based on a pre-production Nikon D3100
Nikon has developed a habit of making very attractive entry-level DSLRs, which are rarely the best specified but cleverly designed so that they're easy and enjoyable to shoot with. The D3000 fitted this pattern perfectly, a gentle refresh of the D60 (which was itself a slightly updated D40X), it added ease-of-use features to make it a pleasant little camera despite a specification that was beginning to look rather out-of-step with the rest of the market.
The D3000 sold well, despite its rather aged 10 megapixel sensor and lack of both live view and video. However, there's only so long that clever product design and feature integration can make up for a specification that looks dated. So with this in mind, Nikon has announced the D3100 - probably the biggest refresh of its entry-level offering since it really attacked the low end market with the original D40.
The D3100 is built around a 14.2 megapixel CMOS sensor (possibly the one seen in Sony's NEX cameras?), bringing not only live view but also Full HD video capture to Nikon's entry-level model. This not only makes it the company's second-highest pixel-count SLR (after the D3X) but also makes it the first to offer 1920x1080 movie recording. It can only record clips up to ten minutes long but it's still an impressive feature addition at this level.
The body gets a slight refresh, 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. There are also revisions made to the feature-teaching, hand-holding 'Guide Mode' and an additional autofocus mode to allow better focusing in live view and autofocus during video shooting.
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 (1080, 720p or WVGA)
Nikon D3100 vs D3000: Key Differences
The D3100 substantially refreshes the D3000, taking a rather outdated-looking specification and turning it into one of the most competitive in its sector.
- Higher resolution sensor (14.2MP vs. 10MP)
- Ability to shoot Raw + Fine JPEG
- Socket for connecting Nikon GP1 GPS unit
- Optional wired remote via GPS socket
- No wireless remote option
- Live view
- 1080 HD movies
- HDMI output
- Wider ISO range
- Full-time AF mode (AF-F in live view)
- Revised focus screen (different AF point illumination)
Compared to the Nikon D3000 and D5000: major feature and specification differences
As you can see from the table below the D3100's specification not only exceeds that of its predecessor, but also in some respects that of its more expensive bigger brother. 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 |
Foreword / notes
If you're new to digital photography you may wish to read some of our Digital Photography Glossary before diving into this article (it may help you understand some of the terms used).Conclusion / recommendation / ratings are based on the opinion of the author, we recommend that you read the entire review before making any decision. Images which can be viewed at a larger size have a small magnifying glass icon in the bottom right corner of them, click to display a larger image in a new window.
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Dpreview use calibrated monitors at the PC normal gamma 2.2, this means that on our monitors we can make out the difference between all of the grayscale blocks below. We recommend to make the most of this review you should be able to see the difference (at least) between X,Y and Z and ideally also A, B and C.
Nikon D3100: Full 1080p HD Movie Recording with Sound
Movie size (pixels) | Frame rate | Max record time |
|---|---|---|
1,920 x 1080 (Full HD) | 24p (23.976fps) | 10 min |
1,280 x 720 (HD) | 30p (29.97fps) | 10 min |
1,280 x 720 (HD) | 25p (25fps) | 10 min |
1,280 x 720 (HD) | 24p (23.976fps) | 10 min |
640 x 424 (SD) | 24p (23.976fps) | 10 min |
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