With a revamped Guide Mode, 1080p HD video, and a few other tricks, the Nikon D3100 is looking like one of the best options for novices to hit the market. Read about the Nikon D3100 here.
Are you ready to retire your point-and-shoot or fixed lens and base jump into the wide world of advanced photography? The Nikon D3100 looks like one of the most viable options on the market for shooters who want a fixed lens, but don't want to be bombarded by a cavalcade of advanced manual controls. In addition to 1080p HD video recording, the newest upgrade to the wildly popular D3000 enhances the learning experience with a revamped Guide mode. Toss in a 14.2-megapixel sensor, Live View, and the company's latest Expeed 2 processing, and the Nikon D3100 is one of the premiere options, in our eyes, for the student or avid hobbyist.
"People are stepping up to digital SLR cameras – consumers are embracing the enhanced performance, amazing image quality and options for lenses and accessories that only a D-SLR can provide," said Lisa Osorio, general manager of Marketing at Nikon Inc. "The D3100 is a camera that makes it easy to take beautiful pictures and will grow with the user, unlocking their potential and assisting in creating lasting memories or amazing art."
We saw it with the Nikon D5000, which blended exceptional image quality with a simplified, beginner-friendly interface. The new Nikon D3100 will feature a DX-format CMOS sensor, 11-point AF system, and ISO cap of 3200. Like most Nikon cameras, the D3100 can reach ISO levels of 12,800 by selecting the "Hi" modes. Nikon promises the Expeed 2 processing on the D3100 will "ensure brilliant image quality while managing color, contrast, exposure, noise and speed for optimal results."
As far as the 1080p is concerned, Nikon is offering this mode at 24fps, but the ability to record in both 24p and 30p can be achieved when shooting 720p videos. Video files are H.264 .MOV, and the D3100 offers the ability to trim clips in post. We also get an HDMI port for playback on an HDTV. With the NIKKOR lens, we'll expect to be busting out bokeh effects and playing with depth of field. But perhaps the best part of the Nikon D3100's HD video mode is that the camera will offer full time AF for D-Movie shooting while utilizing the Live View mode. Face Detection is amped up to a whopping 35 faces, and the Nikon D3100 will have a dedicated Live View and Video Record button located on the camera's chassis.
Remember the friendly Guide Mode on the Nikon D3000? It's back and now specializes in step-by-step instructions in order to assist beginners. Guide mode can be accessed right on the Mode dial so it's readily available when a questionable shooting situation arises. Guide Mode dumbs down typical camera adjustments by providing phrases like "show water flowing" in order to automatically slow the shutter down to convey the fluid movement of water. The Nikon D3100 also includes Active D-Lighting, which assesses the shooting environment and provides a more even dynamic range. Active D-Lighting can also be applied in Playback mode to a captures image, and saves as a completely new file in order to preserve the original.
The Nikon D3100 also offers Scene Recognition and Auto Scene Selector for more novice-friendly shortcuts, in addition to 6 Scene presets located on the Mode dial. Nikon claims the D3100 will offer a split-second shutter response, 3fps burst shooting, and an advanced 3D Subject Tracking mode. There's also a new Quiet Shutter Release mode for those tender moments where a loud shutter would send the guests of your librarian reunion party out the door. It just reduces the sound of the shutter, but then again, how does this work and why didn't Nikon just add this as a permanent feature instead of making it selective? We will find out soon.
Some final stocking stuffers include a Retouch menu that offers a miniature effect to photos, image overlay, color outline and softening filters for flattering portraits, and realistic skin tones. The Nikon D3100's shutter is tested to 100,000 cycles, so you know it will take a licking and keep on ticking, and the camera is equipped with Nikon's Integrated Dust Reduction System.
For glass, the Nikon D3100 will ship with an AF-S NIKKOR 18‐55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR image stabilization lens, which is a fairly basic focal length for covering most grounds and will be plenty to get the ball rolling. The Nikon D3100 will have a built-in flash, Nikon's Creative Lighting System, support Advanced Wireless Lighting and Eye-Fi, and ship with Nikon's latest View NX2 image editing software. The Nikon D3100 will also support SDXC cards.
Nikon D3100 Photo Gallery
     
Price and Release Date
The Nikon D3100 D-SLR camera outfit, including the versatile AF-S NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR image stabilization lens, is scheduled to be available at Nikon Authorized dealers beginning in mid September 2010, at an estimated selling price of $700.
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