WHAT’S HOT: Solid noise performance for its class.
WHAT’S NOT: Sluggish AF, especially in low light.
WHO IT’S FOR: Anyone looking for a low-cost DSLR or a budget entry to Nikon’s system.
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It’s been a very busy year indeed for Nikon. On top of nine new lenses in 2010, last fall it announced two more camera bodies: the midlevel D7000 and entry-level D3100. The 14.2MP D3100 ($640, street, with 18–55mm f/3.5–5.6 lens) was the first to find its way to the Popular Photography Test Lab—look for our test of the D7000 next month.
In addition to adding live-view still shooting and HD-video recording to this least-expensive Nikon DSLR, the D3100 proved itself in our tests a meaningful upgrade over its predecessor, the less-than-impressive D3000.
In the Test Lab
To add live view and HD video to the D3100, Nikon switched to a CMOS sensor from the CCD of the D3000 for better control of overheating. This also raised the pixel count to 14.2MP from the D3000’s 10.2MP. In our resolution test, those extra pixels amounted to an additional 250 lines per picture height of resolving power for a total of 2350, enough to earn an Extremely High rating.
Colors proved wonderfully accurate with the D3100—its average Delta E of 6.1 was more than enough to garner an Excellent rating.
Another benefit of a CMOS sensor is the ability to push the camera’s sensitivity higher while keeping noise relatively low. While its predecessor topped out at ISO 3200, the D3100 goes 2 full stops farther, for a top sensitivity of ISO 12,800. At the same time, Nikon managed to keep noise to a Low or better rating all the way up to ISO 800, compared to ISO 200 with the D3000.
Also, while noise reached Unacceptable levels at ISO 3200 and ISO 6400, both of those settings proved significantly less noisy than the D3000 was at ISO 3200. The noise was often less distracting since the luminance noise was less pronounced than the color noise at high ISOs. So, if you’re planning on using images online, or printed at small sizes, you may find ISO 3200 passable, depending on the subject matter of your shots.
One area that didn’t see improvement is the D3100’s autofocus. Using the same 11-point Nikon Multi-CAM 1000 AF system as its predecessor, we saw, unsurprisingly, nearly identical results in our AF test. With an AF-S Nikkor 50mm f/1.4G lens attached, the D3100 took 0.50 sec to lock focus and capture an image at the brightest light level in our test. That’s about 0.2 sec slower than the Sony A390 or the Pentax K-x, and about 0.10 sec slower than Canon’s EOS Rebel T2i. If forced to choose, we’d take image quality over AF speed, but we hope Nikon speeds AF up in the next iteration of its entry-level line.
You guys are clearly Nikon puppies!
I bought a Nikon three years ago and used it for about a year and a half before I was unable to use it with a camera chip again. I called the seller and they said "...this happens all the time." I was told it would take $200 to repair the camera obviously not worth the cost to repair since I did not have insurance. I don't think I would buy a Nikon again because of this.
I was hoping this on the surface of things sturdy looking camera would be a little workhorse instead it died prematurely. A friend said, "...they're good you just got a bad one." I was out $350 for a "bad one." You can connect the dots for yourself, I don't trust this brand.
Continued from above:
The camera I mentioned above would not hold the camera memory chip and spits it back out so I can only use the very limited internal memory but I bought the camera so I could shot large. The camera is for all intents and purposes ... it is useless. The model is a Coolpix P5100. I just wanted to share this sad story with your readers to draw their own conclusions.
What is with this dumb comment by "Anonymous" which includes "... before I was unable to use it with a camera chip."? This is so lame and dumb and means nothing. How about saying what camera model you bought instead of just bashing an entire brand, huh, dummy? Nikon is one of the top two brands (including Canon) for people who actually know how to take pictures. For a person to say they would never buy a Nikon again because "...I was unable to use it with a camera chip" is ridiculous. Pop Photo would do well to monitor Comments and delete stupid, nonsensical comments which are vague and meaningless. This stuff detracts from both the review and reading experience and adds nothing to the discussion of photography.
HEAR HEAR!!! I am and have been a Nikon fan since my FE2
daysI have never had a problem with the camera or the brand it self cause I am a professional so I always buy good cameras, the only problem I have with Nikon and ALOT of people agree with me is that with every model of camera that they make you need different accessories and that puts a strain on your budget I still have my D100 and last year bought a D300 and I am very happy over all
Nice review - beware that once you fall in love with an entry level Nikon your next Nikon might cause you to wonder...I went from a much loved D40 to a D90 and find the D90 to be one step forward and several backwards and try as I might I can't love this camera! The things that will irritate you with a D3100 like slow AF are likely to be better on your upgrade however the D90 is over sensitive to exposure and white balance issues frequently blow highlights, wheras the D40 was more consistent and I never needed to shoot in RAW. With the D90 I do......So...Nikon lenses are exccellent especially the kit lenses (for the price), however Canon have now caught up in most areas and if you buy just the basic kit lens and then save for a quality Canon zoom you'll have a moe consistent perfromer. I'd go straight to the 60D if I was starting out today! Sony are interesting too and the list is now so long I really don't know how anyone can possibly choose. Try before you buy if you can - borrow or even hire and make sure you review the results on a PC!
As it is I regularly use a Lumix TZ10 as it does well in day light for general walk around use and is nice and wide (25mm equiv) and long!
6 x 4 from either the Lumix or the D90 look much the same and the Lumix has 12 x optical zoom which beats the kit 18-105mm so....think hard
Epic Kudos to Frank Stanton for putting that anonymous tool in his place, and honestly i'm glad popphoto didn't filter it out, because it was one of those things that make a photographer remember how dumb all these people with camera who walk around tourist traps really are.
I got a kick out of his silly comments, I know the power of knowing how to use a Nikon Camera, and from my F3, to my D3 I wouldn't trade any of them, and I still use ALL of my cameras!
I love Nikon! it's the best a man can get!
I subscribed to Popular Photography and they sent me a subscription to Field and Stream instead. Now, their subscription department (M2 Media) won't even get back to me. Be careful when you subscribe!
I read this review in the print magazine the other day, and one thing struck me as weird, you were testing AF speed using the 50 1.4G, and said that AF was slow compared to competitors.
Isn't the 50 1.4G fairly infamous for slow AF even compared to the old screw drive model?
I bought my D3100 Nov. 30, 2010 Feb. 15, 2011 I had to return it to the camera shop I bought it from because the mode dial was screwing up.. Not going into the mode that was set on the dial. The shop said it would take 2 to 6 weeks to get it back. I think I should just get a new camera body PERIOD. This happened under 90 days. Called the shop, they said they would call back. Have not heard back yet. I will call in the morning. Not real happy at this time. I love the shots I am getting from this camera, but why should I have to wait 2 - 6 weeks to get a now refurbished camera back.
When ANY Electronic Camera Manufactured by any Brand, is inside their either 90 Warranttee Guarrantee, and any Part goes wrong at NOT the fault of its Purchaser Consumer. The Pro-DSLR Camera BODY or LENS is FULLY Brand New Replaced by the Manufacturer under the Warranttee-Gurantte Agreements. Any NIKON that has a 90 or 1 year Parts and Labour Warrantee Guranttee Will Be Replaced by NIKON Camera Inc, of Japan , Toykio by the Consumer Sending the "Retails Sales Receipt" and Camera to Any Dedicated NIKON Distrubution North American or Any other Continent NIKOM Distrubtion or Repair Center. Going to Retailers from where you bought the Camera often leads to LONG Delays, and only Refurbished Repairs, instead of the Brands Original Distribution Repiar Center as Stated by your Warrantee Serial No. Guarranttee, Just bring your Camera with "Sale Receipt Bill" to your most Local NIKON Distrution Center as Shown Stipulated by your Warrantte-Guarrantte to Get an Equal EXCHANGE Replacement Brand New Body or Lens as Stipulated in your Warrantter Guaranttee Card-Documentation. Avoid Retailers that DO NOT Exchange or Refund your Money or Exchange your Camera Body or Lens for a Complete NEW one!!!!
I've been shooting my D3100 since August, have dragged it all over the place, even threw it in my pack and mt. biked with it a couple times. I'm completely satisfied. Most reviews point out that the camera is pretty wee, and I've got big mitts, but I've adjusted the way I hold the camera and the way I press the shutter release (I'm sort of rolling on the release with the inside of my fore-finger instead of pressing down on the button) to accommodate. Only problem I have is with my nose activating the "play" button on occasion, which causes the LCD to light up while my eye is to the viewfinder.
I wrote a comparison of my D90 and D3100 at PhotoHow2.com: http://www.photohow2.com/2011/08/camera-gear-reviews-1st-impressions-of-...
Copyright © 2012 Bonnier Corp. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
You guys are clearly Nikon puppies!
I bought a Nikon three years ago and used it for about a year and a half before I was unable to use it with a camera chip again. I called the seller and they said "...this happens all the time." I was told it would take $200 to repair the camera obviously not worth the cost to repair since I did not have insurance. I don't think I would buy a Nikon again because of this.
I was hoping this on the surface of things sturdy looking camera would be a little workhorse instead it died prematurely. A friend said, "...they're good you just got a bad one." I was out $350 for a "bad one." You can connect the dots for yourself, I don't trust this brand.
Continued from above:
The camera I mentioned above would not hold the camera memory chip and spits it back out so I can only use the very limited internal memory but I bought the camera so I could shot large. The camera is for all intents and purposes ... it is useless. The model is a Coolpix P5100. I just wanted to share this sad story with your readers to draw their own conclusions.
What is with this dumb comment by "Anonymous" which includes "... before I was unable to use it with a camera chip."? This is so lame and dumb and means nothing. How about saying what camera model you bought instead of just bashing an entire brand, huh, dummy? Nikon is one of the top two brands (including Canon) for people who actually know how to take pictures. For a person to say they would never buy a Nikon again because "...I was unable to use it with a camera chip" is ridiculous. Pop Photo would do well to monitor Comments and delete stupid, nonsensical comments which are vague and meaningless. This stuff detracts from both the review and reading experience and adds nothing to the discussion of photography.
HEAR HEAR!!! I am and have been a Nikon fan since my FE2
daysI have never had a problem with the camera or the brand it self cause I am a professional so I always buy good cameras, the only problem I have with Nikon and ALOT of people agree with me is that with every model of camera that they make you need different accessories and that puts a strain on your budget I still have my D100 and last year bought a D300 and I am very happy over all
Nice review - beware that once you fall in love with an entry level Nikon your next Nikon might cause you to wonder...I went from a much loved D40 to a D90 and find the D90 to be one step forward and several backwards and try as I might I can't love this camera! The things that will irritate you with a D3100 like slow AF are likely to be better on your upgrade however the D90 is over sensitive to exposure and white balance issues frequently blow highlights, wheras the D40 was more consistent and I never needed to shoot in RAW. With the D90 I do......So...Nikon lenses are exccellent especially the kit lenses (for the price), however Canon have now caught up in most areas and if you buy just the basic kit lens and then save for a quality Canon zoom you'll have a moe consistent perfromer. I'd go straight to the 60D if I was starting out today! Sony are interesting too and the list is now so long I really don't know how anyone can possibly choose. Try before you buy if you can - borrow or even hire and make sure you review the results on a PC!
As it is I regularly use a Lumix TZ10 as it does well in day light for general walk around use and is nice and wide (25mm equiv) and long!
6 x 4 from either the Lumix or the D90 look much the same and the Lumix has 12 x optical zoom which beats the kit 18-105mm so....think hard
Epic Kudos to Frank Stanton for putting that anonymous tool in his place, and honestly i'm glad popphoto didn't filter it out, because it was one of those things that make a photographer remember how dumb all these people with camera who walk around tourist traps really are.
I got a kick out of his silly comments, I know the power of knowing how to use a Nikon Camera, and from my F3, to my D3 I wouldn't trade any of them, and I still use ALL of my cameras!
I love Nikon! it's the best a man can get!
I subscribed to Popular Photography and they sent me a subscription to Field and Stream instead. Now, their subscription department (M2 Media) won't even get back to me. Be careful when you subscribe!
I read this review in the print magazine the other day, and one thing struck me as weird, you were testing AF speed using the 50 1.4G, and said that AF was slow compared to competitors.
Isn't the 50 1.4G fairly infamous for slow AF even compared to the old screw drive model?
I bought my D3100 Nov. 30, 2010 Feb. 15, 2011 I had to return it to the camera shop I bought it from because the mode dial was screwing up.. Not going into the mode that was set on the dial. The shop said it would take 2 to 6 weeks to get it back. I think I should just get a new camera body PERIOD. This happened under 90 days. Called the shop, they said they would call back. Have not heard back yet. I will call in the morning. Not real happy at this time. I love the shots I am getting from this camera, but why should I have to wait 2 - 6 weeks to get a now refurbished camera back.
When ANY Electronic Camera Manufactured by any Brand, is inside their either 90 Warranttee Guarrantee, and any Part goes wrong at NOT the fault of its Purchaser Consumer. The Pro-DSLR Camera BODY or LENS is FULLY Brand New Replaced by the Manufacturer under the Warranttee-Gurantte Agreements. Any NIKON that has a 90 or 1 year Parts and Labour Warrantee Guranttee Will Be Replaced by NIKON Camera Inc, of Japan , Toykio by the Consumer Sending the "Retails Sales Receipt" and Camera to Any Dedicated NIKON Distrubution North American or Any other Continent NIKOM Distrubtion or Repair Center. Going to Retailers from where you bought the Camera often leads to LONG Delays, and only Refurbished Repairs, instead of the Brands Original Distribution Repiar Center as Stated by your Warrantee Serial No. Guarranttee, Just bring your Camera with "Sale Receipt Bill" to your most Local NIKON Distrution Center as Shown Stipulated by your Warrantte-Guarrantte to Get an Equal EXCHANGE Replacement Brand New Body or Lens as Stipulated in your Warrantter Guaranttee Card-Documentation. Avoid Retailers that DO NOT Exchange or Refund your Money or Exchange your Camera Body or Lens for a Complete NEW one!!!!
I've been shooting my D3100 since August, have dragged it all over the place, even threw it in my pack and mt. biked with it a couple times. I'm completely satisfied. Most reviews point out that the camera is pretty wee, and I've got big mitts, but I've adjusted the way I hold the camera and the way I press the shutter release (I'm sort of rolling on the release with the inside of my fore-finger instead of pressing down on the button) to accommodate. Only problem I have is with my nose activating the "play" button on occasion, which causes the LCD to light up while my eye is to the viewfinder.
I wrote a comparison of my D90 and D3100 at PhotoHow2.com: http://www.photohow2.com/2011/08/camera-gear-reviews-1st-impressions-of-...