Nikon D3100

amazon Nikon D3100 reviews

Advantage:
+ Low price, not expensive.
+ Excellent image quality, accurate color.
+ Large LCD screen, 3-inch.
+ Continuous AF during stills and video.
+ The console easily, mode Guide (Guide Mode) useful for new users.
+ Body compact than DSLRs in general.
+ Large resolution of 14.2 million pixels.
+ Full HD video capture, full manual mode when shooting video.
+ High ISO 12,800, good noise reduction at high ISO.

Disadvantages:
– Noise heard clearly from the lens in focus during video recording.
– There is no microphone input.
– VIEWFINDERS small.
– Slow Speed ​​AF.
– The LCD screen has a low resolution, lack of sharpness

14.2-megapixel Nikon D3100 DSLR is of great model at entry-level, and the current price of about 12 million (including the 18-55mm lens) is the cheapest price for a DSLR shoot 1080p video sample . It also includes a feature that no other DSLR cameras, which are continuous autofocus during video recording, brings a touch D3100 camera like a professional.

The camera can detect faces and adjust the focus automatically makes video recording easier. The only problem of the machine is slightly noisier lens, autofocus whenever the machine is that you will hear very clearly.

In the competition, the Sony SLT-A55VL Alpha55 can faster autofocus, the Sony NEX-3 and Panasonic Lumix GH1 can focus a quiet way, but if you want continuous autofocus in a machine DSLR actually, plus a real optical viewfinder, the Nikon D3100 is the best choice.

Design and user interface

124 x 96 size x 74.5 mm and weights about 455 g (excluding battery, memory card and body cap), if included 18-55mm lens, the machine weighs about 767g, the Nikon D3100 camera body is quite small and lighter than the general size of a DSLR camera. However, it still can not small camera point-and-shoot or pocket than mirrorless models change as Sony NEX-lens 3.

Compared with the predecessor model D3000, on board the next roundabout with another mode lever to choose between 4 modes, almost similar to the design on the Panasonic G series. The control buttons are located on both the top and back along the LCD screen. The navigation buttons are not behind the machine that features fast access parameters as some other models, the machine manipulation mainly done on the LCD screen.

3-inch LCD screen behind the D3100 help you look good want to shoot pictures. The information displayed on the machine is set in the font to read and easy to move between menus. However, the screen is not as sharp as on the Nikon D300S of more advanced line (with up to 920K compared to 230K pixels of D3100). In fact, 230,000 pixels is typical for an entry-level camera, but the D3100’s screen really makes the image appear sharper poor. In addition to the LCD, D3100 also has an optical viewfinder, so you are not restricted when determining want to capture frames.

Also aligned buttons, the Nikon D3100 also has a function Fn button is located at the lens edges which closely customizable user assign one of the basic functions, such as adjusting ISO, aperture, shutter speed … in addition, the machine also has a valuable improvements that have gotten more on the back switch allows fast transfer of view LiveView and video, with video capture buttons are tastefully decorated and featured red dots, helps users to easily switch from camera mode to video mode.

Nikon’s user interface is simple and easy to understand. For photography beginners, the Nikon D3100 offers advice and guidance in the Guide Mode shooting, very helpful if you are learning about cameras as well as how to take, such as how to capture objects motion, background soft way, or how to shoot portraits at night. Users can easily access the Guide Mode by rotating the mode selection wheel located on top of the camera, or you can skip the user has experienced.

The D3100 connects to a computer is easy, because the machine is equipped with a standard mini-USB port. Mini-HDMI port allows you to play back videos and photos on your HDTV. D3100 is equipped with a lithium-ion rechargeable battery and store photos on a memory card SDHC / SDXC.

Performance stills

When using the optical viewfinder for shooting, the D3100 is very fast shutter speed. Starters and taking the average over a period of 1.35 seconds and then shooting at 3 frames per second continuous shooting mode. Speed ​​autofocus in Live View mode (when you use the LCD screen to frame wanted to shoot), and autofocus during video recording immediately impressed. Canon EOS 7D (with a price double) can autofocus in Live View mode average of 3.67 seconds, while the D3100 takes only 2.41 seconds. However, both models feature Sony NEX-3 lags far because this machine can automatically focus and shoot in just 0.9 seconds. Alpha55 Sony even faster – thanks translucent mirror technology on board, it can autofocus and shooting in Live View mode as fast as taken with DSLR optical viewfinder.

In tests using Imatest software suite to measure image quality factors, the Nikon DSLR cameras are not for the sharpest picture, but the quality is very good, and the camera will result in capture well in low light conditions. D3100 is no exception. When analyzing 50 points on a photo taken at ISO 100, D3100 averaged 1,623 lines on the image height, ie the 1781 lines in the downtown area, in the 1512 lines spread to the corners, and 1,320 lines at photo corners. For comparison, the Nikon D5000 averaged 1,778 lines, the Rebel T2i EOS averaged 2,102 lines, sharp as a razor.

Experiments also showed that the D3100 has been maintaining a low noise acceptable for ISO 800 to ISO 200 than on the D3000 version.

About autofocus mode, D3100 still using Nikon AF system Multi-CAM 1000 AF 11 points as the previous version, when shooting with the AF-S Nikkor lens 50mm f / 1.4G, D3100 also take up to approximately 0 , 5 seconds to lock focus and shoot, or as D3000 despite good lighting conditions. This speed of 0.2 seconds slower than the Sony A390 and Pentax K-x and 0.1 seconds slower than the Canon EOS 550D.

Video performance

As most DSLR cameras, the D3100 video quality better than the HD pocket camcorder normally. This is because of DSLR cameras have much larger sensors. With the D3100, you can shoot HD video in 720p at 24 or 30 frames per second, or the speed of 1080p at 24 frames per second. (D3100 DSLR cheapest models are capable of 1080p video recording). You can adjust the shutter speed and aperture to control depth of field in the video footage as you shoot stills.

Image quality

The color options:

Nikon Picture Controls feature is similar to Canon’s Picture Styles feature in its ability to combine sharpen, adjust contrast, brightness, saturation and color. The predefined combination of these different options: Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait and Landscape.

where can you get a Nikon D3100 online

Nikon D3100 14.2MP Digital SLR Double-Zoom Lens Kit with 18-55mm and 55-200mm DX Zoom Lenses (Black) (Discontinued by Manufacturer): Buy it now

Nikon D3100 Digital SLR Camera Body (Kit Box) No Lens Included – International Version (No Warranty): Buy it now

Nikon D3100 DSLR Camera with 18-55mm VR, 55-200mm Zoom Lenses (Black) (Discontinued by Manufacturer): Buy it now

Nikon D3100 14.2-Megapixel Digital Camera | Red: Buy it now

Nikon D3100 DSLR Camera Body with Nikon 18-55mm VR Standard Zoom Lens Celltime Exclusive Bundle with High Definition U.V. Filter + Wide Angle and Telephoto Auxiliary Lenses + Deluxe Camera Case + 2pcs 16GB Class 10 Memory Cards + 16pc Accessory Kit: Buy it now

Conclude

Nikon D3100 is worth to buy. Machine for good image quality, with helpful Guide mode for beginners shooting and continuous autofocus for those who want a simple video recording. Compared to its predecessor the D3000, Nikon D3100 has increased resolution and improved image quality at higher ISO levels. This is a good option for those who are considering buying a DSLR camera with cheap quality.