viscountdriver Loc: East Kent UK

I am awaiting the arrival of a Nikon D3300.This is listed as a starter camera because it has not got the bells and whistles that more expensive cameras have.This got me thinking.I know quite a few of you are experts but for the majority I wonder if you use a fraction of the functions a good DSLR has. I would guess about four or five.
In that case the D3300 would be ample for the majority of photographers.
Someone is going to tell me you can push the D7100 a lot further and you can but I would think only a minority could or would.

sodapop Loc: Bel Air, MD

The 3300 is a fine camera. The term "starter camera" is misleading and somewhat condescending. It is like saying a Buick is a starter car compared to a Lincoln. The 3300 has plenty of bells and whistles and you will love the photos it takes.

Don Craig Loc: Saranac, NY

I have the 3200 and it has all the bells I can ring, very happy with it. The 3300 should be a fine camera.

Erv Loc: Medina Ohio

So very true!! I just got the D600. And I will never be able to even find the bells and whistles it has in it. But I sure am haven fun trying.:)
Erv

xxredbeardxx Loc: San Clemente CA.

You will love your 3300. I moved from a 3100 to
a 7100. One of the reasons was to get the 24 megapixels.
I crop most of my photo's and that really helps.
You have the 24MP with the 3300, so Your right in there.
Enjoy your new camera.

rbfanman

The D3300 is a good camera. I will be buying one about Christmas time. I have used a variety of film cameras, and some digital 'point & shoot', and digital 'super zoom', cameras. The D3300 will be my first DSLR. I like the ideas of the: Manual control capability, high ISO numbers for low light, the hot shoe, the 1080P@60 FPS video capability, the 24 MP resolution, the Nikon F-Mount, the ability to shoot in RAW, and the ability to do 'in camera' image overlays. I also like the price. The camera has other features I may not use much, but what I will be using, it does have. It suits my purposes quite nicely. I suspect that you will like it.

amehta Loc: Boston

I would not say the D3300 is a "starter" camera, I would say it is an entry-level DSLR camera. It's saying you're already in the "family sedan" market, moving past the subcompacts aimed at college students and twenty-somethings. The D3300 is the basic Camry, as opposed to a high-end Lexus. It's still going to get you where you're going with a good level of comfort.

With the higher-end DSLRs, I think it is less a matter of using all the functions as using some of the features beyond the entry-level. The three biggest are the sensor image quality, AF system, and metering, especially with flash. I don't have to use every AF mode for it to be worth it, just one mode for faster action than what the entry-level might be able to handle. Being able to control several speedlights in remote mode with perfect TTL exposure allows me to do a photoshoot more fluidly, rather than worrying about metering for each spot the subject moves to. The D3300 has really closed the image quality gap with high-end cameras compared to the D3100.

This mainly matters in context: I can take slightly better pictures (technically) than many others, which helps when I am trying to either sell or get hired, even as an amateur. And I think the technical quality of the image matters for the "wow" factor, it's not just composition which makes a winner.

While there is a small gap between the entry-level and high-end DSLR, the bigger gap between the DSLR and the smartphone camera is really more important when I need to differentiate my pictures.

viscountdriver Loc: East Kent UK

I think you make my point.You know how to use a high end camera but I am saying many who own such a camera only use a fraction of the functions.

YoungEsqr Loc: Minnesota

I've had the D7000 for a couple of years now and I just bought my wife the D3300 and she loves it. She'll even grab some of my lenses that I might not be using to take pictures.
By the way, she's gotten into more bells and whistles with her new camera than I have with mine, I'm ashamed to admit. HELP!!!!! ;-)

LKincaid Loc: Tampa Bay, Florida

I just bought the D3300 last weekend from Costco. It is an upgrade from the D50 I bought a few years ago used. I am a guest at a wedding this afternoon and going to try it out. I like the features on it. I have been reading the owners manual and playing around with this week and i am looking forward to using it today.

YoungEsqr Loc: Minnesota

I might also add, the wife got the red one, so EVERYONE comments on how nice her camera looks. HELP!!!!!!!

amehta Loc: Boston

The important part for you is the final images. If some bells and whistles help that, then you should learn those too. Otherwise, it is not so important.

amehta Loc: Boston

Do you like how nice your wife looks, including with jewelry? If the camera is an accessory which makes her look good, that's a win for you. :-)

YoungEsqr Loc: Minnesota

Women?!?!?!? ;)

DI Seller Loc: Knoxville, TN

I've been selling Nikon cameras for several year and both the D3300 and D5300 are two of the best entry level DSLRs I've seen in a long time. Great ISO range, 5fps, like the new lens. This camera has more potential than you may ever need. Don't feel you have to learn everything about it at one time.