New Arrival: Nikon D5300 DSLR Camera

Rocky Mountain Buschcraft would like to say a big thank you to Nikon for sending us their new D5300 DSLR Camera to test and review.

As longtime readers know, we love to capture great images to put into our reviews and articles, so it will be a real treat to use the D5300 after using an aging 10-year-old Canon PowerShot for so long to take photos here at RMB.

The D5300 has some really cool features like 24 Megapixel image quality, 'EXPEED' 4 image-processing engine, built-in 1080/60p Full HD Video Camera, and 3.2-in. vari-angle LCD monitor, as well as built-in WI-FI and GPS capability. The lens that came with our test unit is a Nikkor 18-140mm lens:

According to my research, this lens is highly recommended by Nikon camera enthusiasts if you're looking for a lens that can handle a wide range of activities, such as long range, close up (macro shots), wide angle, and portrait shots.

Since I'm not a camera reviewer, I don't plan to write a technical review of the D5300. What I do want to find out is -- Does it take great photos and video in different outdoor lighting conditions? Is it easy to use? Is it reliable? How long does the battery last? How well does the Nikkor 18-140mm lens handle various outdoor adventure shots?

My first impression of the D5300 camera is definitely favorable. The user manual is easy to understand. When set in auto mode, I found it works like a simple point and click camera that quickly adjusts for different light conditions. To give you a better idea, here are some photos I took with the D5300 right after it arrived, using the auto mode:

Closeup shots:

(click to enlarge)

Low light shot at dusk:

Gear shot:

More photos of the D5300 taken with our AT&T-sponsored Iphone 5:

To quote Austin Powers, "This is one groovy camera baby!"

Cheers, Jason

For more information, check out Nikon's website at http://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/dslr/d5300/index.htm

Update- Since our initial review of the Nikon D5300 DSLR Camera, we have been looking for a rugged case that would allow the D5300 to withstand harsh vehicle rides into the backcountry for our gear testing sessions. After a bit of searching, plus asking the advice of a local wildlife photographer, we ended up selecting Pelican's IM2100 Storm Case:

Pelican Storm Cases are water resistant, dustproof, and crushproof. Due to their rugged and reliable construction, they are widely used by the military, law enforcement and professionals in TV, film and journalism to keep sensitive electronic equipment safe from damage while in the field. 

Pelican Storm Cases are made in the USA and come with a lifetime warranty. 

For more information visit: www.pelican.com/cases_detail_storm/Case/iM2100/