Nikon D5300

The Nikon D5300 is an APS-C DSLR released in 2013. It suits photographers who want an optical pentamirror viewfinder and interchangeable lenses without a large or heavy body.

At 480 g it is light, and its 125 x 98 x 76 mm frame packs away easily for travel. The Nikon F DX mount lets you build a lens collection over time.

The sensor captures high-resolution stills, while built-in Wi-Fi and GPS provide wireless connectivity and location tagging for the photos you take.

The D5300's Optics score of 65 is good, and it sits around the middle of cameras in our database for Optics. That reflects a capable core sensor rather than headline shooting speed.

The 24.2 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, paired with the Expeed 4 processor, offers plenty of resolution and room to crop. ISO spans 100 to 12800, and shutter speeds reach 1/4000s.

Autofocus uses 39 points, which gives you flexibility over where you place focus when composing. The optical pentamirror viewfinder provides a direct, clear view of the scene as you shoot.

The maximum burst rate is 5 fps, which is modest for rapid action. There is no in-body stabilisation either, so in low light you will need adequate shutter speeds, steady technique or a tripod to avoid blur from handheld shooting.

The D5300's video score of 70 is good. Recording tops out at Full HD resolution, captured in the MOV file format, which suits family clips, travel films and casual projects.

Frame rates reach 60 fps at the top end, enough to keep motion smooth when you are panning or following a moving subject.

A timelapse function is built in, so you can create interval sequences without extra remote gear. Set your interval, let the camera shoot the frames, then assemble them into a finished clip.

The flip-out screen makes it easy to compose video from a tripod at awkward heights or from the waist, keeping framing flexible while the camera sits in one position.

The features score of 46 is modest. Modern conveniences such as a touchscreen and Bluetooth are missing, though built-in Wi-Fi provides wireless connectivity.

The 3.2 inch LCD is a strong point. With just over a million dots it is crisp enough for checking focus in live view, and it flips out so waist-level and overhead shots become easy to frame.

Lighting options are well covered, with a built-in flash for quick fill light and support for external flash units when you want more power and control. GPS is built in for location tagging.

There is no weather sealing, so keep the body sheltered from rain, dust and spray.

Storage and battery is the weakest area, with a limited score of 29. A single SD, SDHC or SDXC slot means no in-camera backup, so for important work carry spare cards and download your images promptly.

The EN-EL14a battery is rated at 600 shots per charge. As with any rating, actual endurance varies with your shooting habits and settings, so plan sessions accordingly.

There is no USB charging, so batteries go back in their charger between sessions rather than topping up from a laptop or power bank. If you shoot long days, a spare battery charged the night before is sensible insurance.