Introduction - Nikon D5300 Field Manual

Introduction

O
nce again Nikon pulled a shocking move when they announced an update to the
D5200, which was a little over a year old and, to be quite honest, a very capable
little camera especially for the price point. But Nikon seems to use the mid-range 5000
series cameras to test out their newest features because just as the D5200 was
upgraded with features that weren't available on even the newest cameras, the D5300
is arriving hot on the heels of the brand new D610 and has some impressive features
that aren't included on the more advanced camera.
Of course the D5300 retains the real hallmark of the 5000 series cameras, which is
the Vari-Angle articulated screen, but the screen has seen an increase in both size and
resolution. The screen is 3.2 inches and an impressive 1,037 ,000 dots, which gives the
Nikon D5300 unsurpassed clarity. The outside the camera remains relatively unchanged
with the exception of the removal of the drive button that was added to the D5200.
This is a shame because that was a handy feature which now has to be accessed
through the menu system.
The real changes to the D5300 are on the inside. Most notably, the D5300 has inher-
ited a feature from the more expensive D7100 — a 24MP CMOS sensor without an
Anti-Aliasing blur filter, which promises sharper more detailed images. Another leap in
technology is the brand new Expeed 4 imaging processor that expands the D5300's
native ISO all the way up to 12,800 and promises at least one stop better low-light
performance in a camera that is already very capable in low light. The other thing the
Expeed 4 imaging processor brings to the table is the ability to record video 60fps at
1080p, which allows perfect integration of slow motion effects into your HD videos.
A couple of other exciting features that have been included that many Nikon users
have been wanting are integrated Wi-Fi and GPS. In the past you had to buy relatively
expensive add-ons to get these features. Now you can record the location where all of
your images are taken without a bulky GPS-1 in your hot-shoe or hanging from your
camera strap. The Wi-Fi feature allows you to transfer images to your smart phone or
tablet so that you can share them with your friends and family nearly instantly. The
Wi-Fi also allows you to shoot tethered wirelessly as well as enabling you to control
your camera using your Smartphone as both the controller and Live View source using
Nikon's free app.