Nikon D3300

The Nikon D3300 is an APS-C DSLR released in 2014. At 124 x 98 x 76mm and 430g it is light for its type, so it hangs comfortably on a shoulder for a full day of walking.

It suits photographers who want a straightforward stills camera with an optical viewfinder. The fixed screen and eleven-point autofocus keep the shooting experience simple, with little to distract from framing the shot.

Owning one involves SD cards for storage and a removable EN-EL14a battery. There is no Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, so images cannot be copied off the camera wirelessly.

The D3300 earns a good Optics score of 64, around the middle of cameras in our database for Optics. The 24.2-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, read out by the Expeed 4 processor, provides plenty of resolution for large prints or generous crops.

The ISO range runs from 100 to 12800, so the low base setting serves bright conditions while higher settings remain available as light falls. Those are limits rather than measured quality figures.

The fastest shutter speed is 1/4000s, which sets the ceiling for freezing motion or limiting light; wide apertures in very bright conditions may still need other exposure controls. The 5fps figure is the maximum burst rate, not a promise of sustained shooting.

There is no in-body stabilisation, so camera shake depends on holding technique, the available light and any support or stabilised lens you use. Autofocus offers 11 points, though the count alone says nothing about their speed, accuracy or coverage. The optical pentamirror viewfinder gives an immediate, direct view of the scene.

Video scores a modest 56. The camera records video up to Full HD resolution, and its maximum video frame rate is 60fps. These are separate limits, so the two figures do not together promise a Full HD 60fps recording mode. That resolution still covers family clips, travel footage and basic web content, though 4K recording is not offered.

Clips are saved as MOV files, the camera's single video file format. Knowing that one container in advance makes it easy to check whether your editing software handles MOV before you shoot.

There is no built-in timelapse function, so time-lapse sequences cannot be set up from the camera's own menu. The modest score reflects the Full HD resolution ceiling, the missing timelapse mode and the 60fps maximum frame rate; it does not test recording duration, codec quality or combined modes.

Features score a modest 41. The 3-inch LCD carries 921,000 dots, a reasonably detailed display for checking images in playback and live view. It is fixed in place and not touch-sensitive, so menus and settings are handled with the buttons, and the screen cannot be tilted for overhead or low-angle framing.

The built-in flash is useful for a touch of fill light indoors or for backlit subjects, and an external flash can be attached when more power is needed. There is no GPS for tagging where photos were taken, though locations can still be recorded separately with a phone.

The body has no weather sealing, so it is better kept out of rain, spray and heavy dust. With no Wi-Fi or Bluetooth either, this is a camera built around straightforward standalone handling rather than connected convenience.

Storage and battery score a limited 32. There is a single card slot taking SD, SDHC and SDXC cards, so you carry one card and plan its capacity rather than splitting files or keeping a second card always in reserve.

The EN-EL14a battery is rated at 700 shots. Treat that as a rating rather than a promise of real-world endurance, since live view, flash use and image review all draw extra power, and the figure carries no stated test conditions.

USB charging is not supported, so you cannot top the battery up from a power bank or laptop. Charging has to happen between sessions, and a spare battery is worth keeping in the bag for longer trips.