HTML 5 web browser? how can they sell this thing?

4 upvotes

no built-in instagram, no autoselfie-mode, no iOS. boo

1 upvote

Not to mention no kitchen sink. I mean what is Nikon thinking!? They're sure to be bankrupt in a week.

0 upvotes

You get better battery life without the GPS. To me, the GPS and the WiFi aren't critical, maybe even detrimental.

I recently purchased the D3300 and it focuses fast and takes great photos. You don't have to keep Live View on (saves battery to use the view finder). I obtained ~650 photos on the first charge.

I wasn't planning on buying this model until I saw it side-by-side with the competition in a display. The D3300 is a standout in terms of form factor/handling — not just the body but with respect to lenses, too. The D3300 is among the lightest and most compact DSLR out there. The D3300, compared to Canon's compact DSLR, has an improved lens design that makes the overall size smaller (with newly designed kit lens, that is). While the size/weight of this camera may be of little consequence to some, that was a deciding factor for me because I have issues with pinched nerves in the spine and don't need any unnecessary bulk/weight in a camera.

Comment edited 2 times, last edit 12 minutes after posting

2 upvotes

what? no hologram projections? No quantum teleportation?

0 upvotes

I like the comment..."Though a little long in the tooth, the Panasonic Lumix GF6"
This camera only came out last year ( about September? ) and its already being classed as long in the tooth.
You can see why manufacturers keep updating their line ups for no apparent reason when you get reviews like this.
The " I must have the latest gear" brigade must be throwing out their G6s in droves because its a bit long in the tooth after reading this.
Dear life....whats the world coming to??

8 upvotes

What is wrong with the lighting in the test scene?
It is uneven with edge of scene reflections in the flash lit set and the left lamp/s seems to be off in the tungsten lit set!
This is hopeless for any decent evaluations!

0 upvotes

I don't even read most of these reviews anymore. Blimey, talk about dry reading.Even the conclusion page is (yawn) boring. Weren't DPR going to shake things up in their reviews, what, last year?

1 upvote

lol!

0 upvotes

So few comments. Guess the thrill is lost with the entry level dSLR.

2 upvotes

These cameras don't need to be exciting, they just sell anyway. Entry- and mid-level DSLRs from Canon and Nikon are by far the bestsellers in the system camera market, but they rarely stir up any excitement in internet forums. The target users for these cameras generally don't care about the same things as enthusiasts and gearheads do.

7 upvotes

Since the 1100d sold so well my best guess is that these people only care about the name of the badge.

0 upvotes

Is it also crippled like the rest of the D3xxx series when it comes to remote useage? Is it missing auto bracket options like the D3200?

0 upvotes

It works with the IR shutter release, but does not support off camera flash natively. The D40~3300 line has never had bracketing.

Of the two, not having wireless commander is by far the more significant omission, though perfectly justifiable in terms of product segmentation.

0 upvotes

Richard, the D40 had several kinds of bracketing including white balance. Mine did anyway.

0 upvotes

77% and Silver, seems a bit low. I would've expected 80% and Gold...

And how about mention of the new collapsible kit lens...

Comment edited 1 minute after posting

0 upvotes

What an interesting camera , Nikon has raised the bar for entry level SLR`s. Its amazing how much cameras have come in a few years !

7 upvotes

Rofl - nice one.

1 upvote

Very true cameras have come a long way in the last few years.
Olympus, Fuji, Panasonic and Sony are really innovating.

Oh look, another Canikon product increment.
More megapixels you say? How nice.
Oh, you've switched back on a feature you crippled to artificially create a distinction in your product line.
Stellar.

1 upvote

Who cares?

0 upvotes

Did anyone force you to click the article link?

9 upvotes

Excellent review, Allison. Undoubtedly a fine camera. But where Nikon loses me is in the way products are crippled. As you pay more, sure, better viewfinder coverage, brighter viewfinder, faster AF, more AF points, better weathersealing, etc. but there is no reason this model shouldn't have the full Adaptive Lighting implementation. Back to Pentax for me should I buy a new DSLR.

Comment edited 6 minutes after posting

8 upvotes

Nikon removes some features for reasons of cost, obviously, and others for reasons of simplification.

There was a setting on my old D200 for changing the diameter of the CW metering circle. I mean - do you really think that feature belongs on an entry level dSLR, even it was a simple firmware edit to enable it?

Nikon fine tunes the settings to match the level of what it thinks the user needs. (not what will most excite dpreview readers) So Adaptive Lighting in JPEG mode is off/auto. Most people who buy the camera will be happy with that - the review suggests it works well - and the full setting are available under ViewNX2 if you need to adjust them later anyway.

0 upvotes

"But if it's a DSLR-shaped thing that you need..."

LOL, DSLR-shaped!

Traduction: If you want to waste 600usd, don´t know what you want as a camera except that is something to hang on you neck to convince yourself and other fools you know photography, run to this cr6p. If you it´s not your case, runaway from this cr6p.

Comment edited 2 times, last edit 4 minutes after posting

2 upvotes

Blows away any Pentax short of the K3, that's for sure :^)

7 upvotes

Clearly you are smoking something phenomenal.

5 upvotes

Yeah this blows the Pentax 645z and the 645d away.
I guess he is living 100km north from me in Amsterdam.

0 upvotes

A very nice camera but significant changes could have / should have been made. Why come out with a new camera with very subtle changes? The incentives to upgrade are extremely low

0 upvotes

These entry level DSLR's from Nikon are cracking good value and great cameras. As an experienced photographer I actually prefer the entry level set up with less buttons, knobs and tweaking options. I enjoy the challenge of just using a simple yet effective camera.

I don't see this as being a worthwhile upgrade from my D3200 - I wonder why Nikon just make small incremental changes instead of big leaps?

Its still a nice camera for someone who does not want complication or who is on a limited budget.

10 upvotes

"I wonder why Nikon just make small incremental changes instead of big leaps?"

Simple. The changes are small because they want to sell the more expensive models too. This way, in a few months time, they launch the D3400 with just enough improvements so that many that bought the D3300 will upgrade to the D3400. And so on...

1 upvote

I disagree... I think they figure this is it for a beginner, or you are going to use it until you realize what is missing and step up to a higher series camera, not the same camera with a thing or two slightly improved. More likely to step to the D7xxx series to get the lens drive motor so you can use something like the 50mm F/1.4 or 1.8 AF-D , to get auto bracketing and HDR settings, to get real time lapse control without needing a remote, and the ability to fully control the camera remotely. So I see the jump from this being to the D7xxx bodies or the D8xx. For someone that is buying their first DSLR, that 24Mp and the Nikon name are the big things in it's favor. I suspect most buyers have no clue what lens would best suit them and will be happy or blame themselves for what the 18-55mm kit lens provides.

1 upvote

It's make me wounder how can Adrian Sommelling say he use D3100 for his shots, and travel the globe to give master class on photography, Behind the Lens University ?

Comment edited 2 minutes after posting

0 upvotes

Half cooked RAW resulted in poor jpeg. You can't find detail in hi ISO jpeg, except Canon.

4 upvotes

What? Canon ruins details more than any manufacturer except maybe Fuji with waaay too aggressive noise reduction.

12 upvotes

DPR: "Each of these cameras is smaller too, which is a major criteria we hear from camera shoppers again and again."

Again and again, camera shoppers in North America and Europe choose DSLRs, rather than smaller (poor selling) mirrorless cameras. Most people aren't infatuated by a camera's small size. Other factors are much more important. Nikon estimates that they are going to sell 6 million DSLRs this fiscal year.

5 upvotes

Yeah the only people obsessed with cameras size are the m4/3s and mirroless fanboys on this site. For most people once a camera wont fit in a pocket the size basically becomes irrelevant. It's either the cell phone or lugging a camera around so you might as well take the one that's easier to hang on to, hold steady, and looks like a "real" camera.

2 upvotes

Honestly Dpreview is going off the rails. Getting to be more and more like the Fox News of the camera world.

1 upvote

"For most people once a camera wont fit in a pocket the size basically becomes irrelevant."
I used Nikon equipment for 30+ years and was intending to buy a used D3 until I tried one in Calumet. I was put off by the weight of the camera and three lenses so I bought a used M9, which is much easier to carry with extras. It has its drawbacks of course but it's easy to use and the results are sharp (if I remember to focus!).
Phil

0 upvotes

So boring, another incremental upgrade. Nothing new, nothing innovative!

1 upvote

Lets see, best 24 mp sensor, class leading AF, advanced carbon fibre build, a real optical viewfinder, Excellent FPS for its class, access to the best lens lineup, upgrade possibilty to the best FF camera lineup.

Nothing exciting here, it must suck because its a Nikon.

9 upvotes

It is one of the best! "24 megapixel APS-C sensor is one of the best in its class"

0 upvotes

How is 11 point AF system with 1 single AF point which was first used 7 years ago be considered class leading ? :P

Pentax and Sony offers have better AF systems here.

Excellent FPS ? The K50 has 30 JPEG buffer vs a class leading 6 frame JPEG buffer on the Nikon ! :P

No AF support for Nikon AF-D and AF lenses (a first for any system where an AF first party lens won't AF on their own camera).

I agree sensor is good but this camera is nowhere near class leading.

14 upvotes

The Nikon has a 100 shot buffer burst rate in jpg. And I bet it still focus tracks better than any of the others, one point or not. And the Nikon takes all Nikon lens other than screw drive, a minor point in a entry level camera, IMO.

4 upvotes

Please read the review. The buffer has 6 JPEG files. If you have any different info please post the links.

Yes it probably tracks focus better but not by much. And the no of screw drive lenses is not insignificant.

0 upvotes

No Nikon has ever had a 6 shot burst limitation. They are universealy 100 shot. http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Nikon_D3300/verdict.shtml
"The D3300 offers slightly faster 5fps continuous shooting, compared with 4fps on the EOS SL1 / 100D, but offers a longer JPEG burst rate of 100 frames ( though in practice I found the D3300 slowed significantly after around 70 frames) compared with 28 on the EOS SL1 / 100D. And with a battery that delivers enough power for 700 shots the D3300 will outlast the 380-shot EOS SL1 / 100D between charges."

2 upvotes

I think it may be the nikon top of line, 7100 that is limited in the buffer.

1 upvote

@Sandy_b - Point accepted. Dpreview's test is dead wrong it seems.

1 upvote

DPR, did you miss that optical viewfinder thing on the top? All the mirrorless cameras you list don't have viewfinders! The D3300 is an APS-C sensor (a good one at that) with a viewfinder. Compared to an A6000, it's priced pretty well (D3300 is $150 cheaper). If you're going to compare it against mirrorless cameras at least note that an mirrorless with a viewfinder will set you back at least as much.

You really want a reason not to get this camera, talk to people about the old A65. Same sensor, cheaper, built in wifi (and GPS if you're into that), full coverage viewfinder, faster shooting, etc

6 upvotes

It's a really great (beginners) DSLR for the given price - but i'd like to see a 100% viewfinder, like on Pentax Entrylevel DSLRs, and perhaps 2 command dials, like Pentax, too. I say this, but being onto the Nikon & Sony Waggon...anyway, i still have my beloved K10D from some couple years ago. ;)

The A6000 have a much higher FPS rate (10 FPS) and a sophisticated AF System, also a Magnesium Chassis, you can't compare this with the D3300,
these are different worlds.

But you can compare the A3000 with the D3300 - in which ways the D3300 wins in terms of viewfinder and resolution...but a big plus for the A3000: because of the E-mount, you can virtually adapt every lens via adapter.

Comment edited 2 minutes after posting

3 upvotes

Lets not forget that at $348 you can buy 2 of them for a little more than the price of 1 D3300. :P

0 upvotes

@Mark , to be fair the A3000 has very poor build quality a 230k-dots LCD { seriously !} , poor ergonomics. Unfortunately you can easily see were every single penny was saved on the A3000

2 upvotes

I expect Sont Nex ownership looks less exciting and cheap when you start choosing more lenses

One tele zoom and its f6.7 and how much?

How much for an f1.8 35mm?

How much for an ultra wide?

How much for a nifty 50mm?

Comment edited 31 seconds after posting

0 upvotes

The sony 35mm F1.8 iand 50mm F1.8 is cheaper than any Canon or Nikon prime with IS.

The 16mm prime is cheaper than anything in that range offered by canon/nikon.

0 upvotes

Indeed the 35mm and especially the 50mm oss are good enough value. The 50mm is actually an great low light portrait lens. He has a solid point with the mediocre at best telephoto though. That lens is a reason to go to a different mount. Fujfilm has 1 very good and 1 good option in this range. And m43 has plenty of solid option.

0 upvotes

another piece of crap. Nikon gets worse every day.

7 upvotes

A camera with a leading sensor, produces great images. A piece of crap! Everybody's entitled to their opinion I guess.

4 upvotes

Jealous I guess. The canon counterpart is beyond pathetic.

4 upvotes

Three blind mice :^)

2 upvotes

Not > fan of Nikon at all.. but what is going on at Nikon first dust on sensors then the oil leak or what ever now this entry level camera which can not focus..

Is Nikon now facing the worst crisis since the its foundation?

0 upvotes

Of course you don't like them, you pile on them every chance you can get. As far as focus, it can focus as well or better than any camera in its class, with better IQ.

0 upvotes

it was wonderful

0 upvotes

just about class leading sensor ? so which apsc sensor is better ???? I am not a Nikon fan, but aren't you getting a camera that with the same lens will take the same photo as any of its 24 mp "big" Nikon brothers ? in a very compact size - at a fraction of the price - from a brand which automatically gets all the nice independent lenses, like the new 16-300 ? and giving away a handful of rare to use features ? Sounds like gold material to me ????

2 upvotes

Well for starters it cannot focus will all Nikon lenses out there which is a pretty poor point.

Second Nikon has been screwing around with 3rd party compatibility for some time now. Its possible in future they may find a way to make 3rd party lenses completely incompatible. (Extreme case but seeing what they are doing now its not impossible).

And lastly Nikon seems to be pretty dead when it comes to innovation. They haven't come out with any really new feature in the last couple of years. Canon was in the same boat but they were the first to come out with some very useful Wifi implementation in their 6D. And their dual pixel tech is also very very useful for those upgrading from P&S cameras.

I think a Silver award is justified given the high IQ of this camera but not a Gold.

2 upvotes

It is, especially once the price falls into clearance territory. Is the image quality the same as the D7100? Squinting at the dpreview Komparator(tm) suggests not quite, but isn't it better instead to ask: "Will the D3300's restricted feature set prevent me from taking the photos I want to take?"

2 upvotes

Why do the studio shots look so bad? Terribly soft corners. What lens was used?

1 upvote

JPEG processing is the problem as what they described in review for the studio shooting comparison.

<Snip>

At low ISOs the D3300's image processing fails to get the best out of its images, obscuring some very fine detail in JPEG processing that's preserved in Raw.

</Snip>

It looks sharper at higher ISO than ISO 100 I noticed.

Nathan.

0 upvotes

Out of the 5 cameras used for comparison in the conclusion, the k-50 is the only one to exceed 500$ with the kit lens, compared to 650$ for the D3300. Maybe you could have used higher models (e.g. X-M1, a58 or a65...).
Comparing the D3300 to those makes it look like it isn't worth more than that... and yet it gets a silver award.

Comment edited 2 times, last edit 1 minute after posting

0 upvotes

well to be fair the K50 started at almost $800 - it's about 6 months older. We do not base comparison groups on price (for many reasons). You wouldn't compare a Chevrolet Corvette convertible with an Audi Q7 Diesel SUV, despite them being exactly the same price....

7 upvotes

I understand the point, but would you compare the Corvette to a Q5?

0 upvotes

Total comments: 235

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