Nikon D5200

The D5200 is an APS-C DSLR from 2012, built for photographers who want a proper optical viewfinder and room to grow. Its Nikon F DX mount takes F-mount lenses, so your kit can expand with your interests.

It weighs 555g, which keeps it comfortable for a day of handheld shooting and easy to carry in a small bag. Controls are button-driven and the screen is not touch-sensitive, which reflects the camera's age rather than any fault in the pictures it produces.

Imaging comes from a 24.1MP APS-C CMOS sensor paired with the Expeed 3 processor. That resolution leaves room for tight crops and larger prints.

Focusing uses 39 autofocus points, giving you many placement options without recomposing first. Burst shooting reaches 5fps, a rate suited to children, pets and casual action, though that is a maximum figure rather than a sustained-speed promise.

Two ceilings shape how you shoot. The ISO range runs from 100 to 6400, and the 1/4000s maximum shutter can restrict wide apertures in bright light. There is no in-body stabilisation, so steady handheld work relies on shutter speed, a stabilised lens or other support.

The D5200 scores 65 for Optics, a good result, and sits around the middle of cameras in our database for Optics. The optical pentamirror viewfinder keeps framing direct, a practical advantage of the DSLR design.

The D5200 records Full HD video in MOV format, a ceiling that covers typical web sharing and family viewing. Its video score of 70 is a good result for this class of output.

Frame rates reach 60fps, which gives you smoother motion than basic recording. Footage shot at the higher rate can also be slowed in editing for a gentle slow-motion effect. Confirm which resolution and frame rate pairings the camera offers before planning a shoot around them.

A built-in intervalometer means timelapse sequences can be captured with the camera alone, without an external remote. Combined with live view, you can compose a fixed-frame sequence precisely on a tripod.

The flipping screen is useful while recording, letting you check framing from waist level or when the camera is above your head.

The 3in LCD carries 921k dots, sharp enough for checking focus and detail after a shot. It flips out from the body, so waist-level and overhead framing become possible without contorting yourself.

There is no touch input, so settings change through buttons and menus. Live view lets you compose on the screen instead of the viewfinder, and together with the flip screen it suits tripod work and careful framing.

Flash options are flexible: a built-in unit handles fill light, and an external flash can take over when you need more power or bounce. GPS is absent, so location tagging falls to your phone.

The features score of 41 reflects a modest set. The core shooting aids are present, but the body has no weather sealing, so it needs shelter from rain and dust.

Storage runs on a single SD, SDHC or SDXC slot. That is straightforward day to day, but there is no second card for overflow, so carry enough capacity for a full shoot.

The EN-EL14 battery is rated at 500 shots per charge. Treat that figure cautiously rather than as a promise of real-world endurance. A spare battery is a sensible purchase for long days.

There is no USB charging, so the battery cannot be topped up over a USB cable. The storage and battery score of 27 reflects these limited arrangements: single-slot storage, the 500-shot rating and absent USB charging all count against it.