Nikon's been peddling a variety of wireless adapters throughout the last few DSLR refresh cycles. Little dongles like the $50 WU-1a enable WiFi connectivity for photographers who really need it, but it's hardly an elegant solution. Now, we finally have a Nikon digital SLR with 802.11 built in. It's a mid-range model, the D5300, designed for consumers looking for an everyday interchangeable-lens camera with good performance and solid image quality. This camera replaces the D5200, adding a new 24.2-megapixel sensor without an optical low-pass filter, an EXPEED 4 processor for 1080/60p video and 5 fps stills and boosted battery life, letting you capture about 700 shots per charge, compared to 500 with the previous model.
For current D5200 owners, the addition of WiFi is the most appealing feature here. You can pair with Nikon's Wireless Mobile Utility app for Android and iOS, letting you shoot from a smartphone or tablet and transfer images as well. Despite the addition, the camera's weight has been reduced to 530 grams (1.17 pounds), from 555 with the D5200. There's a 25,600 top ISO, a larger 3.2-inch 1.04M-dot articulating display, built-in GPS and a more defined grip. The D5300 is expected to hit stores later this month in black, red and grey for $1,400 with an 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6 kit lens or $800 body-only. The camera and lens were comfortable to hold during our quick demo, but Nikon reps didn't permit us to power the DSLR, so we can't speak to performance. We did, however, manage to snag some body shots -- you'll find those in the gallery just below.%Gallery-slideshow101215%