Product Summary
- Model name: Nikon D3100
- Release Date: August 19, 2010
- Focus Type: Autofocus / Manual
- Format : APS-C / Crop Sensor
- Mounts: Nikon
- Purchase options: Adorama | Amazon | B&H
Nikon D3100 Key Features
- 14.2 megapixel DX-format CMOS sensor
- 3.0″ LCD monitor (230,000 dots)
- Image sensor cleaning (sensor shake)
- 11 AF points (with 3D tracking)
- IS0 100-3200 range (12,800 expanded)
- HD movies (1080p, 720p or WVGA)
- Continuous shooting speed of 3 fps
- Lightweight only 455 grams (body only)
- Compatibility with Eye-Fi SD cards
- Viewfinder with BriteView Clear Matte Mark VII screen
- Easy to understand Guide Mode ideal for first time DSLR users
Features explained
Nikon’s affordable, compact and lightweight, the D3100 is an entry level DSLR from Nikon featuring a DX format 23.1mm x 15.4mm CMOS sensor. It offers a healthy 14.2 megapixels that should be more than enough for any type of photography.
ISO Range
The D3100 has an ISO sensitivity range of 100-3200. At Hi-1 and Hi-2 modes it is further sensitive to ISO 6400 and 12,800.
Auto-focusing points
When comparing between the D3100 and the entry level offerings from Canon such as the 1100D or the 550D and the 650D, they have only a 9 point auto-focusing system. The D3100 has a 11 point auto-focusing system. Technically though there is a difference, the extra 2 point does not make that much of a difference.
Viewfinder & coverage
The D3100 has an eye-level pentamirror SLR viewfinder. If you’re confused as to what is a pentamirror, then it is a cheaper variety to a more professional option of using a pentaprism. The brightness of the pentamirror viewfinder is less compared to a pentaprism viewfinder. The D3100’s viewfinder gives 95% frame coverage basically it means you capture more than you see through the viewfinder.
LCD Display
The back of the camera is dominated by a 3” 230,000 dots resolution TFT LCD monitor. This is probably where the D3100 really loses out on other entry level DSLRs. While other competitors have migrated to a brighter 921,000 dots or even 1,040,000 dots resolution, this leaves a lot to ask.
AF motor
However the D3100 has a definite disadvantage in the lack of auto-focusing capability with some of the older Nikkor lenses. These lenses don’t have an auto-focusing motor built in and rely on the AF motor of the camera which the cheaper entry level DSLRs like the D3100 does not have. If you’re planning to use a modern G type Nikkor lens or anything else which comes with a built-in auto-focusing motor then this camera is just perfect for you.
Stills & movies
The 14.2 megapixels sensor produces the largest image size (by pixels) of 4,608 x 3,072. The D3100 captures full HD movies in 24 fps. At 720p HD it can capture videos in 30 fps. The built in microphone can capture monaural sounds.
What’s missing & wish list
The camera can surely do with the option for plugging an external microphone jack. Also it does not have a built-in AF motor which makes it impossible to use older AF lenses.
Similar products
Two cameras immediately comes to my mind first is the Canon 550D/Rebel T2i and the 600D / Rebel T3i. They are both available at a similar price of $699. Another camera that should be mentioned is the Sony Alpha a65 which retails also at $699 but has one of the fastest continuous drive of 10 fps.
Should I buy it?
The D3100 is a very light DSLR something that should appeal to first time DSLR users. Although it’s more powerful and much younger sibling (D3200) has been out for a few months, the D3100 is still going strong. I hope Nikon keeps it going for some more time as it is a great camera. The D3100 is a lot lightweight too (455 grams without lens and battery). Comparing with some of the older models such as the D90 or the D40, the D3100 has certainly lost a lot of bulk. A good thing too, if you’re migrating from a compact / point & shoot and the thought of a big bulky DSLR intimidates you. Unless of course you have the money to indulge in a full frame DSLR or your definition of better photography begins with more megapixels then the D3100 is a perfectly good DSLR to begin with. Available at Adorama | Amazon | B&H
Images by Nikon D3100 on Flickr
Nikon D3100 Specifications
| Camera Type | Single-lens reflex digital camera |
| Mount | Nikon F bayonet mount |
| Sensor factor | Effective picture angle 1.5x (Approx.) conversion factor (Nikon DX format) |
| Effective Pixels | 14.2 million |
| Sensor Size | 23.1 x 15.4mm |
| Sensor Format | DX |
| Sensor Type | CMOS |
| Total Pixels | 14.8 million |
| Dust-reduction system | Image sensor cleaning Airflow Control System Image Dust Off reference data (optional Capture NX 2 software required) |
| Image Area (pixels) | DX-format (L) 4608 x 3072 (M) 3456 x 2304 (S) 2304 x 1536 |
| File Format | NEF (RAW) JPEG: JPEG-Baseline compliant with fine (approx 1:4), normal (approx 1:8), or basic (approx 1:16) compression NEF (RAW) + JPEG: Single photograph recorded in both NEF (RAW) and JPEG formats |
| Controls | Standard Neutral Vivid Monochrome Portrait Landscape |
| Storage Media | SD SDHC SDXC memory cards |
| File System | Compliant with DCF (Design Rule for Camera File System) 2.0 DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) EXIF 2.21 (Exchangeable Image File Format for Digital Still Cameras PictBridge |
| Viewfinder | Eye-level pentamirror single-lens reflex viewfinder |
| Viewfinder Frame Coverage | 95% horizontal 95% vertical Approx |
| Viewfinder Magnification | 0.80x (50mm f/1.4 lens at infinity; -1.0m-1) Approx |
| Viewfinder Eyepoint | 18mm (-1.0m-1) |
| Viewfinder Diopter Adjustment | -1.7 to +0.5m-1 |
| Focusing Screen | Type B BriteView Clear Matte Mark VII screen |
| Reflex Mirror | Quick-return type |
| Lens Aperture | Instant-return type Electronically controlled |
| Compatible Lenses 1 | AI-P NIKKOR: All functions supported except autofocus and 3D Color Matrix Metering II AF-S, AF-I: All functions supported Non-CPU: Can be used in mode M, but exposure meter does not function; electronic range finder can be used if maximum aperture is f/5.6 or faster IX Nikkor lenses cannot be used Electronic Rangefinder usable with lens with maximum aperture of f/5.6 or faster |
| Compatible Lenses 2 | Type G or D AF NIKKOR not equipped with an autofocus motor: All functions supported except autofocus AF-NIKKOR for F3AF not supported Other AF NIKKOR: All functions supported except autofocus and 3D color matrix metering II Type D PC NIKKOR: All functions supported except autofocus and some shooting modes |
| Shutter type | Electronically controlled vertical-travel focal-plane |
| Shutter Speed | 1/4000 to 30 sec. in steps of 1/3 EV, Bulb |
| Flash Sync Speed | Up to 1/200 sec, Synchronizes with shutter at 1/200s or slower |
| Shutter Release Modes | Single-frame [S] mode Continuous Self-timer mode Quiet Shutter Release |
| Frame Advance Rate | Up to 3 fps (manual focus, mode M or S, shutter speed 1/250 sec or faster, and other settings at default values) |
| Self-timer | 2 sec, 10 sec Timer duration electronically controlled |
| Exposure Metering System | TTL exposure metering using 420-pixel RGB sensor |
| Metering Method | Matrix: 3D color matrix metering II (type G and D lenses); color matrix metering II (other CPU lenses) Center-weighted: Weight of 75% given to 8-mm circle in center of frame Spot: Meters 3.5-mm circle (about 2.5% of frame) centered on selected focus point |
| Metering Range | 0 to 20 EV (Matrix or center-weighted metering at ISO 100 equivalent, f/1.4 lens, at 20 deg.C/68 deg.F) 2 to 20 EV (Spot metering at ISO 100 equivalent, f/1.4 lens at 20 deg.C/68 deg.F) |
| Exposure Meter Coupling | CPU |
| Exposure Modes | Auto modes ( auto, auto [flash off]) Scene Modes Programmed Auto with flexible Program (P) Shutter-Priority Auto (S) Aperture-Priority Auto (A) Manual (M) |
| Scene Modes | Portrait Landscape Child Sports Close-up Night Portrait |
| Exposure Compensation | ±5 EV in increments of 1/3EV |
| Exposure Lock | Luminosity locked at detected value with AE-L/AF-L button |
| ISO Sensitivity | ISO 100 to 3200 in steps of 1 EV Can also be set to approx. 1 EV above ISO 3200 (ISO 6400 equivalent) or to approx. 2 EV above ISO 3200 (ISO 12800 equivalent Auto ISO sensitivity control available |
| Expanded ISO Sensitivity Options | 1 EV above ISO 3200 (ISO 6400 equivalent) 2 EV above ISO 3200 (ISO 12800 equivalent) Approx. Auto ISO sensitivity control available |
| Active D-Lighting | On Off |
| Auto-area AF Mode | Single Area AF Dynamic-area Auto-area AF 3D-tracking (11 points) |
| Autofocus System | Nikon Multi-CAM 1000 autofocus sensor module with TTL phase detection |
| Detection Range | -1 to 19 EV (ISO 100, 68 deg.F/20 deg.C) |
| Lens Servo | Autofocus (AF): Single-servo AF (AF-S); Continuous-servo AF (AF-C); Auto AF-S/AF-C selection (AF-A); Predictive focus tracking activated automatically according to subject status |
| Focus Point | Can be selected from 11 focus points |
| Focus Lock | Focus can be locked by pressing shutter-release button halfway (single-servo AF) Focus can be locked by pressing AE-L/AF-L button |
| Built-in Flash | Yes Auto Portrait Child Close-Up Night portrait Auto flash with auto pop-up [P], [S], [A], [M] Manual pop-up with button release |
| Guide Number | 39/12, 43/13 with manual flash (ft/m, ISO 100, 68 deg.F/20 deg.C) Approx. |
| Flash Control | TTL: i-TTL balanced fill-flash and standard i-TTL flash for digital SLR using 420-pixel RGB sensor are available with built-in flash and SB-900, SB-800, SB-600, or SB-400 (i-TTL balanced fill-flash available when matrix or center-weighted metering) Auto aperture: Available with SB-900/SB-800 and CPU lens Non-TTL auto: Supported flash units include BS-900, SB-800, SB-80DX, SB-28DX, SB-28, SB-27, and SB-22S Distance-priority manual: Available with SB-900 and SB-800 |
| Flash Mode | Auto Auto with red-eye reduction Fill-flash Auto slow sync Auto slow sync with red-eye correction Rear curtain with slow sync |
| Flash Compensation | -3 to +1 EV in increments of 1/3 EV |
| Flash-ready indicator | Lights when built-in flash or optional flash unit such as SB-900, SB-800, SB-600, SB-400, SB-80DX, SB-28DX or SB-50DX is fully charged Blinks for 3 sec. after flash is fired at full output |
| Accessory Shoe | ISO 518 hot-shoe with sync and data contacts and safety lock |
| Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS) | Yes Advanced Wireless Lighting supported with SB-900, BS-800, SU-800 as commander; Flash Color Information Communications supported with built-in flash and all CLS-compatible flash units |
| Flash Sync Terminal | Sync Terminal Adapter AS-15 (available separately) |
| White Balance | Auto Incandescent Fluorescent (7 types) Direct Sunlight Flash Cloudy Shade Preset Manual All except preset manual with fine tuning |
| Live View Shooting | Yes |
| Live View Lens servo | Autofocus (AF): Single-servo AF (AF-S); full-time-servo AF (AF-F) Manual focus (MF) |
| Live View AF-area mode | Face-priority AF Wide-area AF Normal-area AF Subject-tracking AF |
| Live View Autofocus | Contrast-detect AF anywhere in frame (camera selects focus point automatically when face-priority AF or subject-tracking AF is selected |
| Live View Scene Auto Selector | Auto mode Auto (flash off) mode |
| Movie Metering | TTL exposure metering using main image sensor |
| Movie Metering method | Matrix |
| Movie Frame size (pixels) and frame rate | 1920 x 1080 (24p): 24 fps (23.976 fps) 1280 x 720 (30p): 30 fps (29.97 fps) 1280 x 720 (25p): 25 fps 1280 x 720 (24p): 24 fps (23.976 fps) 640 x 424 (24p): 24 fps (23.976 fps) |
| Movie Maximum recording time | 10 min |
| Movie File Format | MOV |
| Movie Audio recording format | Linear PCM |
| Movie Audio recording device | Built-in monaural microphone |
| Monitor Size | 3 in. diagonal |
| Monitor Resolution | 230,000 Dots |
| Monitor Type | TFT-LCD with brightness adjustment |
| Playback Functions | Full frame Calendar Thumbnail (4, 9 or 72 images) Zoom Movie Playback Slideshow Histogram display Highlights Auto image rotation Image Comment (up to 36 characters) Highlight point display |
| Interface | Hi-speed USB Video output: NTSC, PAL HDMI output: Type C mini-pin HDMI connector Accessory terminal: Remote cord: MC-DC2 (available separately); GPS unit: GP-1 (available separately) |
| GPS | GP-1 GPS unit |
| Supported Languages | Chinese (Simplified and Traditional) Dutch English Spanish Finnish French Italian German Japanese Korean Polish Portuguese Russian Swedish Czech Norweigon Turkish |
| Battery / Batteries | EN-EL14 Rechargeable Li-ion Battery |
| AC Adapter | EH-5a AC Adapter Power Connector EP-5a available separately |
| Tripod Socket | 1/4in (ISO1222) |
| Operating Environment | 32 to 104 deg.F (0 to 40 deg.C) Less than 85% (no condensation) |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 4.9 x 3.8 x 2.9in / 124.46 x 96.52 x 73.66mm |
| Weight | 16oz / 455g camera body only |
Product Images
Additional Info
Purchase options
Nikon D3100 available at Adorama | Amazon | B&H