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. And another question. I want to take off the sunset and then make it in accelerated mode up to 4 minutes. but for this you need three or four hours to record it. Nikon D90 camera. tell me whether it is possible to synchronize the camera and laptop so that recording is not limited by time.
Video recording is limited to matrix overheating. It is unlikely to be able to synchronize.
Alexander, good day! The method of shooting “accelerated” video described by you is called timelapse. To implement it, you absolutely do not need to write a video for several hours, and then speed it up. It is enough for a given time (4 hours in your case) to take separate photos at approximately equal intervals of time (for example, 1 minute), without changing the exposure parameters (you want to shoot a sunset, it is important that everything around becomes darker and darker). The resulting frames already on the computer will be easy to assemble into animation or video =)
many thanks. I will try =)
Thanks for the review! As always, everything is written clearly and in the case. Tell me if the D3100 will work with the Industar-61 L / D lens and if the adapters are boring. If so, which ones?
Yes, it will, only in macro mode. More details in the Soviet optics section.
Arkady, please help with advice!
Yesterday I discovered that the modes on the camera stopped switching. The wheel turns, but mode A (aperture priority) is constantly displayed, others do not want to work. Twisted the automatic ones - they change, but not correctly. Close-up shot indicates portrait mode ... What could be the problem?
Most likely the mode wheel jumped. Repair will be inexpensive.
Please tell me how to take macro photos correctly? Yesterday I took a photo, but does not take the depth of a flower ...
Please tell me about the macro mode, or you took a picture of a flower yesterday, but you didn’t take a gruff of it (that is, the middle is a close-up).
On the Whale lens, macro photography in the sense that you need does not work. For macro you need a specialized lens for a SLR camera. But, how to squeeze the maximum macro you can read here https://radojuva.com.ua/2011/11/fotoxitrosti-chast-2/
I like the camera, even the whale one. you can achieve good results) now I want to choose a lens that is more portraiture, but at the same time versatile, for different types of shooting, tell me plz *) I'm thinking about 55-200 and 70-300, I read the reviews and I can't decide, help me choose between them or advise another) I am an amateur, and do not really understand all their parameters ... tell me only available please)))
If you are not going to upgrade the camera, then the 55-300 may be a great option, and it’s a bit more versatile because of the greater coverage of the focal length range. 70-300 is more suitable for full-frame cameras.
Hello Arkady! Excellent review as well as everyone else. But o5 added me a headache)). I choose the first DSLR but I don’t understand anything from them only from your reviews. I have already abandoned my hobby, now I want to return). The choice is 3100 18-55 + 55-200 and over time which thread is 50. or 5100 18-55 but the lens is not yet soon then, finances are running out. I photograph nature, portraits (with friends at events), sometimes a subject. Experience current on film zenith a little Fed (soap boxes do not think so))). Tell me pzhlsa carcass 5100kit for growth or already now 3100 but + lenses)). At night already dreaming. :) Thank you in advance.
5100 - the same class, it is not for growth. For growth D7000, D600, D800. Therefore, I advise you to take the d3100 and shoot. The D3100 is a very good place to start right now.
So I will. Now I am absorbing your articles on the site with interest. addictive. Thank you very much for the advice and for your work.
Do not forget about helping the project.
pancake! shot on soap dsc W 30
super there are examples
I bought a week ago D3100 I study, I study, I read, I am looking for all the ATP for advice
Tell me, please, how to enable auto zoom on the Nikon 18-105mm f / 3.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S lens, nikon d3100 camera. Or am I not asking that. Enlighten the idiot.
Nikon DSLR cameras do not support auto zoom. Zoom requires a lot of effort, because it is still manual. You need to zoom using a special ring on your lens.
Question: is there auto-zoom (nikon 18-105 vr lens, nikon d3100 camera), if so, how to turn it on. Enlighten the idiot.
All Nikon digital SLR cameras do not have auto zoom.
Hello Arkady! Thank you for the excellent site and the materials in it! I ask you to give advice to an amateur photographer without specific preferences on the shooting subjects, whether it is worth changing the nikon d3100 with a whale of 18-55 to a nikon d90 complete with 18-105, or is it more reasonable to buy extra for d3100. lenses, say budget 55-200 and fix 50 and there will be more sense from this. Thanks in advance for your advice.
I do not recommend changing the d3100 to d90 for an amateur. Optional lenses will help improve image quality. For example, I still have a D40 in use with 50 1.4G, I am very pleased with the pictures.
Arkady, you are super !!!
Hello!
Long thought what series of nik to buy and stopped on this model (nickname 3100).
There is a dilemma:
I decided to buy without whales (18-55 and 55-200), and with Nikon 50mm f / 1.8G AF-S (+ Helios 44-6 and Jupiter37 are already available from old Soviet devices (which I never used)) ...
Is this a good set for a beginner amateur or can anything else be bought more seriously?
Objectives: portraits and reporting.
Kind and knowledgeable people, please tell me the options ..!
Hello!
bought this model from 18-135
but I read that you can’t take pictures of 3100 at weddings, which lens is needed to fully reveal the possibilities?
To reveal all the possibilities you need about 10 tons of lenses. The camera features are revealed more by the photographer himself. For what purposes do you plan to use the D3100?
Hello! I can't figure out what happened to the camera. I bought it two days ago. I started to study in automatic mode. Everything seems to be clear. But today the camera does not work in the car. When you half-press the button, focus is lost, something clicks. I understand that the camera cannot focus, so the button is blocked. But it's worth the AF-A autofocus. What to do. The son took the camera, maybe he changed what settings. What to look for. In my understanding, in auto mode, everything should work by pressing one button. If you can tell me “where the dog is buried”. When you switch the "А / М" button manually, everything works. Thank you in advance.
If it clicks when focusing, then this is most likely a problem in the lens. If it is a whale 18-55, then they often break.
Hello, tell me please. I want to buy a DSLR, but I can’t decide which one is better to take D3100 or D90, this will be the first SLR camera, so I can not decide =)
As the first DSLR for simple needs, the D3100 is better.
Hello.
Considering that the price difference between the D3100 and the D5100 is now about UAH 1000, do you think that it is better for a beginner to take the D3100 as the first DSLR? In addition to the better matrix, I only highlight the advantage in the better screen (by the way, in practice, is the D5100 noticeably higher resolution?) And exposure bracketing. Although I would also like to know about the latter - how useful is it in practice?
And if you believe the characteristics, on the D5100 the matrix is still slightly larger in physical size.
all cropped cameras have matrices of the same physical size (+ - tenths of a percent). Bracketing is not a very useful thing. I believe that if there is money - D5100, if there is no money - then D3100.
Thanks for the answer, we will think more. :)
And another question - how important is stabilization in a whale lens? There are variants with 18-55mm ED II and 18-55mm VR, the former being noticeably cheaper.
Important enough, I recommend it)
Thanks again for the answer and for the wonderful site with interesting content. :)
Hello. Please tell me which Soviet lenses fit Nikon 3100d without an adapter?
Like these ones
MS Helios-81N 50mm F2.0 (triple name Arsat-H 50mm F2.0)
MS Helios-123N 50mm F1.4 (second name Arsat-H 50mm F1.4)
MS Zenitar-N 16mm F2.8 Fisheye
MS Mir-73N 20mm F2.8 (second name ARSAT H 2,8 / 20)
Mir-20N 20mm F3.5
MS Mir-24N 35mm F2.o
MS Kaleinar-5N 100mm F2.8 (second name ARSAT H 2,8 / 100)
Tele-H 200mm F3.5
MS Granite-11N 80-200mm F4.5 (second name Arsat 80-200 1: 4.5)
MS Mir-47N 20mm F2.5
MS Jasper-4N (I dream to find it and test it)
MS Wave-8 50mm F1.2
MS Bearing-H 8mm F3.5
MS Zenitar N 50mm F1.7 (F2.0) (the availability of the H version is not known exactly)
MS Amber 14H F2.8-4 28-85mm
For more information on lens compatibility, see Soviet lenses.
Arkady thank you for the useful site and articles !!! I would like to ask if there is an opportunity to buy this camera. How to take kit or body? I am offered to take the NIKON D3100 Kit 18-55VR and 55-200VR. I need macro photography, animals, children. And just like a lot of macro shooting, there are also a lot of shooting in motion (sporting events) Please help. If not these lenses then which ones?
Better to take a whale kit to begin with. Very often, the desire to shoot macro disappears when you are seriously confronted with it.
Thanks for the answer. But I need to shoot macro at work and I had to look for new equipment, the choice fell on this camera. Now you need to decide on the lenses. Kitov can shoot macro and if so, which of the three presented. It is advisable that both macro and sports and a portrait could fit in. Here are the requests, but alas, there’s no one else to ask you.
It’s a pity, we haven’t come up with such a universally macro-sports lens. Each task requires a separate lens, but it may be enough to start a whale kit.
Very grateful for the answer.
Arkady, what is the best lens for portrait photography? I want the highest quality ...
PS Fotik D3100
For the Nikon D3100 there will be a good Nikon 50mm F1.4G and Nikon 85mm F1.8G
And this one will be much worse?
35mm f / 1.8G AF-S DX Nikkor
For a portrait - yes, it bends the picture (distortion).
Will the Nikon 50mm F1.4G lens fit the D3100 in terms of crop factor?