PREVIEW: New DSLR Camera for Taking Pictures and High-Def Video: Nikon D3300 and Two Lens Kits

Raw Samples

Most of these sample shots were made with the 18 - 55 mm lens, but with no lighting or adjusting these pictures, you can check out the quality of some of our first "macro" samples:

http://www.thespottedwalrus.com/outdoor-and-nature-new-photos-with-our-new-nikon-d3300/

Nikon D3300 Overview

For the price, this DSLR camera from Nikon packs quite a punch.  It has a few limitations that you sacrifice by saving the money buying a higher priced model -- enough to buy another NIKKOR lens with!  Though this model has the same sensors and most features of the D5300, Nikon left a few features out of the D3300, but it's hard to notice.  GPS tagging and the capability of wi-fi may not be built in, but you are still able to add these features later if you wish.  I'd suggest saving the money on the body and buy nice lenses to give you a great range of capabilities.

The D3300 is lightweight and very easy to use.  We bought one with the NIKKOR 18 - 55mm lens and then a NIKKOR 55 - 200mm telephoto lens to give us more range.

Another great feature is that it can shoot in full HD at 60 frames per second (fps)!  I would have asked for a few more video features and controls, but overall the quality of video is stunning for the price.  For instance, for some strange reason, you cannot control the aperture when in "live video mode", though you have full manual control over the camera if you wish in video mode, it is difficult in outdoor conditions to be sure your picture is in focus.  Something you have to get used to and find other ways to overcome -- it'd be terrible to shoot video to only find out things weren't in focus.

More photo samples, videos and a full review to come!  For more information, visit the product page on Nikon's website at http://www.nikonusa.com/en/Nikon-Products/Product/Digital-SLR-Cameras/D3300.html.

So far, we are very pleased with the 3300, it's ease of use, light weight, advanced features, and professional quality.

Need Trees? Lots of Trees?! Try the Arbor Day Foundation!

Once you buy a pass to any national park, you will start getting some interesting mailers.  Greenpeace.  No thanks, their approach towards environmentalism by demonizing capitalism is kind of disturbing to me.  The Smithsonian Institute.  We subscribed to their magazine, a very interesting read.

We then received some literature from the Arbor Day Foundation.  We learned you can become a member for only $20.  Another $15 and we bought ten saplings, baby trees, that were proper for our region of the country.  They arrived inside a single plastic bag in the mail a few months later.  The instructions were kind of vague, but they're trees.  You plant them in the ground.  Though there were 5 different trees in our package, they were color-coded but there was no print out explaining what each color meant.  Only later did I find this link that explained on their website what the colors meant.

We paid for 10 trees but only 9 arrived in the package.  Despite these few flaws, I think these trees will be an excellent value.  I say I think, only because it's only been six months since we followed the directions and planted them -- just in time for winter to come.  I want to share this information because no one else I've spoken with knew they could get baby trees from a respectable source for such an excellent value. 

I found the Arbor Day Foundation website was a plethora of interesting information all things regarding trees.  We all know trees are important, they also help property values. Trees aren't just good for the environment, they enhance your yard.  They provide shade, they prevent the ground eroding, they also attract and provide shelter for all sorts of wildlife.  Not to knock your local tree nursery, but if you have the patience to wait 3 or 4 years to watch a small sapling grow into the pretty picture in the Arbor Day Foundation brochure, remember that you paid only about $3 for that tree which has matured to fetch $30, $50, maybe even over $100 for each 5 to 10 gallon tree it has grown into.

Try to get that kind of return on ANY investment!  From the perspective of a sound financial investment, investing in a membership and some trees from the Arbor Day Foundation outperforms any stock value or investment most people will ever see in their lifetime.  Provided you are willing to be patient and invest in some water and a little fertilizer.

If only making your investments in your 401K grow that quickly would be that easy, and that straight-forward.  The best part is you don't have to wait 30 years until you retire to enjoy the many tangible benefits each and everyday from owning trees that, unlike your investments, will continue to grow well into the future.