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Nikon D3300 vs Canon T6

Introduction

Nikon D3300 and Canon T6 are solid, entry-level DSLR cameras that are ideal for every aspiring beginner who wants to establish concrete foundation on the field of photography, due to the fact that these cameras have basically everything that you would require in order to evolve as a professional photographer in the future.

Nikon D3300 is one of the most heavily-praised, entry-level DSLRs cameras, which with its existence, has paved the road of the arrival of newer versions such as D3400 and D3500, and it is a cheap way to start your career in this field.

On the other hand, Canon T6 is a direct successor of the earlier T5 and although it shares some of its functionalities, as an upgraded model, it offers a pretty nice amount of functions with the intention to make your imagery well-defined.

So, as you can see, both of them have left an imprint throughout their existence, and that’s one of the biggest reasons why are they still popular and heavily in demand by the customers on the market, especially the beginners.

Now, let’s see what each of them has to offer for you, and you be the final judge. However, remember that the race is tough and your decision can not be delivered right away!

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Head To Head Comparison

Nikon D3300

Design-wise, the D3300 boasts an attractive, black-colored, polycarbonate construction that measures 3.9 x 4.9 x 3 (HWD), and weighs only 15.2 ounces which by default makes it be an unbelievably lightweight camera that will sit nicely to your hands! The grip is deep and this caught my attention the most, but what’s even better is its textured-leather surface which kind of adds a higher level of security while you’re holding it in the hand.

Buttons aren’t numerous, but, each of them is strategically positioned around the camera with the intention to let you have an easy access every time you want to adjust the presets according to your preferences.

On the rear, next to the array of buttons positioned on the left, there is a 3″ LCD screen with 921,000-dots that occupy the usual, central position of the camera, which is therefore, fixed, unfortunately, so you will be limited in terms of making adjustments.

Slightly above, there is an optical viewfinder that uses a pentamirror finder to distribute light to your eye.

Speaking of the connections, Nikon D3300 employs an HDMI output, 3.5mm microphone input as well as a built-in mic, and sadly, lacks Wi-Fi/SD card/NFC/GPS capabilities. However, you will have an option to additionally invest in an add-on adapter in order to transfer images from this camera.

Moreover, the performance is indeed strong thanks to the inclusion of a 24.2MP CMOS DX-format sensor, the 11 AF-points with 3D tracking and of course, the expandable ISO which when combined, will surely enhance your user experience.

To be more precise, the image quality is astonishing, since most of the taken images will look sharp, and colors aren’t different at all, due to the fact that D3300 does an amazing job in producing accurate colors even if you’re shooting under low light.

For your information, the ISO range stretches from 100-12,800 but it is expandable to 100-25,600, and throughout the range, pictures are well-defined, but once you start shooting at ISO 3200 or above, they will look somewhat blurred but still, the quality is acceptable.

Furthermore, if you ever have an opportunity to shoot with this camera, you will appreciate its continuous shooting rate of 5 fps, and the 11-point Autofocus system which detects subjects from the moment they enter the frame and locks instantly on them so that you will never miss a shot! This is excellent for novices who need time to adjust to the world of photography!

Finally, if you prefer recording videos from time to time, then I have good news for you. Namely, the D3300 records 1080 videos at 60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps in MPEG-4, H.264 format and thanks to its built-in mic and the microphone input of which you can take advantage for recording audio in stereo quality, the footage will sound and look pretty good!

Nikon D3300 Sample Images:

 

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Canon T6

The Canon T6 features a black body that is protected by a plastic outer shell, measures 4.0 x 5.1 x 3.1 (HWD), weighs approximately 1.1 pounds without a lens and if you compare it with the D3300, it is a bit larger but still light enough to sit well in your hands. As is the case with the previous model, Canon T6 holds a textured, modest handgrip that will not slip of your hands even if your hands are sweaty as a result of shooting for a long period of time.

Controls aren’t numerous and most of them are placed on the rear part, although there are a few of them present on the top. What got my attention regarding the controls is the three buttons that sit between the 3″ 920,000k-dots screen and the thumb rest, as well as the four-way button layout that lets you have an easy access and switch between menus.

Yet again, T6 is similar to Nikon D3300, because T6’s screen is fixed and you will not have the freedom to adjust its position.

Moving on, in terms of connections, T6 has a built-in Wi-Fi which works with Canon’s CameraConnect app that is compatible with both Android and iOS, so you will never face any difficulties when it comes to transferring your photos or videos to your smartphone. Here, Canon did a better job than Nikon, since D3300 lacks this feature. In comparison, T6 is also NFC-enabled, includes mini USB port, mini HDMI, a hotshoe for bringing external flash on the top, memory card slot that is compatible with SD/SDHC/SDXC and a 2.5mm connection, so without a doubt, T6 wins the race here.

Now, let’s take a look at the performance.

T6 is powered by an 18MP CMOS (APS-C) image sensor along with DIGIC 4+ Image Processor and has a 100-6400 native ISO range that can be extended up to 100-12,800. Here, T6 has less MP than D3300 but this doesn’t mean that the photos will be poor.

In practice, T6 can turn on, focus and capture image in about 0.4 seconds and what’s really cool is that this camera maintains low noise when you shoot through ISO 3200, while details are very defined though ISO 1600 although you can see a presence of grain. Nothing serious though. However, I’d recommend you avoid shooting through 12800 because it is turned off by default and you would have to spend time switching through menus in order to turn it on.

The overall quality of the image is nice, filled with warm colors but only under bright light, if you try to shot under low light environment, well, this isn’t the strength of this camera and the results will not be like you would expect. Here, D3300 proves as a better performer.

Moving on, T6 can output a continuous shooting rate of 3.0 fps is less than D3300 and has a 9-point AF system which yet again, is less than D3300’s 11-AF system. That’s why, fast-moving objects will be captured nicely but not as good as D3300, so, I’d suggest you take pictures of nature or a steady environment because this camera performs really nice in these occasions.

Last but not least, the Canon T6 records videos in 1080p30 quality, hence, if you prefer recording videos that look immersively good, you should look for a different camera because this camera is good only for recording casual videos.

Canon T6 Sample Images:

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Nikon D3300 vs Canon T6 Feature Comparison

  Nikon D3300 Canon T6
Camera Type DSLR DSLR
Megapixels 24.2 18.0
ISO Range 100-12800(Expandable to 100-25,600) 100-6400(100-12,800)
Flip-Out Screen No No
Microphone Yes Yes
Viewfinder Yes Yes
Touchscreen No No
Video Recording Yes Yes
Sensor Size CMOS CMOS

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Conclusion

Who has won the race? This is a difficult question if you ask me, because everything depends on the shooting style you want to focus, as a beginner, both of them are unique in their own way and have their own strengths and weaknesses like everything in this world. For instance, what both of them share in common is the lack of weatherproof design which means that you will have to take care of these cameras especially if a sudden, heavy rain starts to fall.

But, if we look at the results of both products, personally, I would go for Nikon D3300 because it shows better results at portrait photography, sports photography. However, keep in mind that its price is higher and lacks Wi-Fi support when you compare it with Canon T6 who has a higher price tag, and packs multiple connection options. Also, T6 is still good for shooting landscape, daily, and portrait pictures.

The final answer? You already have enough arguments and you’re already familiar with their pros and cons, so, everything is up to you, if you prefer quality + connection options go for Canon T6, if you prefer quality and affordable price, then D3300 would be great for you!

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