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
If you use Helios 3100N on the D81 camera, will it be possible to focus with an electronic rangefinder?
if you want to be guided by the green point in the viewfinder, it is not always convenient in certain conditions, it does not guarantee accuracy, and it’s boring ...
The rangefinder will not work, but the focus confirmation will
Good afternoon, dear experts)
Please explain the difference between the lenses: AF-S 18-55mm f / 3.5-5.6G ED II, 18-55 DX, 18-55 VR
About millimeters is understandable, but everything else .. dark forest)
This is one and the same lens, they are of different versions, just the full name is often too lazy to write. Reviews on this site all of them are.
Thanks ))
Hello! Please tell me, is it possible to attach an electric soldering iron to the D3100 and, if so, why? Thank you in advance, Happy New Year! :)
Good evening! I bought a Nikon D3100. Tell me, the automatic sharpness adjustment stopped working, I checked all the settings more than once, nothing ... I don’t know what else to try. I used to take excellent pictures, now one disappointment ...
“Automatic adjustment of sharpness” - this is you, apparently, talking about autofocus? :-))))) Look at the lens, there is a small lever for switching focus modes “M” and “A”, so it should be in position “A”
Hello. Please tell me if the Tamron 18-200 / 3.5-6.3 XR Di II (IF) Macro lens is compatible with this device, and if so, are there any differences in the quality of images compared to the basic whale lens? In my case, the kit lens was 18-55mm kit
Tamron is worse.
Maybe someone is selling this camera. If in good condition and inexpensive - ready to discuss.
You can look at AUITO.RU FOR 13000r, for a warranty of up to 9 months.
In excellent condition (used little and carefully) with a whale of 18-55, I will give for 15000
Honestly, I don’t believe that at ISO 3200 there is absolutely no noise, I myself shot it for 3 years with this camera, but the noise is strong, for me the ceiling was iso 400, rarely in special cases it raised to 800, then it’s just complete horror, there’s not just noise, he is not fixable. I really noticed that when you shoot on the machine and the built-in flash turns on, the camera as if does not see the flash working and shows the data that would be if you shot without the flash, that is, high iso and noise are not visible. I basically changed the camera because of this because I love evening photography. But in general, the camera is great for beginners
By the way, iso 2200. 900 it does not have such steps for choosing iso /
Thank you for enlightening.
Tell me, is it worth taking now 3100 for 13000 or is it better to take 5200 for 20000? The price is per body.
Take Nikon D5100 for 15000. :)
Thank you, only we have it costs 18000, it's better to take 5200 all the same)))
looking for what
Hello. I want to hear the opinion of "Lynx" or Arkady: is it worth overpaying for 3200,3300,5100 with a whale lens or still take 3100 body + 35 (it is embarrassing that the model is old)
If he is studying, then for a start - more than a suitable kit, especially considering that such a kit can be taken within 15 thousand from hands.
About a year and a half I had a chance to shoot such a kit (well, a bit on Jupiter 37A, and Nikonovsky 70-300 VR)
Very nice kit.
Thank you, doubts have disappeared - 3100 and I'll take it (and Jupiter 37A was inherited)
Hello. There is D3100 and the desire to buy a lens for it without autofocus. In the review you wrote: “… But, as it turned out, Rangefinder does not work with manual optics…” Are we talking about the green focus indicator in the viewfinder? So the Rangefinder function won't work with all Non-AI, AI, AI-S but only with D-type lenses and younger?
the metering system will not work, i.e. only in manual mode.
The green dot will always work. (Well, except for the pinhole, but for monocles you will have to introduce an amendment)
You made a mistake about the remote control! it’s easy and convenient to control the camera with it))
Please tell me what could have happened if the camera icon is not displayed on the computer panel when you download photos? It used to be like this - you just connect the cord and immediately the camera icon pops up on the panel, but today I sat for 20 minutes and everything was dull, and I didn't download ... and when the cord was connected, there was a sound signal. Can I update where something is needed? Could you tell?
most likely the computer has disabled "autostart". is treated through the control panel.
Hello. There is a choice of d3300 with a whale, d3200 whale, or 3100 carcass plus a fixed 1.8 35 mm. Tell me what choice to make as a beginner. The photo is mainly a family in different settings. There may be a few portraits. Something I was thinking maybe it would be better to save on the carcass and immediately start taking normal optics, and then if the carcass changes a little. Or all the same, it is better to take 3300 and not save on the matrix and processor. At 3300 and 1,8, the wife does not allocate a budget :-)
for learning and family / child portraits, 35 mm is still better.
And if you want, change the carcass, all the more so since in the secondary market you can now find it for 7-10 thousand
Run 7000 frames .. With a whale 18-55 I will give for 14500… I will send it by mail.
New attack, friends, the photographing button did not work clearly. Usually it was like this: the click will also focus, but now it will focus and nothing, and so it will click 10 times. Previously, it was when I tried to shoot too close, but now it is always. Feeling stuck / sinking. Has anyone had this ??? Is it really only in service ??? So I don't want to give, I can't live a day without him, as without hands ...
before going to the service, you must set the focus mode on the camera to “M” (do not confuse with the shooting mode M, which is selected on the command dial, focus modes are AF-A, AF-S, AF-C, M) In manual focusing mode try taking a picture. This mode will also turn on if manual focus is enabled on the autofocus lens.
Usually this is just the included shooting with an interval, it is selected where the “serial” “remote control” is “with a delay”, etc.
Thanks a lot for the tips!
Good day. I would like to get advice from professionals. I would be very grateful for the help.
Nikon D3100 Camera There are whale 18-55, and Helios 44m. I want a new lens, universal. On a new, dear, there is no way, so I choose among used.
There are options - 1) Tamron AF 80-210mm F / 4.5-5.6 for Nikon AF-D
2) Nikon AF-S 55-200mm f / 4-5.6g ED VR
3) Nikon 18-70mm f3.5-4.5G ED-IF AF-S DX Zoom Nikkor - but autofocus does not work.
Options 1 and 2 are not general purpose lenses, but telephoto lenses.
Of these three, there is only one station wagon - 18-70. But since the difference between 18-55 and 18-70 is small + non-working autofocus, I would not advise you to take it.
If you need a station wagon, then pay attention to the 18-105 - both a station wagon and a budget price category.
If you still need a telephoto, then when choosing between Tamron 80-210 and Nikon 55-200, preference should be given to Nikon 55-200 for the simple reason that autofocus will not work on Tamron in combination with your carcass.
Good afternoon.
The choice will depend on what you plan to shoot. Options 1 and 2 are telephoto lenses. These are needed for shooting distant objects (sports, photography, shooting from a height ...). Option 3 is a standard focal length lens suitable for everyday shooting, convenient for travel. Optically better than whale 18-55. If autofocus does not work, most likely the lens has been dropped. It is worth taking only cheaply.
I have 55-200. Of course, there are better lenses, but for their price a very good option.
The question will not concern the choice of the camera, but rather its repair. I will describe in detail, suddenly little things will play a role. I have nikon d3100, most often there is an autofocus Nikkor 35 mm, less often I shoot Helios 81n and Jupiter 37a on Soviet manuals, all this is complemented by a puffed triopo. The beginning of the problem: I wanted to shoot with helios and jupiter, put aside the 35mm Nikkor and shot them with an external flash for two days (it is a sin for me to change lenses without turning off the camera, sometimes I also put puff without turning off the photo). After two days, I set up an autofocus Nikkor 35mm, but autofocus does not work on it (it works fine in manual, focus confirmation works). The phrase “autofocus does not work” means that when you half-press the button, the lens does not even try to focus. I put the kit 18-55, too, autofocus does not work (from the signs of life, when the stabilizer is turned on, when half-pressing, you can hear how it works). That is, the problem is not in the lens, but in the carcass.
To reduce the range of possible options: the lens and the camera itself have autofocus mode (af-s), there is no dirt on the contacts, I reset the settings, updated the firmware, tried to shoot in different modes.
Maybe someone came across this?
Tell me sony dsc-h300 or nikon d3100 i'm just a newbie and have the opportunity to take free in advance thanks
The question is posed incorrectly: you are comparing a superzoom soap box with a DSLR. If you learn how to use it, the photos from the D3100 will be AN ORDER higher quality, even with a whale lens. Therefore, I am for the latter. But it is worth considering that with a whale lens you will not be able to take close-up shots of “that girl on the other side of the lake”, although what you would have shot with the dsc-h300 could hardly be called a snapshot.
Your site is just a find for me. There is useful information in the sea. I have two SLRs Nikon d3100 and Canon 1100d. Using your tips, the quality level of the photo has grown decently. My opinion: not many mites from the photo can boast of such an understandable way of conveying information to the reader. Thanks to you I bought several lenses for the cameras. The result is amazing. I am very grateful to you for your help
Please tell me, I have a D3100 with an 18-55 lens, I shoot mostly moving vehicles, sometimes there is not enough zoom, tell me something better and more budget. Thank you