Nikon D3300 review

According provided by Nikon D3300 body camera many thanks to the official representative of Nikon in Ukraine.

Nikon D3300 review

Nikon D3300 review

The Nikon D3300 camera was announced on January 7, 2014 (2 months after the announcement Nikon D5300), and, at the time of writing this review, was the newest camera in the Nikon DX series.

The camera comes in three different body colors; this review presents an option in a classic black case.

The line of cameras Nikon D40 -> D40X -> D60 -> D3000 -> D3100 -> D3200 -> D3300 -> D3400 considered the easiest in the entire range of Nikon digital SLR cameras... But 'simple' in no way means 'bad', with this little D3300 you can get just fabulous photos, the main thing is a little desire, and the camera will do the rest (there should be an ironic smiley here, but it won't be).

Nikon D3300 is perfect for all those who want to get good results in the photo without delving into the subtleties of settings. There is a 'Guide' mode on the mode dial, where all the tips are present, and you can also select any shooting mode from 'Landscapes' to 'Sleepy Faces' :), the camera will do the rest almost by itself.

Nikon D3300 usually sold with an updated full-time lens Nikon 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6GII VR II AF-S DX Nikkorwhich will be enough for 99% simple shooting. Such a set of a camera and a lens is called a kit (from the English 'kit'), if in some store you find a 'Nikon D3300 BODY', then you should know that only the camera itself is sold without a lens.

Nikon D3300

Nikon D3300

The D3300 is very, very similar to its predecessor - D3200, which was born on 19.04.2012/19/3300 (XNUMX months before DXNUMX). Both cameras use the same focusing module Nikon Multi-CAM 1000, the same measurement is used 420-pixel RGB sensorThe cameras are very light and have the same 3-inch display at 921.600 dots (720 pixels wide x 480 pixels high x 3 RBG sub-pixels) and also use the same optical viewfinder with a 95% coverage of the zone and a 0.85x magnification based on pentazerkal.

Management for D3300 and D3200 also the same. On the D3300, only slightly changed the location of the button that controls the shooting method (single, continuous, silent shutter, self-timer, delayed release ML-L3fast descent ML-L3), and the joystick is now not four-, but eight-way (left, right, down, up and diagonally). Among amateur cameras, such a joystick was first seen at Nikon D5200.

The D3300 is also Nikon's lightest DSLR camera ever, weighing 430 grams with a battery, just 23 grams more than the lightest DSLR of any model - Canon EOS 100D. Although the camera is really very light, but quite durable, it has a fully rubberized grip and a rubber insert under the thumb. I used the Nikon D3300 with a lens without any problems Nikon ED AF Nikkor 80-200mm 1: 2.8D (MKII), which weighs 1.3 kg (more than 3 times heavier than the camera itself), while nothing happened with the plastic case of the camera.

Nikon D3300, battery compartment, battery and memory card

Nikon D3300, battery compartment, battery and memory card

The most important thing that appeared in the D3300 compared to D3200 Is a new matrix. The camera can capture images with a maximum size of 6000 x 4000 pixels, which equals exactly 24 MegaPixels. I want to note a tiny nuance - probably for the first time among the same line of Nikon cameras there was a decrease in the number of MPs on the camera sensor. So, Nikon D3200 creates pictures of a maximum size of 6016 X 4000 pixels, which in the end is 64.000 pixels larger than the Nikon D3300. But of course not in megapixel happiness.

Also, one of the key features of the camera is the lack of a low-pass filter. Although information about this cannot be found on Nikon official website, or in the instructions for the camera. But on a large number of other resources, it is claimed that the D3300 lacks an OLPF filter (proof 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 etc.). Personally, I couldn’t determine by eye whether this filter is or not, especially since I didn’t have other similar cameras at hand to compare their shots with the same lens.

I can’t say for sure, but most likely the D3300 uses a sensor from D5300, This is indirectly indicated by the similarity of many parameters. And most likely they omit information about the lack of an OLPF filter on official sites, so that the difference between Nikon D5300 and the D3300 was more tangible.

Given that the Nikon D3300 only processes data with 12-bit color depthNikon D5300 with 14 bit depth then images with D5300 It should be a little better :).

The D3300 can use ISO from 100 to 12.800 units and expand it to a HI1 value equivalent to ISO 25.600. These are very large figures for an amateur camera. By the way, even Nikon D800 or Nikon D7100, which are much more advanced and expensive cameras, cannot use a base, unexpanded ISO of 12.800 units.

The ISO value changes only in whole steps and manually you can select only the ISO values ​​100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400, 12.800 and HI1.

Personally, I was pleasantly surprised by the performance of the camera at high ISO, the camera copes with noise very well, as for crop. But I didn’t like that you can’t turn it on quickly ISO auto control via the quick setup screen using the 'i' button. To enable and configure auto ISO Be sure to climb into the camera menu. For 55 mm focal length function auto ISO with automatic selection excerpts sets the maximum shutter speed equal to 1/100 of a second.

Nikon D3300, top view

Nikon D3300, top view

Also, among the new features in the Nikon D3300, you can find burst shooting at 5 frames per second. This is just a great indicator for an amateur camera of the simplest level. Apparently the manufacturer understands that due to the appearance on the market of super-rapid-fire mirrorless and SLT cameras, it is necessary to somehow increase the 'rate of fire' of real 'DSLRs', albeit amateur ones. By the way, 5 frames per second is more than professional Nikon D800,D800E, D1x and as much as professional Nikon D1h, D2xs, D2x, D200, D3x (if we compare their regular modes of operation).

But of course, frame buffer the camera is small. If you disable features such as' Auto. distortion control ',' Active D-Lighting ',' Noise reduction ',' ISO HI1 ', then the buffer is placed

  • 7 frames in RAW format
  • 6 frames in RAW + JPEG format
  • 9 frames in JPEG L, Fine format

If you include everything that is possible, then it is placed in the buffer:

  • 3-4 frames in RAW format
  • 3-4 frames in RAW + JPEG format
  • 4-5 frames in JPEG L, Fine format

After filling the buffer, the camera digests the captured material for a rather long time and writes it to the memory card. It's funny, but despite the fact that the Nikon D3300 uses an Expeed 4 processor, and D3200 - Expeed 3, the older camera does better burst shooting due to the larger frame buffer.

And one more small fly in the ointment. When you turn on Live View and zoom in on the selected area using the '+' button (you need to press this button more than two times), the image on the screen starts to slow down very, very much, showing no more than 2-3 frames per second. No matter how hard I tried, but I could not find some pattern in which modes and with what settings the brakes start. For me personally, this slowdown very much interfered with when working with a lens that supported only manual focus on the camera - Nikon ED AF Nikkor 80-200mm 1: 2.8D (MKII)with which the increase in the selected area could greatly facilitate focusing. And where, I ask, is the praised performance of the Expeed 4 processor?

RAW files average about 19-25 MB each. Camera supports SD, SDHC, SDXC memory cards.

Nikon D3300 uses the EN-EL14a battery, which was enough for me for a huge number of frames. The same battery is used in the camera. Nikon D5300. Also, the EN-EL14a and EN-EL14 batteries are interchangeable, which is why batteries from the Nikon D3300 should be suitable for D5200, D3200, D3100 and Nikon DF.

The camera supports video quality of 1920 x 1080 60p, H.264 / MPEG-4 is written in the '.MOV' file format. Attention: to shoot at 60p you need to set NTSC mode in the menu. Nikon D3200 could only shoot with maximum quality of 1920 x 1080 30p.

Who does not need to create a bunch of heavy video files, he can take advantage of other sizes of the original video. You can also select high or normal video quality. The Nikon D3300 has a built-in mono microphone. You can also use a stereo microphone through a regular mini-pin jack, Nikon recommends using the original ME-1 microphone. In AF-F focus mode, continuous tracking is available when shooting video. The AF-F focus mode must be set using the 'I' button while Live View is on.

A common weakness for most Nikon cameras is the inability to change the aperture value when shooting video. Also, the camera focuses very slowly and rather inaccurately when shooting video, since Live View uses the usual focusing in contrast.

Nikon D3300 with Nikon 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6GII VR II AF-S DX Nikkor lens

Nikon D3300 with lens Nikon 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6GII VR II AF-S DX Nikkor and blend

Near the flash activation button, the camera has a programmable Fn button, it's just a pity that the choice of possible functions for this button consists of only four options:

  1. Image Quality / Image Size
  2. ISO sensitivity
  3. White balance
  4. Active D-lighting

Personally, I have not changed my habits since Nikon D40where this button was programmed for me to change the ISO.

Nikon D3300 can do simple panoramas. To make a panorama, put the camera in 'Effects' mode and follow the direction of the camera. When shooting a panorama, the camera does not take a series of frames, but stitches them immediately in Live View mode, as in ordinary video shooting.

Nikon D3300 with Nikon DX AF-S Nikkor 35mm 1: 1.8G SWM Aspherical lens and lens hood

Nikon D3300 with lens Nikon DX AF-S Nikkor 35mm 1: 1.8G SWM Aspherical and blend

You can write an overview of any camera endlessly, since modern central controllers are crammed with different settings, options, sub-functions and a submenu from head to toe :). But for some of the features of the Nikon D3300, I would just like to go over the list:

  1. The camera has a simple menu for processing captured RAW files.
  2. You can have the camera imprint the date and time on the captured images. However, the function only works when shooting in JPEG format.
  3. There is a focus function with face priority in Live View, which quickly helps to focus on people's faces.
  4. There is a function for cleaning the matrix, it helps to keep the matrix of the camera clean for a long time.
  5. Tips for working with the camera. To see the prompt, you need to click on the button with the image of the question mark.
  6. Active D-lighting and noise reduction function. It is unfortunate that these functions do not have advanced settings and can be either turned on or off. But to the material you can apply D-lighting with different intensity settings.
  7. The shutter release can be controlled remotely using a cheap remote control ML-L3... By the way, the camera has two infrared receivers for the remote control signal, one is located behind the camera (on the handle), the other in front (above the 'play' button). This arrangement of receivers is very convenient to use. Also, the camera supports WR-1 and WR-R10 wireless remotes, as well as a regular MC-DC2 cable.
  8. Nikon D3300 supports the ability to connect an optional wi-fi module WU-1 for instant transfer of photos / videos to a computer or other compatible devices. Not included in the package. Additionally, you can buy a GPS module - GP-1 or GP-1A, to obtain data about the location of the camera. But the Nikon 5300 has GPS and wi-fi modules already built-in.
  9. The built-in flash can operate at shutter speeds up to 1 \ 200 second. The flash guide number in manual flash control is 13 meters. Nikon D3300 built-in flash does not support FP mode works with the flash and does not support the automatic control of other external flashes using Nikon CLS.
  10. The camera supports automatic lens distortion control (most likely the camera automatically corrects vignetting, chromatic aberration и distortion).
  11. Exposure varies from 30s to 1/4000 seconds.
  12. In RGB view modebar charts You can view the histogram for any selected image fragment.
  13. You can power the camera from an outlet using the EH-5b AC adapter with an EP-5A connection.

A small gallery with sample photos on the Nikon D3300.

Here link to the archive with originals and JPEG files - 934 MB, 49 photos in .NEF format (RAW) and JPEG. All photos in the gallery are untreated, just a smaller on-camera JPEG. For shooting, lenses were used. Nikon ED AF Nikkor 80-200mm 1: 2.8D (MKII)Nikon 18-55mm 1: 3.5-5.6GII VR II AF-S DX Nikkor и Nikon DX AF-S Nikkor 35mm 1: 1.8G SWM Aspherical.

A little lyrical digression. I still use the camera Nikon D80which has the same sensor as Nikon D3000. And, after the pictures taken with Nikon D80, Nikon D3300 shots seem to be an order of magnitude better. First of all, new cameras are much better at handling high ISO noise. Nikon D3000 и D80 already shamelessly 'noisy' at ISO 800, but the noise problems of the Nikon D3300 start somewhere after the ISO 3200 mark. Personally, I am glad that Nikon is updating the matrices in its cameras and I am even thinking of changing my Nikon D80 to something else :).

Below shown block with prices on Nikon D3300 in major online stores:
All Nikon D3300 body prices

If don't know which camera and lens to choose, then my article will help with this - Which Nikon amateur DSLR camera and lens to choose?

Prices for modern Nikon cameras in popular stores can look at this link.

Comments on this post do not require registration. Anyone can leave a comment. Many different photographic equipment can be found on AliExpress.


Results

Overall, the Nikon D3300 is a great amateur camera. It is cut in functionality, which will never be in demand by those people for whom it was developed, but, in turn, can easily help anyone get a high-quality (at least technically high-quality) picture in almost any situation. On the other hand, amateur Nikon D3100 does almost everything the same as Nikon D3300 and personally I do not see much reason to overpay for those people who want a simple 'DSLR' for home shooting. Of course, amateur photographers who are trying to squeeze every last drop from the camera will be able to feel the innovations in the Nikon D3300. Therefore, I believe that Nikon D3300 is a logical continuation of Nikon's amateur series of cameras, while all the improvements are expected and do not have any major innovations.

17.08.2016/3300/XNUMX a replacement was introduced for the DXNUMX represented by D3400.

Material prepared Arkady Shapoval. Training/Consultations | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Telegram

Add a comment: Alexander

 

 

Comments: 284, on the topic: Review of Nikon D3300

  • Nicholas

    Tell me please! And the Nikon D3200 has a viewfinder compared to the D3300! Pentazerkalo and Prism?

    • Igor

      The usual pentazerkalo there.

    • Vladimir

      The Nikona website still states that the D3300:
      Viewfinder Mirror direct viewfinder with pentazerkal

    • Arkady Shapoval

      I'm concentrating my review

      "Both cameras use the same optical viewfinder with 95% coverage and 0.85x magnification based on a pentamirror."

      It is urgent to switch to video reviews, to read everything a long time ago forgotten how.

      • Lynx

        no need to follow the unthinking part of the audience.

      • Artyom

        Arkady, no video reviews needed! Unsubscribe instantly))
        You have great articles, keep up the good work!

      • anonym

        Arkady, personally spinning this carcass in the media market. Ivsyo still there is a pentrum MIRROR. The viewfinder is as dark as on 3xxx and 5xxx. Nearby, standing 7xxx and my d90 have a Penta PRISM and a clearly lighter viewfinder. A heavy pentaprism would not allow a carcass to be made so light =)

        • R'RёS,R ° F "RёR№

          Did not write the name =)
          Foreign sources say that the d3200 and d3300 have a Pentamirror.

          • Arkady Shapoval

            Fixed Honestly, I really thought I wrote for the mirror.

      • Nicholas

        Arkady! Honestly, I myself wanted to quote just that, what you quoted! the first time I read the review, it seemed to me to be written pentaprism !!! On this I asked. I read your reviews very carefully!)

  • anonym

    I agree, it makes no sense to overpay !!!

  • Sergei

    Arkady, please explain what you mean by the concept: "And after the pictures taken with the Nikon D80, the pictures with the Nikon D3300 seem to be much better"? In your reviews, you always say that the matrix is ​​better and the quality is better in new cameras. In other comments, you write that in the same D80 the picture is even better than in the d700, etc.…. So it turns out that the D3300 is nicer and more colorful than the D700 and D80? What do you mean by “better pictures” and “better quality”? (We don't take high ISO into account)

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Each situation has its own context, depending on the tasks. Quality is a very subjective thing in the world of photography. Sometimes I get out of the concept of color, sometimes out of noises, sometimes it just pops into my head (this also happens). There is always some context, get out of it. As for the d80 and d3300, yes, in the d3300 in general, if you somehow super-generalize, then the picture and photo quality will be better. But at the same time, we can say that d80 gives more pleasant colors, unobtrusive and neutral ... to each his own :)

      • Vladimir

        My daughter has a D90, and so she also noticed that even without processing the pictures from my D80 are somehow “warmer and livelier”.

        • Sashko Selling D3s

          + 1.
          The older the camera, the more pleasant the color it produces.
          Older cameras have a single problem, noise.
          Otherwise, they are simply gorgeous.
          An exception is perhaps Fujifilm.
          In which the new mirrorless models continue to please with a beautiful unobtrusive color.
          And on the new Nikon cameras, even when you put Picture control on Neutral, you still get a beautiful picture.
          Without a doubt, everything can be processed. But why? Isn’t it easier to get a good result right away.

        • Anonimous

          +2
          CCD matrix drives.

          • Elephant

            The most pleasant and lively portraits I get on CCD - Nikon D200 + good glasses and Sony A390 + Soviet glasses. Alas, it's more difficult for me personally to achieve this on wonderful modern multi-pixel low-noise matrices. You have to do some magic in editors to somehow transform the beautiful plastic of faces into living human skin. But for filming objects, events, interiors, architecture, new matrices rule.

      • Jury

        I use two cameras - D3200 and S5Pro (exclusively for amateur photography). So it turns out that each task has its own camera: if a landscape or night shooting - D3200, and if during the day, a portrait, leaves and flowers - definitely S5Pro. D3200 falls into hands much less often :)

  • Pastor

    Ay-yay-yay, how can I change the “warm tube” d80 :)) And on the topic - an interesting camera for a beginner. With a noticeable difference with the d5 *** line, the image quality is the same. And in d7100, it turns out that the matrix is ​​the same. Autofocus, in principle, on the central point and in the old d3100 worked fine. The exposure metering is also quite decent. Another question is that for the price of the new d3300, you can take a canon 5d or a nikon d7000. And there is already something to think about :)

    • Alexey

      Considering the possibility of working 7000 - 7100 with manual glasses with metering, as well as accurate focus adjustment - there is not even anything to think about here)))

      • Pastor

        In less than a year, I bought the d3300 for only half the price of the d7000. And, although the younger camera is inferior in many other respects, in terms of the quality of images at high ISOs, in my opinion, the d3300 is better than the other Nikon crop that I used, including the d7000.

  • Alexander Gvozd

    I am glad that Nikon is improving, including in amateur cameras! Thank you for the interesting and capacious review!

  • Arkady Shapoval

    No OLPF filter, officially indicated, for example, on a promotional video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPNNue-FyB8 and also in the review there are links to 5 more sources.

  • Yarkiya

    Thanks, interesting review. So the camera was provided by the official Nikon, does this mean that in the future, Nikon will continue to share technology?

    • Arkady Shapoval

      I count on it :) and time will tell, now I need to start raking with the autumn weddings, and then take up the reviews.

  • Sergei

    Arkady, thank you for the detailed answer! It's always a pleasure to read your articles! Your site for me is the main guideline when choosing photographic equipment!

  • Vladimir

    Everything would be fine, but the file size from such a matrix of about 24 MB is annoying. You can’t save any drives.

  • Jackie

    Arkady, and in the paragraph below you have a little crap, or are you really upset by the independence of modern central control centers? :)
    “But 'simple' by no means means 'bad', with this little D3300 you can get just fabulous photos, the main thing is a little desire, and the camera will do the rest :(.”

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Fixed

  • Michael

    In all the photos, the colors are not funny, or the author is not in the mood. What to take 3100 or 3300?

  • Konstantin

    The happy owner of this device has been around for several months. I have already managed to purchase Helios 81N on the advice of Arkady and am learning to shoot in manual mode. Saving up on the Nikon DX AF-S Nikkor 35mm 1: 1.8G.

    • Sashko D3s

      Good luck to you Konstantin and beautiful shots.

      • Konstantin

        Thank you very much!

  • Valery

    Ai good review! THANKS !

  • anonym

    And how does this camera work with old optics? I have a D40x. Does the 3300 have any differences in this regard?

    • Arkady Shapoval

      There is no difference except Live View :)
      About metering with the manual is written here https://radojuva.com.ua/2012/06/nikon-ai-s-old-lens-about/

      • DimDimych

        As Arkady wrote many times, if you want to use the Soviet optics for automatic exposure metering, you need a camera of 7000 and higher. If you want, as one of the commentators wrote here, “warm lamp” then you will have to adjust the exposure pair, that is, shutter speed and aperture, independently on cameras of 5100 class and below. In general, the manual "scoop" is revealed in full frame. I here screwed Helios 81H and Jupiter 135 to D610 from a friend. Lord! I don't know how, but they give such a picture !! Crop eats away the frame and uses only the central part on these glasses. Because of this, there is a decrease in the resolution of old lenses and a recalculation of the focal length and a large DOF. In general, I regretted that I took the 7100, and did not wait for the 610th to be released in due time, just because excellent and cheap old glasses cannot be used 100% on the crop. And, in principle, only for this.

  • Andrei

    Great review. Arkady thanks.
    We are really looking forward to the D810 review.

  • Lapwing

    Hello Arkady! I regularly follow all the reviews. Thank you for the helpful tips. The quality of the pictures from this camera (for me) is very good. The dynamic range is particularly impressive. Did you use post-processing, or does the device produce such a finished picture?
    I look forward to a review of the Nikon AF-S Nikkor 300mm f / 4D IF-ED.
    Thank you.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      I quote a review:

      All photos in the gallery are untreated, just a smaller on-camera JPEG.

  • AM

    Arkady, thanks for the review, but I would like to see at least 2-3 pictures in low light conditions, in the evening for example. I would really like to see pictures at high ISO values ​​in low light conditions, in order to estimate at what value the camera starts to “make noise”. Thanks in advance.
    PS: applies not only to this review.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      See the archive with RAW, there is.

    • anonym

      The camera starts to make noise ... Dhomark gives a value for 3300 - 1385 and I agree with them.

      • Arkady Shapoval

        By the way, for the same Dhomarkif you watched carefully, then 3300 now (when I post this comment) is the quietest crop in the world :)

  • Amatich

    Thanks Arkady.

  • Dmitriy

    Great visibility and wonderful shots. Thanks Arkady!

  • varezhkin

    oh, I would give the D750 Arcadia a test ... It looks like Nikon has finally corrected the color.

  • Gene jb

    About colors, etc. Does it seem to me alone that CCD gives a more interesting picture than CMOS?

    • varezhkin

      No, not one. Go to wowcamera.info.

    • Lynx

      In a respectable society, for the phrase built according to the school-Bashi pattern “it seems to me alone” it has long been customary to clarify the situation with the help of a device for holding wax candles.
      As for the essence of the issue, on this site there is even a separate article CCD vs CMOS, not counting the repeated references to this issue in articles on the review of cameras on the SSD-matrix and comments on them.

      • Gene jb

        I did not study this question on the Internet, therefore I asked. It’s just that there is a CCD camera, there are CMOS, they are of course completely different, but CCD gives the best picture despite its antiquity.

        • Lynx

          good evening Cap!

  • AgentSmith13

    I shoot on D3100, mostly recently, exclusively on manual optics - Helios 81, Jupiter 37, Arsat 80-200, and Nikkor 35: 1,8 is the same as in the review, kit and the rest of the autofocus except for 35 (18 -105, 55-200) - clean indoors with flash (Sigma 610). Wondering how much better is the new whale? (Mine is, in principle, selected from 3, no back fronts, etc., the picture is ok). Well, 3300, as you can see, tolerates high ISO normally.

  • Felix

    I myself use the d200 camera. The camera is quite suitable, but ISO 800 is already stretched with a stretch, 1600 is already extremely tight, it’s not possible to shoot at 1600 already, it’s impossible to stretch it if it is shortened, and if it is not shortened, then the grain. I myself would rarely use 1600, but 800 is often needed. Having downloaded the ravs, I saw a phenomenal result, most likely the owners of the d3300 will be very pleased to have such a low-noise camera :) the d3300 on iso 3200 is about the same as the d200 on 640

  • anonym

    19.12.2014/5200/3300 bought Nikon d 4. Does it make sense to change to Nikon DXNUMX? attracted by the price, the absence of an AA filter and percent XNUMX.

    • The Hedgehog

      Are you buying a camera to shoot or to rush among an amateur crop in search of a “masterpiece” button?

  • Anton

    I won’t buy a FF-camera, for sure. Therefore, I am satisfied with the crop.

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