Nikon D3100

APS-C, 14.2 MP, 3.0"
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        Summary Nikon D3100

        Prices Price
        Body only
        $240 - $280
        With 18-55mm lens
        $385 - $410
        all D3100 prices
        Score Snapsort rank
        Within its price range
        #n/a of 0
        Among similar cameras
        #n/a of 12
        Specifications Key specs
        Sensor size
        Help APS-C 23.1x15.4mm
        Screen resolution
        Help 230k dots
        Megapixels
        Help 14.2 MP
        Movie format
        Help 1080p @ 24fps
        Screen size
        Help 3.0"
        Light sensitivity
        Help 3,200 ISO
        see all specifications
        Lenses Lenses
        Browse Nikon D3100 lenses at LensHero
        Nikon D3100Nikon D3100

        Replacement

        Nikon has replaced the D3100 with the D3200.

        Nikon D3200
        Nikon D3200 announced March, 2012
        Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
        Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
        Dynamic range More dynamic range

        Compare the new Nikon D3200 vs the D3100

        reviewsWhat are people saying about the D3100

        "Thanks to its lineage the D3100 remains one of the most pleasant to hold cameras in its class."
        dpreview.com | talking about the camera's feel
        "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

        Videos

        Nikon D3100 - best entry-level...

        Nikon D3100 - best entry-level DSLR?
        • Review
        • Image quality

        Nikon D3100 Guide - Basic Phot...

        Nikon D3100 Guide - Basic Photography Tips
        • Tutorial
        • Photography

        Canon 550D vs Nikon D3100

        Canon 550D vs Nikon D3100
        • Tutorial

        Pros

        Report a correction

        The Nikon D3100 vs other recent entry-level DSLRs

        Startup delay Short startup delay Help
        400 ms startup delay
        Lens availability More lenses available Help
        205 lenses
        Weight Light Help
        505 g
        Movie continuous focus Movie continuous focus Help
        Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
        Size Quite small Help
        Prosumer size 124x96x73 mm
        Lowest price Very inexpensive Help
        $239.69

        Cons

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        The Nikon D3100 vs other recent entry-level DSLRs

        Movie format Full HD Help
        1080p @ 24fps
        Dynamic range Very narrow dynamic range Help
        11.3 EV
        Screen resolution Very low resolution screen Help
        230k dots
        Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
        Risk of blur
        True resolution Lower true resolution Help
        14.2 MP
        Touch screen No touch screen Help
        More buttons
        Screen flips out Fixed screen Help
        Less flexible
        Shutter lag Longer shutter lag Help
        279 ms shutter lag
        External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack Help
        Limited to the in-camera mic
        Light sensitivity (boost) Low boost light sensitivity Help
        12,800 ISO
        Fastest shutter speed Slow shutter speed Help
        1/4000 of a second
        Low light performance Noisy at high ISO Help
        919 ISO
        Overall image quality Low overall image quality Help
        67.0
        Viewfinder size Small viewfinder Help
        0.51x
        Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
        3,200 ISO
        Weather sealed No weather sealing Help
        Need to shelter it from weather
        Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
        3 fps
        Focus points Fewer focus points Help
        11
        Cross type focus points Fewer cross-type focus points Help
        1
        HDR Lacks in-camera HDR Help
        You could do HDR manually
        Announced Old Help
        August, 2010
        Viewfinder coverage Below average viewfinder coverage Help
        95%

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        front photo of the Nikon D3100back photo of the Nikon D3100angle photo of the Nikon D3100

        Discussion

        Nikon D3100
        D3100
        Nikon

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        Showing 25 comments

        *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?
         
        Avatar for booda booda (1:50 PM, May 05, 2014)
        Nikon 3100 or canon 1100d

         
        booda (1:46 PM, May 05, 2014)
        Nikon 3100 or canon 1100d ?
         
        Avatar for Abby Bontempo Abby Bontempo (11:29 PM, April 02, 2014)
        Looking for a camera to take with me to Europe. Was thinking of the Nikon D3100.
         
        Avatar for Ali Mhd Ali Mhd (2:35 PM, March 19, 2014)
        I also want a D4, but i have no money -_-
         
        Avatar for Zeeshan Haider Zeeshan Haider (3:12 AM, December 23, 2013)
        you ship in pakistan....?????????????
         
        Avatar for Denise Clark Futch 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?
         
        Avatar for Michelle 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 :)
         
        Avatar for Alex Deschamps 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???
         
        Avatar for Pensrfun Pensrfun (5:34 PM, May 08, 2013)
        The Nikon wu-1a works on the D3200. Will it also work on the D3100?
         
        Avatar for Maxim Mayone Maxim Mayone (1:20 PM, April 16, 2013)
        What battery grip and external mic Do you use?
         
        Avatar for Muneharu Ota 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).
         
        Avatar for Valliappan Aravind 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
         
        Avatar for Snapsort 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.
         
        Avatar for caio1982 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 :-)
         
        Avatar for Crysania 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.
         
        Yanks13 (2:29 PM, December 23, 2011)
        Okayyy guys. i had a choice between d3100,5100 and canon counterparts, it was pretty obvs for coz nikon is better on paper than 1100d , and was on a tight budget as well. Nevertheless D31000 was fairly easy on pocket and now it has been a week with it and its AMAZING! there is nothing you will get fussy about, its simple to use. no cheap plasticky build & the retouch menu is lovely. Nikon Transfer 2 (the CD pack contains all) is faster than you think. i would say, just go for it. (Y)

        P.S- Speculation is that the red color D3100 might get white color lenses as standard. Ummm...