Help with Nikon d3300?

I have a Nikon d3300 and and thinking about creating YouTube videos. I would love to have the camera linked to my MacBook so that I can use that as the monitor, can I do that with this camera or will I need to buy a different model? Also if so, how do I set it up?

You have a find digital SLR camera designed to produce amazing still images.

It happens to have a video feature, but for what you intend to do, you really need a nice camcorder, external sound recorder and at least two continuous lights.

Only a few digital SLR cameras can be tethered to a computer and entry level cameras like your D3300 is NOT one of them.

Sure, I guess you could spent the money on a more advanced Nikon digital SLR which can be tethered to a computer, but then you would still be trying to use a camera which is specifically designed to shoot still images.

Just buy the right tool for shooting video, a camcorder and leave your D3300 as a great stills camera

Camcorders made by JVC, Panasonic, Sony and Canon can be purchased for under $400. A Zoom H1 sound recorder, another $100 (something you will need whether you buy a camcorder or use the D3300 in any case. Dittto for the continuous lighting and a sturdy tripod.

Agree with fhotoace. Nikon's are designed for stills, and video is a complete afterthought. Of all DSLRs, Nikons are among the worst for video. Not because of the final image, but because of the problems one has when actually trying to make a video.

There are a lot of people who do use DSLRs for video, but they're using high-end cameras like a Canon 80D or 5D Mark III or a Nikon D500. These three models are really the only DSLRs on the market that are decent at making videos with.

You'd be far better off getting a dedicated camcorder which will allow you to create videos without all of the problems associated with using a still camera for video. I mean when Nikon introduced their $6,500 D5 it could only shoot 4K video for 3 minutes. Even their best DSLR for video, the D500, gets mediocre reviews on its video performance, and that one costs thousands just for the body!

I doubt there's a way.

What you have there's a dSLR. DSLRs were never meant to do video. Just take a look of the video controls it offers. Just Start and Stop. Nothing more.

You can however take advantage of the HDMI port of your camera. You can plug a portable LCD screen to it and view your video in a relatively larger screen live! To make your set-up better, get a portable audio recorder and a shotgun mic. Attach everything to a gimbal and you're set to go.