Nikon D3100

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	Price

	Body only Unknown With 18-55mm lens $529
	all D3100 prices

	Snapsort rank

	Within its price range #n/a of 0 details Among similar cameras #n/a of 9 details

	Key specs

	Sensor size APS-C 23.1x15.4mm Screen resolution 230k dots
	Megapixels 14.2 MP Movie format 1080p @ 24fps
	Screen size 3" Light sensitivity 3,200 ISO
	see all specifications

	Lenses

Browse Nikon D3100 lenses at LensHero

Nikon has replaced the D3100 with the D3200.

Nikon D3200 announced March 2012

	Much higher resolution screen
	More dynamic range
	Significantly better image quality

Compare the new Nikon D3200 vs the D3100

"Unusually fast Live View AF for an SLR"

dpreview.com | talking about the camera's auto-focus

"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."

dpreview.com | talking about the camera's overall-performance

"In addition to these buttons and switches the D3100 has also gained a proper rubber grip, rather than the rubberized coating that featured on the D3000"

dpreview.com | talking about the camera's build-quality

Explore our gallery of 48 sample photos taken by the Nikon D3100.

Nikon D3100 - best entry-level...

Review
Image quality

Nikon D3100 Guide - Basic Phot...

Tutorial
Photography

Canon 550D vs Nikon D3100

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The Nikon D3100 vs other recent entry-level DSLRs

	Short startup delay
	400 ms startup delay

	Movie continuous focus
	Makes it easy to get in-focus movies

	Self cleaning sensor
	Avoids dust in your photos

	Thin
	2.9"

	More lenses available
	230 lenses

	Quite small
	Prosumer size (124×97×74 mm)

	Inexpensive
	$399.99

	Light
	505 g

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The Nikon D3100 vs other recent entry-level DSLRs

	Noisy at high ISO
	919 ISO

	Less color depth
	22.5 bits

	Full HD
	1080p @ 24fps

	Below average sized screen
	3"

	Small viewfinder
	0.51x

	Poor maximum light sensitivity
	3,200 ISO

	Lower true resolution
	14.2 MP

	Fixed screen
	Less flexible

	Lacks an external mic jack
	Limited to the in-camera mic

	Lacks in-camera HDR
	You could do HDR manually

	Uses battery, see less detail
	Pentamirror

	No GPS
	Missing geo-tagging

	Below average viewfinder coverage
	95%

	Slow shutter speed
	1/4000 of a second

	Low overall image quality
	67.0

	Very narrow dynamic range
	11.3 EV

	Very low resolution screen
	230k dots

	No image stabilization
	Risk of blur

	Slow continuous shooting
	3 fps

	No touch screen
	More buttons

	No weather sealing
	Need to shelter it from weather

	Fewer cross-type focus points
	1

	Fewer focus points
	11

	Poor shutter lag
	279 ms shutter lag

	Old
	August 2010

	Low boost light sensitivity
	12,800 ISO

	No focus motor
	Won't autofocus with all lenses

	Not so popular
	Among snapsort users

Image quality data for the Nikon D3100 provided by DxOMark

D3100

Nikon

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Showing 25 comments

VisualStory

(0:32 AM, February 05, 2015)

Today on ebay, D3100 with 18-55mm AND 55-200mm lens for $299

*supermom43*

(7:22 PM, June 16, 2014)

Looking to buy a newer Nikon....I have the D3000 and I love everything except it doesn't shoot videos and cannot take without looking through the viewfinder. I want one that had the option of shooting through the viewfinder or the review screen. I'm looking at the D3100 and D3200. Can you take pictures via the screen with either?

booda

(1:50 PM, May 05, 2014)

Nikon 3100 or canon 1100d

booda

(1:46 PM, May 05, 2014)

Nikon 3100 or canon 1100d ?

Abby Bontempo

(11:29 PM, April 02, 2014)

Looking for a camera to take with me to Europe. Was thinking of the Nikon D3100.

Ali Mhd

(2:35 PM, March 19, 2014)

I also want a D4, but i have no money -_-

Zeeshan Haider

(3:12 AM, December 23, 2013)

you ship in pakistan....?????????????

Denise Clark Futch

(4:43 AM, December 20, 2013)

I do a lot of photographing at my grand daughters soccers games and I have been very pleased with my camera.

Stefan

(8:26 PM, November 26, 2013)

What about the image quality in high ISO?

Michelle

(3:47 AM, August 23, 2013)

I'm thinking of buying my first DSLR. If anyone knows of good camera that takes great pictures/video (video is very important to me!) please let me know! . I'm thinking the Nikon D3100 or the Canon T3 because they are the cheapest I could find and they take decent video/pictures. I'm trying to stay within the $300-400 range. I would really appreciate your help, thanks :)

Alex Deschamps

(1:23 AM, June 13, 2013)

Should I take D3100 with one lens 50-200 mm OR(WHERE) D5100 with the basic lens???

Pensrfun

(5:34 PM, May 08, 2013)

The Nikon wu-1a works on the D3200. Will it also work on the D3100?

Maxim Mayone

(1:20 PM, April 16, 2013)

What battery grip and external mic Do you use?

Muneharu Ota

(2:42 PM, March 25, 2013)

Excellent explanation. 'Nikon': Why do Americans pronounce this manufacturer 'naikon'? It is called 'nikon' (like Nivea, a skin cream manufacturer) in Britain and Japan (the company's home country).

Valliappan Aravind

(6:22 AM, February 17, 2013)

plse some body suggest me. whether.nikon d3100 or canon t2i rebel among these wich one is best in iso..light sensitivity?

Steven white

(2:52 PM, November 25, 2012)

I picked one of these up in Spain earlier this year for 410 euros with 4gb sdhc card 18-55 & 70-210 lenses & carry pack for the money I simply can't fault it. Easy to use light & fast...just what the wife wanted to replace her old film Minolta!

maria2310

(6:35 PM, August 04, 2012)

HI am going to buy my first slr. I am between Canon eos 600 and nikon 5100. which one do you suggest?

Michelle Singh

(3:05 PM, May 14, 2012)

Which is better the Canon T3 Rebel or the Nikon D3100

Snapsort

(4:51 PM, April 03, 2012)

I am glad we could help. If you liked Snapsort you might also like our new site Sortable.com, you can search and compare a lot more than just cameras.

caio1982

(4:46 PM, April 03, 2012)

I've bought a D3100 already but this page made me to realize I got it just right as my first DSLR. Wonderful camera, I only wish it had an external mic jack in its body and that Nikon could release a compatible SDK for this little beast. Anyway, for my next camera I'll surely come back to Snapsort! I've just stopped by to say how great it is :-)

Crysania

(4:33 PM, March 21, 2012)

Lots of people care for Sony. Sony makes great cameras. I just got their A580 and it's amazing.

holowackuck

(0:18 AM, March 04, 2012)

like this cam

Z E C T E R

(3:01 PM, February 12, 2012)

D3100, the AF not to fast. trying to shot a skateboarder and almost of all the photos is out of focus. continous AF in vid mode? not helping that much, because the AF is really slow lol

roy

(6:01 PM, February 06, 2012)

You know, it has been one year since I asked about the D3100, and I had since acquired it. And the verdict? I love it! Simple to use/getting used to and yet it provides stunning images!
Definitely a very good starting point if one was to look for a proper entry-level DSLR. My transition from the plain ol' Point-and-Shoot to DSLR was pretty smooth. The only drawback that I see for now is that one would have to stick to AF-S lenses, which is a bit pricey compared to the AF (at my place, not sure about others).

Again, I would really like to thank Snapsort in assisting my decision-making process, you guys have been a great help!

Haralisa

(8:49 AM, January 12, 2012)

Hi.I want to buy a dslr camera to use it for travelling but i don't know whether i should choose this nikon d3100 or the canon eos 1100d.Can someone give me some suggestions?And please also state the price cos im searching for dslr that cost around rm1500++.Thank you.

Nikon D3100

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The Nikon D3100 vs other recent entry-level DSLRs

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Showing 25 comments