Nikon D5200 - My First DSLR

Nikon D5200 Review – My First DSLR

It was a hectic yet enjoyable last week for me, thanks to the sudden plans to Mumbai and Panchgani to visit my school and meet my friends. While I was busy enjoying the trip, a parcel had arrived back home and I was over the moon when I saw the SMS that read “Your order has been delivered”  Had been waiting for a long time now and finally it’s here – My First DSLR – Nikon D5200. After a lot of research, reading review, watching guides I finally zeroed in on the Nikon D5200 to be my companion on my trips, restaurant visits and everything else. Trust me, making a choice while buying your first DSLR can be very tricky. And for the same reason, I suggest you to get in touch with a professional to give you the right guidance. Hence a loud shout out for the ‘SQLGuru-cum-Photographer’ Manojji who has helped me find the perfect match in Nikon D5200. So here’s a quick review of My First DSLR the Nikon D5200

Nikon D5200 - My First DSLR
Nikon D5200 – My First DSLR

Why you need a DSLR ?

I have been relying on my iPad Mini 4 and Nexus 5 along with Sony Cybershot for capturing photos wherever I go. Nexus 5 came in handy anytime to capture the moment be it commuting to work or taking a Selfie with team mates, Nexus 5 is my goto device. The iPad on the other hand is my companion of my trips, restaurant visits or any other event. It manages to capture vivid photos in daylight along with stunning Full HD and Slo-mo videos. As for the Cybershot, I’ve been using it for years now and it still manages to get some amazing photos. Most of the photos on the blog are captured from the iPad Mini. So Why do you need a DSLR ? Well, one of the main reason is the fixed focus lenses in these devices. Fixed focus and aperture lenses limit the things we can capture. Also the image sensors on these devices are no where close to that of a DSLR. Thus to learn photography and improve my skills, I decided to go with the Nikon D5200 as my first DSLR.

Why the Nikon D5200 only ?

As mentioned earlier, the selection process was a tough and making the right choice was one of the toughest decision. With the market flooded with tons of DSLRs and lenses, finding the right one for you isn’t a cakewalk. The few contenders to the Nikon D5200 were the D5300 and the Canon 700D. 5300D is the successor of the 5200D and comes with WiFi and GPS built-in (also costs Rs 10,000 extra) I decided to save here as WiFi and GPS weren’t my requirements. While the Canon 700D had a lower Megapixel value (18MP vs 24MP) and also the Auto Focus points on the Canon were just 9 compared to 39 on the D5200. So after reading a lot of reviews, the clear winner was the Nikon D5200.

Why I chose the Nikon D5200 ?
Why I chose the Nikon D5200 ?

First Looks – Nikon D5200

I had ordered the Dual Kit Lens combo which includes the 18-55mm VR lens along with the 55-200mm zoom lens. Was surprised to see a 16GB SD card along with a camera bag included in the box. The box had the usual user manual, CDs and other promotional items along with the camera body, two lenses and various cables and connectors. Since I had already read about the camera earlier, attaching and detaching a lens was simple. But do go through the manual before doing anything. The camera feels good in hand, has weight and a great grip. To start with I took few shots on Auto mode and the quality of the photos are stunning. Even in low light, the camera manages to get some good quality photos.

Having spent some good time with auto-mode, decided to try out the other modes too. Still reading and understanding the fundamentals of photography – the aperture, shutter speed and the ISO. I’m glad that I’ve understood these to a certain extent, but need to spend more time with the camera. (Will be sharing my learning soon here)

Final Verdict

If you are an amateur photographer or want to take your photographs to an all new level, getting a DSLR is a good option. The Nikon D5200 is perfect for starters with a budget of around ~30,000 Rs. (Dual Kit Lens comes for 35K and above) I could have gone for the D3300 but it was a basic one and I wouldn’t want to be spending on a camera soon, hence got a better, advanced DSLR. As of lenses, the Nikon D5200 boasts of a compatibility to many lenses. The kit lens is fine for beginners to understand photography. However I’ve been told to ‘chuck’ the stock lenses for other better lenses. Well, with the 18-55mm and 55-200mm lenses already, the next lens that would probably complete my kit would be a good 35mm or a 50mm prime lens.

So all in all, the Nikon d5200 is the perfect companion at all times. Own it already ? Share your feedback and pro tips that I should know. Confused about getting a new DLSR ? Get in touch and I might be able to help you out.

About Atulmaharaj

A seasoned blogger and a content marketer for close to a decade now. I write about Food, Technology, Lifestyle, Travel, and Finance related posts. Blogging brings me joy and the best part is I get to read and e-meet so many amazing bloggers! PS: I'm also the founder for Socialmaharaj.com :) Favorite Quote: "Traveling is like reading a book, one who hasn't traveled, hasn't turned a page.

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