The Nikon D3100 is a 14.2-megapixel DX format DSLR Nikon F-mount camera announced by Nikon on August 19, 2010. It replaced the D3000 as Nikon's entry level DSLR. It introduced Nikon's new EXPEED 2 image processor and was the first Nikon DSLR featuring full high-definition video recording with full-time autofocus and H.264 compression, instead of Motion JPEG compression. It was also the first Nikon DSLR to provide high-definition video recording at more than one frame rate.[4]
 Nikon D3100 with the Nikon 18-55mm zoom lens. | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Type | Digital single-lens reflex |
| Lens | |
| Lens | Interchangeable, Nikon F-mount |
| Sensor/medium | |
| Sensor | 23.1 mm × 15.4 mm Nikon DX format RGB CMOS sensor, 1.5 × FOV crop, 4.94µm pixel size |
| Sensor maker | Nikon[2] |
| Maximum resolution | 4,608 × 3,072 (14.2 effective megapixels) |
| Film speed | 100–3200 in 1/3 EV steps, up to 12800 as boost |
| Recording medium | Secure Digital, SDHC and SDXC compatible |
| Focusing | |
| Focus modes | AF-A (Auto-servo AF); AF-S (Single-servo AF); AF-C (Continuous-servo AF); MF (Manual focus).[3] |
| Focus areas | 11-area AF system, Multi-CAM 1000 AF Sensor Module |
| Exposure/metering | |
| Exposure modes | Auto modes (auto, auto [flash off]), Guide Mode, Advanced Scene Modes (Portrait, Landscape, Sports, Close-up, Night Portrait), programmed auto with flexible program (P), shutter-priority auto (S), aperture-priority auto (A), manual (M), (Q) quiet mode. |
| Exposure metering | TTL 3D Color Matrix Metering II metering with a 420-pixel RGB sensor |
| Metering modes | 3D Color Matrix Metering II, Center-weighted and Spot |
| Flash | |
| Flash | Built in Pop-up, Guide number 13m at ISO 100, Standard ISO hotshoe, Compatible with the Nikon Creative Lighting System |
| Flash bracketing | 2 or 3 frames in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 1 or 2 EV |
| Shutter | |
| Shutter | Electronically-controlled vertical-travel focal-plane shutter |
| Shutter speed range | 30 s to 1/4000 s in 1/2 or 1/3 stops and Bulb, 1/200 s X-sync |
| Continuous shooting | 3 frame/s |
| Viewfinder | |
| Viewfinder | Optical 0.80x, 95% Pentamirror |
| Image processing | |
| White balance | Auto, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Sunlight, Flash, Cloudy, Shade, Preset |
| General | |
| LCD screen | 3.0-inch 230,000 pixel TFT-LCD |
| Battery | Nikon EN-EL14 rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery |
| Weight | Approx. 455 g (1.003 lb) without battery, memory card or body cap |
| Made in |  Thailand |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Nikon D3000 |
| Successor | Nikon D3200 |
Use is assisted by two Guide Modes: Easy Operation and Advanced Operation tutorial. On April 19, 2012, the D3200 superseded the D3100 as Nikon's entry-level DSLR.[5]
Features
- Nikon's 14.2-megapixel Nikon DX format CMOS sensor with 12 Bit Resolution.
- Nikon EXPEED 2 image processor.
- Active D-Lighting.
- Automatic chromatic aberration correction.
- Sensor cleaning and airflow control system.
- 3.0-inch 230,000-dot resolution fixed TFT LCD
- Continuous Drive up to 3 frames per second.
- Live view mode. Live view AF modes: Face priority, Wide area, Normal area, Subject tracking
- Full High Definition video recording (1080p for 10 minutes at 24 frames per second in H.264 codec), additionally 720p30/25/24 and 480p24
- Full-time autofocus in movie mode.
- 3D Color Matrix Metering II with Scene Recognition System.
- 3D Tracking Multi-CAM 1000 autofocus sensor module with 11 AF points.
- ISO sensitivity 100 to 3200 (6400 and 12800 with boost).
- Nikon F-mount lenses.
- i-TTL flash exposure system without built-in, but support for external wireless flash commander.
- Extended 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
- File formats: JPEG, NEF (Nikon's raw, 12-bit compressed)
- Compatibility with SDXC memory cards
Like Nikon's other consumer-level DSLRs, the D3100 has no in-body autofocus motor, and fully automatic autofocus requires one of the currently 162 lenses with an integrated autofocus-motor.[6] With any other lens, the camera's electronic rangefinder can be used to manually adjust focus.[7][8]
Can mount unmodified A-lenses (also called Non-AI, Pre-AI or F-type) with support of the electronic rangefinder and without metering.[9]
Optional accessories
The Nikon D3100 has available accessories such as:[10]
- Nikon GP-1 GPS Unit for direct GPS geotagging. Third party solutions partly with 3-axis compass, data-logger, bluetooth and support for indoor use are available from Solmeta,[11] Dawn,[12] Easytag,[13] Foolography,[14] Gisteq[15] and Phottix.[16] See comparisons/reviews.[17][18][19]
- Battery grip third party solutions are available.[20][21]
- Nikon CF-DC1 Soft Case.
- Third party solutions for WLAN transmitter are available.[22]
- Various Nikon Speedlight or third party flash units[23] including devices with Nikon Creative Lighting System wireless flash commander or support for SU-800 Wireless Speedlight Commander.
- Third party radio (wireless) flash control triggers[24] are partly supporting i-TTL,[25][26] but do not support the Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS).[27][28] See reviews.[29][30]
- Common Optional Lens: AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR, AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, AF NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8D. Note: Lenses without an internal autofocus motor can only use manual focus on the Nikon D3100.
- Other accessories from Nikon and third parties, include protective cases and bags, eyepiece adapters and correction lenses, and underwater housings.
Reception
The D3100 has received many independent reviews[31][32] and image comparisons at all ISO speeds.[33]
The D3100 is the only known Nikon DSLR with an image sensor interface[34] integrating analog-to-digital converters not made by Nikon: The result is a dynamic range only at the level of competitors like the (higher priced) Canon EOS 600D;[35] lower than other current Nikon DSLRs.
See also
References
External links
- Digitutor Nikon D3100 Nikon (needs Flash)
- Nikon D3100 – Nikon global website Archived 2011-03-21 at the Wayback Machine