Nikon D3100 w/ 1080p HD Video

I purchased this camera recently and it is one AWESOME camera. I have had several SLR cameras from Pentax, Canon and Nikon. A big fan of 35mm - I finally transitioned over to a DSLR last year w/ my D90. What the heck was I waiting for? It's insanely unbelievable how easy it is to take pictures - my wife an avid beginner is loving the simplicity of taking great pictures and now beautiful 1080p quality video.

Here are the features of the NIKON D3100:

Type Single-lens reflex digital camera

Lens Mount Nikon F bayonet mount

Picture Angle Effective picture angle 1.5x (Approx.) conversion factor (Nikon DX format)

Effective Pixels 14.2 million

Sensor Size 23.1 x 15.4mm

Image Sensor Format DX

Image 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

Picture Control Landscape
Monochrome
Neutral
Portrait
Selected Picture Control can be modified
Standard
Vivid

Storage Media SD
SDHC
SDXC

Card Slot 1 Secure Digital (SD)

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% verticalApprox.

Viewfinder Magnification 0.80x 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

Lens Compatibility at a Glance*** AF-S Lens Required for Autofocus

Compatible Lenses 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
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

Fastest Shutter Speed 1/4000 sec. in steps of 1/3 EV

Slowest Shutter Speed 30 sec. in steps of 1/3
1/2
1 EV

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)

Top Continuous Shooting Speed at full resolution 3 frames per second

Self-timer 2 sec.
10 sec. Timer duration electronically controlled

Highly reco

Why I Chose the D3100 over the D5100

I just had to write a reveiw for my Nikon D3100 and maybe it can help others that are stuck between the D3100 and D5100 like I was. I looked for weeks for my first SLR camera...reading what seemed to be hundreds of on line reviews,many talking about specks of a camera that I did not understand. Reading all the reveiws really begin to confuse me even more. Do I need a high ISO camera,fast shutter clicks?...what about lens?? Now I have a few more hundred reveiws to read. At this point I am even doubting if I can learn to use a SLR, maybe I am better off with my point and shoot.Then I realized the reveiws are written by pros who know every aspect of a camera and prefer the highest of settings for there equipment.
So I went looking for the camera I thought would best suit my needs as a new SLR user and learning as I go. After years of being a Cannon user I narrowed my choice to the Nikon D3100 and D5100 as I was not crazy about the Rebel line. I went to the store to look at them both,the D5100 had more special effects such as night vision and color select,brighter LDC screen which moves and turns and could use a wireless remote and outer speaker for movies.Then I picked up the D3100...my hands fit perfect,the buttons on it was so easy to find and use and I LOVED the lay out of them. If you look at photos of both camera you will see how they are set up,I did not pay a lot of attention to this until I started to play with them at the store and wow this is VERY important while using the camera...the D3100 has them all in a row on the left side and so easy to use (while holding camera with right hand it is very easy to work them with left hand)...on the right side there is a lever for live veiw and on the top is my favorite lever of all for changing the drive mode (this lets you change from single shot,to continuous shot for action photos to timer to quite mode) This lever is often only on high dollar cameras and it does not come on the new D3200. The D5100 has most of its buttons on the right and was harder to work while holding the camera,you have to go into the menu to change drive speed which I did not like.So I left all the fancy effects,the moving LDC screen and the D5100 SLR at the store and purchsed the D3100. I have been using it for two months now...what great fun it is!
It is easy to learn and use,I have come out of the auto modes and using A and S settings and the photos keep getting better and better. I now know how to go into camera and change sharpness,color and many settings of my photos. So take the time to set down with your manual or a good D3100 book and really play with this camera,you will be amazed.Everything you learn how to do will produce even better photos than your last shots.I purchased this camera with the 18 55mm kit lens and purchased the 55 200mm zoom lens and they have been awesome!! Both are light weight lens and balance perfect on the D3100 and both use the same filters. Read reveiws these were slow lens...they have produced nothing but beautiful clear photos of my children playing,riding 4 wheelers,lakes,flowers,my bulldog and stunning photos of my horses running through the fields!! I am more than thrilled with my new camera,its many differnt fuctions,its ease of auto mode and the fun of learning to use P,S and A modes...and if you get stuck along the way,just push the "I" button on the back and the D3100 is there to help guild you. Awesome Job Nikon for a gr

Nikon D3100 - An Excellent DSLR For The Entry-Level Photographer,

The Nikon D3100 is an excellent entry-level DSLR. Could you pay more to get a "better" camera with "more features"? Absolutely. But why? Would you use those features? I looked long and hard at several in my research before buying - the models I considered were the Canon T2i, Canon 60D, the Nikon D90, and of course, the Nikon D3100. In the end, I decided the extra features on those other cameras were features that I likely wouldn't use. I'm interested mainly in taking lots of pictures while traveling -- pictures of clouds, landscapes, maybe some street photography. I wanted a smaller, lighter DSLR with good battery life and great image quality. The D3100 delivers on all accounts.

So what do the cameras in the next price-tier have that the D3100 doesn't? A lot of stuff that most people looking in this price range won't be concerned with. Here's a list of the "missing" things and/or "problems" with the D3100 as I found while researching my purchase:

1) Most online reviews and forums mention a problem with AutoISO and the built-in flash. When using the built-in flash in full auto, AutoISO jumps straight to the maximum ISO value, which I believe is defaulted to ISO-3200. Nikon says this is intended to get a better exposed background, fine with me. Personally, I think that ISO-3200 images out of this camera are very useable unless you're pixel peeping. If you just want to blow up an indoor portrait to an 8x10 (or even larger, I don't know!), you won't have a problem. Don't worry about it!

2) You can frequently hear the lens auto-focusing in your videos. Ok, you got me. If you're in a silent environment, yes, you will hear the autofocus motor, but if you're recording kids laughing and having a good time at the local indoor waterpark or at a parade or something, it's not loud enough where it would be a bother. If it is an annoyance, you can still shoot video with manual focus.

3) No external mic input. The D3100 is sufficient for getting a clip when you want it, you're not going to have movie quality sound. Who carries an external mic with them on vacation? If you're buying a DSLR specifically for video capabilities, you probably should be considering a dedicated camcorder anyway. For my purposes, there's nothing wrong with mono sound.

4) Lack of bracketing -- too much to explain in a review. Google it and see if you would ever use it. I can see why it would be useful, but I doubt it'd be useful for on-the-go photography.

5) Manual settings buried in menus instead of having dedicated buttons -- Most people at the entry-level probably aren't shooting full manual. The D3100 features several "scene" modes that you can use, otherwise there's always aperture or shutter priority, or even full auto. Depending on which priority you're in, the scroll wheel on the back will adjust the aperture or shutter speed. If you shoot full manual all the time, you may want dedicated buttons, meaning you should look elsewhere. If you're not in full manual, I can't see this being a problem.

Until then, enjoy the D3100 for what it is. A great, inexpensive, entry-level DSLR, which, in my opinion, produces excellent images when in the hands of a photographer ready to learn!

The best ebay buy I ever made!

I had been looking for a professional camera as I wanted to transition from the P&S. First, I had reservations because I really knew relatively little about DSLRs. So, I began my research and found this model to be very accommodating to me as a beginner. The features were stepped down for entry-level knowledge while maintaining the quality to shoot professional shots. Then there was the issue of the price jump from a simple P&S to the DSLRs. I began to think i could never really afford one and the idea came to look for a good used camera. I thought instantly, head to my trusty ebay account and search. I came upon a great seller (rogerscountypawn) that actually taught me quite a bit about the camera I wanted as well as other photog tips. When I say excellent customer service and beyond, I mean just that! This was probably the best buy I have ever made! Check out the listing... just the detail of the listing made me fall in love with the camera even more. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISA​PI.dll?ViewItem&item=23088​4652122&ssPageName=ADME:X:​RTQ:US:1123

Awesome Product

The D3100 is built around a 14.2 megapixel CMOS sensor, bringing not only live view but also Full HD video capture to Nikon's entry-level model for the first time. In fact, this made it the first Nikon DSLR to offer 1920x1080 movie recording. It can only record clips up to about ten minutes long (due to a 4Gb maximum file size limitation shared by all DSLRs), but this still counts as an impressive feature addition at this level.

The body gets a slight refresh from a basic design that essentially dates back four years to the D40, gaining an extra button to the left of the screen, a drive mode switch at the base of the mode dial, a sprung lever to engage live view and a direct record movie button. Revisions have also been made to the feature-teaching, hand-holding 'Guide Mode', and an additional autofocus mode that's designed to allow better focusing in live view and autofocus during video shooting.

All of this adds up to a DSLR that incorporates all of 2010's 'must have' features but looks like the product of evolution, rather than dramatic innovation. And 2010 has been a year during which the rest of the market hasn't devloped along such predictable lines, not least during the expansion of the large sensor, mirrorless interchangable lens camera crowd.

Camera makers always try to stress that mirrorless cameras are creating an entirely new market, rather than competing with entry-level DSLRs, but it's pretty clear that many people planning to upgrade from their point-and-shoot compact will consider both types of camera when making their decision. So, while the D3100 is unequivocally a DSLR (in a time where the line between DSLRs and mirrorless cameras is becoming increasingly hazy), its beginner-friendly guide mode puts it squarely in competition with several of the mirrorless models that are equally eager to welcome point-and-shoot upgraders.

Many of these cameras, such as Sony's NEX-3 and 5, Olympus' E-PL1 and Panasonic's GF2, offer similarly accessible interfaces in a smaller, competitively-priced packages. They also, by eshewing the conventional DSLR design, are able to offer a shooting experience that is much closer to that of a compact camera - which even the best DSLR live view implementation can't easily mimic at the moment.

So, while the D3100 offers an improved feature set when compared to a camera we really liked, it remains to be seen whether these additions will be enough to make it stand out as well as its predecessor did. An excelent Camera, best in hes kind.

Nikon D3100 is a screaming bargain right now......

The D3100 is an excellent camera, like the D3000 on steroids...or at least working out and taking lot of vitamins and supplements. It is very much like the D3000 with almost twice the resolution. Both cameras shoot beautiful pictures, and anyone would be happy with either camera. Now would be an excellent time to buy a factory refurb or used D3100 with the 18-55 kit lens. I have seen them selling for less than $400.00. That, my friends, is a screaming bargain..

I use a camera to take pictures, and not video, so video has not been used by me on either camera, but pictures are what this camera does best. And to be totally honest, I think the only thing that really holds the D3100 back is the lens. This camera deserves the best lens you can afford. The kit sen(s) are fine to get up and running, and to determine what focal lengths you will need in the future. I have heard several pro photographers say you really only need to carry two lens in your camera bag, and if that is the case, both lens will probably cost more than the camera body..I would think you could use one zoom lens, maybe a 18-135mm and one telephoto lens, probably a 300mm one. But that is me. Your lens might need to be different. Having shot both cameras, I have to admit that the 3200 is a slightly better camera than the 3100, but only by a small margin. Both are remarkable cameras for the casual photographer, and I would not hesitate to buy either. I was torn between going Canon or Nikon, but in the end chose Nikon because that is what is use to shoot in 35mm film cameras, and I have a friend who is a true pro, and he shoot Nikon. I like the look and feel of the Nikon much better than the competition. I like the way the buttons and menus are arranged on the Nikon, they seem more intuitive to me...and the competition just feel cheap and out of balance in my hands. I must admit that I have seen absolutely beautiful shots from both brands and don't think you would be totally unhappy with either. I just think Nikon is the better camera for me.

Great

I have had this camera for 3 weeks and have taken 1124 pictures and didn't have to charge the battery. I will take another 300 and check the battery then. The more I use it the more I learn that theres more to try. It's amassing the teck in this small unit. I got a good price that I''m happy with it took some time but it was worth it. Your limitation is your imagination.

Amazing product, worth every penny.

I've have wanted a Nikon camera for at least six years. Since it was my birthday, I decided that it would be a good gift for myself. Ebay was the best option.
I have to say, I love nearly everything about this camera. The picture clarity, the zooming effects, everything! There's nothing I don't love! It has automatic and manual focus on the lenses, which is very helpful. Me, myself, I enjoy slightly weighted cameras, because it gets me a steadier grip onto it.
There aren't hardly any things I don' like about this camera.
In conclusion, this is my favorite item that I have right now. It was well worth my money and the little time I had to wait for it.

stop shopping and buy it now

I did a lot of research finding an intermediate camera that would not cost too much and be too difficult to use-this is the camera. Simple to use, affodable, lightweight (can hold easily with one hand). burst pics are a bit slow for action shots. the controls are easy to use ( I used camera then ready manual) on Auto its difficult to take a bad photo. I asked a few professional photographers, listen to many reviews and did many side by side comparisions. This camera ranked high for a reason.

Excellent product!

I bought for another person. Excellent product. Friendly customer experience.
I didn´t find anything bad because i didn´t use it but as i long as i know the product has a good relation quality/price.