General

compared to recent entry-level DSLRs
"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
Brand
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Nikon
Lowest price
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$499.99
above average above average
Announced
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August, 2010
below average below average

Sensor

"The D3100 offers little to complain about in terms of image quality, and its new 14Mp sensor delivers very good results."
dpreview.com | talking about the camera's image-quality
Type
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CMOS
Size
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APS-C 23.1x15.4mm
Crop factor
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1.6x
Megapixels
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14.2 MP
below average below average
Light sensitivity
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3,200 ISO
below average below average
Light sensitivity (boost)
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12,800 ISO
Sensor cleaning
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Yes

Sensor (Advanced)

True resolution
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14.2 MP
below average below average
Native resolution
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4608 x 3072
below average below average
Pixel size
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25.1 µm²
above average above average

Screen

Type
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LCD
Size
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3.0"
above average above average
Resolution
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230k dots
below average below average
Touch screen
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No
Flips out
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No
below average below average
Live view
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Yes

Lenses

Lens availability
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169 lenses
above average above average
Lens focus motor
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No
below average below average
Lens mount
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Nikon F

Form factor

"It's almost impossible to pick up without your hand falling into a sensible position with the key controls at your fingertips."
dpreview.com | talking about the camera's button-layout
"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
Size
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124x96x73 mm
above average above average
Depth
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2.9"
above average above average
Weight
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505 g
above average above average
Interchangeable lenses
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Yes
Waterproof
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No
Weather sealed
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No

Viewfinder

Type
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Pentamirror
Viewfinder size
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0.51x
below average below average
Coverage
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95%
below average below average

Movies

"On the whole the D3100's movies are really rather good, with smooth motion and impressively low noise in dim light."
dpreview.com | talking about the camera's video-quality
Format
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1080p @ 24fps
above average above average
Supports 24p
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Yes
above average above average
High-speed framerate
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None
External mic jack
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No
below average below average
Autofocus
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Contrast detection
Continuous focus
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Yes
above average above average
All formats
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1080p @ 24fps
720p @ 24fps
720p @ 25fps
640 x 424 @ 24fps
720p @ 30fps

Features

Panorama
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No
below average below average
HDR
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No
below average below average
3D
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No
below average below average
Image stabilization
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None
below average below average
Supports RAW
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Yes
GPS
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No

Performance

Startup delay
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400 ms
above average above average
Shutter lag
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279 ms
below average below average
Battery life
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550 shots
Continuous shooting
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3 fps
below average below average

Focus system

Autofocus
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Phase detection
Focus points
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11
Cross type focus points
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1
below average below average

Shutter

Max
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1/4000s
below average below average
Min
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30s

Flash

Built-in flash
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Yes
Popup
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Yes
External connection
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Yes

Storage

Storage slots
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1
below average below average
Supported formats
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SDHC
SD
SDXC

DXO Mark Scores

"High ISO performance is substantially improved over the D3000, to the extent that images shot at sensitivities as high as 3200 are eminently useable"
dpreview.com | talking about the camera's iso-noise
Image quality
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67.0
Color depth
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22.5 bits
Dynamic range
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11.3 EV
below average below average
Low light performance
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919 ISO