Camera & Photo

Like many folks, I pre-ordered the D800 the same day it was available. Alas, Nikon has big-time blown the market analysis vs production vs. supply chain formula. After waiting 2 months, I have to leave the country before Nikon gets it's D800 act together. I needed a beat-up D90 replacement camera. The D3200 seemed like a decent place-holder, so I quickly ordered it before they were back-ordered too! Sure, the D3200 is DX, not FX. Sure, it is not nearly as flexible. Sure, it can only AF with newer lenses. BUT, you can buy about 4-D3200's for the price of a D800, AND it comes with a decent kit lens for $699!

The graphical-based menu system is geared more to beginners, which I am not, so I find it maddening. Most will love it. It is amazingly light weight - lighter than most lenses! It is very quiet. The AF could be faster, but it's plenty fast enough. When you dig deeper, you shockingly find that the D3200 has many advanced internal features from the highest-end... Read more

Just received this Camera today, and this is my preliminary Review (will update progresively).
Background: I have upgraded my Nikon Digital D100->D200->D90->D5100->D3200.
Okay, seemed I downgrade every single time, but actually not. (I also use D300, D3X, but those are different class of equipment). This path, is more for daily activity platform (lightweight).
D90 -> D5100: I actually considered to buy D7000, but chose D5100 simply because the price, and the articulated LCD because I use it 50% for Video. I am glad I did! D5100 image quality is SUPERB and on par with D7000. D5100 is lot FASTER than D3000 & D3100, but a little bit slower than D7000. From D90 to D5100, it has lots of improvement in image quality, low noise in low light, much better video (with 20 minutes max per session). The only drawback I can see, is the battery coverage is not long enough (on Video mode), but it is understandable, and the solution is add another spare.

D5100 -> D3200:... Read more

I was sceptical about the need for 24mp and what an entry level camera could do. I went to Hunts in Melrose MA and I took two shots with my 40mm 1x macro and 1 x distant on three bodies, the D40x, the D3200 and the D5100.

The D40x was crushed by both the other two cameras. The colour saturation on both the D5100 and the d3200 were on par but the D3200's resolution even blew the D5100 away!!

I got a good deal on the trade in of my D40x and I am now the happy owner of a D3200 and I'm blown away with the image quality! I'm not sure what Nikon was thinging but this enty level dslr beats the 5100 on resolution which make me think it might also have better resolution than the D7000!!

I'm happy with mine and my advice to anyone interested is to test the various cameras and judge for yourself. If you want more bells and whistles and less resolution go with the D5100, however if you are like me and want the best image quality then go with the D3200.