Nikon D3000

The D3000 is a Nikon DSLR from 2009, built for stills photography. Composition happens through the optical viewfinder rather than a screen.

At 536g, it is a light body that is easy to carry, and it uses the Nikon F DX lens mount.

There is no live view, no video recording and no wireless connectivity, so images come off the card the old-fashioned way. For anyone who wants a simple, stills-first tool, that single-minded focus can be part of the appeal.

The D3000 uses a 12.3 megapixel APS-C CCD sensor with Nikon's Expeed processor. That resolution keeps files reasonably small compared to higher-megapixel cameras.

The Optics score of 43 reflects a modest overall package, and the camera sits in the bottom 12% of cameras in our database for Optics. The ISO range tops out at 1600, limiting dim-light options, while slow burst shooting and 11 autofocus points also hold the score down.

There is no in-body stabilisation, so sharp handheld results in low light depend on a steady grip, a faster shutter or a stabilised lens. The 1/4000s maximum shutter speed handles most daylight work, while the 3fps maximum continuous rate suits static subjects rather than sustained action bursts.

The Nikon F DX mount accepts Nikon's F-mount lenses. ISO sensitivity starts at 100, a base suited to bright conditions.

The D3000 does not record any video at all. There is no movie mode at any resolution or frame rate, and no video options of any kind to configure, so if clips matter to you, this body will not cover that need.

The rear screen offers no live feed either, because live view is absent. There is also no built-in timelapse function, so time-based sequences would have to be assembled from stills shot manually or with an external intervalometer if one is compatible.

For photographers whose output is entirely stills, the absence of video costs nothing. Anyone who needs clips alongside stills, though, would have to add a second device to the bag.

With no live view, framing happens entirely through the optical pentamirror viewfinder. The rear screen is a 3-inch LCD with 230,000 dots, used for reviewing images and navigating menus, with no touch input.

The Features score of 23 reflects a limited feature set, with live view, Bluetooth, weather sealing and touch input all absent, while the 3-inch screen size scores relatively well.

A built-in flash provides fill light when needed, and the camera also supports external flash units. There is no built-in GPS, so location tagging would rely on other methods. It adds up to a plain but workable set for stills shooting.

Storage is simple: a single slot taking SD and SDHC cards, so there is no in-camera copy of your images. The Storage & Battery score of 27 reflects this limited setup, alongside the absence of USB charging and a middling battery-life rating. That simplicity matters most if you shoot things you cannot reshoot.

Power comes from an EN-EL9a battery rated for 500 shots per charge. As with any such rating, real-world endurance will vary with usage patterns.

There is no USB charging, so the battery recharges in a dedicated charger rather than from a laptop or power bank. A spare charged battery is a sensible precaution for longer outings.