(Pocket-lint) – There is a new DSLR within the Nikon vary, the D5300, which slots into the line-up alongside the D5200 mannequin. Pocket-lint was available to get a really feel for the brand new DSLR at a Nikon pre-launch occasion. It was solely eight months in the past that we noticed the ultimate D5200 mannequin, so why add an additional mannequin into the vary now?
In a nutshell the D5300 is all about connectivity. What we get is built-in Wi-Fi, built-in GPS, higher battery efficiency, the brand new Expeed 4 picture processing engine and Nikon has eliminated the optical low-pass filter to enhance sharpness.
However that is not all. A 0.82x magnification viewfinder means the 95 per cent area of view is now bigger to the attention than earlier than, whereas the rear LCD is now bigger: all 3.2-inches and 1,037k-dots of it. It regarded good to us and we had enjoyable twisting it by way of numerous angles to snap some pictures.
Design-wise there are some adjustments too. The D5300’s “monocoque” – sure, we laughed too – design refers to its single, shell-like construction. It is constructed in another way from the D5200, however Nikon will not specify how, precisely, even when pressed for additional particulars. What we do know, nevertheless, is that it feels simply tremendous within the hand. No complaints right here.
On high there’s additionally a brand new lever to activate the stay view (LV) preview, which is preferable to the button-press or rear-mounted lever. A small adjustment, however an opportunity nonetheless.
It is what’s below the hood that is maybe extra necessary. The Expeed 4 processing engine makes its debut within the D5300 mentioned to ship an entire host of recent and improved outcomes. Enhanced decision, excessive noise discount efficiency, higher high-ISO efficiency, improved color processing and enhanced auto white steadiness accuracy are on the record. We did not have the scope to have the ability to check that intimately past taking just a few preliminary snaps across the venue the place the occasion was held. So, for now, we’ll must await the ultimate assessment pattern of the digital camera to show up earlier than we will assess simply how significantly better this mannequin is, or, certainly, is not. It is nonetheless 24-megapixels of decision right here, identical to its D5200 brother.
One factor that we did get to check out was the brand new Wi-Fi mode. Nikon has been just a little shy about constructing Wi-Fi into its cameras, so it is good to see the characteristic right here, full with a brand new app that simplifies the sharing course of. We have been utilizing the older app, as the newest is not out there but, however managed to pair up with a smartphone with no hassle in any respect, copy a picture over by way of the “i” button on the rear, and get a stay preview by way of the smartphone in actual time too. A lot better than earlier than.
Utilizing the digital camera feels rather a lot like the sooner D5200 mannequin. And no shock actually: the Multi-CAM 4800DX autofocus system, with its 39 AF factors (9 of that are cross-type), did the enterprise with little effort. Whether or not single or steady autofocus it really works easily, whereas metering is dealt with by Nikon’s 2,016 pixel RGB sensor. So no step up right here, however the degree it is at is already adequate.
READ: Nikon D5200 assessment
Elsewhere it is the brand new battery that caught our consideration. Now we weren’t in a position to stand there and reel off 600 pictures, however that is what the EN-EL14a, together with Expeed 4, claims to supply. That is a giant step up.
Regardless of being a well-known DSLR mannequin, there’s rather a lot to love in regards to the D5300. It polishes up a number of the already robust D5200’s options so as to add additional sheen and goes in headstrong relating to sharing. It isn’t a quantum leap, thoughts, however does appear like one other stable Nikon launch.
The Nikon D5300 will go on sale 14 November, priced £730 physique solely and £830 with the 18-55mm package lens. It will likely be out there in black, darkish gray and pink color choices.
Writing by Mike Lowe.
