The Nikon D3100 is considered to be an entry level camera that is geared towards budding photographers and people who want point and shoot ability with better images quality. I can honestly say that this camera goes beyond any past entry level camera Nikon has ever made and for a reasonable price.
As you will see in my full review I ran this cameras through what I consider to be some of the toughest shooting challenges. First shooting inside a dimly lit hockey rink than shooting at a concert. The cameras performed very well during the hockey game allowing me to capture images at a fast enough shutter speed using 3200 ISO to allow me to freeze the motion. It did so without compromising the final image. Sure the 3200 ISO is not the cleanest compared to the D7000 or higher cameras but that is to be expected from an entry level body. What you have to understand is if you put a good piece of glass in front of any camera you are giving yourself the ability to capture better images. (See the sample images below to get access to the full RES samples)
I used the Nikon 35 1.8, 14-24 2.8, 24-70 2.8 and 70-200 2.8 VR II on this camera. Yes the hebrew trinity is expensive but the 35 1.8 is only $200. If i was to try and capture images with the kit lens either at the concert or the hockey game I would not have done as well. What happens is with kit lenses the ISO has to be bumped to let in more light opposed to lowered when you have a better lenses. This is why most people think their camera “sucks” and is the reason behind bad images when it really is the lens.
Getting back to the D3100 it is laid out well and the added dedicated buttons to the outside of the camera are a welcomed addition. Being an entry level camera it does have some features that I wished it had. I wish I could select ISO’s in between the normal 100-200-400-800-1600-3200 but that option only comes with the next level cameras. Again for the money it does the job it is supposed to do. I am not going to knock the camera because it lacks features that the higher end bodies have.
If you take this camera for what it is and you are new to photography this will be the perfect starter camera. My recommendation for the perfect starter set up would consist of the Kit being that it is only sold as a kit. I would add a Nikon 35 1.8 right off the bat as you will see the difference in quality between the kit lens and that lens. Be sure to pick up a 16 gig memory card or at least 2 8 gig SD class 6 or higher cards.
If you would like to pick one up for yourself please call Allen’s Camera at 215.547.2841 and ask for the FRO Price or follow the amazon link below.
Click and Image to see the FULL RES sample images
so your advice is to get the 35mm f1.8 right away… that’s what I’m about to do with my D40. I have to 18-55 and the 55-200 but both are not 2.8 so I’m thinking of getting the 35mm 1.8 and later the 70-200 2.8 but that has to wait for a while.
Hi Jared,
Cool video about the D3100. I bought mine one month ago, I knew absolutly nothing about photography, so I started with the 18-55mm kit lense, since, I bought the 35mm 1.8…
Now I need a zoom… I hesitate : 70-300mm 4-5.6 (stabilized, tamrom better than the nikon between 200mm and 300mm) for 420€ (I live in Europe), or the sigma 70-200 f2.8 which is not stabilized for 700€. I do not know if I will shoot inside… What is your advice about a zoom ? I hesitate because I’m just a student and 700€ is expensive but… if it is better why not !
I think I will shoot some candid portraits in the street, sport outdoors, landscapes, …
Thanks for your vids, I learnt a lot with it and still learning =)
(Sorry if my english is not really good…)
“See ya”
I saw the full res samples. they look very good even the high ISO in large size but they are very noisy when I checked the original size. Why?
The ISO performance on the D3100 is better then the D90. 1600 would be the limit for most lighting situations on the D90, but most of the time I would try to shoot under 1250. Now with my D7000 I will shoot at 3200 or even 5000.
@hassan kassem they are noisy because you are looking at them at such a large size not printed out.
Thanks Fro! Great Video…
For Jared and everyone: If you would shoot an event or something (video) with a 3100. In those situations you constantly stop recording and restart recording again… is there a practical way to sync up the audio of a external devide (like the zoom) with the video from the camera without having to clap every single time you start recording a new clip?
@kaux just try and match it up to the beat.
Nice honest review…I think you hit the nail on the head with this review of the D3100…your review style is a refreshing change from the graphs & studio samples we see so often…congrats on your continued success and a big hello from Dublin in Ireland…
It’s nice to read a quality blog post. I really enjoy many of the articles on your website.
Thanks for your advice. Hope to see more videos. I just got my D3100 last week and I am still trying to experiment with it!
How many fro picks?
hehe
Nice review
I love my D3100. I just printed a 20×30 portrait I made of some friends of mine and the resolution is awesome (14 mp on my D3100 vs 6 mp on my old D50). One thing though, I have two Sigma lenses that will not focus track in the live-video mode. My two Nikon lenses (the kit lens and my 35mm f1.8) focus track just fine. Jared, I noticed that all the video testing you did was with Nikon lenses. Could you please do a video test with a Sigma lens and see if it focus tracks? When you depress the shutter button half-way it focuses, but when you move the camera the focus doesn’t change. I’m not a really big video guy, so if I never figure it out it won’t be a big deal, but I’m just curious. I wonder if it would focus track with a Tamron, Tokina, or other lens.
Jared, your photos are excellent! awesome!!!!
which lenses you recommend for a newbie (I have a Nikon D3100). Thanks.
Greetings from Argentina
nikon 35 1.8 i also like the sigma 70-200 2.8 version 2
thks man!!!
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hi jared, what is your opinion on this lens: NIKKOR 55-300mm f4.5-5.6G ED VRII.
thanks again
Hi Jared
ive got a new d3100 with the lens 18-105mm vr for outdaoor as well as for indoor photofgraphy……..wanted to know that im gonna buy 70-300mm vr2 soon……..is this lens a better option for birds and wildlife photography………….pls let me know……….thank u
Dear Jared..
I’m also a fan of Nikon and I’m plan to buy d3100. What are your advice, buying the camera with kit lenses or separate lenses? If separate, what lenses do you recommend? So my budget around 800 dollars but in Malaysia around RM3000. Please let me know.. TQ
Hi Jared, got mine with in December, loving it. i got it with the 15-55mm lens but im after some good but cheap gear to get started. after portrait pics, band pics. do you have any advice on what to get.