Nikon D5300 DSLR Review

Review posted 1/27/2014
Quick Take |
Pros |
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Cons |
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Bottom Line |
The Nikon D5300 DSLR camera offers a very nice mixture of automatic and manual control shooting features, making this model a good first interchangeable lens camera. It offers fast image processing speeds when working in Viewfinder mode, and the camera's image quality is very good. A large articulated LCD and built-in Wi-Fi add to this camera's appeal. The D5300 has some performance issues when working in Live View mode, and its price is near the top of the entry-level DSLR market, which may limit the number of photographers who will consider this upgrade of the D5200. Read more in our Full Conclusion. |
In late 2013, Nikon announced their latest D-series entry-level DSLR, the D5300. The D5300 is replacing the D5200 and boasts a whole slew of upgrades. This is not just a simple re-badging. The D5300 is the smallest D-series camera to date despite having a new grip that offers more surface area and a better hold than the D5200. The D5300 is also the first Nikon D-series camera to shoot Full HD video at 1080/60p, offer built-in Wi-Fi and GPS, and to include the new EXPEED 4 processor, which improves low-light capabilities, shooting performance, and noise levels.
The D5300 also boasts a newly developed 24.2-megapixel DX-format (APS-C) CMOS image sensor with no OLPF (Optical Low Pass Filter) for greater sharpness and detail when taking advantage of the camera's wide ISO range of 100 - 12,800. The D5300 also features Nikon's Scene Recognition System, which uses a 2,016-pixel RGB metering system to analyze shooting conditions and then adjust exposure, AF, and white balance levels for perfectly balanced photographs.
As the first Nikon DSLR with built-in Wi-Fi and GPS, users will be able to connect the D5300 to a free app on iOS or Android smartphones. From there, it's easy to email photos or share them on various social networks like Facebook. GPS is great for geo-tagging, which allows social networking sites, mobile phones, and PC picture editors to keep track where you've taken all your photos.
Nikon D5300 Features
- Newly developed 24.2-megapixel DX-format (APS-C) CMOS image sensor
- no OLPF (Optical Low Pass Filter)
- EXPEED 4 image processor
- 3.2-inch Vari-Angle LCD Display (1,037K dots)
- Full HD 1080/60p Video Captures
- Built-in Stereo
- Improved full-time AF
- 39-Point AF System
- 5 Frames-Per-Second Burst Shooting
- ISO 100-12,800 (expandable to 25,600)
- Scene Recognition System
- Built-in Wi-Fi
- Built-in GPS
- Two new Special Effects modes
- Toy Camera
- HDR Painting
- New Battery, EN-EL14A,
- increased battery life up to 600 shots (the camera can also use the older EN-EL14 battery from previous models)
- Compatible with NIKKOR lenses and accessories
- Weighs only 16.9 oz
The Nikon D5300 is available in black, red, and gray. The $1,399.95 kit will include (1) D5300 body and (1) AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR zoom lens. Click our Buy button to see the most current online pricing.
What's in the box?:
What's in the box?:
- D5300 camera body
- AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR zoom lens (if purchased as a kit)
- EN-EL14a Rechargeable Li-ion Battery
- MH-24 Quick Charger
- DK-25 Rubber Eyecup
- EG-CP16 Audio Video Cable
- AN-DC3 Strap
- DK-5 Eyepiece Cap
- BF-1B Body Cap
- BS-1 Accessory Shoe Cap
- ViewNX 2
Additional Product Views
Visitors of Steves can visit the stores below for real-time pricing and availability. You can also find hot, soon to expire online offers on a variety of cameras and accessories at our very own Camera Deals page.