Nikon D3200 vs D3300: Pros & Cons and Verdict

Nikon is a company that has incrementally increased the sophistication of its cameras to ensure that its models not only incorporate the latest advancements that have happened in the world of DSLR cameras but also at the same time, give users greater flexibility and creativity to make the most of their investment.

As photography enthusiasts, we have seen a progressive increase in features with every new release. This is why we want to compare two popular products in this line, namely, D3200 and D3300.

We will compare them against each in terms of their features and will present the advantages and disadvantages that come with each product, so you can make an informed buying decision.

Nikon D3200 vs D3300 – A  Detailed Comparison of Features

Nikon D3200 and D3300 are more than just entry-level DSLR cameras as they come with some handy features. But it is quite some time since both the products were released, which means, they will not have some of the advanced features that are present in the later models of Nikon in the same series.

The release date for D3200 is July 2012 whereas D3300 was released in April 2014. Also, out of the two, D3300 has slightly more advanced features because it was released almost two years after that of D3200.

It is important to keep these aspects in mind while making your choice. Now, let us compare the two cameras side-by-side based on a host of aspects.

Design and Size

The design is more or less the same for both the products, and there is nothing significant enough on this front. But there are slight variations in size. The width of D3200 is 125mm, height is 96mm, depth is 77mm and weight is 505 grams, whereas the width of D3300 is 124mm, the height is 98mm, depth is 76 mm and the overall weight is 430 grams.

There is about a 75 grams difference in the weight of two models, though the other dimensions are not significantly different. This is however just the body weight, When you add lenses to the camera, it will get heavier.

But both the cameras use the same APS-C format, so the lens size and weight should be the same on both the cameras. For this reason, you can take 75 grams as the difference in weight. Again, this difference is not large enough to impact portability in any way.

Features

One major aspect where the two camera models will differ is in the feature set. Since D3300 was released after about 18 months, it will have the advancements made in the world of photography during this period.

Let us look at the common strengths and weaknesses present in both the models, before moving on to which model is better in which aspect.

Common Strengths

These features are some of the salient aspects available in both the camera models.

• Built-in flash – Both the cameras have an internal flash that is built into it, and this means, you can take good images even in low light conditions.
• External flash shoe – There are many limitations that come with a built-in flash, and many times, it may not be enough in dark environments. This is why both the cameras have an external flash as well to ensure that your images are well-captured even when the light conditions are not so favorable.
• Optical viewfinder – The optical viewfinder that comes with both the models provide for better framing and control, so you can decide the ideal focus for your photo.
• RAW support – D3200 and D3300 support RAW image format, which means the photos you take can be easily edited and shared.
• Face detection focus – This feature detects human faces, so you can rest assured that the camera will autofocus itself when you are taking images of people. This feature is particularly handy for portrait images.
• Resolution – Both the cameras have a resolution of 24 megapixels, and this means, more pixels are present in a small area. Remember, these cameras use the APS-C format, which is about half of a full-width frame of 35mm. So, more pixels in a smaller area means the images will tend to have big prints and more details.
• LCD screen resolution – The LCD screen resolution in both the cameras is 921k dots, which is reasonably good and can give you a good view of the images you want to capture.
• Microphone port – Another handy feature present in both the cameras is a microphone port. This feature helps you to talk into a mic while recording and that in turn, can greatly enhance the final quality of the video.

These are some of the handy features that are present in both the models.

Now, let us move on to the weaknesses of both the models. These lack of features makes these models more entry level when compared to some of the other models that have emerged after them.

Common Weaknesses

The weaknesses common to both the models are as follows:

• Image stabilization – There is no image stabilization feature in both D3200 and D3300, and this means, image shakes will be an inevitable part your images when you have a handshake. This means you will have to ensure that you never shake the camera while taking photos.
• Articulating screen – Another feature that we have come to expect from DSLR cameras is articulating screens that give flexible viewing angles. Since this feature is not present in both these camera models, you will not have the flexibility to take pictures from difficult angles.
• Environmental sealing – Both the models do not have any kind of environmental sealing and this makes it difficult to use them in adverse weather conditions. So, you cannot take pictures in rain, snow or in any other such conditions, and this makes outdoor photography difficult.
• AE bracketing – Another aspect that is not available in both the models is AE bracketing, and this greatly limits the possibilities of multi-exposure. You can move easily from indoors to outdoors for taking pictures as you will have to change the manual settings often.
• Pentamirror optical viewfinder – The type of optical viewfinder present in these models is pentamirror, whereas you can find pentaprism type in later models. This pentamirror is not as bright or as clear as pentaprism.
• AF micro adjustment – Again, there is no autofocus option in these models and this limits their usability.

Now that we have seen the strengths and weaknesses of both the models, let us see which model scores over the other.

Nikon D3300

Nikon D3300 scores over D3200 in the following aspects. Remember, D3300 was released more than 18 months after D3200, and this impacts the feature set that it offers.

• Max ISO – The max ISO in D3300 is 12.800 when compared to 6.400 in D3200. Generally speaking, ISO lightens or darkens a photo. When you increase the ISO value, it correspondingly makes the images brighter. When you compare the two models, the ISO value of D3300 is 100% higher than D3200, and this means, you have more flexibility in D3200 to capture images in darker environments. However, one aspect to keep in mind is that the images taken with very high ISO levels tend to be grainy, so you will have to strike the right balance between high-value ISO and clarity of images.
• Continuous shooting – You can shoot images continuously with both the models, but there is a difference in the rate of frames per second. With D3300, the Frames per second (FPS) is 5.0 whereas, in D3200, this value is 4.0. So, there is a difference of one FPS between the two models. While this is not too impactful, there is still a decent amount of impact with this difference, especially when you want to shoot moving images. This one FPS could have a reasonable impact on sports photography.
• Battery life – This is one area where D3300 scores way over D3200. With a single charge, you can click 700 shots in D3300 and only 540 shots in D3200. This difference of 160 shots is significant and can make a big difference when you take the camera outdoors for shooting images.
• Color depth – The color depth of  D330 is marginally higher at 24.3 when compared to D3200’s color depth, which is 24.1. This is not a significant difference, but it is still something to keep in mind.
• Low light ISO – The ISO value impacts how well you can take images in low light conditions. Generally speaking, the higher the value of ISO, the clearer images you can take. In D3300, the low light ISO value is 1385 as opposed to 1131 in D3200. This means you can take clearer images in D3300 in low light conditions when compared to that of D3200.
• Sensor pixel area – The pixel area is important for image clarity and depth. A larger pixel area means more pixels can be fitted into it, and this translates to better clarity in images. On the other hand, the lower pixel area will impact the clarity. When it comes to these two models, D3300’s pixel area 15.28αm² whereas in D3200, the pixel area is 14.85αm². Nikon D3300 has a two percent higher pixel area when compared to D3200. While this is not so significant, it can still make a difference in the final image quality.

From the above discussion, you may think that D3300 is the better choice because it has more extra features when compared to D3200.

But then, D3200 also scores over D3300 in some aspects.

Nikon D3200

Though you might think the later version will be superior in all aspects, it doesn’t necessarily have to be true,. Nikon D3200 is better than D3300 in three areas.

• Dynamic range – In photography, dynamic range is the difference between the lightest and darkest tones in an image. It is often compared to the difference between pure black and pure white. In a camera, the higher the value of the dynamic range, the greater is its ability to cover the darkest to lightest tones. In other words, the range is the extent on both sides of a scale, where one end of the scale is pure black and the other is pure white.  The dynamic range of D3300 is 13.2 whereas the dynamic range of D3200 is 12.8. Though it may seem that the difference is only 0.4 between the two models, it is still significant enough to have a profound impact on the final output.
• Flash sync port – Flash sync port does two jobs.  If it is on a camera, it is used to fire the flash. On the other hand, if it is on a flash or a strobe, this port is used as an input port to fire a device. This feature is present in D3200 and is mostly used to connect off-camera flash. But it is not available in D3300.
• UHS memory cards – The presence of UHS memory cards give you more flexibility to store some additional images. D3200 supports one UHS memory card that can read or write content in ultra high speed, whereas D3300 does not have this capability.
• Anti-aliasing filter – D3200 comes with an anti-aliasing filter whereas D3300 doesn’t come with one. These filters help to blur the lines between frequently repeating patterns in order to avoid the wavy lines. it is a useful feature to have in cameras but is missing in D3300.

Thus, these are the areas where D3200 scores over D3300.

From the above discussion, which of the two cameras do you think is better? Well, D3300 seems to be the obvious winner, but D3200 is a close second.

Remember, the older model comes with a few features that are not available in the later models and this is a surprise. It is not known why Nikon exactly decided not to support these features in subsequent models, but then they are definitely useful to have.

So, if a large dynamic range, flash sync port, and support for UHS memory cards are important features for you, go for D3200 by all means. It is a great model considering that it is about 18 months older than D3300.

Cost

Cost is probably the most important aspect of buying because it can guide your decisions in many ways. While buying DSLR cameras, it is always a good idea to start with a budget and stick to your budget without compromising too much on the features.

In other words, you have to look for the best value for your money while shopping for DSLR cameras. Though this rule applies to all products in general, it is super specific for DSLR camera because of the plentiful choices available for you today.

When it comes to cost, D3300 costs a little more while the D3200 is cheaper. You can even get these at much lower prices on sites like Amazon because you’ll find great deals on them, and there are always some discount campaign or the other going on in Amazon.

So, comparing the two, there is a small difference in the price of both the models. Does the higher price of D3300 justify the features is offers?

First off, this is not a significant amount but still for comparison sake, this difference definitely justifies the features offered by D3300. Nikon D3200 is also a great value for your money considering the rich set of features it offers.

Both these cameras are entry-level DSLR cameras that are great for those who are trying out their hand in photography. It is a good investment to learn the ropes and to get a feel for photography before jumping into it full time. Considering this aspect, both the cameras are well-priced, so you can go ahead and try any of them.

But remember, these cameras are quite old in digital photography parlance. So, if you are looking for more features or want a camera that incorporates the latest advancements made in this technology, you are better off going for the newer models.

Though they may cost a little bit more than D3300 and D3200, they are also likely to be a good deal for the money.

We would recommend you do a good deal of research before going ahead to buy any other camera model. Typically reviews and comparisons will help to identify which model will best suit your preferences.

Advantages and Disadvantages

As with every product, Nikon D3200 and D3300 also come with their own share of advantages and disadvantages. Understanding these advantages and disadvantages is essential to decide which of the two products is right for you.

Bottom Line

Now is the time for the final verdict. Which of the two models is better and which one should you buy?

As far as the key specifications are concerned, Both the models are fairly the same. But if you go in depth into the features, you will realize that some features are present in D3200 while others in D3300. So, the final choice depends on which is more suited for your needs and style of photography.

In terms of cost, there is a small difference, but D3300 justify this in terms of its superior features. On the other hand, if you go for D3200 too, it will still be a good choice.

So, which of the two is the winner? It’s a close call but we’ll stick with the D3300 model.