The Nikon D3100 is an entry level digital SLR camera. The camera was targeted to Point-and-shoot photographers who intend to move to DSLR camera. It is a basic camera in Nikon’s digital SLR lineup. It is an entry-level camera, but it’s rich in features and advanced functionality. Consumers who are searching to dive into DSLR photography, are interested in a camera that can deliver high quality images and a camera that will let them enjoy the benefits of a large sensor camera. Although the mirrorless camera segment continues to grab more market share, still, DSLR camera have their own advantages.
Digital SLR cameras like the Nikon D3100 offers a large variety of manual control settings. Those settings allow advanced photographers to get better control over the final image. But it isn’t only about manual controls but also the high quality D-movie (video mode). The Nikon D3100 allows photographers to shoot high quality short movie clips mostly in HD (720p) and Full HD (1080p). The Nikon D3100 can capture up to 10 minutes of Full HD 1080p/24 movie clips.
Some consumers will buy the D3100 because if it’s video capabilities, as other photographers will decided to buy the Nikon D3100 because of its low price and sophisticated camera controls. The Nikon D3100 has an ASP-C sensor, which means that you can capture high detailed image and have better control over the depth of field (DOF). One of the advantage that Digital SLR cameras have over P&S cameras is the ability to isolate the subject from the background by shooing photos with very shallow depth of field. Of course you will need a fast lens in order to achieve it, but it is possible with a DSLR camera.
Before I bought the Nikon D3100 I’ve read many articles and reviews on the Internet. I preferred buying an affordable SLR camera and save more money to buy high quality Nikkor lenses. I bought the Nikon 70-300mm VR and the 18-55mm VR Kit lens. Both have Vibration Reduction mechanism to reduce camera shake and they can produce high quality sharp and contrasty images.
The battery life of the Nikon D3100 is pretty good. You can shoot up to 550 images with it. More advanced Nikon cameras are more powerful and feature rich, but again, they cost more, some models even much more. The affordability of the Nikon D3100 attracted many family and travel photographers to buy it. It wasn’t to long ago that we had to pay over $1000 for a camera like this. The prices went down over the years and no doubt that entry level cameras from both Canon and Nikon have become pretty affordable.
When I unboxed the Nikon D3100, I was surprised to see how small it is. It is really a small camera when compared to high-end models. It looks like a SLR-like camera. Shooting with the Nikon D3100 is a joy. It turn on quickly and it has a very fast operation due to its latest EXPEED imaging processor.
Another reason why I picked the Nikon D3100 digital SLR camera was the low noise in high ISO settings. The D3000 (previous model) had a CCD, while the D3100 has a newly Nikon developed CMOS sensor. You can see the change in the image quality. The camera produces excellent photos in low-light with very little amount of noise up to ISO800. Even at IS)1600 the image looks damn good. I did a high ISO noise comparison between the D3100 vs D90 vs D5000 vs D7000 and the D3100 was performing as good as the D7000. The D90 is a good camera but its utilizes old technologies that puts it behind the D3100 in terms of overall image quality.
I don’t say that D90 photographers should upgrade to the D3100, not at all. I think that D90 owners should actually look into upgrading to the D7000 camera. The D3100 is just another great offering for those who are starting with DSLR photography or for those who don’t have enough money to spend on the more expensive D7000. The price of the D3100 is somewhat the same as the D90 right now. The video quality of the D3100 is much better than the D90. The D3100 can capture 1080p (1920×1080) while the Nikon D90 can only capture 720p (1280×720).
Overall I am very pleased with the Nikon D3100 and highly recommend buying it for every person who want to start with digital SLR photography.
