Nikon D3100 14.2MP Digital SLR Camera Review

I looked long and hard at several in my research before write review about the Nikon D3100. I can say that the Nikon D3100 is extremely easy to use with the guide mode letting you know how to take shots of whatever you want. Even on Auto mode, the camera responds very well to varying situations. The picture quality is fantastic. I was take over 200 photos but the battery level stayed to full charge the entire time. D3100 has very light weight high end consumer camera and is easy to carry around (good for traveling or day outdoors), which you can use with very little training.

Nikon D3100 14.2MP Digital SLR Camera
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Nikon D3100 has received 133 customer reviews with an average of 4.5 out of 5 from most reviewers on Amazon

Here are some of the comments to date: Average of Customer Rating
  • “Awesome”
  • “Great Camera”
  • “Exellent DSLR”
  • “Perfect for beginner”
  • “Amazing”
  • “Nikon is Flawless”
  • “Superb Camera”
97
20
11
4
1

Any complaints?

I found very few complaints for this Nikon D3100 on consumer sites around the internet. One consumer did express concern that the Camera’Specs are not REAL.

Because the resolution is not 1080p.When you shoot a video over people walking, the people look walking on the moon.

How Much Should You Expect to Pay?

You can buy Nikon D3100 14.2MP Digital SLR Camera directly in walmart.com for $639.00 but you really shouldn’t be paying any more than $639.00 for this Nikon D3100. The cheapest we have seen it is on Amazon who consistently sell this Nikon D3100 for under $570.00. I can say that Amazon had the best, and lowest price and you will get the camera in days, not weeks.

At the moment amazon include free shipping and from what I can tell when comparing prices with other online merchants, Amazon do currently have the best deal especially with the free shipping option. Click here to view on Amazon.

What’s Included

  • D3100 digital SLR camera body
  • AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR Lens
  • EN-EL14 Rechargeable Li-ion Battery
  • MH-24 Battery Charger
  • DK-5 Eyepiece Cap
  • DK-20 Rubber Eyecap
  • AN-DC3 Camera Strap
  • BS-1 Accessory Shoe Cover
  • BF-1B Body Cap
  • ViewNX 2 CD-ROM

Does it include a Warranty?

Yes, the Nikon D3100 Camera includes a 1 year warranty

Nikon D3100 DSLR Main Advantages

14.2-megapixel DX-format CMOS Image Sensor offering larger pixels with beautiful photographs and sure you will get print well from nikon d3100

3.0-inch high resolution 230,000 dot LCD monitor, One-Touch Live View shooting and movie capture.

The Nikon D3100 includes 3x 18-55mm Zoom-NIKKOR VR Image Stabilization Lens entry level kit lens features an AF-S and AF-I motor for quiet fast focusing and autofocus for vivid color, striking contrast and crisp detail and VR image stabilization to ensure the sharpest hand-held pictures and movies.

The Nikon D3100 features an Auto ISO range that covers from 200 ISO to 3200 ISO and expandable to ISO 12800 equivalent.

Delivers exceptional results, even in the most challenging low-light situations.

The Nikon D3100 offer Automatic Image Sensor Cleaning and exclusive Airflow Control combats the accumulation of dust in front of the image sensor(optional Capture NX 2 software required), safeguarding image quality shot after shot.

LiveView available in automatically optimizes exposure, autofocus, and white balance, allowing you to obtain beautiful photos without the hassle of making complicated camera adjustments yourself.

The Nikon D3100 features Easy-To-Use with menu navigation and guide mode with intuitive controls and on-board assistance helping you take better pictures every step of the way.

D3100 built-in pop-up flash then it perfect for those times when there isn’t enough light.

6 Automatic Exposure Scene Modes offer Point and Shoot simplicity: just set the Mode dial to Portrait, Landscape, Child, Sports, Close-up or Night Portrait for stunning results in otherwise challenging conditions.And the D3100 will decide the best mode to match the shooting situation when using Live View with Scene Auto Selector function .

Full 1080p HD Cinematic Video Features allow you autofocus full-time and record sound, cinematic-quality movies in Full 1080p HD format (1920 x 1080 pixels).

Nikon D3100 has Beautifully style with compact and lightweight (Weight with battery: 505 g (1.1 lb) ) : ready to go wherever life takes you.

Active D-Lighting Feature offer restores picture-enhancing detail in shadows and highlights. And EXPEED 2 of Nikon’s new image processing engine assures breathtakingly rich image quality, managing color, contrast, exposure, noise and speed.

Picture Control Feature offer you choose from Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait, or Landscape to apply a personal look and feel to your pictures.

The Nikon D3100 features allow you creative freedom, without the need for a computer, with in-camera image editing functions.

Split-second Shutter Response will eliminates the frustration of shutter delay, capturing moments that other cameras miss. The D3100 have fast 11-point Autofocus System allow delivers razor-sharp pictures.

If you are considering one of these cameras, we have now added individual lists highlighting the respective advantages of the Nikon D90, the Nikon D5000 and the Canon Rebel T1i. We have also included a few Nikon D5000 versus Canon Rebel T1i / EOS 500D side by side sample test shots to highlight the differences between these two particular models.

If you are looking to find out more detailed information about the features incorporated in these three cameras then jump to our Nikon D90 vs. Nikon D5000 compared to the Canon Rebel T1i side by side comparison further below.

Nikon D3100


Nikon D3000


Nikon D5000

Sensor • 14.2 million effective pixels

• 23.1 x 15.4 mm CMOS (DX format)

• 10.2 million effective pixels

• 23.6 x 15.8 mm CCD (DX format)

• 12.3 million effective pixels

• 23.6 x 15.8 mm CMOS (DX format)

Image sizes • 4608 x 3072 (14.2 MP)

• 3456 x 2304

• 2304 x 1536

• 3872 x 2592 (10.0 MP)

• 2896 x 1944

• 1936 x 1296

• 4288 x 2848 (12 MP)

• 3216 x 2136

• 2144 x 1424

Movie mode Yes

1080p24

720p30/25/24

424p24

No Yes

720p24

Live View Yes No Yes
Sensor cleaning • Image Sensor Cleaning

• Airflow control system

• Image Dust Off reference data (optional Capture NX 2 software required)

• Image Sensor Cleaning

• Airflow control system

• Image Dust Off reference data (optional Capture NX 2 software required)

• Image Sensor Cleaning

• Airflow control system

• Image Dust Off reference data (optional Capture NX 2 software required)

Autofocus • 11 area TTL

• Nikon Multi-CAM1000

• 11 area TTL

• Nikon Multi-CAM1000

• 11 area TTL

• Nikon Multi-CAM1000

In-body focus motor • No • No • No
AF area modes • Single point

• Dynamic area

• Auto area

• 3D Tracking (11-points)

• Single point

• Dynamic area

• Auto area

• 3D Tracking (11-points)

• Single point

• Dynamic area

• Auto area

• 3D Tracking (11-points)

AF drive mode • AF-A

• AF-S

• AF-C

• MF

• AF-F (Live view only)

• AF-A

• AF-S

• AF-C

• MF

• AF-A

• AF-S

• AF-C

• MF

Live view AF modes • Face priority

• Wide area

• Normal area

• Subject tracking

N/A • Face priority

• Wide area

• Normal area

• Subject tracking

Sensitivity • ISO 100 – 3200

• To ISO 12800 with boost

• ISO 100 – 1600

• To ISO 3200 with boost

• ISO 200 – 3200

• ISO 100-6400 with boost

Continuous • 3 fps • 3 fps

• 25 / 7 frames (Fine JPEG / RAW)

• 4 fps

• 63 / 11 frames (Fine JPEG / RAW)

Viewfinder magnification • 0.8x • 0.8x • 0.78x
Viewfinder Frame coverage • Approx. 95% • Approx. 95% • Approx. 95%
LCD monitor • 3.0″ TFT LCD

• 230,000 pixel TFT

• 3.0″ TFT LCD

• 230,000 pixel TFT

• 2.7″ TFT LCD

• 230,000 pixel TFT

• Articulated

Dimensions 124 x 96 x 74.5 mm (4.9 x 3.7 x 3.0 in) 126 x 94 x 64 mm (5.0 x 3.7 x 2.5 in) 127 x 104 x 80 mm (5.0 x 4.1 x 3.1 in)
Weight • No battery: 455 g (1.0 lb)

• With battery: 505 g (1.1 lb)

• No battery: 484 g (1.1 lb)

• With battery: 534 g (1.2 lb)

• No battery: 560 g (1.2 lb)

• With battery: 611 g (1.3 lb)

Image processing engine • Expeed 2

• 12 bit

• Expeed

• 12 bit

• Expeed

• 12 bit

Active D-lighting On/Off On/Off Auto, Extra high, High, Normal, Low, or Off
Automatic chromatic aberration correction Yes No Yes
In-camera retouching • D-Lighting

• Red-eye reduction

• Trimming

• Monochrome & filter effects

• Color balance

• Small picture

• Image overlay

• NEF (RAW) processing

• Quick retouch

• Straighten

• Distortion control

• Fisheye

• Color outline

• Perspective control

• Miniature effect

• Edit movie

• D-Lighting

• Red-eye reduction

• Trimming

• Monochrome & filter effects

• Color balance

• Small picture

• Image overlay

• NEF (RAW) processing

• Quick retouch

• Color outline

• Miniature effect

• Stop-motion movie

• D-Lighting

• Red-eye reduction

• Trimming

• Monochrome & filter effects

• Color balance

• Small picture

• Image overlay

• NEF (RAW) processing

• Quick retouch

• Straighten

• Distortion control

• Fisheye

• Color outline

• Perspective control

Bracketing No No Yes
Compare to the Nikon D3100 14.2MP Digital SLR Camera:
Shop at Price
Dell Home
$569.00
Beach Camera
$579.90
Crutchfield.com
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Buydig.com
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Abe's of Maine
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Abe's of Maine
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Abe's of Maine
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Abe's of Maine
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Compare Prices for All 26 Sellers ($569.00 – $769.99)