It possesses Wi-Fi, GPS and a redesigned image sensor

Oct 17, 2013 12:34 GMT  ·  By

Not one to let Sony hog all the attention, A7 and A7r Alpha digital cameras or not, Nikon has prepared its own photo and video capture device, one that more or less matches one of them.

And by that we mean that the D5300 is at odds with the Sony Alpha A7 because of its 24.2-megapixel APS-C image sensor (A7 has a 24.3 sensor).

The sensor in Nikon's camera has actually the same resolution as the one of the D5200, revealed around this time last year.

Still, the sensor has been totally redesigned, removing the optical low-pass filter that many manufacturers feel is unnecessary.

Previously, such filters were used to prevent aliasing and moire, or other sampling distortions. Now, though, cameras have gotten better at capturing images, so there is a greater advantage in renouncing the filter, namely a finer detail.

Nikon's D5300 also has on-board Wi-Fi support. In fact, it is the first Nikon DSLR to possess on-board Wi-Fi. Previously, you needed to plug a small Wi-Fi transmitter in one of the ports on the side.

In addition to Wi-Fi, the Nikon D5300 DSLR boasts GPS support, allowing users to tag their photos with the exact coordinates, if they so wish. It's a useful tool for, say, making a travel log.

Nikon should start shipping the new device at some point this month (October 2013), with an 18-140mm lens, for the price of $1,400 / €1,027.

Sadly, the price will probably do a lot of harm here, because mirrorless, interchangeable-lens cameras are stealing many customers with their lower prices but more than decent specs.

Still, there will always be professional and amateur photographers that don't want to make compromises, so as long as Nikon makes sure to sell those other types of cameras too, it shouldn't have any problems.