Nikon D3300 Review
Introduction
The Nikon D3300 is an entry-level digital SLR camera boasting a 24.2 megapixel DX format APS-C sensor with no anti-aliasing filter and the latest EXPEED 4 processor. The D3300 also features 5fps continuous shooting, a 3 inch 921k-dot LCD monitor, one-touch full 1080p HD video recording with autofocus, quick-access Live View mode, ISO range of 100-25600, 11-point autofocus system with a cross-type sensor in the centre for greater accuracy, 13 special effects, easy panorama mode, and an interactive Guide Mode. The Nikon D3300 is available in black, red or grey priced at £499.99 / €599.99 for the body only. and £599.99 / €719.00 / $649.95 with the new Nikkor 18-55mm VR II retractable kit lens. The D3300 is compatibile with Nikon’s separately sold ME-1 Stereo Microphone and Wu-1a Mobile Adapter.
Ease of Use
The design of the new Nikon D3300 is virtually identical to it's 12-month old predecessor, the D3200. The Nikon D3300 is a rather small DSLR camera, although it does come with an even chunkier right-hand grip than the D3200, with a more pronounced lip at the top. Still, expect having to find a place for your little finger under the camera if you have larger-than-average hands.
The camera body itself is mainly plastic, but while the D3300 certainly doesn't feel as robust as some of the company's higher specified models, it still exudes a degree of quality you might not expect at this price point. This is helped by the surprisingly classy rubber coating on the grip, which also appears on the thumb rest on the back of the camera. The Nikon D3300's body is almost identical to its predecessor in terms of the overall dimensions and weight, with all of the external controls in pretty much the same places as before. The new ‘i’ button on the back of the camera makes it possible to bypass the main menu in order to quickly change key settings.
The new 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 VR II kit lens that ships with the D3300 is one of the main talking points of the D3300. For the first time Nikon have implemented a retractable design to make the lens more portable when it's not in use, something that quite a lot of compact system cameras have in their lens ranges. As a result the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 VR II is much more compact thatn its predecessor when retracted to the L position, although of course you still have to extend it outwards to start shooting.
The new optic now feels better-balanced on the Nikon D3300 and it fits into place with a reassuring mechanical click. It also adds the very important advantage of Vibration Reduction. Nikon bodies don't offer any form of in-camera image stabilisation, unlike similar models from Sony, Pentax and Olympus, so the affordable 18-55mm VR II lens is a good partner for the D3300. We'll publish an in-depth review of the 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 VR II lens very soon.
Front | Rear |
The Nikon D3300 follows conventional DSLR design in having a shooting mode dial on the top of the camera, which allows you to select either one of the advanced modes like Manual, Aperture- or Shutter-priority, or a number of scene modes.
The Guide mode first seen in the D3000 has also been carried over, and includes sample images to help you to identify the shot, and options in the Advanced operation menu help you to reduce blur or soften backgrounds. The main purpose of the Guide mode remains the same as on the D3000, D3100 and D3200, namely to teach beginners about what settings to use in a number of shooting situations, and how these settings influence the final output. We feel that Nikon deserves kudos for this, as a mode like this can teach beginners a lot more about the basics of photography than the green Auto mode in which the camera assumes control of almost everything.
The Effects shooting mode, first introduced on the higher-end D5100, has been added to the D3300 and provides 13 different filters that can be applied to both still images and movies. The Night Vision effect is particularly worth of mention, pushing the camera's sensitivity to a whopping ISO 102,400, although a monochrome rather than colour image is recorded. For stills, you can enter Live View mode to preview the effect or simply use the optical viewfinder. For movies, the recording is slowed down (dependent upon the chosen effect) as the camera uses a lot of processing power to apply the effect, leading to footage that can have a rather staccato feel. Note also that the camera sets virtually everything in the Effects mode - exposure, shutter speed, white balance, ISO, file type and quality - so its only creative in terms of the arty effect that's applied. Several of the same effects can be applied to an image or movie that you've taken, though, so you can have the best of both worlds (albeit without the luxury of a preview).
The Exposure Compensation button is thoughtfully positioned next to the shutter release. Hold down this button with your right forefinger and spin the control wheel on the top-rear of the camera with your thumb to adjust its settings - simple and intuitive. In M mode, this easy-to-reach button allows you to toggle between aperture and shutter speed settings, making the lack of a second control wheel less problematic.
Front |
Side |
The second button sitting next to the shutter release, labelled 'info', is arguably at the heart of the Nikon D3300's ease-of-use, as the camera lacks the monochromatic status LCD of more expensive models like the D7100, so Nikon had to provide a different way to check vital shooting information without having to look into the viewfinder. Enter the info button - pressing it displays virtually all of the camera's main settings on the large, high resolution rear screen.
The same screen is used for the D3300's Live View and movie recording modes. As noted above, the Nikon D3300 has a small button on the back which makes entering Live View a very easy and simple affair. In Live View the camera autofocuses using the contrast detect method. Depending on the AF mode set, you can either initiate this via a half-press of the shutter release, or have the camera keep focusing continuously. The first method is noticeably faster than on earlier models, though still not nearly as quick as the phase detection method used outside Live View. The other autofocus mode, called full-time AF, can be more of an annoyance than a benefit, as the picture might go out of focus just before you wanted to take a shot (though you can at least lock focus by half-pressing the shutter release when you think focus is where it should be).
Of course you can also focus manually while in Live View mode. As with earlier LV-enabled models, it is possible to magnify into the live image by repeatedly pressing the button labelled with a loupe icon - however, due to what appears to be a lo-res live view feed, this magnification is not much help. On a related note, it's also annoying that Nikon still doesn't offer a live histogram to help you get the exposure right when working in Live View mode.
Pop-up Flash | Top |
The Nikon D3300 features a 1080p Full HD “D-movie” mode. At the highest resolution setting, the camera can record movies at 60p/50p/30p/25p/24p, while at 1280x720 pixels you can choose from 60p/50p. The Nikon D3300 offers full-time autofocus in movie mode, but you may quickly decide to turn this feature off. For one thing, the sound of the focus motor in the lens gets picked up by the microphone. For another, the subject may go out of focus for no apparent reason. If you really want to make sure an erratically moving subject stays sharp throughout the clip, you had better stop down the lens for enough depth of field to work with, and leave all shallow-depth-of-field trickery to static or predictably moving subjects.
There is an element of exposure control when shooting movies. Both the aperture and the shutter speed can be pre-set before you start filming and changed whilst shooting, a welcome boon to your creativity. By default, exposure changes with subject luminance while capturing a clip, although you can at least lock exposure by holding down the AE Lock button. The camera does not provide any special feedback on focus or highlight blow-out (i.e. no “peaking” or “zebras” like in professional video cameras), but there is manual control over audio levels and sound is recorded by way of the built-in stereo microphone. You can also hook the D3300 up to an optional external stereo mic to improve the audio quality. Videos are compressed using the H.264 codec and stored in a MOV container.
Like all SLRs, the D3300 has a proper through-the-lens optical viewfinder. It's not as large as that of a D7100, for example, but at 0.85x magnification it is slightly larger than the D3200's. The positions of the 11 autofocus sensors are permanently but unobtrusively marked on the focusing screen with 11 tiny dots. In single-point AF mode - in which you can specify which AF point the camera should use - the active autofocus point lights up in red upon a half-press of the shutter release. The other available AF area modes include Auto Area, Dynamic Area and 3D Tracking. Autofocus speeds with the new kit zoom were snappy, and focusing with the optical viewfinder is still a lot faster than in Live View mode.
Memory Card Slot | Battery Compartment |
Just like most other entry-level Nikon dSLRs, the Nikon D3300 lacks a body-integral focus motor, so it can only autofocus with AF-S and AF-I lenses which have the AF motor built in. Other AF Nikkors can be used in manual-focus mode only, although the AF sensors remain active and can at least provide focus confirmation via the green dot in the in-finder LCD. There is also an “electronic rangefinder” function that can be enabled via the menu; this tells you how far you are from perfect focus, and which way you need to rotate the focus ring to acquire it.
Manual-focus AI and AI-s lenses without a CPU can only be used in M mode, and the camera will refuse to provide any form of metering, so you will either have to use an external meter or take a few test shots to determine the optimal exposure. Focus confirmation, however, works with these lenses too, via the green dot; albeit the afore-mentioned “electronic rangefinder” functionality is disabled. One interesting thing we found is that if you shoot a D-movie using a non-CPU lens, the camera will adjust exposure normally, so the lack of metering only applies to stills.
For the images already captured, the Nikon D3300 offers a broad range of retouching tools, including post-capture D-lighting (useful if you forgot to turn on Active D-lighting before capture), red-eye correction, trimming, monochrome conversion, different filter effects, colour balancing, image resizing, image overlay, in-camera raw processing, distortion correction, and a miniature effect that mimics a look that can otherwise only be achieved with a tilt lens. Many of these functions make it unnecessary to buy specialised computer programs or plug-ins and spend hours in front of a computer to achieve a desired/popular effect.
The Nikon D3300 is powered by a proprietary Lithium-ion battery that offers 700-shot life, and ships with a cordless charger that plugs directly into a mains socket. For storage, the camera uses SD, SDHC and SDXC memory cards. As far as connectivity goes, there are A/V Out, mini HDMI and USB terminals, a proprietary connector for an optional cable release or GPS unit, and the already mentioned external microphone socket.
Image Quality
All of the sample images in this review were taken using the 24 megapixel Fine JPEG setting, which gives an average image size of around 9Mb.
The Nikon D3300 produced images of excellent quality during the review period. The settings of ISO 100 through ISO 400 are as good as indistinguishable from each other. The slightest hint of noise starts to creep in at ISO 800 but the images are still very clean at that setting. ISO 1600 and ISO 3300 show progressively more noise, but both are eminently usable, even for very large prints. By ISO 6400 and the fastest setting of 12800 the JPEGs are already full of chroma noise but the raw files only show some finely grained luminance noise that allows even the ISO 1,800 setting to produce printable results. The out-of-camera JPEGs are soft at the default settings, but switch to raw image capture, and you'll see just how much detail the 24 megapixel sensor can record. The night photograph was excellent, while red-eye was not a common occurrence with the useful built-in flash. Active D-Lighting helps to salvage some extra detail in the shadow and highlights areas of high-contrast images.
Noise
The standard sensitivity settings on the Nikon D3300 range from ISO 100 to ISO 12800, with an expanded (boosted) setting of ISO 25600 also available. The following 100% crops show the noise levels for each setting for both JPG and RAW formats.
JPEG |
RAW |
ISO 100 (100% Crop) |
ISO 100 (100% Crop) |
ISO 200 (100% Crop) |
ISO 200 (100% Crop) |
ISO 400 (100% Crop) |
ISO 400 (100% Crop) |
ISO 800 (100% Crop) |
ISO 800 (100% Crop) |
ISO 1600 (100% Crop) |
ISO 1600 (100% Crop) |
ISO 3200 (100% Crop) |
ISO 3200 (100% Crop) |
ISO 6400 (100% Crop) |
ISO 6400 (100% Crop) |
ISO 12800 (100% Crop) |
ISO 12800 (100% Crop) |
ISO 25600 (100% Crop) |
ISO 25600 (100% Crop) |
File Quality
The file quality settings available on the Nikon D3300 are Basic, Normal and Fine for JPEGs, with raw capture also at your disposal. The following crops demonstrate the differences in quality.
Fine (9.88Mb) (100% Crop) |
Normal (6.84Mb) (100% Crop) |
Basic (2.30Mb) (100% Crop) |
RAW (19Mb) (100% Crop) |
Sharpening
The out-of-camera JPEGs are soft at the default settings, and benefit from further sharpening in a program like Adobe Photoshop. Here are a couple of 100% crops - the right-hand images have had some sharpening applied. You can also change the in-camera sharpening level by altering the Picture Controls if you don't like the default look.
Original (100% Crop) |
Sharpened (100% Crop) |
Flash
The flash settings on the Nikon D3300 are Auto, Auto with red-eye reduction, Fill-flash, Auto slow sync, Auto slow sync with red-eye correction, and Rear curtain with slow sync. These shots of a white coloured ceiling were taken at a distance of 1.5m.
Flash Off - Wide Angle (27mm) |
Flash On - Wide Angle (27mm) |
Flash Off - Telephoto (82.5mm) |
Flash On - Telephoto (82.5mm) |
And here are some portrait shots. As you can see, neither the Flash On or the Red-eye-Reduction settings caused any noticeable red-eye.
Flash On |
Flash On (100% Crop) |
Red-eye Reduction |
Red-eye Reduction (100% Crop) |
Night
The Nikon D3300 lets you dial in shutter speeds of up to 30 seconds and has a Bulb mode as well for exposure times of practically any length, which is very good news if you are seriously interested in night photography. There is an optional long-exposure noise reduction function that can be activated to filter out any hot pixels that may appear when extremely slow shutter speeds are used. Do note that this works by way of dark frame subtraction, which effectively doubles the exposure time. The shot below was taken using a shutter speed of 30 seconds, aperture of f/11 at ISO 100. We've included a 100% crop for you to see what the quality is like.
Night |
Night (100% Crop) |
Active D-Lighting
Active D-Lighting increases the detail in the shadow and highlight areas of high-contrast images.
Off |
On |
Picture Controls
Nikon’s Picture Controls are akin to Canon’s Picture Styles in being preset combinations of sharpening, contrast, brightness, saturation and hue. The available choices are Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait and Landscape. The following examples demonstrate the differences across these options.
Standard |
Neutral |
Vivid |
Monochrome |
Portrait |
Landscape |
Effects
The Effects shooting mode provides 13 different creative filters that can be applied to both still images and movies.
Night Vision |
Super Vivid |
Pop |
Photo Illustration |
Color Sketch |
Toy Camera |
Miniature Effect |
Selective Color |
Silhouette |
High Key |
Low Key |
HDR Painting |
Easy Panorama
The Nikon D3300 can create a 180 degree panorama by sweeping the camera from left to right. Watch out for moving subjects in the frame as the D3300 won't compensate for this.
Sample Images
This is a selection of sample images from the Nikon D3300 camera, which were all taken using the 24.2 megapixel Fine JPEG setting. The thumbnails below link to the full-sized versions, which have not been altered in any way.
1/3s · f/8 · ISO 100
27mm
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1/6s · f/8 · ISO 200
27mm
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1/13s · f/8 · ISO 400
27mm
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1/30s · f/8 · ISO 800
27mm
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1/60s · f/8 · ISO 1600
27mm
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1/100s · f/8 · ISO 3200
27mm
Download Original
1/250s · f/8 · ISO 6400
27mm
Download Original
1/500s · f/8 · ISO 12800
27mm
Download Original
1/1000s · f/8 ·
27mm
Download Original
1/100s · f/5.6 · ISO 1600
82mm
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1/30s · f/8 · ISO 640
27mm
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1/60s · f/3.5 · ISO 100
27mm
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1/10s · f/3.5 · ISO 100
27mm
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1/10s · f/5.6 · ISO 100
82mm
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1/50s · f/3.5 · ISO 100
27mm
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1/160s · f/5.6 · ISO 100
82mm
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1/400s · f/5.6 · ISO 100
36mm
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1/100s · f/5.6 · ISO 3600
82mm
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1/50s · f/8 · ISO 100
27mm
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1/100s · f/5.6 · ISO 320
82mm
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1/80s · f/5.6 · ISO 100
63mm
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1/800s · f/5.6 · ISO 100
82mm
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1/60s · f/5.6 · ISO 100
57mm
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1/100s · f/8 · ISO 125
82mm
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1/125s · f/11 · ISO 100
27mm
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1/125s · f/11 · ISO 100
82mm
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1/50s · f/16 · ISO 100
27mm
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1/100s · f/16 · ISO 220
82mm
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1/100s · f/5.6 · ISO 250
82mm
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1/160s · f/5.6 · ISO 100
82mm
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1/100s · f/5.6 · ISO 220
82mm
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1/100s · f/5.6 · ISO 140
82mm
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1/400s · f/8 · ISO 100
40mm
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1/100s · f/11 · ISO 100
27mm
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1/200s · f/11 · ISO 100
82mm
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1/640s · f/3.5 · ISO 100
27mm
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1/250s · f/4.8 · ISO 100
54mm
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1/40s · f/16 · ISO 100
27mm
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1/100s · f/16 · ISO 200
82mm
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1/125s · f/8 · ISO 100
27mm
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1/200s · f/3.5 · ISO 100
27mm
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1/125s · f/5.6 · ISO 100
82mm
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1/50s · f/4.5 · ISO 160
51mm
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1/30s · f/5.6 · ISO 125
27mm
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1/40s · f/8 · ISO 100
27mm
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1/100s · f/8 · ISO 720
82mm
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1/4000s · f/3.5 ·
27mm
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1/3200s · f/3.5 · ISO 12800
27mm
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1/100s · f/5.6 · ISO 180
82mm
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1/125s · f/4.5 · ISO 100
51mm
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1/80s · f/5.6 · ISO 125
78mm
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1/100s · f/11 · ISO 100
27mm
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1/100s · f/11 · ISO 140
82mm
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1/250s · f/5.6 · ISO 100
63mm
Download Original
Sample RAW Images
The Nikon D3300 enables users to capture RAW and JPEG format files. We've provided some Nikon RAW (NEF) samples for you to download (thumbnail images shown below are not 100% representative).
1/3s · f/8 · ISO 100
27mm
Download original
1/6s · f/8 · ISO 200
27mm
Download original
1/13s · f/8 · ISO 400
27mm
Download original
1/30s · f/8 · ISO 800
27mm
Download original
1/60s · f/8 · ISO 1600
27mm
Download original
1/100s · f/8 · ISO 3200
27mm
Download original
1/250s · f/8 · ISO 6400
27mm
Download original
1/500s · f/8 · ISO 12800
27mm
Download original
1/1000s · f/8 ·
27mm
Download original
1/100s · f/5.6 · ISO 1600
82mm
Download original
1/80s · f/5.6 · ISO 100
63mm
Download original
1/125s · f/11 · ISO 100
27mm
Download original
1/100s · f/11 · ISO 100
27mm
Download original
1/40s · f/16 · ISO 100
27mm
Download original
1/100s · f/16 · ISO 200
82mm
Download original
1/200s · f/3.5 · ISO 100
27mm
Download original
1/4000s · f/3.5 ·
27mm
Download original
1/3200s · f/3.5 · ISO 12800
27mm
Download original
1/125s · f/4.5 · ISO 100
51mm
Download original
1/100s · f/11 · ISO 100
27mm
Download original
Sample Movie & Video
The Nikon D3300 can record Full HD video in the MOV format. This is a sample movie at the highest quality setting of 1920x1280 pixels at 50 frames per second. Please note that this 24 second movie is 109Mb in size.
Product Images
Front of the Nikon D3300 |
Front of the Nikon D3300 |
Front of the Nikon D3300 |
Front of the Nikon D3300 / Pop-up Flash |
Side of the Nikon D3300 |
Side of the Nikon D3300 |
Side of the Nikon D3300 |
Side of the Nikon D3300 |
Side of the Nikon D3300 |
|
Side of the Nikon D3300 |
Rear of the Nikon D3300 |
Rear of the Nikon D3300 / Image Displayed |
Rear of the Nikon D3300 / Info Screen |
Rear of the Nikon D3300 / Main Menu |
Rear of the Nikon D3300 / Live View |
Rear of the Nikon D3300 / Guide Mode |
Top of the Nikon D3300 |
Bottom of the Nikon D3300 |
Side of the Nikon D3300 |
Side of the Nikon D3300 |
Front of the Nikon D3300 |
Front of the Nikon D3300 |
Memory Card Slot |
Battery Compartment |
Conclusion
The Nikon D3300 at first seems to offer little in the way of new features or performance when compared to last year's D3200 model, but the many small improvements that Nikon have made - removal of the Optical Low Pass Filter, faster EXPEED 4 processor, expanded ISO range 20 256,000, faster 5fps burst shooting, 50/60p movie mode, improved battery life, and a new range of special effects from the D5000-series - do add up to make the D3300 a better, if much more expensive, DSLR camera. The new retractable kit lens is perhaps the most important change of all, though, instantly making the Nikon D3300 much more compact and portable when not in use, something that its target audience will certainly appreciate.
With its huge 24 megapixel sensor, the entry-level D3300 continues to be one of the highest-resolution APS-C DX format Nikon DSLRs , and it still offers more pixels than any competing manufacturer too. The removal of the Optical Low Pass Filter has resulted in very slightly improved rendition of fine details without introducing unwanted moire effects, while the extended ISO range makes the camera a little more adaptable in low-light.
There are still a few notable issues with the D3300. The Live View mode desperately needs a live histogram and a higher-resolution feed, while the enhanced movie mode would still benefit from a truly working full-time AF feature. We still miss the older D3100's ingenious drive mode lever, while the lack of auto-exposure bracketing options and depth-of-field preview continue to be baffling, despite the D3300's entry-level status.
The Nikon D3300 is a little cheaper on launch than the D3200, but £499.99 / €599.00 body only is still a lot of money for an entry-level DSLR, so take a look at the still available, much cheaper and almost as capable D3200 model if price is a real issue. Otherwise we can continue to highly recommend the new Nikon D3300 as a great camera for beginners who want a little more oomph from their DLSR, and who are prepared to spend a little extra to get it.
Ratings (out of 5) | |
---|---|
Design | 4 |
Features | 4.5 |
Ease-of-use | 4.5 |
Image quality | 4.5 |
Value for money | 4 |
Main Rivals
Listed below are some of the rivals of the Nikon D3300.
Canon EOS 100D
The Canon EOS 100D (called the Canon EOS Rebel SL1 in North America) is the smallest and lightest DSLR in the World. The tiny new Canon 100D / SL1 boasts 18-megapixels, full 1080p high-definition videos with continuous auto-focusing, and a touch-screen interface. Other key features of the 100D / SL1 include burst shooting at 4fps, a 3-inch LCD screen with 1,040k dot resolution, ISO range of 100-25,600, 14-bit image processing and Canon's Digic 5 processor. Is the Canon EOS 100D / SL1 just too small for its own good? Read our expert review to find out...
Fujifilm X-A1
The Fujifilm X-A1 is a new entry-level compact system camera. The retro-styled X-A1 offers a 16 megapixel APS-C sensor, built-in flash and hotshoe, wi-fi connectivity, 5.6fps burst shooting, tilting LCD screen and Full HD video recording. Read our in-depth Fujifilm X-A1 review now...
Nikon D3200
The Nikon D3200 is a new entry-level digital SLR camera with an attention-grabbing feature list. The D3200 has a massive 24 megapixels, full 1080p HD movies, 3 inch LCD screen, 4fps burst shooting and an ISO range of 100-12800. Find out if this is the best DSLR camera for beginners by reading our detailed Nikon D3200 review, complete with sample JPEG and raw photos, test shots, videos and more...
Nikon D5300
The Nikon D5300 is a new 24 megapixel mid-range DSLR camera with built-in wi-fi and GPS connectivity. The D5300 also offers 1080/50/60p video recording, ISO range of 100-25600, 5fps continuous shooting, a range of creative effects, 3.2 inch LCD screen, and a 39-point autofocus system. Read our in-depth Nikon D5300 review now...
Olympus E-PL3
The Olympus E-PL3 is a stylish new addition to the ever-growing compact system camera market. Also known as the PEN Lite, the EPL3 boasts the World's fastest autofocus system, a 3 inch tilting LCD display, new 12.3 megapixel Live MOS sensor, full 1080i HD movie mode with stereo sound, and an extensive range of creative filters. Read our in-depth Olympus E-PL3 review.
Panasonic Lumix GF6
The Panasonic Lumix GF6 is a new entry-level compact system camera that offers a lot of cutting-edge features for not a lot of money. The diminutive GF6 has a tilting LCD screen, built-in wireless and NFC connectivity, fast 0.09 second auto-focusing, a 16 megapixel Micro Four Thirds sensor, 1080i HD video, and a touchscreen interface. Read our Panasonic Lumix GF6 review, complete with full-size JPEG and RAW sample images...
Pentax K-30
The Pentax K-30 is that most unfashionable thing - a mid-range DSLR camera. But don't run away just yet - it's also the most affordable weather-sealed DSLR on the market, with a long list of desirable features to boot. Read our expert Pentax K-30 review to discover if the DSLR is still alive and kicking in 2012...
Samsung NX2000
The Samsung NX2000 is a new entry-level compact system camera with a lot of bells and whistles. Featuring a 20 megapixel APS-C sensor, full 1080p video, ISO 100-25,600, a 3.7-inch touchscreen, 8.6fps continuous shooting and Wi-fi / NFC connectivity, is this the best budget mirrorless camera? Read our Samsung NX2000 review to find out...
Sony A3000
The Sony A3000 is an intriguing mix of mirrorless technology and DSLR styling. With a 20 megapixel APS HD CMOS sensor, 1080p HD movies, 3 inch LCD screen and an electronic viewfinder, could the Sony A3000 be the perfect step-up model for compact camera upgraders? Read our full Sony A3000 review, complete with sample JPEGs, RAW files and movies, to find out...
Specifications
Type | Single-lens reflex digital camera |
Lens mount | Nikon F mount (with AF contacts) |
Effective angle of view | Nikon DX format; focal length equivalent to approx. 1.5x that of lenses with FX format angle of view |
Effective pixels | 24.2 million |
Image sensor | 23.5 x 15.6 mm CMOS sensor |
Total pixels | 24.78 million |
Dust-reduction System | Image sensor cleaning, Image Dust Off reference data (optional Capture NX 2 software required) |
Image size (pixels) | Easy panorama mode: 4800 x 1080 (normal, horizontal pan). 1632 x 4800 (normal, vertical pan). 9600 x 1080 (wide, horizontal pan). 1632 x 9600 (wide, vertical pan). Other modes: 6000 x 4000 (Large). 4496 x 3000 (Medium). 2992 x 2000 (Small) |
Storage - File format | NEF (RAW): 12 bit, compressed. JPEG: JPEG-Baseline compliant with fine (approx. 1 : 4), normal (approx. 1 : 8), or basic (approx. 1 : 16) compression. NEF (RAW)+JPEG: Single photograph recorded in both NEF (RAW) and JPEG formats |
Picture Control System | Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait, Landscape; selected Picture Control can be modified |
Media | SD (Secure Digital) and UHS-I compliant SDHC and SDXC memory cards |
File system | DCF 2.0, DPOF, Exif 2.3, PictBridge |
Viewfinder | Eye-level pentamirror single-lens reflex viewfinder |
Frame coverage | Approx. 95% horizontal and 95% vertical |
Magnification | Approx. 0.85 x (50 mm f/1.4 lens at infinity, -1.0 m-1) |
Eyepoint | 18 mm (-1.0 m-1; from center surface of viewfinder eyepiece lens) |
Diopter adjustment | -1.7 - +0.5 m-1 |
Focusing screen | Type B BriteView Clear Matte Mark VII screen |
Reflex mirror | Quick return |
Lens aperture | Instant return, electronically controlled |
Compatible lenses | Autofocus is available with AF-S and AF-I lenses. Autofocus is not available with other type G and D lenses, AF lenses (IX NIKKOR and lenses for the F3AF are not supported), and AI-P lenses. Non-CPU lenses can be used in mode M, but the camera exposure meter will not function. The electronic rangefinder can be used with lenses that have a maximum aperture of f/5.6 or faster. |
Shutter type | Electronically-controlled vertical-travel focal-plane shutter |
Shutter speed | 1/4000 - 30 s in steps of 1/3 EV; Bulb; Time |
Flash sync speed | X=1/200 s; synchronizes with shutter at 1/200 s or slower |
Release modes | Single frame, continuous, quiet shutter release, self-timer, delayed remote; ML-L3, quick-response remote; ML-L3 |
Frame advance rate | Up to 5 fps. Note: Frame rates assume manual focus, manual or shutter-priority auto exposure, a shutter speed of 1/250 s or faster, and other settings at default values. |
Self-timer | 2 s, 5 s, 10 s, 20 s; 1-9 exposures |
Exposure Metering | TTL exposure metering using 420-pixel RGB sensor |
Metering method | Matrix metering: 3D color matrix metering II (type G, E, and D lenses); color matrix metering II (other CPU lenses) Center-weighted metering: Weight of 75% given to 8-mm circle in center of frame. Spot metering: Meters 3.5-mm circle (about 2.5% of frame) centered on selected focus point |
Range (ISO 100, f/1.4 lens, 20 °C/68 °F) | Matrix or center-weighted metering: 0-20 EV. Spot metering: 2-20 EV |
Exposure meter coupling | CPU |
Mode | Auto modes (auto; auto, flash off); programmed auto with flexible program (P); shutter-priority auto (S); aperture-priority auto (A); manual (M); scene modes (portrait; landscape; child; sports; close up; night portrait); special effects modes (night vision; super vivid; pop; photo illustration; color sketch; toy camera effect; miniature effect; selective color; silhouette; high key; low key; HDR painting; easy panorama) |
Exposure compensation | Can be adjusted by -5 - +5 EV in increments of 1/3 EV in P, S, A, and M modes |
Exposure lock | Luminosity locked at detected value with AE-L/AF-L button |
ISO sensitivity (Recommended Exposure Index) | ISO 100-12800 in steps of 1 EV. Can also be set to approx. 1 EV (ISO 25600 equivalent) above ISO 12800; auto ISO sensitivity control available |
Active D-Lighting | On, off |
Autofocus | Nikon Multi-CAM 1000 autofocus sensor module with TTL phase detection, 11 focus points (including one cross-type sensor), and AF-assist illuminator (range approx. 0.5-3 m/1 ft 8 in.-9 ft 10 in.) |
Detection range | -1 - +19 EV (ISO 100, 20 °C/68 °F) |
Lens servo | Autofocus (AF): Single-servo AF (AF-S); continuous-servo AF (AF-C); auto AF-S/AF-C selection (AF-A); predictive focus tracking activated automatically according to subject status Manual focus (MF): Electronic rangefinder can be used |
Focus point | Can be selected from 11 focus points |
AF-area mode | Single-point AF, dynamic-area AF, auto-area AF, 3D-tracking (11 points) |
Focus lock | Focus can be locked by pressing shutter-release button halfway (single-servo AF) or by pressing AE-L/AF-L button |
Built-in flash | Auto, portrait, child, close up, night portrait, super vivid, pop, photo illustration, color sketch, toy camera effect: Auto flash with auto pop-up. P, S, A, M: Manual pop-up with button release |
Guide Number | Approx. 12/39, 12/39 with manual flash (m/ft, ISO 100, 20 °C/68 °F) |
Flash control | TTL: i-TTL flash control using 420-pixel RGB sensor is available with built-in flash and SB-910, SB-900, SB-800, SB-700, SB-600, SB-400, or SB-300; i-TTL balanced fill-flash for digital SLR is used with matrix and center-weighted metering, standard i-TTL flash for digital SLR with spot metering |
Flash mode | Auto, auto with red-eye reduction, auto slow sync, auto slow sync with red-eye reduction, fill-flash, red-eye reduction, slow sync, slow sync with red-eye reduction, rear-curtain with slow sync, rear-curtain sync, off |
Flash compensation | -3 - +1 EV in increments of 1/3 EV |
Flash-ready indicator | Lights when built-in flash or optional flash unit is fully charged; flashes after flash is fired at full output |
Accessory shoe | ISO 518 hot-shoe with sync and data contacts and safety lock |
Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS) | Advanced Wireless Lighting supported with SB-910, SB-900, SB-800, or SB-700 as a master flash or SU-800 as commander; Flash Color Information Communication supported with all CLS-compatible flash units |
Sync terminal | AS-15 sync terminal adapter (available separately) |
White balance | Auto, incandescent, fluorescent (7 types), direct sunlight, flash, cloudy, shade, preset manual, all except preset manual with fine-tuning |
Live view - Lens servo | Autofocus (AF): Single-servo AF (AF-S); full-time-servo AF (AF-F). Manual focus (MF) |
Live view - AF-area mode | Face-priority AF, wide-area AF, normal-area AF, subject-tracking AF |
Live view - Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF anywhere in frame (camera selects focus point automatically when face-priority AF or subject-tracking AF is selected) |
Live View - Automatic scene selection | Available in auto and auto, flash off modes |
Movie - Metering | TTL exposure metering using main image sensor |
Movie - Metering method | Matrix |
Movie - Frame size (pixels) and frame rate | 1920 x 1080, 60p (progressive)/50p/30p/25p/24p, high/normal. 1280 x 720, 60p/50p, high/normal. 640 x 424, 30p/25p, high/normal. Frame rates of 30p (actual frame rate 29.97 fps) and 60p (actual frame rate 59.94 fps) are available when NTSC is selected for video mode. 25p and 50p are available when PAL is selected for video mode. Actual frame rate when 24p is selected is 23.976 fps. |
Movie - File format | MOV |
Movie - Video compression | H.264/MPEG-4 Advanced Video Coding |
Movie - Audio recording format | Linear PCM |
Movie - Audio recording device | Built-in monaural or external stereo microphone; sensitivity adjustable |
Movie - ISO sensitivity | ISO 100-12800; can also be set to approx. 1 EV (ISO 25600 equivalent) above ISO 12800 |
Monitor | 7.5-cm (3-in.), approx. 921k-dot (VGA) TFT LCD with 170 ° viewing angle, approx. 100% frame coverage, and brightness adjustment |
Playback | Full-frame and thumbnail (4, 9, or 72 images or calendar) playback with playback zoom, movie and panorama playback, photo and/or movie slide shows, histogram display, highlights, auto image rotation, picture rating, and image comment (up to 36 characters) |
USB | Hi-Speed USB |
Video output | NTSC, PAL |
HDMI output | Type C mini-pin HDMI connector |
Accessory terminal | Wireless remote controllers: WR-1, WR-R10 (available separately). Remote cords: MC-DC2 (available separately). GPS units: GP-1/GP-1A (available separately) |
Audio input | Stereo mini-pin jack (3.5mm diameter); supports optional ME-1 stereo microphones |
Supported languages | Arabic, Bengali, Bulgarian, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Marathi, Norwegian, Persian, Polish, Portuguese (Portugal and Brazil), Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Spanish, Swedish, Tamil, Telugu, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese |
Battery | One rechargeable Li-ion EN-EL14a battery |
AC adapter | EH-5b AC adapter; requires EP-5A power connector (available separately) |
Tripod socket | 1/4 in. (ISO 1222) |
Dimensions (W x H x D) | Approx. 124 x 98 x 75.5 mm (4.9 x 3.9 x 3 in.) |
Weight | Approx. 460 g (1 lb 0.2 oz) with battery and memory card but without body cap; approx. 410 g/14.5 oz (camera body only) |
Operating environment - Temperature | 0 °C-40 °C (+32 °F-104 °F) |
Operating environment - Humidity | 85% or less (no condensation) |
Supplied accessories | EN-EL14a rechargeable Li-ion battery (with terminal cover), MH-24 battery charger, DK-25 rubber eyecup, BF-1B body cap, AN-DC3 strap, UC-E17 USB cable, EG-CP14 audio/video cable, ViewNX 2 CD-ROM |
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