Fortunately for its maker and those looking for an affordable first DSLR, initial impressions are good. The D3100 incorporates a DX format CMOS sensor and is targeted at those trading up from a compact or bridge camera for the first time, as well as families wanting a decent capture device for pics of their tots.
Nikon seems to want to make this one count: up until the higher end D7000 was announced in the latter stages of 2010, the D3100 was its first DSLR to introduce Full HD video capabilities to its range. This is captured at 24 frames per second and in widely accessible MPEG4 format, which here gets its own camcorder-style record button. The D3100 goes up against the EOS 500D/550D from Canon, to name its most direct competitor.
Like rival starter DSLRs from Sony, Nikon has also included an 'Enhanced Guide' on the D3100 as a notable extra option on the chunky shooting mode dial. This includes 13 options that illustrate the type of creative pictures that can be taken with the camera and enables the required options and settings to be selected within the Guide mode. Thus it's commendably a bit more than just a substitute for reading the accompanying literature.
Furthering ease of use, its largish 3in LCD screen is equipped with Live View and can be deployed as an aid to framing and manual focusing, as an alternative to the traditional optical viewfinder ranged above. The D3100 can be bought body only, or equipped with an 18-55mm zoom out of the box for under £100 extra, a jack of all trades option regularly shipped out to beginners but here also having the advantage of offering image stabilisation or 'Vibration Reduction' (VR) as Nikon calls it. This is a bonus because, like Canon, none of Nikon’s DSLRs feature body-integral anti-shake.
Design and Features
Not much larger than a bridge camera, starter digital SLRs are inevitably more compact than their body toughened, weather-proofed semi pro big brothers and the D3100 is no exception. However the build feels solid - lightweight yet robust with it, particularly with the 18-55mm lens attached, and not obviously plastic-y.
One area that suffers in the need for the DSLR to appear unthreateningly compact to newcomers is the hand grip however, being smaller and less comfortable than we would have liked. You can curl three fingers around it, but it's a squeeze. This leaves the forefinger hovering over the shutter release button, located on the forward slope of the grip, and the thumb resting on a small rubberised pad at the back, or more likely the command dial just above. There's no time saving front command dial though, as on higher-end DSLRs, nor is there a top-mounted LCD window for a quick glance at key settings.
The D3100's chunky shooting mode dial, the width of a 10 pence piece, sits in its usual place, slightly backward slanted for more comfortable access via forefinger and thumb, slotting into each setting when turned with a definite 'click'. So you're unlikely to jog settings accidentally when lifting the D3100 out of your camera bag. The dial has the usual smattering of auto settings and enhanced subject specific options that will enable the less experienced to point and shoot to begin with and move on to experimenting with the creative quartet of program, aperture priority, shutter priority and manual as confidence and natural curiosity grows.
A stiff lever to the right of this provides access to the camera's various drive modes, ranging through single shot, continuous burst, self-timer and, usefully for those attempting candid portraiture (whether humans or skittish wildlife), a 'quiet shutter' option. Although there is some mechanical sound with this last option selected, the camera 'kills' the beeping noise that usually signals focus and exposure have been determined - so your subject isn't alerted to the fact that you're about to fire off a shot before you do. We still get auto focus points flashing red in the viewfinder as a visual signal.
The shooting information displayed on the backplate LCD upon start up doesn't automatically switch off as an eye is brought to the viewfinder, which would have been nice to avoid its slightly distracting glare, as the D3100 doesn't feature nifty built-in eye sensors like the Sony Alpha series. It goes off of its own accord eventually but then 'pops' back into life as you half press the shutter release button having lined up a shot.
Like previous DSLR generations the look of the display is changeable - from 'classic' to 'graphic' and vice versa, whilst background colour can also be swapped to suit personal taste and aid legibility.
In general terms the Nikon's buttons and controls are well labelled, practically sized and effectively implemented, plus fall under thumb or finger without any awkward dextrous feats required.
Performance and Results
Also at the back of the D3100 we get a lever marked with a 'LV' icon for activating Live View with a convenient thumb flick, which encircles a red record button for video capture. It soon becomes apparent that Live View has to be first activated before pressing the video record button will actually do anything. In this way Nikon's implementation of video capture doesn't feel quite as intuitive as that of Sony's Alpha A33 or A55 models, which have the advantage of featuring a translucent mirror mechanism, or famously mirror-less compact system cameras such as the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 or Olympus Pens - a threat to entry level DSLRs in themselves. The result is that they don't need their own mirror to actually (and audibly) flick out of the way first, as on the D3100, so it's a more intuitive case of 'press and go'.
The inevitable impression garnered is that in comparison the Nikon feels slower to get going for video capture, but admittedly, having the option of video at least - and the support of a much broader range of system lenses than everyone but Canon can provide - is still a big plus in the DSLR's favour. There no actually dedicated video mode on the top plate shooting dial, but once the lever is flipped and the record button pressed and D3100 users can be filming whichever stills mode might otherwise have been selected at the time. That much is intuitive.
For shooting stills though the D3100's response times are impressively swift. A flick of the on/off lever ergonomically encircling the shutter release button and users can be up and taking their first photograph as fast as their forefinger can switch places to the adjacent control. In standard drive mode/s the shutter fires with a clunk loud enough to signal to the user a shot has been taken. Shutter lag is nigh imperceptible.
This being a Nikon, there's the option to capture humble JPEG or unprocessed NEF files (the Nikon Raw format). There's also the ability to tweak the look of your shots in camera rather than edit after downloading, via standard issue Picture Control settings, with standard, natural and vivid getting the most use from us over our two week test period. Though we found that the standard setting produced perfectly naturalistic results itself, the vivid option is there to boost reds, blues and greens in particular when the photographer is faced with a rather dreary wintry day - though these colour tones can cause images to stray into almost pop art territory if you're not too careful.
Verdict
Of course this model has been constructed to hit a certain price point and there are features that we would have inevitably liked to have had to hand that aren’t here, such as a tilting LCD screen for a greater creative variety when it comes to lining up shots.
As with all kit lenses, in trying to be all things to all men, the supplied 18-55mm standard zoom may be no match for a dedicated prime, but at the same time it isn't bad at all. If we've a grumble it's that the results from our sensor and lens combo were generally a tad soft for personal taste. However we were really impressed with what this DSLR for beginners can do when faced with shooting in low light without flash. Almost unbelievably it was only really at the top whack expanded ISO setting of ISO12800 that we felt image noise/grain was starting to become noticeably intrusive. Check out our test examples over the next couple of pages to see for yourself.
Overall then, with the bonus of minimal effort and a shallow learning curve, Nikon has created a camera that emphasises ease of use as well, while offering a smattering of the latest must have technology.
Despite this, the Nikon D3100 DSLR doesn't come across as 'dumbed down' in an obvious way, but rather provides gentle hand holding, if and when necessary, to enable the less experienced to up their photographic game.
Verdict
In summation then, the D3100 feels solidly constructed when gripped in the palm, is fast and responsive, and is capable of some sharp and colourful results thanks to combination of sensor and supplied 18-55mm test lens and is fairly priced. As such the D3100 is something of a no brainer choice for anyone who doesn't already own a digital SLR, but desires the more professional in appearance results that such a set up can bring.
Feature table
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