Nikon D3300 Costco Review


Although Nikon has officially stepped over the D3300 with their new D3400 model, that is no reason to put this DSLR on the back burner.

Even though we’re beginning to see mirrorless cameras take a big piece of the entry-level photography market, having a lower-end DSLR is still considered a great choice for anyone who wants to get started in the game.

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Thanks to their user-friendly design and excellent performance capabilities, Nikon’s line of D3 models are considered to be some of the best, if not THE best, entry-level cameras. It’s also great to note that they come with a fairly wide range of lenses and accessories for when you feel you’ve outgrown the basics.

In this article, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know to get out there and start capturing the world through your own lens!

The Review

nikon costco D3300

Specifications


  • 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

Pro

  • Lightweight and extremely compact
  • Great lens in bundle
  • User-friendly guide modes
  • 24.2 MP sensor
  • Superb photo quality
  • 5fps image capture
  • 1080/60p HD video
  • Microphone input
  • Con's

  • Body does not feel sturdy
  • Does not have built-in Wi-Fi
  • Noise prevalent in images
  • Burst shooting is limited in raw
  • Cannot use command dial in the quick menu




  • Features and Benefits

    nikon costco d3300

    The physical design of the 3300 has lots of qualities to offer. The leather-like coating on the grip and thumb rest gives you a natural and comfortable grip on the camera. It’s also cool to note that the drive mode and delete buttons are right next to each other to make common tasks even more efficient. They took a step up from the viewfinder on the D3200, which had .08x magnification and gave this camera .85x magnification with a solid 95% coverage.

    The controls on this camera make shooting extremely simple. Subjects can easily be focused on utilizing the 11-point AF system. If you want to manually adjust exposure, white balance, compensation, etc., it’s an easy button click away. They give you the ability to choose between easy operation and advanced mode as well. Easy operation is basically auto and makes it much easier to shoot in a specific setting without having to fiddle with controls. When you feel more experienced and want to start messing around with setting, that is when advanced mode comes in handy.  

    The 24.2 megapixel DX format CMOS sensor puts out some incredible resolution. Many complain that it lacks an anti-aliasing filter because pictures have a greater chance of coming out distorted, though we believe that it’s a small price to pay for finer photos. In conjunction with this, the Expeed 4 image-processing system, which you should not is also found in Nikon’s pro models, gives the camera even more clout. Not only will you find that your images process extremely fast, but it also gives you solid control over image degradation and noise.

    For an entry-level camera, we were also very impressed with the continuous shooting capabilities. The D3300 camera allows you to shoot up to 5 high-quality shots per second. This is perfect for pretty much all entry-level photographers who aren’t looking to shoot any crazy action shots.

    The actual image quality that comes from the D3300 is pretty impressive. Images come out with a great amount of detail when in the sweet ISO spot. While the ISO range is large, you’ll particularly want to stay under ISO 1600, as this is when the photos tend to become a little blotchy and noisy.

    While it isn’t the best out there, the battery life on the 3300 will get you through 700 shots. As inexpensive as this camera is, we believe that’s an awesome deal for getting a substantial number of shots in a single charge.

    nikon d3300

    When you purchase the D3300, it comes bundled up with an AF-P 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR kit lens. It’s nice and compact when compared to past lower-end Nikon bundle lenses and can shoot excellent photos, as well as video.

    Whether you are a burgeoning YouTuber, or just want to shoot crystal clear HD video, the 1080/60p on this camera is truly one of the defining features.

    A little feature that we wanted to talk about, though it is often overlooked, is the GPS feature. This camera allows you to attach a Nikon GP-1 module to the side so that you can ingrain GPS data into the photos you take. This can be very helpful if you’re a traveling photographer and want to have an idea of exactly where you were when you took a specific photo. Along with that, they have created a panorama mode. This is pretty similar to something you would see on your iPhone, and works by moving the camera slowly in one direction while the system stitches your photos together into one long shot.


    Frequently Asked Questions

    What are the major differences between the D3300 and the D5300?

    The major difference between the two is that the Costco D5300 has a 39-point AF system. This basically means that you have 39 different focus points to choose from when faced with a specific scene. This can be very helpful if you’re shooting things in larger groups such as crowds or sports games. This can be awesome for less experienced photographers, as choosing a focus point can be difficult sometimes if you’re not totally confident. The rear screen on the D5300 can also articulate. This is cool if you want to view your photos or menus at a different angle, or shoot with the LCD. Lastly, the D5300 comes equipped with Wi-Fi. If you’re someone who is used to having the ability to share photos the instant you take them, this could be a big deal. If not, you probably won’t even notice.


    What are some good accessories to purchase alongside my D3300?

    Here are a couple solid accessories we think you should absolutely look into:

    • Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f/1.8 G lens
    • This is an extremely versatile lens that allows you to shoot in a wide range.
    • Nikon 4814 SB-500 AF Speedlight
    • Having an additional flash can help you to cover more of the scene. With options for tilting and rotation, this is easily the best value lens that you can get for this camera.  
    • SanDisk Extreme PRO 64GB UHS-I/U3 SDXC Memory Card
    • This card offers more than enough storage and is very fast when it comes to handling larger files. It’s also very handy when you eventually decide to upgrade to a heavy-hitter camera.
    • VanGuard Alta Pro 263AB 100 Aluminum Tripod
    • If you’re shooting video, want to get into long exposure shooting, or just simply want to shoot with more stability, a quality tripod will do you good. The aluminum on this tripod is extremely lightweight and durable and has a 360-degree swivel head.


    Does this camera come with a carrying case?

    Unfortunately it does not, though we highly recommend purchasing one. It can be very helpful to store you camera body, flashes, batteries, memory cards, and other accessories, as well as keep them safe.