Search  for anything...

Nikon D5300 24.2 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR Auto Focus-S DX NIKKOR Zoom Lens (Black)

  • Based on 1,095 reviews
Condition: New
Checking for the best price...
$699.00 Why this price?

Buy Now, Pay Later


As low as / mo
  • – Up to 36-month term if approved
  • – No impact on credit
  • – Instant approval decision
  • – Secure and straightforward checkout

Ready to go? Add this product to your cart and select a plan during checkout.

Payment plans are offered through our trusted finance partners Klarna, Affirm, Afterpay, Apple Pay, and PayTomorrow. No-credit-needed leasing options through Acima may also be available at checkout.

Learn more about financing & leasing here.

Selected Option

Free shipping on this product

30-day refund/replacement

To qualify for a full refund, items must be returned in their original, unused condition. If an item is returned in a used, damaged, or materially different state, you may be granted a partial refund.

To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.

View our full returns policy here.


Availability: Only 3 left in stock, order soon!
Fulfilled by Willoughby's Established 1898

Arrives Dec 29 – Dec 31
Order within 11 hours and 5 minutes
Available payment plans shown during checkout

Protection Plan Protect Your Purchase
Checking for protection plans...

Color: Black


Style: w/ 18-55mm


Set: Base


Features

  • 24MP DX-format CMOS sensor with no optical low-pass filter
  • 39-point AF system with 3d tracking and 3d matrix metering ii
  • 5 frames per second continuous shooting
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (expandable to 25600)
  • 3.2" vari-angle lcd with 1,037,000 dots
  • 1080 (60p, 30p, 24p) and 720 (60p, 50p) HD video (H.264/MPEG-4)
  • Built-in Wi-Fi (for sharing and remote camera control) and GPS
  • Raw and raw+ jpg shooting
  • SD/sdhc/sdxc memory

Description

From the Manufacturer Dazzling image quality meets modern connectivity with built-in Wi-Fi® for instant photo sharing and remote camera control and built- in GPS with mapping for geotagging and tracking your adventures. An innovative new 24.2-megapixel image sensor captures the purest, most lifelike photos and 1080p Full HD videos imaginable, and a brilliant 3.2-inch swiveling Vari-angle display delivers beautiful views from any angle—all in a compact, sleek design. Capture and instantly share the most vibrant, lifelike images of your life.Meet the first in an exciting new generation of Wi-Fi® enabled, ultra- high-resolution Nikon HD-SLRs: the D5300. With built-in Wi-Fi for instant photo sharing to your smartphone or tablet, GPS and mapping, a cutting edge 24.2-megapixel image sensor, an extra-large swiveling Vari-angle LCD and more, D5300 brings an outstanding new level of image quality and capabilities in a compact, ergonomic design. Pair it with any NIKKOR lens—like the outstanding AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR kit lens—and unleash the full potential of its innovative image sensor. Every photo will be richer, truer to life than most photos you've seen. Every HD video will have a stunning cinematic look, a level of sharpness and clarity that ignites on ultra-high- resolution tablets, laptops and TVs. And the first time you use your smartphone or tablet to instantly share photos from the D5300, you'll realize the game has truly changed. Your life in breathtaking clarityA new level of image qualityThe sharpness, clarity and richness of colors in the D5300's photos and Full HD videos is nothing short of astounding. A recent design innovation allows the D5300's 24.2-megapixel DX format CMOS image sensor to capture the purest, most lifelike images possible. Enlarge or crop your photos without losing any sharpness or detail—a feat not possible with most smartphones and lesser cameras. Pair that capability with any exceptional NIKKOR lens, marvels of clarity and sharpness in their own right, and you'll experience the image quality your memories deserve.Exquisite detail reproduction realized by an image sensor unit designed without an optical low- pass filter.Share every stunning image, instantlyA new level of connectivityWith built-in Wi-Fi and GPS, the D5300 is the first in an exciting new generation of connected Nikon D-SLRs. Wirelessly connect to D5300 with your smartphone or tablet, then browse the photos on D5300's memory card, import your favorites and instantly email them, text them or post them online. While connected, your smart device can also act as a remote monitor for the D5300. See what the camera sees and even fire the shutter—perfect for group shots and self portraits! When travelling, built-in GPS geotags all of your shots. Create exciting travel journals, find nearby Points of Interest and easily share your location data when posting photos on Facebook or Flickr.Take it on every outingCompact, lightweight, rugged and comfortableDon't let the small size of the D5300 fool you—it delivers big-camera quality and capabilities. Like all Nikon D-SLRs, the D5300 was designed for ergonomics—every button and dial was carefully placed for comfortable, efficient operation. Yet it's big in all the right places, like its 3.2-inch swiveling Vari-angle LCD and its 24.2-megapixel DX-format CMOS image sensor. You'll take the D5300 on every adventure, which means you'll bring home more stunning views of your travels. Shoot from any angleExtra-large swiveling Vari-angle displayThe D5300's extra-large ultra-high resolution Vari-angle LCD swivels 180° so you can shoot from exciting new angles. Hold the camera overhead for great shots over a crowd. Hold the camera down low for a fun face-to-face perspective of your pet. And create some of your best selfies yet—frame a stunning new profile pic, then upload it right to web, thanks to Wi-Fi connectivity!Focus exactly where you want itWhether shooting stationary subjects, candid photos, high-speed action or Full HD video, the D5300 keeps everything in focus. Its 39-point high-density autofocus system with 9 cross- type sensors quickly locks onto your subject, and Nikon's unique 3D-tracking uses the 2,016-pixel RGB sensor to recognize and follow it across the frame.Catch exactly the right momentWhen photo-worthy action starts, hold down the shutter button and capture every movement, expression and feeling at 5 frames per second, even when using the Vari-angle LCD. Stop reaching for your smartphone when an important moment happens—except to share the great shot you just caught with the D5300.Storytelling at your fingertipsBring all the image quality the D5300 produces—softly blurred backgrounds, tack-sharp details, vibrant colors—to dazzling 1080p Full HD videos. In Live View, Nikon's full- time autofocus follows your subject and keeps it sharp. A built-in stereo microphone adds high-fidelity sound to your videos, or you can add Nikon's optional accessory ME-1 stereo microphone for the highest quality sound possible. Supplied AccessoriesEN-EL14a Rechargeable Li-ion BatteryMH-24 Quick ChargerDK-25 Rubber EyecupEG-CP16 Audio Video CableAN-DC3 Strap (Black)AN-DC3 Strap (Red)AN-DC3 Strap (Grey)DK-5 Eyepiece CapBF-1B Body CapBS-1 Accessory Shoe CapViewNX 2 Download the user manual.

Compatible Mountings: Nikon F (FX), Nikon F (DX)


Aspect Ratio: 32


Photo Sensor Technology: CMOS


Supported File Format: JPEG Fine, Normal, Basic, RAW 12- or 14-bit, compressed, DPOF compatible, DCF 2.0 compliant


Image Stabilization: No


Maximum Focal Length: 55 Millimeters


Optical Zoom: 3 x


Maximum Aperture: 3.5 Millimeters


Expanded ISO Minimum: 100


Metering Description: Multi, Center-weighted, Spot


Brand: Nikon


Model Name: Nikon D5300


Built-In Media: D5300 DX-format Digital SLR Kit with 18-55mm DX Vibration Reduction II Lens (Black), EN-EL14a Rechargeable Li-ion Battery, UC-E17 USB Cable, EG-CP16 Audio Video Cable, BF-1B Body Cap, LC-52 Snap-on Front Lens Cap, AN-DC3 Camera Strap, BS-1 Accessory Shoe Cover, DK-25 Rubber Eyecup, Nikon View NX 2 CD-ROM, MH-24 Quick Charger, DK-5 Eyepiece Cap, LF-4 Rear Lens Cap


Are Batteries Included: Yes


Model Number: 1522


Remote Included: No


Model Series: D5300


Series Number: 5300


Global Trade Identification Number: 21


UPC: 018208947652 018208015221 845251087048


Item Height: 3.86 inches


Manufacturer: Nikon


Warranty Description: 1 year coverage for parts, This warranty doesn't apply to the batteries and software driver that accompany this product, 1 year coverage for labor


Metering Methods: Multi, Center-weighted, Spot


Exposure Control: Aperture priority (A), Shutter-priority (S), Manual, Automatic


White Balance Settings: Auto


Self Timer: 10 seconds


Crop Mode: DX-format


Screen Size: 3.2 Inches


Display Type: LCD


Dots Per Screen: 1037000


Display Fixture Type: Articulating


Display Resolution Maximum: 1037000


Has Color Screen: Yes


Flash Memory Type: SD/SDHC/SDXC


Memory Slots Available: 1


Write Speed: up to 90 MB/s


Flash Memory Bus Interface Type: UHS-I


Compatible Mountings: Nikon F (FX), Nikon F (DX)


Sensor Type: CMOS


Image stabilization: No


Maximum Aperture: 3.5 Millimeters


Expanded ISO Minimum: 100


Photo Sensor Resolution: 24.2 MP


Photo Sensor Size: APS-C


Maximum Shutter Speed: 1/4000 seconds


Minimum Shutter Speed: 30 seconds


Form Factor: Compact SLR


Special Feature: Face Detection


Color: Black


Item Weight: 1.06 Pounds


Video Resolution: FHD 1080p


Viewfinder: Eye-level Pentamirror Single-Lens Reflex


Flash Modes: Automatic, Off, Red-eye reduction, Slow sync


Camera Flash: Hotshoe


Skill Level: Professional


Specific Uses For Product: Photography


Compatible Devices: Nikon F (FX), Nikon F (DX)


Continuous Shooting: 5


Aperture modes: A


Viewfinder Magnification: 0.82x


Flash Sync Speed: 1/200 sec


Video Capture Format: mpeg-4;h.264


Expanded ISO Maximum: 25600


Battery Weight: 40 Grams


Delay between shots: 0.2 seconds


Battery Cell Type: Lithium Ion


Battery Average Life: 600 Photos


Aspect Ratio: 32


File Format: JPEG Fine, Normal, Basic, RAW 12- or 14-bit, compressed, DPOF compatible, DCF 2.0 compliant


Effective Still Resolution: 24.2 MP


JPEG Quality Level: Basic, Fine, Normal


Supported Image Format: JPEG, MPEG-4, Other, RAW


Bit Depth: 14 Bit


Total Still Resolution: 24.2 MP


Maximum Focal Length: 55 Millimeters


Optical Zoom: 3 x


Lens Type: Interchangeable


Zoom: optical


Camera Lens: 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR AF-P DX NIKKOR Zoom Lens (Nikon F (DX) mount)


Minimum Focal Length: 11.02 Inches


Digital Zoom: 0.82 x


Number of Diaphragm Blades: 7


Photo Filter Thread Size: 52 Millimeters


Lens Construction: 11 Elements in 8 Groups


Connectivity Technology: NTSC, PAL


Wireless Technology: Yes


Video Output: HDMI


Total USB 2.0 Ports: 1


Total USB Ports: 1


Total Video Out Ports: 3


Shooting Modes: Portrait, landscape, child, sports, close-up, night portrait, night landscape, party/indoor, beach/snow, sunset, pet portrait, candlelight and more


Digital-Still: No


Movie Mode: Yes


Image Capture Type: Stills


Night vision: No


Auto Focus Technology: Phase Detection, Center, Selective single-point, Face Detection, Tracking, Multi-area, Single, Continuous, Contrast Detection, Live View


Focus Features: Nikon Multi-CAM4800DX


Autofocus Points: 39


Focus Type: Manual Focus


Focus Mode: Continuous-Servo AF (AF-C), Manual Focus (MF), Single-Servo AF (AF-S)


Autofocus: Yes


Frequently asked questions

If you place your order now, the estimated arrival date for this product is: Dec 29 – Dec 31

Yes, absolutely! You may return this product for a full refund within 30 days of receiving it.

To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.

View our full returns policy here.

  • Klarna Financing
  • Affirm Pay in 4
  • Affirm Financing
  • Afterpay Financing
  • PayTomorrow Financing
  • Financing through Apple Pay
Leasing options through Acima may also be available during checkout.

Learn more about financing & leasing here.

Top Amazon Reviews


  • We have come a long way! Great upgrade to the D5100
Color: Black Style: Body Only Set: Base
"Prosumer" cameras have come a long way. I will begin with the end: the D5300 is a superb offering that will do as much as almost all non-professional users will ever need it to do, and has more useful features than most users will ever use. There are many competing cameras at or near this price point. I cannot claim to have researched them all, but the D5300 really does seem to be the leader. This camera is basically a feature-laden prosumer camera -- a camera for the enthusiastic amateur who wants a camera that will do most (but not all) things that a professional camera will do, with as little fuss as possible, and in a smaller package. I am an experienced photographer (amateur) and I demand a lot out of my cameras. I use high quality Nikon lenses. So the issue was whether the D5300, which is not a pro camera, was good enough for my picky needs. Just to show how hard to please I am, I also want a camera that is as small as possible -- I don't like carrying the big professional all-metal Nikons. The pro cameras are fantastic cameras that are deadly expensive, heavy, and built like tanks. Great for pros, but not for me. The short answer is that the D5300 does the job for me. It is light, well-built if you don't plan on shooting in a rainstorm, and nicely designed. The most important attribute of this camera is its ability to produce superb images right out of the camera. And great images start with great exposure. This camera can produce outstanding images that really do not require post-processing. I have been using Nikon digital SLR cameras since the D100 was announced, through the D80 and D200. All have been superb cameras for their days and still are. However, most Nikon DSLRs really benefited (needed, really) a bit of post-processing in order for the images to reach their full potential. In particular, many users have noticed that the auto-contrast settings in Nikon or third-party software programs really brightened up images, giving them better contrast and zip. This camera pretty much does away with that. The D-lighting feature of this camera, combined with an all-around better sensor, exposure algorithm, and exposure system, really do make it possible to produce images right out of the camera that look like they have already been post-processed on the computer. And to make matters even better, the camera allows in-camera editing and post-processing! So if you are on a trip and want to email a few pictures you will not need your computer; the camera will do the post-editing job for you in most cases. And in most cases this is not needed at all. Put simply, the D5300 has about achieved the ideal for digital cameras, whereby it produces a final image right out of the camera that is about perfectly exposed, with contrast and lighting the way you want it. The camera allows for matrix, center-weighted, and spot metering, just like the pro cameras. All are useful at times. I can remember when only professional cameras had all three. We have come a long way. The D5300 continues the Nikon trend of better and better ISO performance, as light amplification technology keeps getting better. ISO roughly corresponds to the exposure ratings of film in days of yore, and basically better ISO performance means that the camera will perform better in low light conditions, making it possible to take clear non-noisy images in dimmer light. My D200, which was one of the very best Nikons in its day, degrades quickly after about ISO 640. This camera will do many multiples of this satisfactorily. For early morning photography, or taking pictures indoors, this is a decisive, tremendous advantage. The result is that, unlike only a few years ago, often you can obtain adequate photos shooting indoors without the use of a flash. This is tremendously important for indoor sports photography, for example. It also helps for early morning wildlife shots. You no longer always need an F2.8 lens to shoot these kinds of shots, although it never hurts. Great images also require fast and accurate focusing. The auto-focusing system on this camera is very well thought out for its market niche. While professional photographers will probably not use this camera to photograph NFL games and the like, this camera features an excellent focusing system that will exceed the expectations of most users. The D5300 features 5 fps continuous shooting for JPEG-only with a 39 point AF system with 9 cross-type AF points and 3D focus tracking. This focusing system is better than even professional cameras of a few years ago and will almost surely meet the needs of anyone. No problem with focusing on fast-moving subjects such as birds, wildlife, or sports. I tested this camera at our local ecological reserve, photographing flying birds. It exceeded my expectations by producing razor-sharp focused shots of these unpredictable subjects time and time again. Even better than my venerable Nikon D200 did back when that camera was near state-of-the-art. Even using the Nikon 18-300VRII lens which is a fine lens but not a pro lens, this camera can produce professional-quality wildlife shots. I cannot ask for more than that from the autofocusing system! Ergonomics. I bought this camera for two main reasons: less size and less weight. The higher-end Nikon cameras sport metal bodies, while this unit is made out of high-impact plastic. Given the fact that even rifles and pistols are mostly made of plastic nowadays, I consider plastic to be a virtue, not a vice. The D5300 features excellent build quality and has every bit of that quality "Nikon feel" that we have all come to expect. While some pros and a few amateurs really may need a weather-sealed metal bodied camera, most of us do not. And every single user will appreciate the very low weight of the D5300. I carried mine all day on a family outing and for once I did not get tired of toting a camera. Further, I often like to use large lenses, such as the Nikon 18-300VRII -- this lens is no lightweight and it is nice to combine it with the lightweight body of the D5300 to lessen the overall weight I am carrying. I found the various buttons and controls to be easy to use and intuitive. Some reviewers have complained about various aspects of the button placements, but honestly, I don't see it. It is true that the camera requires a dedicated ISO button, because its wider ISO capability probably means that users will be varying this setting a lot. Fortunately, the D5300 has a user-assignable Function button. I simply assigned ISO as the function, so my D5300 has a dedicated ISO button (Actually, Nikon defaults this button to ISO--they know that this is what most users will need this button for). I do find myself using it often, as I vary it to high ISO for indoor shots, to low ISO for bright sunny summer days. The menus on the D5300 are the usual Nikon-style menus. Probably the main drawback of the D5300 versus the more expensive Nikon cameras is that you must put a lot of the settings in place using menus rather than buttons or the control dial. For pros this may be important. For me, I am fine with it. Serious users of the D5300 should plan on spending some time in the den with the camera browsing through the menus and getting familiar with them. Fortunately, the camera has a My Menu Settings section where you can place all of the settings that you frequently vary all in one place. This goes a LONG way to taking the complexity out of the menus. And like the D5100-D5200 there is the quick access strip menu that comes up first that actually has most (or even all) of the menu settings that the user is likely to vary. In practice once you are familiar with the D5300 I question the need for more buttons or dials for must users. The color LCD screen on the D5300 opens to the side, and can be rotated 180 degrees. Some reviewers have complained that: a) this means that one cannot put a plastic cover on the LCD to protect it; and b) the swivel arm on the LCD screen may be a mechanical weak link. There may be a little truth to this, but consider. Since the LCD screen folds against the back of the camera, if folded in screen first it is protected during field use, and yet easily accessible by swinging it out if you need to access it for some reason. During field use (hiking, etc.) I rarely need to use the screen, and since it is folded against the camera, it is very well protected. As far as the strength of the swivel arm, well, time will tell. I trust that Nikon knew what it was doing when it designed this component. Hope so. I had a D5100 before this D5300 (still have it, in fact) and I have never had any issues with the swivel design. The D5300 has a larger LCD screen than the D5100, by the way. The LCD screen does multiple duty. It performs the function that the mono LCD screens used to do on other Nikons, i.e. showing exposure mode, picture count, etc. (Many of these things are also displayed in the viewfinder.) It also displays the menu system. And of course you may view and edit the photographs with the LCD. And the LCD also presents live-view, meaning that you get an instant through-the-lens electronic display of the viewfinder; a feature that until a few years ago only point-and-shoot cameras afforded. I was initially skeptical of this feature, but I do find myself using it at times. The viewfinder is bright and crisp, with a pleasing display. The menus are mostly intuitive. I say mostly, because at first I had trouble locating some of the key functions that I wanted. Specifically, the "sharpening" control, which is a critical setting, is buried three layers deep in the menus. Other Nikons place this setting more obviously. This quirk is the exception, and once I understood the logic of the menu setup, I have had no further problems. Most users will adapt quickly to the menu system in this camera. The optical viewfinder features a 95% view of the actual lens picture. Very few users will miss that 5%. The camera allows full shutter, aperture, and programmed mode just like the pro cameras. The camera has other features including "effects," and HDR (high dynamic range) shooting, which combines two shots of an image using different exposures. While many users will never use these features, some will. The HDR feature has real potential for those willing to experiment and put in the time to master it. To keep cost and weight down, the D5300 does not contain an inboard focusing motor. This means that some of the older Nikon lenses do not have autofocus if used with the D5300 since some of these lenses do not have internal focusing motors. This will mainly affect long-time photographers who have some of the older Nikon lenses in the bag. Most newer users will never miss it. Me, I do regret that a couple of my old stand-bys will not autofocus with this camera. I rarely shoot movies, but for those who do, this camera is a very serviceable HD videocamera. Other reviews have no doubt covered this feature adequately. As an upgrade from the D5100, there are a number of advantages. The ISO performance of the camera is better, making it superior for low-light shooting. The image sensor is 24.2MP. The autofocus system is a significant upgrade, with more focus points and an upgraded tracking system. The LCD is larger. There is an on-board GPS (something I never use). The battery life (if not using GPS) is better. The camera has a limited WiFi/hotspot capability that allows it to transfer photos to your Apple or Android device if you download the free App at the App Store. The most important upgrades, to me, are the superior image quality and autofocusing. The WiFi does do away with needed the special Apple cable for the iPad to transfer photos. It is also nice to be able to use the WiFi to upload a photo here and there to Facebook or other social media. At the end of the day it is the images that matter, and the D5300 produces professional-grade images. On trips and other occasions I am often found carrying around a camera, and the light weight and small size of the d5300 make it a joy to use. Highly recommended. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2014 by Roger J. Buffington

  • Stunningly Good! An Insane Value!
Color: Black Style: Body Only Set: Base
I got this camera as an upgrade to my beloved D5100 so the bar was pretty high and so this review is often D5100 vs. D5300. I'll be frank. The D5300 outclasses the D5100 so substantially that it has utterly obsoleted the D5100. Ignore those who say that the D5300 merely provides an opportunity to pick up a D5200 or D5100 for a bargain price. No. The D5300 is now the ONLY camera in the Nikon D5xxx line. It has changed the game. Don't bother counting pennies, this camera is underpriced at full price. The fact that I am sincerely comparing images from this $800 camera body to my D800E's images truly says it all. Please allow me to just get into the Pros and Cons: PROS: 1) PHENOMENAL IMAGE QUALITY! AT LOW ISO THE D5300'S IMAGES ARE ON PAR WITH THE BEST CAMERAS IN THE WORLD AND THAT IS NO EXAGGERATION WHATSOEVER. I can't believe there is still a debate going on about the efficacy of Anti-Aliasing filter removal. I'm sorry, but the difference is so noticeable there is no debate. And moire was a myth even on the D800E, which I do also own. I guarantee you that you will find more moire in a D5100's or D7000's images than you will on the D5300. Color and saturation from the D5300 are exceptionally good versus ANY camera at any price point. Now, I will still take the D800E's images over the D5300's but it is not at all night & day. They are actually surprisingly close at low ISO. EDIT 2013-12-09: Photographing cats a lot I am catching a little false color on shiny fur. Nothing of concern to me though. 2) Focus point spread (area of image with AF sensor coverage) is MUCH greater than in FX ("full-frame" sensor size) cameras. The D5300's AF point coverage extends left-right top-bottom much farther than FX cameras. I would estimate the D5300 covers probably double the area that FX cameras do and this is an ENORMOUS advantage. I always leave my D800E's focus point glued to Center because the AF coverage is only in the center area anyway so why bother with the other 50 AF points when they just don't cover anything? I actually do use my focus points on my D5300 because they cover the frame pretty well. I'd still like to see even more coverage, but vs. the FX bodies, APS-C cameras have a tremendous advantage. 3) Minimum shutter speed in Auto ISO now has AUTO setting that adjusts based on focal length! This is SO much better than a fixed shutter speed regardless of lens length. 4) Hard to quantify but the HDR images look much nicer than the D5100's and the Extra High setting is intense and beyond the D5100's abilities. I have not been able to verify this but it *appears* as though there is now image alignment for the 2 photos used for the HDR image as my handheld HDR shots nearly never look like 2 images whereas they often did on my D5100 at full or nearly full magnification. HUGE improvement! 5) Great-for-DX and pretty-good-versus-FX ISO performance. I'll put this to bed right now; the D800E smokes the D5300 for high ISO performance. Sorry, this is a different league. However, the D5300 substantially outperforms the D5100 at ISO 1600+. The improvement in the D5300 over the D5100 is readily noticeable. 6) Much more intuitive i Menu. The D5100's i Menu being J-shaped was ridiculous and totally awkward. I never got used to it after thousands of photos. The D5300's standardized 2-lines-across-the-bottom Nikon style is a drastic improvement. 7) GPS! I don't know what Nikon was thinking with that clunky expensive GP-1A. Did anyone ever buy one? The D5300's internal GPS works great and hooks up quickly and I'm big on geotagging so I am super stoked to have this on a REAL camera! EDIT 2013-12-09: I spent a day in the country (wide open clear sky) with this camera outside of my normal metro town area and despite using A-GPS data, it took somewhere between 30-60 minutes to get GPS lock. Surprised, disappointed. But that was the only time I have had trouble with hookup. 8) Nikon's had truly exceptional built-in flash performance since at least the D90. The D5300 does not disappoint and bests or matches its predecessors at any price point. This could be a result of image processing more than flash performance but whatever it is, using flash is a joy, not something to dread. 9) The red body paint color is super-gorgeous! It's like a candy apple red Corvette color and it is way sexy. 10) The new bigger, higher-pixel screen is REALLY nice. It is not insignificant like many reviewers dismiss it as. I like it a LOT. :) 11) EN-EL14a battery with 19.4% more capacity is a nice treat and helpful when running GPS and/or the silly WiFi. I have not spent a full day shooting hundreds of photos with the D5300 yet but I have shot perhaps 100 shots in a day with GPS on and flash here and there and a lot of reviewing and in-camera editing and not gotten below 2/3 battery level in a day. EDIT 2013-12-09: GPS was on from about 8:45am to 5:30pm, WiFi was off all day, I shot 362 photos (almost all were 14-bit RAW+Large Basic JPEG so roughly only about 170-190 shutter clicks) and probably 15 of those photos had flash, 2 minutes of video, edited 6 photos and had a couple of review sessions during the day. Battery level fell to 1/3 remaining. Not bad but could be better. If you're a heavy shooter and will use GPS and/or pop-up flash, carry a spare battery. 12) Here's a gem for the old-school film guys like me. ;) Or a little "secret treat" for digital-era photographers with a true creative streak. In Manual exposure mode, the "T," or "Time" setting has returned! Want to take a 5-minute or 5-hour exposure but you left your plug-in intervalometer/timer at home? Lol, as if you even have one... No problem. Turn your shutter speed dial all the way past 30-seconds, past Bulb and click on into good ol' Time at the end of the dial. Press the shutter button to open shutter, let your wristwatch or phone tell you when exposure time is up and then press shutter button again to close the shutter. Seriously?! Yes, seriously. How cool is that?! I miss this so much and guess what? Even my D800E does not have T and the D5100 does not either. According to the Nikon info page for the D5200 (Yes, D5200. Not a typo), T is there but you need the ML-L3 remote to use it. CONS: 1) EDIT 2013-12-09: I have found that focus points other than THE Center focus point are somewhat frequently inaccurate. Focus points at or near the left and right edges are rarely accurate and almost never dead-on. If you use ONLY the Center focus point, focus accuracy is quite good and consistent. As Center AF point AF-S is almost always how I shoot, this is not a deal-breaker for me but it is certainly a handicap. If you use multi-point AF tracking or regularly venture away from Center AF point, you had better experiment with different AF points at a local camera store before buying one from any store, Amazon included. I am beginning to think my camera may be defective and will likely send it to Nikon for repair or exchange it with Amazon for a new one. Honestly, I expect this to be a performance trade-off that Nikon will not remedy. Though $800 is not cheap, this caliber of image quality for $800 is going to come with trade-offs and I bet being forced to use Center AF point is one of those trade-offs. 2) EDIT 2013-12-09: I had a chance this past weekend to use Live View in some beautifully sunlit countryside. Sorry, even with truly ideal lighting Live View is horribly slow and constantly hunting. Don't use it for anything other than manual focus confirmation with screen zoomed for precise focusing. And focus VERY slowly as screen update time has substantial lag. I'm not really concerned about video, but this camera cannot focus worth a darn for video. It really is that bad, sorry. 3) When reviewing a photo on my D5100 and even the D5200, I could just press the OK button to get into Retouch Menu and then get into RAW processing of that image in another click of OK. Boom, 2 presses of OK and I am RAW processing the image I'm looking at. Well, not anymore. Now I have to press the "i" button to get into Rating/Retouch/Send Menu and then click OK to get to Retouch Menu and then another click of OK to get to RAW processing. Hardly a nightmare but takes an extra button press and, more importantly, is ergonomically awkward and more prone to mistakes. 4) Noisy Multi-Controller. I like having solid clicks, but man, clicking Up, Down, Left or Right on this Multi-Controller is literally enough to wake someone up. My gf grumbles at me for reviewing/RAW processing in bed because of that. It's also not so great in public areas as it intrudes on the conversations of neighboring tables, etc. It's really an irritating higher pitch that grabs attention. I know this complaint sounds whiny, but it truly is an intrusive noise problem. 5) WiFi is rubbish. You can't upload full-resolution images to your smart device via WiFi. And I don't believe (but I could be wrong about this) that you can WiFi upload at all to a PC. I wanted to have instant constant file backup via WiFi. Nope. 6) Slow RAW process Menu navigation. Perhaps it's the sheer file size but things like scrolling Picture Control modes in RAW processing is very slow relative to the D5100. 7) Slow photo review after taking a picture(s). Takes too long for the D5300 to gulp down one or a few RAW+Large Basic JPEG shots (my standard resolution). 8) After assigning HDR function to the BKT button (D5100)/Fn button (D5300), activating HDR now requires holding the Fn button and turning the dial until you get the setting you want before letting the Fn button go. On the D5100 you set your HDR preference one time in the Menu and then activation via BKT button only took a single press. Now it's a process. And my favorite setting (High) takes the most clicks (3 to the left or 3 to the right) to get to. The Auto HDR mode should simply be removed so we just scroll Low, Normal, High, Extra High and should be permanently Menu-set to facilitate 1-press activation a la D5100. 9) To get autofocusing you MUST use an AF-S or AF-I lens. D5300 body has no focus motor for AF or AF-D lenses. Metering requires a CPU lens. CONCLUSION: The D5300 is not a camera for sports, when rushed or in demanding conditions and you are gambling when you change away from Center AF point. Many consumer cameras like to claim performance in this fast-action realm, but no. If it's not pro gear it will suck at sports and tracking a subject. Always has been and likely always will be the case. However, for general photography, landscape, portraiture/still life, macro, time-lapse, etc. the D5300 creates stunningly sharp and colorful images able to be painlessly enlarged to enormous proportions. I wouldn't hesitate to print 3-foot x 2-foot (that is 36x the size of a 4-inch x 6-inch) prints. And that would be essentially pixelation-free. 6-foot x 4-foot would still look fantastic. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2013 by 7 7

Can't find a product?

Find it on Amazon first, then paste the link below.
Checking for best price...