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
hello Arkady, I bought myself a d90 and now there was one problem with the “m” mode. with a flash the picture is excellent, but without it there is only a black square ... tell me how to fix it. thanks in advance.
Mode M (manual mode) assumes that you, the photographer, are in charge of the exposure. Therefore, in the M mode you need to twist "apertures and shutter speeds and all kinds of ISO". Of course, if you turn on the flash in M mode, the camera will try to compensate for underexposure with it, if this was the case with other settings. More details in the EXPOSITION section.
Hello, I need your hint. I bought myself a Nikon D3100 camera. Now I choose a lens: between nikon 50mm / f1.8 and Nikkon AF-S DX 18-105mm / f3.5-5.6. I understand that these are two different lenses - prime and zoom. In general, I like portrait photography when the background is well blurred (for this I bought a camera to get such photos) - it turns out that fifty dollars will do. But sometimes you want to photograph some beautiful picture (building or landscape), but for this I was told the first option would not work? This is true?
18-105 can also blur background, the blur is affected not only by the aperture, but also by the focal length. This will work best at 105mm, here's an example from this 105mm lens and Nikon D90 - http://wedding-photographer.tv/photosessions/session-10/content/emotion_photo_8_large.html
But if you still focus on the portrait, is it better to take a fifty dollars?
Given that I have a whale 18-55mm.
Arkady, and which lens would you recommend to me, as a beginner, from these two proposed?
Both.
Hello. I decided to photograph dynamic objects (birds) on the Nikon D90. blurred. no sharpness (which settings in this situation or modes are best used?
The main thing, you need a short exposure. Try S mode and auto ISO + AF-C tracking auto focus
Good day to all. please tell me what it is and what these numbers mean 1 / 5000sec or 1 / 1600sec and how they affect the quality of the picture.
Go to the section Shutter speed, everything is written for you :)
Hello, tell me which parameters are best used on the d90 when photographing dynamic objects (birds, cars).
The main thing, you need a short exposure. Try S mode and auto ISO + AF-C AF tracking.
I tried to photograph at night, but nothing was visible through the video finder, only dimly lit details. unable to focus. how to fix ? Is it possible to illuminate an object with a camera before shooting? and how to do it?
In poor conditions, manual focus using Live View is recommended. The camera has an autofocus backlight, you just need to turn it on and switch to AF-A or AF-S mode.
Hello Arkady! Thanks for the review, now I am thinking about buying this camera. But the lack of a focusing motor and, consequently, the high price of additional lenses with a motor (for example, "fifty dollars") confuses. Tell me, the kit lens 18-55 will not replace the “fixed fifty” in any way, right? So it doesn't blur the background very well, right? Then maybe it makes sense to buy a “carcass” with a motor and a whale lens, in this case what would you advise?
Yes, the whale lens does not blur the background well. On a camera with a motor, a whale lens will also blur the background badly. If you take a camera with a motor, then D7000, D300s, D300, D90, D80, D200 in descending order
Tell me, Arkady, is the AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 55-200 mm f / 4-5.6G IF-ED lens suitable for this camera? Or is it just the Nikkor AF-S DX 18-105mm f / 3.5-5.6G ED VR?
Both lenses are suitable, the AF-S + DX designation indicates this, well, and I myself used them on a similar camera.
Arkady, good afternoon! I choose between two cameras - Nikon D3100 and Canon D1100, from your professional point of view, what would you choose. Thank you in advance for your response.
Nikon D3100
Hello Arkady! I think what choice to make, either buy a Nikon D3100 with an 18-105mm lens, or take the same Nikon only Body, and buy only Nikkor 55-200 mm to it. Is it possible to make a choice in favor of one lens, the goal is a blurred background, portraits ...
For portraits, 55-200 is better suited, but you can limit yourself Nikon 50mm f / 1.8G AF-S Nikkor
what size filter is needed for nikon d90 (18-105) ???
The filter is needed not for the camera, but for the lens. In the review about 18-105, the diameter is indicated, and it is 67mm
Good afternoon, tell me please, I have a Nikon 3100 18-55 kit. I would like to buy an additional lens on it, which is better and they also said that lens lights are needed, to be honest, I do not understand anything about this. Advise if it's not difficult
For what purpose do you need another lens? If you do not understand anything, then the 18-55 whale lens will be quite enough for you and you will not have to spend extra money.
Hello, Arkady, I’ve been dreaming about buying a D3100 for a year now, saving up money. Now it is finally ripe for the acquisition of this camera, but there is a problem: lack of experience. I don’t know how to check it when buying, I myself can’t do it at the proper level. Maybe you will tell how to minimize risks and not buy defective goods. There is an official guarantee and all things, but I don’t want to, instead of enjoying the desired purchase, running around with it for six months at service centers and burning nerves. Anticipating your advice to come to the store with an experienced acquaintance, I’ll say that I don’t have one, and I’ve rarely visited the capital. Perhaps you will write to the soap proven points of sale or stores where experienced specialists will help you to do all the necessary tests in place (broken, hot pixels, dust on the matrix, marriage adjustment, front-, back focus, etc.), even if it will take some time. Thank you in advance for your help.
According to the law of Ukraine, you can return the goods within 14 days. During this time, you can understand the functioning. Unfortunately, even if you were an advanced user, it is not possible to find out all the nuances of work in a couple of minutes. The back \ front focus should be checked according to the tables, it is not always possible by eye. In general, worrying about the back \ front on a whale lens is not worth it. The camera should turn on and shoot, and what you shot should like you. There may be dead pixels, but on the display without a laptop they are damn difficult to check.
Yesterday a bookshelf fell on my case with d3100 and the shutter mirror jammed. can this be fixed manually? if not, is it worth contacting a repair service? and at what price can you sell it in this state along with 18-55?
You need to contact specialists. Whether or not you should contact the repair service is up to you. Repair, most likely, may not be difficult and cost a penny. Selling a broken camera is extremely difficult.
Hello. Please tell me (if you know) the numbers DD (dynamic range) of this camera. Or a link to some kind of website or Internet resource where you can find out and compare these numbers with other amateur (and not only) CZK. Thanks.
http://snapsort.com/cameras/Nikon/D3100/specs
THANK YOU SO MUCH
Arkady, such a question - how many units does the active D-Lighting include?
I can not say exactly.
Correct please "Autofocus is activated when you press the shutter button halfway." When you turn on the Continuous Servo Focus AF-C, the camera itself catches the focus and you do not need to press the shutter, it is a little quieter for some reason
I don’t understand something about the 35mm lens for the 3100 model. Is it worth taking it on this camera or not, how will it behave?
still interesting 18-105 what will it be at 3100
I have 18-55 as it is not so?
thanks in advance
Lenses are different for different purposes. Everything is written in the review. Nikon 35mm f / 1.8G AF-S DX Nikkor, Nikon 18-105mm f / 3.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S DX Nikkor и Nikon 18-55mm f / 3.5-5.6G ED II AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor
Arkady, if there is no question of filming a video on a camera, what is still better to take, d3100 or d3000?
Still better than 3100
and then 3100 or d90 in terms of photo quality, which is better? ..
The image quality is better than the Nikon D90.
where you can view all the possible pictures in dynamics under various weather conditions with descriptions of the parameters used.? preferably with nikon d90.
which focus is better to use auto or manual? (nikon d90)
It depends on what and how you need to remove. For sports, you need autofocus, for macro you need manual focus, and so on.
how to increase the recording time on nikon d90 &
Go to video mode 640 * 400