Welcome to this detailed guide on how to use the Nikon D3200. If you just got this camera and are not familiar with the controls and functions, this is for you.
In this guide, we’ll show you everything you need to in order to start shooting with this camera.
So, without wasting any more time, let’s begin.
- 24.2 effective megapixels DX-format CMOS image sensor
- Wide sensitivity range up to ISO 6400, expandable to ISO 12800
- Comfortable live view shooting using a large, 3-inch LCD monitor
- Simple and slim styling with reliable holding and superior operability
- Full HD movie recording at 1,920 x 1,080/30p
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
How To Use The Nikon D3200 — Specs
The Nikon D3200 is an Entry-Level DSLR which was released on the 19th April, 2012. It has a 24-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor. This gives you a lot of detail in your photos.
The D3200 has a fairly light body weight of 505g. This makes it easier to carry about for long lengths of time. It also has a battery life of 540 shots.
The Nikon D3200 also has Face Detection Focus, and an optical viewfinder for better framing and more control.
The D3200n also has a few cons. For instance, it has no Image Stabilization. This increases your chances of getting blurry photos.
It also has no wireless connectivity, or touchscreen for easy use. The D3200 also has no weather sealing. This makes it difficult to shoot in harsh weather conditions with this camera.
How To Use The Nikon D3200: Setting Up The Camera
Before you take your first picture, there are couple of things you need to do. The first thing you need to do is put a battery in the camera.
You can do this by simply opening up the compartment at the bottom of the camera, and putting the battery into the camera.
You also need to put a memory card in the camera. There are quite a lot of SD cards out there, but a standard one will do for now. Simply insert the card into the SD card slot at the side of the camera.
The last thing you need to do is connect your lens to the camera. To do this, look for a white dot on the lens and look for a white dot on the camera. Line the two dots up, and turn it until you hear a click.
Once you have completed these steps, you can power up the camera by turning the ON/OFF switch.
How To Use The Nikon D3200 — Buttons, Dials and Ports
First, we have the shutter button. Pressing this button half-way down makes the camera focus on your subject. Simply press the button down completely to take the picture.
Next, we have the Play button. This button has a square with a triangle in the middle. You can use this button to view your photos and videos.
The D3200 also has a Menu button. This takes you to the camera’s main menu. There is also a D-pad which you can use to navigate the menu.
Next we have the Record button. This button has a red dot in the middle. You use this to record videos. Simply press the button once to start recording, and press the button again to stop.
Right beside the Record button is the Live View button. You should press this button before recording videos. Live View mode deactivates your viewfinder and switches to the LCD screen.
If you are unsure about a particular function in the camera, pressing the Info button will bring up the camera’s built-in manual.
There is a button with a plus and minus symbol on it. This controls exposure compensation. You can use this to change your aperture and shutter speed
The D3200 also has a microphone jack. You can use this to connect an external microphone to the camera. This gives you an option for better audio recording.
There is also a USB port which you can use to connect your camera to a computer. This gives you an easy way to transfer files.
You may have noticed a dial on the top right of the camera. You can use this to adjust your shutter speed and aperture depending on what mode you are in.
Finally, we have the Mode dial. This dial is for changing your shooting mode. We’ll discuss some of the shooting modes in the next section.
How To Use The Nikon D3200 — Shooting Modes
Here are the Nikon D3200’s shooting modes.
A – aperture priority mode
Using the command dial, you can control the aperture by yourself, while the camera sets the shutter speed.
S – shutter priority mode
In this mode, you have the ability to set the shutter speed by yourself, while the camera handles other settings.
M – manual mode
This mode gives you full control over the shutter speed and aperture. The camera will notify you if the exposure is off, but won’t stop you.
P – program mode
The camera sets the aperture and shutter speed, but still gives you the ability to tweak a few settings.
AUTO mode
The camera handles all the settings for you. This is the most ideal option for those starting out in photography.
How To Use The Nikon D3200 — Menu
To enter the D3200’s main menu, press the Menu button. In here you will see sub-menus such as…
In the shooting menu you can change the size and quality of your images. You can also set your white balance, picture control, customize movie settings, and change ISO settings.
In this menu, you have the option of reviewing your images, rotating them, and playing them as a slide-show.
This is menu is the easiest to customize. In the SETUP menu, you can format your memory card, lock the camera’s mirror for cleaning, clean the image sensor, control flicker reduction.
You can also set the language, time/date, location data, remote control, HDMI, video mode, and control Wi-Fi.
In this menu, you can customize things like autofocus, exposure, shooting/display, bracketing/flash, timers/AE lock, and controls.
How To Use The Nikon D3200 — Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Nikon D3200 a good camera?
The Nikon D3200 is a great camera for various types of photography. It has great image quality, and can be used for portraits, landscapes, and daily photography.
It has a high sensor resolution which gives you a ton of detail in your photos. The D3200 is also a great camera for both beginners and professionals.
What lenses are compatible with the Nikon D3200?
Here are the Nikon D3200’s compatible lenses…
Wide angle lenses
Nikon AF-S 35mm f/1,8 G ED
Sigma 18-35mm f/1,8 DC HSM Art
Sigma EX 4,5mm f/2,8 DC HSM Fisheye
Tokina AT-X 16-28mm f/2,8 PRO FX
Sigma EX 10mm f/2,8 DC HSM Fisheye
Tokina AT-X Pro 12-24mm f/4 DX II
Sigma 8-16mm f/4,5-5,6 DC HSM
Nikon AF-S 28mm f/1,8 G
Sigma EX 10-20mm f/3,5 DC HSM
Nikon AF-S DX 10-24mm f/3,5-4,5 G
Nikon AF-S DX 12-24mm f/4 G IF-ED
Normal lenses
Nikon AF-S 24-85mm f/3,5-4,5 G ED VR
Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1,4 G
Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2,8 XR Di-II LD IF VC
Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2,8 XR Di Macro
Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1,8 G
Nikon AF-S DX 18-105mm f/3,5-5,6 G ED VR
Nikon AF-S DX 18-55mm f/3,5-5,6 G ED VR
Sigma 17-70mm f/2,8-4,5 DC HSM Macro
Sigma 18-125mm f/3,8-5,6 DC OS HSM
Sigma 18-50mm f/2,8-4,5 DC OS HSM
Sigma EX 17-50mm f/2,8 DC OS HSM
Sigma EX 24-70mm f/2,8 DG HSM
Sigma EX 30mm f/1,4 DC HSM
Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1,8 G SE
Nikon AF-S 60mm f/2,8 G ED Micro
Nikon AF-S DX 16-85mm f/3,5-5,6 G ED VR
Sigma 17-70mm f/2,8-4 DC HSM OS Macro
Sigma EX 50mm f/1,4 DG HSM
Tamron SP AF 17-50mm f/2,8 XR Di-II LD IF
Nikon AF-S DX 18-55mm f/3,5-5,6 G VR II
Nikon AF-S DX 35mm f/1,8 G
Macro lenses
Sigma EX 150mm f/2,8 DG OS HSM APO Macro
Nikon AF-S DX 85mm f/3,5 G ED Micro VR
Tamron SP AF 90mm f/2,8 Di Macro
Nikon AF-S 60mm f/2,8 G ED Micro
Telephoto lenses
Nikon AF-S DX 55-300mm f/4,5-5,6 G ED VR
Nikon AF-S DX 85mm f/3,5 G ED Micro VR
Sigma 50-200mm f/4-5,6 DC OS HSM
Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5,6 DG OS
Tamron AF SP 70-300mm f/4-5,6 Di VC USD
Tamron SP AF 90mm f/2,8 Di Macro
Sigma EX 150mm f/2,8 DG OS HSM APO Macro
Sigma EX 50-150mm f/2,8 DC APO HSM
Sigma EX 70-200mm f/2,8 APO HSM DG Macro
Sigma EX 70-200mm f/2,8 II APO HSM DG Macro
Tamron AF 70-200/2,8 LD IF Di Macro
Sigma EX 50-150mm f/2,8 II DC APO HSM
Sigma EX 50-500mm f/4-6,3 DG APO OS HSM
Nikon AF-S 70-300mm f/4,5-5,6 G IF-ED VR
Nikon AF-S 85mm f/1,8 G
Nikon AF-S DX 55-200mm f/4-5,6 G ED VR
Super-zoom lenses
Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3,5-6,3 XR Di VC
Nikon AF-S 28-300mm f/3,5-5,6 G ED VR
Sigma 18-200mm f/3,5-6,3 DC OS HSM
Sigma 18-250mm f/3,5-6,3 DC OS HSM
Nikon AF-S DX 18-200mm f/3,5-5,6 G IF-ED VR
Nikon AF-S DX 18-200mm f/3,5-5,6 G IF-ED VR II
Nikon AF-S DX 18-300mm f/3,5-5,6 G ED VR
Sigma 18-200mm f/3,5-6,3 DC
Tamron AF 18-270mm f/3,5-6,3 Di II VC PZD
Tamron AF 18-270mm f/3,5-6,3 Di II VC LD IF Macro
Sigma 18-200mm f/3,5-6,3 II DC OS HSM
*You can get these lenses at Amazon.
How do I transfer pictures from the Nikon D3200 to a computer?
To transfer pictures from the Nikon D3200 to a computer, you will need a USB cable. connect the cable to your camera, and plug it into the computer. If your memory card is in the camera, it will appear as a removable disk on your computer.
Alternatively, you can use a card reader to transfer your photos. Simply remove your memory card from the camera, and insert it into the card reader. you can now plug the card reader into your computer, and copy the files.
How do I change the frame rate on the Nikon D3200?
To change the frame rate on the Nikon D3200 do the following…
- Go into the camera’s main menu by pressing the Menu button.
- Scroll down to the shooting menu and press the OK button.
- Scroll down to Movie settings option and press OK.
- Select Frame size / frame rate option and press OK
- Choose your preferred frame size and rate, and press OK to exit.
Conclusion
That brings us to the end of this guide. This is everything you need to know in order to start shooting with the Nikon D3200. If you are unsure about anything, please refer to the camera’s manual.
Hope you found this helpful. If you have any questions, feel free to comment below. Also remember to check out our other guides and comparisons.
