The Nikon D3300 is well over two years old now, but is still going strong. Cameras like this are a fantastic option for those who care a bit more about image quality over having all the latest features. If you’re the kind of person who can live without Wi-Fi and a screen that can be repositioned and don’t really need the most advanced autofocus system, you’ll be spending a bit less here, money you can spend the difference on a lens upgrade and should be able to take some better pictures as a result.
Price, rating and specs based on the 18-55mm VR II kit
The thing is, these entry-level SLRs still have to provide enough features to justify the price and get you’ll need to get along with it successfully, especially with a sensor that delivers the goods too. It’s worth pointing out at this stage that former models haven’t always passed these tests necessarily. The Canon EOS 1200D left us a little bit disappointed two years ago, even despite the somewhat entry-level price, with its surprisingly high noise levels. The D3300 definitely has a golden opportunity here to chalk up a clear victory.
It’s off to a good start here with a nice redesigned kit lens that collapses down to a spectacularly slender 68mm when it’s not in use. It still amounts to 133mm from viewfinder to lens cap when in transit, which is miles better than the EOS 1200D’s 145mm or the Nikon D3200 at 155mm but it’s still hardly a game changer. Altogether, the camera and the kit lens have lost slightly over 100g compared to the D3200, and now weigh a combined 663g. These are welcome changes, but you’ll still need to carry it around in a bag rather than your pocket.