Review of the Nikon D3100. View Nikon D3100 body
Nikon D3100 is a wonderful amateur DSLR camera. I am often asked what good and not expensive Nikon SLR camera I would recommend to buy - I almost always I recommend Nikon D3100. In this review you can find information only about Nikon D3100 Points - that is, only about the camera itself without a lens. Nikon D3100 usually comes with an inexpensive lens kit, such a kit is called a 'kit kit'. Nikon D3100 with lens Nikkor 18-55mm F3.5-5.6VR is the most common option. If the complexity of an SLR camera is scary - do not be afraid, a special explanatory GUIDE mode is built into the camera, which will tell and tell everything. If the whale lens is not satisfactory, then at the end of this review, I give some tips for choosing good and inexpensive lenses.
View of Nikon D3100 from different sides
Nikon D3100 has excellent featureswhich are wired into a very light and small camera body. It has everything you need, from a 14.2 MP matrix, to the ability to shoot video in Full HD quality 1920 × 1080.
Key Features of Nikon D3100
1. The first thing to remember is that APS-C a camera in which, in comparison with the classic 3 mm film, the matrix is reduced. The matrix area of this baby is 5 times smaller than that of professional giants such as Nikon D800 or Nikon D3s. And at the same time, the area of the matrix (matrix value) same as for more advanced cameras Nikon D7100, D300s, D7000 и D5200... The matrix is the heart of a DSLR. The quality of photographs depends very much on its value. Therefore, picking up Nikon D3100, you can be sure that you can get photos from it no worse than on a very expensive professional Nikon D300s.
Nikon D3100 vs Nikon D40 size comparison
2. The Nikon D3100 sensor has crop factor in 1.5x. If you decide to use a cropped digital SLR camera, then you should understand that when using full-frame lenses, the viewing angle will be less than on Full Frame cameras. This is neither bad nor good. On the one hand, the TV range automatically increases, and on the other hand, the wide angle becomes a luxury. If you haven’t shot a film or a full frame before, then this remark about crop factor you can’t take it to heart.
Sample photo on Nikon D3100
3. Yes, the small Nikon D3100 has as many 14.2 Megapixels... This is really a lot, and if you megapixels are importantthen the Nikon D3100 will be just right. More megapixels, at the moment, only at Nikon D5100, D7000, D3x, D4, D800,D800E, D3200, D5200, D600, D610, D810, D4, D4s. If someone wants to be happy for the little Nikon D3100, then know that 14,2MP give 4608 x 3072 more pixels than expensive professional Nikon D3s, Nikon D3, Nikon D700, Nikon D300s etc. But, in fact, the number of megapixels does not affect the image so much. Their huge number is most likely just a marketing ploy. You can read my little note on the topic Battle of Megapixels.
Sample photo on Nikon D3100
4. ISO limits. Nikon D3100 can change its value ISO 100 to 12.800... Although, in fact, only from 100 to 3200, the values 6400 and 12800 are a kind of software cheat, even in the camera settings they are denoted by a tricky one - ISO HI1 and ISO HI2. I strongly advise against shooting at high ISO values. For comparison, Nikon D90, Nikon D300, Nikon D300s has an ISO 6400 ceiling.
Sample photo on Nikon D3100
5. Everyone is probably interested in the noise of the matrix. Understand correctly, any matrix will make noise at high ISO, even Nikon D4 with its ISO 204.800. There is only one question here - to what extent this or that noise level is acceptable for a person. With a camera for amateur shooting, it is quite possible to shoot at ISO up to 3200. Considering that this is an amateur camera, I have no complaints about the noise level at high ISO. Here sample photo without processing at high ISO, no noise reduction enabled, exported directly from RAW at ISO 3200 - View Example.
Example photo on Nikon D3100
6. 3 frames per second. Speed is enough for many types of shooting. I recommend always thinking, but do you need more than 1 frame per second? Yes, there are sports photographers, wedding photography and many other commercial areas of photography, where speed plays an important role, but you should not demand a high rate of fire from an amateur camera. It is unlikely that anyone will be filming a serious report or wedding on the Nikon D3100. I have enough head speed of 2.5 frames per second on my favorite Nikon D40, and the same 3 frames per second on Nikon D80.
Nikon D3100 - sample photo
7. Autofocus. Focus system consists of 11 points. This is very good news for all Nikon D1 users. D1h, D1x, D100, D40, D40x, D50, D60, D70, D70swho are planning to upgrade. Focusing with 11 points is very convenient. Focus points as many as cameras Nikon D90, D5000, D5100, D200, D80, D2hs, D2x, D2xs, D2h. Nikon Multi-CAM1000 is responsible for focusing. I had this focusing system on Nikon D90, there is no doubt about the quality of her work. You can read more about focusing systems on Nikon cameras here.
Nikon D3100 - sample photo
8. Display. 3-inch display, large, beautiful, contrasting, the same size as the Nikon D5000, Nikon D5100. The only thing is that he has only 230.000 points displaying information. More advanced cameras have over 900,000 points.
9. Video. Yes, Nikon D3100 can shoot Full HD 1920 × 1080 video. I am not a specialist in video quality. A nice innovation is the factor that the D3100 has autofocus when shooting video. For example, Nikon D90, D3s, D5000 does not auto focus when shooting movies. Autofocus is activated when the shutter button is pressed halfway, or is always on in mode AF-C... You can shoot at lower quality to save memory. The Live View button is combined with the start / stop button for video recording - it's very convenient. In video mode, aperture control is not available, to change the aperture values, you must first turn off Live View, set the desired aperture value, then turn Live View back on and start shooting.
Nikon D3100 - sample photo (ISO 12.800 - in EXIF somehow not impressed)
10. The camera uses SD Flashcards. You can also use very high-capacity SDXCs. My device handles 32GB well SD HC Class 10. This is an important parameter; the speed of the camera depends on the speed of the card. A regular RAW file weighs on average 11-15 MB, 1 minute of FULL HD video weighs on average 150 MB. A JPEG L photo weighs on average from 3 to 8 MB.
11. The camera has a nice menu. The menu is made in the classic Nikon style. Everything is clear and accessible.
Photo on Nikon D3100
12. The camera is very compact and light. Weight is very important for the average camera user. The weight of the camera is one of the smallest among all DSLRs at Nikon. Nikon D3100 is even lighter for Nikon D40. Weight is very important, for example, when take pictures on a hike. The battery also holds a charge well, and without a flash it works out about 1000 frames.
Nikon D3100 has many other useful things:
- dust matrix cleaning system
- fast processor expeed 2
- auto adjustment distortions
- airflow control system to prevent matrix contamination
- Live View Focus Mode
- many tips on the menu and during shooting
- good built-in flash
- excerpt from 30s to 1 / 4000s
- outputs for connecting to a computer and TV, port for GPS
- Active D-lighting (which is either on or off).
- Frame buffer puts 13 RAW files. Oddly enough, but the buffer is more than advanced Nikon D90, which has only 11 frames in the buffer for RAW. With this buffer, you can shoot continuously for more than 4 seconds in high-speed mode.
Example photo on the Nikon D 3100
Disadvantages
This is an entry-level amateur Nikon digital SLR camera, therefore, it is not worth demanding anything more from it. But still, by the camera no focus motorthat will not allow the use of autofocus with cheap non-motor optics, for example, with the legendary Nikon 50mm F1.8D. At the camera no quick flash sync, minimum is 1 / 200s. Also, there is no flash control command mode, additional monochrome display. The camera does not know how to work with manual (old, without a microprocessor) type lenses AI-S. RAW files are available only with 12 bit color depth and with automatic compression. There is no rotary display and many other useful things.
Very often there is a choice of the first SLR camera among models Nikon D3000, D3100, D3200. Of course, everything new is always better than the old one, here is a comparative plate of the main parameters of these three cameras:
| D3000 | D3100 | D3200 | |
| Exit time | December 2009 | December 2010 | July 2012 |
| Matrix | CCD | CMOS | CMOS |
| RAW color depth | 12 bit | 12 bit | 12 bit |
| Number of megapixels | 10,03 | 14,2 | 24,06 |
| Burst Speed | 3 fps | 3 fps | 4 fps |
| Maximum ISO | 1600,00 | 3200,00 | 6400,00 |
| Maximum Extended ISO | 3200 (Hi1) | 12.800 (Hi1) | 12.800 (Hi1) |
| Video length | No | 10 minutes | 20 minutes |
| Video | No | 1920 x 1080 24p | 1920x1080 30p |
| Display | 3.0 inches, 230.000 points | 3.0 inches, 230.000 points | 3.0 inches, 921.000 points |
| Focus module | Nikon Multi-CAM 1000 | Nikon Multi-CAM 1000 | Nikon Multi-CAM 1000 |
| Number of Focus Points | 11,00 | 11,00 | 11,00 |
| Measurement exposure | 420-segment RGB sensor | 420-segment RGB sensor | 420-segment RGB sensor |
| Matrix cleaning | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Memory cards | SD,SDHC | SD, SD HC, SDXC | SD, SD HC, SDXC |
| Weight without battery, g | 485,00 | 455,00 | 455,00 |
| Color Depth * (dxomark) | 22,30 | 22,50 | 24,10 |
| Dynamig Range * (dxomark) | 11,1 | 11,50 | 13,20 |
| Low-Light ISO * (dxomark) | 563,00 | 919,00 | 1131,00 |
It can also be noted that the Nikon D3100 uses a pentaser mirror, a cheaper version of the pentaprism with 95% frame coverage. The camera does not support remote control, no bracketing and the camera has a new battery, not like in D3000That does not allow to combine batteries and chargers.
Example photo on the Nikon D 3100
Personal impressions
The camera is very, very similar to its predecessors. The design looks a lot like Nikon D60, D3000. The only thing added a Live View button and a convenient switch of the shooting method. To the left of the camera there are cracks for microphone. The camera is really very light and small, almost the same as a baby Nikon D40. I recommend Nikon D3100 to anyone who wants an inexpensive DSLR with video function.
Example photo on Nikon D3100
Important Note
If you choose your first DSLR, pay attention to the fact that the quality of photos depends very much on other parameters than on the camera. I wrote in more detail in my article - It is important how to take pictures, and not by what means. I note that I'm still shooting on the simplest Nikon D40.
At low ISO, the image itself depends little on the camera - the whole photo, its dynamics, color, tonal transitions, etc. very much depend on the lens and on camera shooting mode (saturated, portrait, etc.). Here sample image at ISO 3200 original resolution.
Recommendations
If there is free money, it would not be bad to buy a pretty fast lens, it could be Nikon 35mm F1.8AF-S и Nikon 50mm AF-S F1.8, in order to unleash the potential of the camera. The whale lens that comes with the kit can be used as a good option to achieve a wide viewing angle. If you have a lens Nikon 18-105mm f / 3.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S DX Nikkorthen they can shoot anything. What if 18-200mm - then this is one of the best options for all occasions.
Also, you can configure the Fn programmable button on the camera, I configure it to choose ISO. Before photographing set the shooting mode correctlyfor example, setting VI (saturated) for sharp and vibrant photos.
The camera has a super trick. When working with optics in manual focusing mode, the Rangefinder function can be used. The function helps you focus through the optical viewfinder. I am a big fan of manual optics, such as Helios-81H, therefore, along with Live View, this is an indispensable thing for improving manual focusing. But, as it turned out, Rangefinder does not work with manual optics, so it upset me a lot.
Example photo on Nikon D 3100
Prices for modern Nikon cameras in popular stores can look at this link.
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Conclusions
Nikon D3100 great camera for beginner photographers and for people who just need a good photo without unnecessary problems. Also, the camera shoots Full HD video with autofocus. Nikon D3100 is a compact, inexpensive and functional camera. It is enough to turn on the camera, remove the lens cap and press the shutter button and the sophisticated DSLR will do its job with a bang. Recommend.
Material prepared Arkady Shapoval. Training/Consultations | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Telegram
Thank you for a very informative and interesting article. I have nikon d3100 18-55 kit since May 2012. Considering buying a 35mm f / 1.8G AF-S DX Nikkor lens. but I was confused by some "things" - which means "bending the picture" (sorry. I don't understand this). so I doubt which fix is better and more optimal (and more universal). I love subject shooting. architecture. Thanks in advance.
This means there is distortion - https://radojuva.com.ua/2012/12/distorsia-about/
Thanks for the quick response. I read an article about distortion. But I still have not figured out the choice of lens .. I think once again to review the review 35mm f / 1.8G AF-S DX Nikkor.
35t is pretty good :)
If you can give links here. look at my photos and maybe then advise me which lens is better to choose (http://fotokto.ru/id9363/photo) I study, I do not pretend to be professional, but I would like to improve the quality also thanks to the correct optics.
Will this camera work for beginners?
Yes, that’s fine.
thank :)
Hello Arkady. Tell me please how to find out the reasons for the appearance of black dots? Can it be exchanged for kenon 550,600 or 650?
Describe exactly which points.
Hello . I want to buy a DSLR. Arkady, what do you recommend?
Here are thoughts on this - https://radojuva.com.ua/2013/01/what-camera-nikon-shoud-i-buy/
Good day. Please advise which lens hood you can buy for Nikon d3100? or is it only better to filter?
First you need to know what lens lens hood is being bought.
Oh, I forgot to indicate. on an ordinary whale.
please tell me whether it is possible to use a serial shot with a flash in a Nikon D 3100 camera?
Yes, you can, if you use an external flash.
Arkady, please tell me.
I choose my first DSLR, I'm going to shoot for my family - at home, on the street, in nature.
Hesitating between Nikon D5100kit and Nikon D3100 body + AF-S DX Nikkor 18-105mm f / 3.5-5.6G ED VR.
Before that I used only soap dishes.
Thank you
You can find optional thoughts here - https://radojuva.com.ua/2013/01/what-camera-nikon-shoud-i-buy/
Hello Arkady! Sorry, I don’t understand how Nikon D3100 differs from Nikon D3100kit. The price is different. I don’t know which one to buy ..
kit - a camera with a lens, just D3100 - without a lens.
Arkady, tell me how to make the current plan blurred
Very simple, for this read my dedicated article on this topic - https://radojuva.com.ua/2012/01/dof-best-lens-photo/
Hello. Tell me, if I buy a conventional filter for a whale lens, for example, Digicare 52mm MC-UV, then will the lens cover be put on top of it or will I have to twist the filter each time? and in general, how important is the filter even for a whale lens?
The cover can be put on the filter. The importance of the protective filter is written here - https://radojuva.com.ua/2011/09/protect-foto-filter/
Hello. Arkady, please tell me what kind of flash you need to buy for the Canon 600d? Thank you very much…
I advise you to look at native Canon flashes, usually the more expensive the flash, the better.
Hello. Arkady, help me decide, I choose a camera for everyday needs (home photo, excursions, sometimes landscapes, etc.), there has never been a mirror before. The choice is between the Nikon D3100 Kit 18-105 VR and the Nikon D5100 Kit 18-55 VR. The budget is limited, I myself am more inclined to Nikon D5100 Kit 18-55 VR due to the novelty of the model. Will a 18-55 VR lens be enough for me as a beginner? Thank you in advance.
Yes, the lens will do for starters, but the 18-105 is more comfortable. Find your thoughts on choosing a camera / lens here - https://radojuva.com.ua/2013/01/what-camera-nikon-shoud-i-buy/
Good afternoon, such a question regarding the UC-E4 lanyard, it can be replaced with the usual miniUSB (USB A - USB B)
Or just a native?
Thank you.
I asked myself I will answer, I checked it by my own example by experience. It works.
Therefore, the original lace can easily be replaced with the Chinese analog miniUSB.
No big expense.
Hello! Tell me what is better to buy for home photography of children D3100 or Nikon 1 J1 + 10-30 VR or Nikon 1j2 + 10-30VR ??? Thank you in advance!!!
Hello! Arkady please help, I bought a nikon D3100 in December, it’s a terrible photo, I’ve already reviewed all the forums, I don’t know, I can’t figure it out, in a month digitals I learned the geodesy program, and then there’s such a park. Please tell me, there’s something for the teapot, otherwise I don’t go to sleep at night, and the pictures are not clear, blurry, out of 100, 3 pieces of this to myself, but according to reviews, a golden camera, how can I find this treasure. With respect to Elvira)))
Try to contact the service center, most likely there is something wrong with the camera. If there is no desire to contact the service, read carefully the instructions from cover to cover, something may be clarified.
Arkady, there are no instructions, that's the problem, maybe you could have looked at a few of my photos and pointed out the mistakes, I invited you as a friend in contact. The video is excellent, I think the problem is in me, not in the camera, as my husband-mechanic says, “the problem is the gasket between the relay and the graying”, I think I have the same problem, thanks)))
Hello. Arkady tell me when cleaning the matrix Nikon D 3100 should there be sound?
It may be light and weak, but usually it is almost inaudible.
Arkady, help with the choice please! I always really wanted to learn how to photograph, something attracted this business or something. Well, I want my first SLR camera, but I just can't decide between Nikon D3100 and Nikon D5100. I really want to learn many of the intricacies of photography, but so far there is no opportunity to practice, I read various blogs (including yours, you helped me a lot to understand a lot of things). The camera is needed, so to speak, with a "perspective" because there will be no opportunity to change it very soon. What will you advise?
It is better to take the d3100 and for money for the difference between 5100 buy a better lens.
And which lens do you recommend? I like Helios 81H and Helios 44-2.
how to remove the grid? it appears when I want to take pictures! tell me please. D3100 camera
Hi Arkady. Here recently I asked you a question about choosing a Sigma 70-300mm or Nikonovsky 50-200 lens, and as a result I bought Tamron 70-300 because often when choosing photo equipment we are also guided by the financial side of the issue, the tamron defeated the sigma because it turned out to be cheaper (bought with hands), just like two months ago it was with the choice of a camera, Nikon 3100 won with the price and I do not regret it, the little things that are present on 5100 or 3200 are not significant, and often reading your and not only your articles about the photo all this technique starting from Nikon 3000 to 5100 and even 5200 m it doesn’t seem possible to put it on one line, this is of course my personal opinion. But I have a question, here’s buying a lens (Tamron 70-300) that outweighs the weight of the camera, and Nikon 3100 is the smallest of all Nikon DSLRs, carrying a camera on its strap ,, bites his nose, that is, it’s practically impossible to wear it around the neck, are there completely wide neck belts that do not taper in the eyes, otherwise it turns out that there is a normal belt only on the neck and everything below the shoulders has some strings, in net I did not find such belts .Thanks
a camera like a simple schoolboy if not a change ??? why admire them ??? Moreover, it is sold with such a lens and exorbitant prices - it does not cost its money. It does not produce anything unusual. it's not for nothing that they say that simple soap is almost everywhere irreplaceable.
Good day! Arkady, tell me how to photograph objects at a distant distance (for example, a person at a distance of 150-200m) But so that in the photo he was as if I took a picture of him from a distance of 2-5 m. ... It doesn't work like that here! Nikon d3100 18-55 VR kit. thanks
To do this, you will have to use a special telephoto lens, such as https://radojuva.com.ua/2011/10/obzor-nikon-70-300mm-f-4-5-5-6g-ed-if-af-s-vr-zoom-nikkor/
and with my whales, how far can I “reach” (in meters) to get normal photos?
Look at 55mm in the viewfinder, what you see will be the limit in reaching.
I agree with all the pros and cons. Just seem like the author of the posted pictures managed to set the F3100 riddle on the nikon d18 55-2,8 kit !!!!. please share your mental abilities. thanks in advance.
This is a review of the Nikon D3100 body, not the kit, and I did not mention anywhere that I shot at 18-55, everything was shot at 35 1.8.
If you are writing this review of the Nikon D3100 body, then share how you shot it at all, and this review of the glass is a different topic. cabbage soup from the ax, too, cook.
I already answered, be more careful, everything is shot at 35 1.8. The review deals with the body camera itself without reference to the lens.
Good afternoon, Arkady, please tell me as a specialist, I will be very grateful! In May 2012, my wife bought a Nikon d3100 with an ordinary kit lens, the camera is comfortable and I like everything except that after six months of normal use on rare occasions and on holidays, they began to notice that in the pictures taken, and in different modes, some black dots (similar to noise), they are especially visible if you take a photo in low light, when zooming both on the screen of the DSLR and on the laptop, there are a lot of them (compared with Sony's simple soap dish, there is even better quality), from the beginning they thought that it was in the settings, although my wife only shoots in auto mode basically (I reset all the settings to the factory settings) - it didn't help! We sent a warranty service, they made diagnostics, but they did nothing except adjust the lens, they did not eliminate the reason, I want to hear your professional guesses, what do you think happened? Matrix marriage? The camera did not drop and was used carefully.
To know exactly what it is, you need to see a couple of photos live. It can be hot / broken pixels, but they should glow on the contrary.
Hello! Arkady, tell me, is it possible to use macro rings on the Nikor 18-55 mm whale lens? , and if so, what advise?
Only autofocus rings for Nikon can be used.
Good evening! Tell me, will the photos of the starry sky on the D3100 with a Nikor 55-200 lens normally come out? Thanks.
Watching exactly which photos you want to get. With a good tripod, something 55-200 can be removed :)
Thank you! And which lens is suitable for shooting the starry sky? Not too expensive? And will the d3100 itself pull out? Thanks!