Nikon D3200 at glance:
- 24.2-million-pixel CMOS sensor
- Expeed 3 processor (as used in the Nikon D4 and Nikon 1)
- ISO 100-6400, extendable to ISO 12,800
- In-depth guide mode
- RRP £559.99 body only, or £649.99 with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens
Nikon’s latest camera releases are a sign of things to come, with the company throwing down a weighty megapixel gauntlet to its rivals. Earlier this year, we saw the FX-format (full-frame) D800 raise the bar with 36.3 million pixels, and it proved to be the best full-frame sensor we have tested so far. Now the company’s DX-format (APS-C) line-up welcomes a 24.2-million-pixel model for the first time, in the form of the D3200. Nikon insists this is an entry-level model, sitting above but not replacing the D3100. It is safe to assume, then, that any future replacements for models higher up in the series will at the very least feature the same sensor.
Like the D3100, the new D3200 has a small body and a simple, beginner-friendly layout, being aimed at those trying out a DSLR for the first time, and ‘the family’. It begs the question whether the target user is ever likely to make the most of such a large number of pixels, and furthermore, whether the available kit lenses can do the sensor justice. Alternatively, the D3200 may turn out to be a lightweight and cost-effective back-up for those who already own an enthusiast-level camera. In either case, this is the most affordable camera around that offers such a high resolution. Whether such a high pixel count in a camera of this level is able to produce good-quality images, however, is another matter entirely.
