How to say ... A small bomb ??? But RAW !!

His predecessor had the 3100 hit hard, but now Nikon has equipped its entry-level SLR (if one may say!) Of a number of assets particularly attractive ... No doubt he will decide good number of beginners in digital photography to turn the corner of a compact or bridge to afford an SLR without breaking the Livret A, or out of a 6-month internship at the Nikon School to learn to control his tool. Beyond the performance of a device, there is the photographer. Amateur, expert or professional, it is first and foremost his look, his inventiveness and talent that will make a photo is good or not. There are those who speak of their equipment, and those who use it to take pictures.

But back to the D3200. Well of course, it displays 24 megapixels, the same as high-end SLR yellow brand or direct competition (gun), but are also much more expensive. Regardless, it would be a very poor selling point (given that 12 MPXL widely enough to make stunning prints in A3, and a HD TV displays a resolution of 1920 x 1080 regardless of size) if this little gem did not show many other features that may entice more of a canonist. No, I am not sectarian ... :-))
As part of the improvements, there may be mentioned a 11-point autofocus whose speed has increased significantly (pictured as video), a beautiful 3 inch screen inherited the D700 (but alas not adjustable, shame!) With adjustment brightness, a rise in ISO with a "digital noise" reduces well up to ISO 1600, but a little more troublesome past. (He goes up to ISO 6400 or ISO 12800 an extension, but these sensitivities seemed to me, in practice, difficult to use without using a post-processing DxO Optics Pro type 7).

D The 3200 also has an optional Wi-Fi module that allows it to be connected only with Android currently. (The Apple version is developing it appears) and ensure its remote control with a phone or tablet, which opens entirely new fields of use.
Many creative features are present (sepia, miniature effects, etc ...), but the real novelty lies in the fact that these modes now apply NEF (RAW nikon) and therefore without affecting the image original. We can therefore have fun testing all these fantasies directly on the device without fear of false manipulation which would be final in JPG format.

On the video side, the HD shooting rates are 30, 25 or 24 frames per second. 720p HD, it rises to 50/60 fps in .mov format, which is excellent features. Best of all, the D3200 EXPEED 3 processor that provides the video stream is exactly the same as the Nikon D4 and Nikon D800. When I told you attractive ...

The ergonomics of D3200 is good, and can be found under the main hand, but some features will be configured via the device menu. On this point, Nikon had accustomed us better. The upper wheel to change travel type view, and access to P, S, A or M. With its GUIDE mode, everyone can learn at their own pace to tame this new toy, thanks to the explanations and illustrations.
For autonomy, that I have not yet had the opportunity to verify, Nikon announces about 500 trips, which is not bad.

RAW, or nothing!

Question image quality, it should be noted an important point before "fall for the D3200": there is a substantial difference between the quality of NEF (RAW of Nikon) of the D3200 and files in native JPEG format. A real and significant difference. Both the quality of NEF is impeccable and will not suffer from comparison with those of the D7000 D300 or even, as, admittedly, the quality of JPEG can be downright disappointing. That said, I maintain the rating 5 stars because, a priori, if you go to the SLR is that you want to get the best out ... and so you need to work in NEF (RAW), which maintains all the information of the image, allows all corrections (in particular that of white balance) and above corrections ... reversible. The downside? The size of files, which are flirting with 50MB per picture, 24 MPXL forces.
Data storage is performed on an SDHC card only.
Given the size of large image, it is essential to have a minimum of 16 GB of good quality card, and computer equipment to the task. Attention to have enough disk storage space in addition to a faster processor ...

Side finishes by surprise, it was worth the money: no tropicalization, no seals, no magnesium alloy structure, but polycarbonate etc ...: We are in the entry level but that does not mean that the quality is not at the appointment. It has an anti-dust system on the sensor, and a type of viewfinder that provides coverage of 95%. The nit-pickers still say they would have preferred a 100% viewfinder, but the difference is really minimal, and just consider that the 5% that is not seen in the viewfinder are an "image reserve". We can anyway crop post-treatment if necessary.
For connectivity, the Nikon D3200 is equipped with a USB port, video output, HDMI mini, one for the remote control and infrared.

For the choice of the objective, the D3200 is sold in kit with the 18-55mm VR who made this evidence but the possibilities - after all - on a limited 24 MPXL sensor. We may prefer the ranks of 18-105 mm, but it still suffers more demanding facing the D3200 sensor, and it is also a bit more expensive. But personally, I opted for a fixed focal VOIGTLANDER SL II Skopar Color 20mm F3.5 Aspherical AI-S, (which thus frame as a 30 mm due to the sensor size), but which did wonders in video because it reframes without the corners of the image and uses only the center of the goal. As for other fixed focal lengths, your choice should naturally bear to the excellent Nikon AF-S DX 35mm f / 1.8G AF-S and 50mm f / 1.8G or f / 1.4G, affordable and superlative performance compared at 18-55 or 18-105. You just need to zoom with your feet ... If you really care about having a good zoom lens, then opt for the AF-S 18-200mm f / 3.5-5.6G IF ED VR II. But of course, it will cost you more than the box ...
Be careful, it will monitor the first tests of the AF-S DX 18-300 mm f / 3.5-5.6G ED VR, which just came out and could well get everyone to agree.

In short, in the end, this "small" D3200 is a real bomb and also delight fans well informed as semi-pros, even some pros, who held out their D800, D700 or D4 will be delighted to have a second case relatively inexpensive and efficient, and equipped with additional video function.
The D3200 is definitely on course to be a hit.

Have fun!