Nikon D3100

Nikon's D3100 is an excellent entry-level digital SLR, and is currently the only D-SLR to offer continuous autofocus during video recording for a true camcorder-like video-capture experience.

Angle

At $700 with lens, the Nikon D3100 is easy to recommend—it offers great image quality, a helpful Guide Mode for newbies, and continuous autofocus for those who want a true D-SLR with simple video recording. 

Top

Controls are standard: all the usual suspects are there (Mode Dial, Scroll Wheel, Directional Pad), and little else. 

Left

At 3.75 by 4.75 by 2.5 inches (HWD), and 1.09 pounds (1.69 pounds with its included 18-55mm lens), the body of the Nikon D3100 is small and light for a D-SLR, but it still dwarfs a pocket point-and-shoot or compact-interchangeable-lens camera.

Right

When using the optical viewfinder for shooting, the D3100 is lightning fast. It starts up and shoots in an average of 1.35 seconds, and then delivers 3 frames per second in continuous shooting mode.

SD Card

The D3100 is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and writes to SDHC/SDXC cards. 

Back

The 3-inch LCD the back of the D3100 offers a nice big view of your image, and large text so menus are easy to navigate. It's not very a sharp screen, however. 

Ports

Connecting the D3100 to a computer is simple, since the camera is armed with a standard mini-USB port. 

Lighting

In terms of image noise, the Nikon D3100 can go past ISO 3200 to ISO 6400 and keep noise under the 1.5-percent threshold for useable images. This means the D3100 is well-suited for shooting in low light environments without flash. 

Tracking

The camera can detect faces, lock on, and adjust the focus automatically to make video capture even easier. 

Menu

Nikon's user interface is simple and straightforward across all models, and it makes the D3100 easy to use. 

Movie

With the D3100, HD video can be captured in 720p at 24 or 30 frames per second or 1080p at 24 frames per second. 

Angle

With the D3100, HD video can be captured in 720p at 24 or 30 frames per second or 1080p at 24 frames per second. 

Price Range $599.00 - $599.99
 

Spec Data

Type D-SLR

Megapixels 14.2 MP

Media Format Secure Digital High Capacity, Secure Digital Extended Capacity

35-mm Equivalent (Wide) 18

35-mm Equivalent (Telephoto) 55

Optical Zoom 3 x

LCD size 3 inches

LCD dots 230000

Wireless Connectivity No

HD Video Capture Yes

Boot time 1.35

Recycle time 0.33

Lines Per Picture Height 1623

Posted in: Camera