Nikon D3100

  Physically very similar to its predecessor the D3000, the D3100 is built around a 14.2 megapixel CMOS sensor, bringing not only live view but also Full HD video capture to Nikon's entry-level model.
Compared to the D3000 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.
The D3100 has a new 11-point AF system, and Nikon has also added an additional AF-F autofocus mode to allow better focusing in live view and autofocus during video shooting.
The D3100 offers little to complain about in terms of image quality, and its new 14Mp sensor delivers very good results.
High ISO performance is substantially improved over the D3000, to the extent that images shot at sensitivities as high as 3200 are eminently useable (although as is often the case with APS-C cameras, the extended 'Hi' settings equivalent to 6400 and 12800 are distinctly ambitious).
There's no doubt that the D3100 is one of the best entry-level SLRs available, offering very good image quality coupled with speedy operation and straightforward handling - at least for conventional eye-level use.
Where it's less strong is in the implementation of the new features that have been added over the D3000, i.e. live view and movie mode.
Neither is done badly, per se, and the improvement in CDAF speed is impressive, but they could still be better.



Specifications

TypeSingle-lens reflex digital camera
Lens mountNikon F mount (with AF contacts)
Effective angle of viewApproximately 1.5x lens focal length (Nikon DX format)
Image sensor23.1 x 15.4 mm CMOS sensor
Effective pixels14.2 million pixels
Total pixels14.8 million pixels
Dust-reduction systemImage sensor cleaning, Image Dust Off reference data (optional Capture NX 2 software required)
Image size (pixels)4,608 x 3,072 (L); 3,456 × 2,304 (M); 2,304 × 1,536 (S)
File formatNEF (compressed RAW); JPEG: JPEG-Baseline compliant with fine (approx. 1 : 4), normal (approx. 1 : 8), or basic (approx. 1 : 16) compression; Simultaneous recording of compressed RAW and JPEG fine image possible
MediaSD (Secure Digital), SDHC, SDXC, and Eye-Fi memory cards
Picture Control SystemCan be selected from Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Landscape, Portrait; selected Picture Control can be modified
ViewfinderEye-level pentamirror single-lens reflex viewfinder
Frame coverageApprox. 95% horizontal and 95% vertical
MagnificationApproximately 0.8× (50mm f/1.4 lens at infinity, -1.0 m-1)
Eyepoint18 mm (-1.0 m-1)
Diopter adjustment-1.7 to +0.5 m-1
Focusing screenType B BriteView Clear Matte Mark VII screen
Reflex mirrorQuick return type
Lens apertureInstant return, electronically controlled
Compatible lensesAF-S or AF-I NIKKOR: All functions supported. Type G or D AF NIKKOR without built-in autofocus motor: All functions except autofocus supported. Other AF NIKKOR without built-in autofocus motor: All functions supported except autofocus and 3D color matrix metering II. IX NIKKOR and F3AF: Not supported. Type D PC lenses: All functions supported except autofocus and some shooting modes. AI-P NIKKOR: All functions supported except autofocus and 3D color matrix metering II. Non-CPU: Autofocus not supported. Can be used in exposure mode M, but exposure meter does not function. Electronic rangefinder can be used if lens has a maximum aperture of f/5.6 or faster.
Shutter TypeElectronically controlled, vertical-travel focal-plane shutter
Shutter Speed1/4000 to 30 s in steps of 1/3 EV, bulb
Flash sync speedX=1/200 s; synchronizes with shutter at 1/200 s or slower
Release modeSingle frame, continuous, self-timer, quiet shutter release
Frame advance rateUp to 3 fps (manual focus, mode M or S, shutter speed 1/250 s or faster, and other settings at default values)
Self-timer2 s, 10 s
MeteringTTL exposure metering using 420-pixel RGB sensor
Metering methodMatrix: 3D color matrix metering II (type G and D lenses); color matrix metering II (other CPU lenses); Center-weighted: Weight of 75% given to 8-mm circle in center of frame; Spot: Meters 3.5 mm circle (about 2.5 % of frame) centered on selected focus point
Range (ISO 100, f/1.4 lens, 20 °C/68 °F)Matrix or center-weighted metering: 0 to 20 EV; Spot metering: 2 to 20 EV
Exposure meter couplingCPU
ModeAuto modes (auto, auto (flash off); scene modes (portrait, landscape, child, sports, close up, night portrait); programmed auto with flexible program (P); shutter-priority auto (S); aperture-priority auto (A); manual (M)
Exposure compensation-5 to +5 EV in increments of 1/3 EV
Exposure lockLuminosity locked at detected value with AE-L/AF-L button
ISO sensitivity (Recommended Exposure Index)ISO 100 to 3200 in steps of 1 EV; can also be set to approx. 2 EV above ISO 3200 (ISO 12800 equivalent); auto ISO sensitivity control available
Active D-LightingCan be selected from on or off
AutofocusNikon Multi-CAM 1000 autofocus sensor module with TTL phase detection, 11 focus points (including one cross-type sensor), and AF-assist illuminator (range approx. 0.5–3 m/1 ft. 8 in.–9 ft. 10 in.)
Detection range-1 to +19 EV (ISO 100 at 20°C/68°F)
Lens servoAutofocus (AF): Single-servo AF (AF-S); continuous-servo AF (AF-C); auto AF-S/AF-C selection (AF-A); predictive focus tracking activated automatically according to subject status. Manual focus (MF): Electronic rangefinder can be used
AF-area modeSingle-point AF, dynamic-area AF, auto-area AF, 3D-tracking (11 points)
Focus lockFocus can be locked by pressing shutter-release button halfway (single-servo AF) or by pressing AE-L/AF-L button
Built-in flashGuide number of approximately 12/39, 13/43 with manual flash (m/ft, ISO 100, 20°C/68°F); Auto, portrait, child, close up, night portrait: Auto flash with auto pop-up; P, S, A, M: Manual pop-up with button release
Flash controlTTL: i-TTL balanced fill-flash and standard i-TTL flash for digital SLR using 420-pixel RGB sensor. i-TTL balanced fill-flash is available with built-in flash and SB-900, SB-800, SB-600, or SB-400 when matrix or center-weighted metering is selected. Standard i-TTL is available with built-in flash and SB-900, SB-800, SB-600, or SB-400 when spot metering is selected (Flash mode can be set using Speedlight controls with SB-900, SB-800, and SB-600). Auto aperture: Available with SB-900/SB-800 and CPU lens. Non-TTL auto: Supported flash units include SB-900, SB-800, SB-80DX, SB-28DX, SB-28, SB-27, and SB-22S. Distance-priority manual: Available with SB-900 and SB-800
Angle of coverageSufficient to illuminate the angle of view of an 18 mm lens. Picture edges may be slightly dark depending upon conditions, such as the lens used and the aperture setting.
Flash modeAuto, portrait, child, close up: Auto, auto with red-eye reduction, off available with built-in flash; Fill-flash and red-eye reduction available with optional flash units. Night portrait: Auto slow sync, auto slow sync with red-eye reduction, off available with built-in flash; Slow sync and slow sync with red-eye reduction available with optional flash units. Landscape, sports: Fill-flash and red-eye reduction available with optional flash units. P, A: Fill-flash, rear-curtain with slow sync, slow sync, slow sync with red-eye reduction, red-eye reduction. S, M: Fill-flash, rear-curtain sync, red-eye reduction
Flash compensation-3 to +1 EV in increments of 1/3 EV
Flash-ready indicatorLights when built-in flash or optional flash unit such as SB-900, SB-800, SB-600, SB-400, SB-80DX, SB-28DX, or SB-50DX is fully charged; blinks for 3 s after flash is fired at full output
Accessory shoeISO 518 hot-shoe with sync and data contacts and safety lock
Sync terminalAS-15 sync terminal adapter (available separately)
Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS)Advanced Wireless Lighting supported with SB-900, SB-800, or SU-800 as commander. Flash color information communication supported with built-in flash and all CLS-compatible flash units
White balanceAuto (TTL white balance with main image sensor and 420-pixel RGB sensor); incandescent, fluorescent (7 types), direct sunlight, flash, cloudy, shade, preset manual, all except preset manual with fine tuning.
Live View - Lens servoAutofocus (AF): Single-servo AF (AF-S); full-time-servo AF (AF-F). Manual focus (MF)
Live View - AF-area modeFace-priority AF, wide-area AF, normal-area AF, subject-tracking AF
AutofocusContrast-detect AF anywhere in frame (camera selects focus point automatically when face-priority AF or subject-tracking AF is selected)
Scene auto selectionAvailable in auto and auto flash off modes
Movie recordingFile format: MOV
Movie recordingFrame size/rate: 1920 × 1080, 24 fps; 1280 × 720, 30 fps
Movie RecordingVideo compression: H.264/MPEG-4 Advanced Video Coding
Movie RecordingAudio recording format: Linear PCM
Movie RecordingAudio (Sound): Monaural microphone built in. Can be set to on or off.
Movie RecordingMetering: TTL exposure metering using main image sensor
Monitor3-in. (7.5cm)., approx. 230k-dot TFT LCD with brightness adjustment
PlaybackFull-frame playback; Movie playback; Thumbnail (4, 9, or 72 images or calendar) playback; Slide show; Histogram display; Highlights display; Auto image rotation; Image comment (up to 36 characters)
Retouch functionsD-Lighting, red-eye correction, trim, 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
USBHi-Speed USB
HDMI outputType C HDMI connector
Accessory terminalRemote cord: MC-DC2 (available separately); GPS unit: GP-1 (available separately)
Supported languagesChinese (Simplified and Traditional), Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish
BatteryOne rechargeable Li-ion EN-EL14 battery (supplied)
AC adapterEH-5a AC adapter; requires EP-5A power connector (available separately)
Dimensions (W × H × D)Approx.124 × 96 × 74.5 mm (4.9 × 3.8 × 2.9 in.)
WeightApprox. 505 g (1 lb. 1.8 oz.) with battery and memory card but without body cap
DurabilityBody and shutter unit both durable up to approximately 100,000 cycles.


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