This award-winning, easy-to-use DSLR has its claim to fame as it is the same model used by TV chef Jamie Oliver.

Whether you want to capture portraits with perfectly blurred backgrounds or pin-sharp landscapes, the intuitive Guide Mode teaches you how to capture your result in a few simple steps. With its 24.2-megapixel CMOS sensor and Nikon’s powerful EXPEED 3 image processing engine, plus full HD movie mode, the D3200 allows you to shoot high-quality photos and movies. The camera comes with a standard zoom lens, the 18-55 f/3.5-5.6G VR, so that you’re ready to get out there and start taking great pictures!

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Find out more about the Nikon D3200 at Nikon’s website.

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While both are great cameras (watch this space for a Nikon D5200 review), we’ve waded into the Nikon D5200 vs D3200 debate to see if we can make some sense of what advantages each camera offers.

Nikon pitches the D5200 more at ‘advanced beginners’, but here are the concrete differences that could help you decide.

Nikon D5200 vs D3200: what you need to know

1.    LCD display
Both cameras have a high-resolution 921,000-dot 3-inch LCD display, but the big difference is that the D5200’s display can be flipped out and rotated to any angle. This is a major advantage of the Nikon D5200 vs the D3200 and is ideal for anyone shooting movies and close-ups, or any other kind of subject where the angles or the subject position are awkward.

2.    RAW files
Both cameras shoot RAW format files for those seeking maximum quality, but they’re not quite the same. The D3200 shoots 12-bit RAW files, while the D5200 shoots 14-bit files. It’s a small technical difference in an overall Nikon D5200 vs D3200 comparison, but it means the D5200’s picture quality is potentially better.

3.    Continuous shooting speed
The Nikon D5200 has a modest advantage, with the ability to shoot at 5 frames per second compared to the D3200’s 4fps. It could make a difference to wildlife and action fans.

4.    Exposure metering
The Nikon D3200 uses a 420-pixel metering sensor, while the D5200 has a 2016-pixel sensor. Technically, this should improve exposure accuracy and subject recognition, but you may not notice in practice.

5.    Exposure bracketing
This is a useful option in difficult lighting conditions where the exposure is hard to predict. The camera takes 3 shots at different settings and you select the best. The Nikon D3200 does not have this feature, but the Nikon D5200 does.

6.    ISO range
The main ISO range is the same at ISO100-6400, but the Nikon D5200 has a ‘Hi’ setting of ISO25600 that’s one stop higher than the D3200’s – though the quality is pretty low, so it’s fit for emergencies only.

7.    Autofocus
The D3200 has an 11-point autofocus system, but the D5200 uses a more sophisticated 39-point system taken from cameras further up the range. This could prove useful for fast-moving subjects.

8.    Video
Both cameras shoot 1920 x 1080 full HD movies, but the D3200’s built-in microphone is monaural, while the D5200’s is stereo (both can take external mics, though). The D5200 can also shoot movies and 60fps or 50fps in interlaced (‘i’) mode as well and the standard 30fps, 25fps and 24fps frame rates.

9.    Help for beginners
The D3200 has a Guide mode designed to walk novices through everyday shooting scenarios, making it one of the easiest DSLRs on the market to use. Having said that, the Nikon D5200 is hardly very difficult.

10.    Special effects
The Nikon D5200 offers a range of special effects (Night Vision, Color Sketch, Miniature Effect, Selective Color, Silhouette, High Key, Low Key) and an in-built HDR mode.

Nikon D5200 vs D3200: our conclusion

Get the Nikon D3200 if price is a factor. It’s a lot cheaper than the Nikon D5200 price tag, delivers almost the same picture quality and offers all the features you’ll need when you’re just starting out.

But the D5200 is a much more versatile camera, thanks to the articulated LCD, a better autofocus system and greater range in-camera effects and adjustments.

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Recently we shared a video comparison of two leading Nikon DSLRs, the Nikon D3200 vs D3100, and discussed some of the key differences between these two entry-level DSLRs in the Nikon range. Given the Nikon D3200′s impressive specs we thought we would take this idea further and compare the D3200 to another popular camera a little bit higher in the manufacturer’s line-up with a Nikon D3200 vs D5100 face-off.

While the Nikon D3200 sits at the beginner end of Nikon’s line-up, for the moment at least, it is more expensive than the higher-end Nikon D5100. The D5100 is aimed at novice photographers who are looking to get a little more creative with their photography. But is the Nikon D3200 now a better option for them?

Amy Davies of our testing team takes a look at a few of the key differences between the Nikon D3200 vs D5100 to help you decide which DSLR is best for you.

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In this new video, Amy Davies from our testing team takes a look at a few of the key differences between the 24.2-million-pixel Nikon D3200 and the 14.1-million-pixel Nikon D3100.

If you liked this video, stay tuned, as we’ll also be comparing the Nikon D3200 vs the D5100.

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Lost amid all the excitement and megapixels of the Nikon D3200 launch was the Nikon WU1a wireless mobile adapter announced by Nikon on the same day.

The Nikon WU1a Wireless mobile adapter is a new addition to Nikon’s SLR accessory range and can be used with the D3200 (see our Nikon D3200 review), the first camera to be compatible.

This small device enables photographers to wirelessly connect their camera to take shots and preview the framing on an Android enabled device.
 Sounds cool, right? Our testing team was able to get their hands on one and put it to the test.

Check out our video below to see how it performed.

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After launching two new models at the very top of its lineup already this year, Nikon has now refreshed its beginner offering with the D3200, although interestingly not by replacing the D3100, but by introducing the new camera to sit alongside it.

Nikon says that it will continue to market and sell the D3100, giving customers the choice between a budget model, and a more sophisticated option in the D3200.

There’s lots of interesting technology crammed into the relatively small body of the Nikon D3200, including things that have trickled down from its more expensive bodies.

These include features such as the Expeed 3 processing engine, which promises to deliver quicker processing, low noise and a range of frame rates for Full HD video recording.

A number of other improvements have been made to the camera, which is priced at £649.99 in the UK and $699.95 in the US. These include slight ergonomic upgrades in the form of newly added buttons and an enhanced rear LCD screen.

But it is of course that 24.2 million pixel sensor that is likely to be the most headline-grabbing feature, coming just weeks after the unveiling of Nikon’s other high resolution camera, the Nikon D800 (with 36 million pixels).

Resolution
Coming from a company that used to profess that 12 million pixels was “enough”, it’s likely that some will scoff at the hike in pixel count, but Nikon is keen to point out the cropping potential that such a high resolution offers.

This means that users who are unlikely to invest in a second, longer focal length range can crop into images post-capture and still retain a large enough pixel count for high quality images.

Aiming itself so squarely at the entry-level user, improvements made to the Guide Mode are something Nikon is understandably keen to shout about.

On the Nikon D3200, new guides including Reds in Sunsets have been added, which – along with the original guides – is designed to help users to achieve the best possible image quality without necessarily having to have a huge amount of photographic knowledge.

Helpfully, the updated guide now has more reference images. These change as the settings are adjusted to show the typical impact.

Another feature that’s likely to appeal to the intended target audience is the option to purchase an additional Wi-Fi adaptor, the WU-1A, which connects the camera to smartphones and tablets for remote shooting and uploading images to social networking sites.

A number of retouch options have been included in the camera, including the capability to straighten and crop images and add digital art filters after the shot has been taken.

The Nikon D3200 Verdict

Our testing team put the Nikon D3200 through its paces, which you can read about in the full Nikon D3200 review over on our sister site, TechRadar. If you want some of the key points from the full test and the final verdict on the D3200, here is what our team had to say…

On Build & Handling
While there are a limited number of direct control buttons on the Nikon D3200, commonly used functions (such as the sensitivity settings), can be accessed via the “i” quick menu button on the back of the camera.

Although quite a small camera, the deep grip provides a good amount of purchase. The combined weight of the camera and standard 18-55mm kit lens is heavy enough to give the Nikon D3200 the feel of a quality piece of kit.

It’s a shame that an articulating screen couldn’t be included on the Nikon D3200. However, according to Nikon, adding this would come at the cost of making the overall body bigger and more expensive, so it’s understandable that the manufacturer has chosen to keep articulating screens for its larger bodied cameras.

What’s more, the improvements made to the Guide menu make the process of shooting high quality images easier, while also managing to impart some knowledge to the photographer using it.

On Performance
We think this camera is likely to appeal greatly to novice shooters. And because it has a few features that enthusiasts will also appreciate, they won’t need to upgrade too quickly as they gain experience.

Autofocus acquisition in the majority of cases is quick, slightly dropping in low light situations, but the system copes well otherwise. Although the Nikon D3200 doesn’t boast the AF speed of some other DSLRs, the average user should have no problems using the camera in everyday shooting scenarios.

On the whole, the camera’s automatic white balance system seemed to do a good job of measuring the scene, and produces mostly accurate results.

When shooting at high sensitivities, such as ISO 1600, noise is generally controlled well. When viewing images at 100 per cent there is sometimes some smoothing where noise control has been implemented in JPEG files.

On Noise and Dynamic Range
JPEG images from the Nikon D3200 show similar signal to noise ratio results to the D3100 up to a sensitivity of ISO 1600, above this value the results show a marked improvement.

TIFF images (After conversion from raw) from the Nikon 3200 are on a par with those from the Canon EOS 1100D and show improved results across the entire sensitivity range when compared with the Nikon D3100.

The Nikon D3200′s JPEGs have at least a 1EV higher dynamic range than theNikon D3100 up to a sensitivity of ISO 400, above this value it maintains around 0.5ev better dynamic range.

Nikon D3200 TIFF files (After conversion from raw) show a big improvement for dynamic range at all sensitivities over the D3100. At the lower end of the sensitivity range between ISO 100-400 the results show as much as a 2ev difference between the two cameras.

Nikon D3200: the final verdict

Nikon has delivered an excellent camera in the Nikon D3200, and it seems to be determined to completely dominate DSLR sales with three new DSLR releases already this year.

A camera with 24 million pixels at the entry level is pretty extraordinary, and it’s pleasing to note that the extra pixels don’t come at the cost of a reduction in image quality.

For beginners looking to get a bit more creative with their photography, Nikon’s innovative Guide Mode, brought over from the 3100, is a real boon, while of course the Nikon D3200 includes options for those wanting to explore manual and semi-manual exposure modes further down the line.

It’s worth remembering, however, that the Nikon D5100, higher up in the chain than the Nikon D3200, is currently cheaper to buy. In our lab tests, its 16 million pixel sensor performed better than the Nikon D3200 and also has the benefit of an articulating rear LCD screen.

With the D3200, Nikon is likely to continue the success of the D3100 into 2012 and beyond. It’s a shame that fairly large niggles, such as the quality of the screen, prevents this from being the perfect beginner camera… but it’s almost there.

We liked
The 24 million pixel sensor enables some creative image cropping while still keeping image resolution high – a great option for those who don’t want to invest in a zoom lens.

We disliked
The LCD screen has an inaccurate colour cast, so it’s sometimes difficult to correctly gauge white balance.

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Announced just a couple weeks ago, the Nikon D3200 has already been hailed as the ultimate beginners camera, thanks to its 24.2-megapixel resolution and range of features.

Chief among these features is the Nikon D3200′s Guide Mode, which might not be an entirely new feature, but Nikon has been keen to point out the improvements made to both the interface and navigation over previous versions.

In the video below, our head of testing, Angela Nicholson, takes a look at how the Nikon D3200 Guide Mode works and the benefits it provides through its step by step camera settings for those new to photography.

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In addition, it has a sturdy little body with a relatively modest selection of controls, so those who are relatively new to photography aren’t overwhelmed by the prospect of learning how to use it.

And most importantly, it is capable of delivering high quality images that reward the photographer who has made the jump from a compact camera to an SLR.

Guide Mode
The D3100 has also received praise because of its Guide Mode, which explains to photographers how to achieve particular effects, such as blurred backgrounds, in simple, non-technical or overtly photographic language (see Nikon D3100: tips for using your digital camera).

For the Nikon D3200, Nikon has developed the Guide Mode concept a bit further and installed a number of reference images. As a result, when you make the settings adjustments that the camera suggests are required to create an effect, you can actually see the impact.

So for example when the ‘Reds in sunsets’ option is selected, you can see the sky in the reference image get redder as the white balance is adjusted.

As with the D3100, Guide Mode is selected via the main mode dial on the Nikon D3200′s top plate, and the settings changes are made within that mode following the Guide’s directions.

Helpfully, the Guide explains which settings are being adjusted, so when blurring the background, for example, you’re informed that a low f/number is required and that aperture priority mode is a good choice of exposure mode to try to recreate this in the future, when your confidence builds.

Pixel count
Having a 24.2 million pixels means that the Nikon D3200 produces very large images and, provided that noise levels are adequately controlled, there’s plenty of scope for cropping.

This is ideal for novice photographers on two counts. Firstly, one of the most common mistakes that inexperienced photographers make is to stand too far away from their subject, so it looks too small in the frame. This problem often doesn’t become apparent to them until the image is downloaded on the computer, at which point you can crop to improve the composition.

Another issue is that, if new to the hobby, you’re likely to only have one or two lenses and may not have an optic with enough reach to get you as close as you’d like to the subject. Instead you can crop the image to make the subject appear larger in the frame.

Because cropping and zooming into an image makes any noise or loss of detail more noticeable, it is essential that the Nikon D3200 controls noise well to enable dramatic cropping.

Naturally, we will study this closely when we get a full production sample in for testing, but in the meantime we think that the signs are good. The Nikon D3200 uses a completely new sensor, which has a pixel density that isn’t too far off the Nikon D800′s.

It also features the same Expeed 3 processing engine as the D4 (see our Nikon D4 review) and D800 (see our Nikon D800 review), so it would appear to have the necessary specification to make large images on which fairly heavy crops can be made.

What’s next?
While Nikon’s Guide Mode is very good, you might find it helpful to have a guide that helps you analyse your images and rectify any problems.

Imagine, for example, that you’re reviewing an image that is too bright. The camera could explain that you need to reduce the exposure using the exposure compensation control.

The image analysis could be performed using a multiple choice question and answer type wizard, for instance, saying what’s wrong with the image – if it’s too bright, too dark, the colours are too cold, the colours are too warm and so on.

If Nikon continues to develop its Scene Recognition System, it could become possible to analyse the images automatically using the EXIF data and histograms. Thus the camera could suggest how to correct exposure errors and colourcasts.

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The new DSLR, which Nikon says will not replace the Nikon D3100 (read Nikon D3100: tips for using your digital camera), but rather sit above it in the range, boasts 24.2-megapixel resolution – the second highest pixel count introduced this year behind the Nikon D800 (see our Nikon D800 review).

Another key selling point of the D3200 is that it uses Nikon’s EXPEED 3 image processor, which is also housed in the high-end D800 and Nikon D4 (read our Nikon D4 review).

Other features of the Nikon D3200 include full HD (1080p) video recording, which users can play back on HD TVs using the D3200′s easy-access movie record button. HD recording is available at 24, 25 and 30fps, while 50 and 60fps can be recorded in 720p HD.

The D3200 also features a built-in microphone, as well as an input for an external microphone.

The new camera’s sensitivity ranges from ISO 100 up to ISO 6400, and is expandable up to Hi1 – the equivalent of ISO 12800.

It also boasts 11 autofocus points provided by the Multi CAM 1000 autofocus sensor for phase detection focusing when shooting through the optical viewfinder (read How to use a viewfinder: free cheat sheet). A contrast detection system is also available when using Live View.

The Nikon D3200 also offers a variety of editing functions, with creative effect options such as Miniature, Selective Colour, Colour Sketch and Filter Effects – to add a warm or soft filter. You can also resize your images, give them a quick retouch, or straighten them directly on the camera.

Nikon also claims to have improved the D3200′s Guide Mode, an in-camera photography guide that has been popular on previous entry-level DSLRs in its range.

Other key features of the Nikon D3200 include continuous autofocus (AF) when you shoot D-movies. Full-time servo AF (AF-F) and subject-tracking AF maintain the focus when you shoot moving subjects. Face-priority AF is available for filming events where you want to relax and let the camera focus on faces.

The new camera also offers a large 7.5cm (3 inch) high-resolution (921k-dot) LCD monitor (read our Nikon Tip: how to set your Graphic LCD display).

The Nikon D3200 price tag will be £559.99 / €667.00 body only, or £649.99 / €775.00 with the 18-55mm VR from its release date in mid-May 2012.

You can read the first impressions and hands-on Nikon D3200 review by our testing team over on our sister site TechRadar.

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