Verdict

Underneath the veneer, very little has changed from the old model but that is not necessarily a bad thing, as this still offers a very competitive performance, and currently a cheaper price than its competitors once you take into account the kit lens.

The new outside of the camera certainly looks slicker and is well built with some nice little features, such as the sliding port/card cover, and overall it is smaller and lighter; but the handling has suffered making it more difficult to get a solid grip.

These handling issues are the only real let down to an otherwise very competent camera, and if your budget is tight, it’s well worth considering.

But, if your cash can stretch a little further it might be also worth considering Nikon’s new entry-level offering, the D3000, which we have also reviewed.