Nikon D3100 Review

Overall Score

58

Main Features

  • 14 MP APS-C CMOS Sensor
  • 100 - 3200 ISO
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • Optical (pentamirror) Viewfinder
  • 3 fps continuous shooting
  • 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-In Wireless
  • 124 x 96 x 75 mm, 505g.
  • Price Category:
  • Replaced: D3000
  • Replaced by: D3200

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Nikon D3100 Overview


First introduced in December, 2010, Nikon D3100 is a 14 MP DSLR with a APS-C (23.1 x 15.4 mm) sized CMOS sensor. Nikon replaced the older Nikon D3000 with D3100. Follow the link to read our detailed comparison of these models:

Compare Nikon D3100 with Nikon D3000

Nikon replaced D3100 with Nikon D3200. Follow the link to read our detailed comparison of these models:

Compare Nikon D3100 with Nikon D3200


Nikon D3100 comes with a 23.1 x 15.4 mm CMOS sensor, which has a diagonal of 27.76 mm (1.08").

- Full Frame
- Nikon D3100

Sensor resolution of Nikon D3100 ~ 4582 x 3055 pixels.

Nikon D3100 has Crop Factor: 1.56

The sensor has a surface area of 355.7 mm².

There are approximate 13,998,010 photosites (pixels) on this area.

Nikon D3100 Series History
Model Year $ Sensor ISO Weight Dimensions
Nikon D3500 Nikon D3500 2018 24MP 100 - 25600 365g 124 x 97 x 70mm
Nikon D3400 Nikon D3400 2016 24MP 100 - 25600 395g 124 x 98 x 76mm
Nikon D3300 Nikon D3300 2014 24MP 100 - 12800 430g 124 x 98 x 76mm
Nikon D3200 Nikon D3200 2012 24MP 100 - 6400 505g 125 x 96 x 77mm
Nikon D3100 Nikon D3100 2010 14MP 100 - 3200 505g 124 x 96 x 75mm

Proc and Cons of Nikon D3100


Get to know this camera closer. Let's look at the features and characteristics of this model. Compare Nikon D3100 with competitors in entry-level dslr cameras.

Pros
Built-in Wireless
Optical Viewfinder
RAW Support
1/4000s Max Shutter Speed
Manual Exposure Mode
11 Focus Points
±5 AE Bracketing Range
External Flash
AF Face Detection
3.0 fps Continuous Shooting
Manual Focus
505g Light Body
1 Cross Focus Points
Flash Sync Port
Cons
No Bluetooth
No Touch Screen
No Environmental Sealing
Slow Continuous Shooting: 230 fps
No Articulating Screen
No Image Stabilization
Low Screen Resolution: 230k dots
Low Battery Life: 550 shots
Type Scores

Nikon D3100 has an Overall Score of 58/100 and ranked #123 out of 206 in DSLR cameras, and ranked #377 out of 1222 in all cameras.

Nikon D3100 Scores
Imaging score
52
Features score
53
Value for money score
73
Portability score
81
Overall score
58
Average Scores in Entry-Level DSLR
Imaging Score
52
Features Score
59
Value For Money Score
75
Portability Score
79
Overall score
61

Physical Dimensions of Nikon D3100


Nikon D3100 weighs 505g and has external dimensions of 124 x 96 x 75mm (4.88 x 3.78 x 2.95"). Considering that the average weight of Entry-Level DSLR cameras is 538g, Nikon D3100 is 33 grams less than the average weight of cameras in this category. Nikon D3100 is less by 4mm more than the average length in Entry-Level DSLR.

Weight Comparison
Entry-Level DSLR Cameras


Nikon D3100
505g
Average weight
538g
Min weight
365g
Max weight
690g

Thickness Comparison
Entry-Level DSLR Cameras


Nikon D3100
75mm
Average Thickness
73mm
Min Thickness
53mm
Max Thickness
86mm

Here is the front and top view image of Nikon D3100 with the dimensions:

Nikon D3100

Size Compared to Major Competitors


Model Weight D3100 Dimensions D3100
Nikon D3200 Nikon D3200 505 g 505 g 125 x 96 x 77 mm 124 x 96 x 75 mm
Nikon D3300 Nikon D3300 430 g 505 g 124 x 98 x 76 mm 124 x 96 x 75 mm
Canon EOS 1200D Canon 1200D 480 g 505 g 130 x 100 x 78 mm 124 x 96 x 75 mm
Nikon D3400 Nikon D3400 395 g 505 g 124 x 98 x 76 mm 124 x 96 x 75 mm
Nikon D3000 Nikon D3000 536 g 505 g 126 x 97 x 64 mm 124 x 96 x 75 mm
Nikon D5300 Nikon D5300 480 g 505 g 125 x 98 x 76 mm 124 x 96 x 75 mm
Nikon D5200 Nikon D5200 555 g 505 g 129 x 98 x 78 mm 124 x 96 x 75 mm
Nikon D90 Nikon D90 703 g 505 g 132 x 103 x 77 mm 124 x 96 x 75 mm

Specifications of Nikon D3100


General
Brand Nikon
Model D3100
Announced December, 2010
Body Type Compact SLR
Lens
Lens Mount Nikon F
Manual Focus
Focal Lens Multiplier 1.5
Number of Lenses 305
Macro Focus Range n/a
Screen
Screen Size 3"
Screen Type Fixed
Screen Resolution 230k pixels
Touch Screen
Live View
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder Resolution no electronic viewfinder
Viewfinder Coverage 95%
Viewfinder Magnification 0.53
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 11
Number of Cross Focus Points 1
Photography Features
RAW Support
Min Shutter Speed 1/30 sec
Max Shutter Speed 1/4000 sec
Continuous Shooting 3.0 fps
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Exposure Compensation
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 12.00
Flash Modes Auto, Red-Eye, Slow, Red-Eye Slow, Rear curtain
External Flash
AE Bracketing
AE Bracketing Range ±5 EV
WB Bracketing
Sensor
Sensor Size APS-C
Sensor Type CMOS
Sensor Dimensions 23.1 x 15.4 mm
Sensor Area 355.7 mm²
Sensor Resolution 14 MP
Max Image Resolution 4608 x 3072
Max Native ISO 3200
Min Native ISO 100
Max Boosted ISO 12800
Min Boosted ISO 0
Video Features
4K
Max Video Resolution 1920 x 1080
Video Formats MPEG-4
Timelapse Recording
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Exposure Modes
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
Connectivity
GPS Optional
Wireless Connectivity Built-In
Bluetooth
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
Battery
Battery Life 550 shots
Battery Type Battery Pack
Battery Model EN-EL14
Physical
Weight 505 g
Physical Dimensions 124 x 96 x 75 mm
Environmental Sealing
Water Proof
Dust Proof
Shock Proof
Crush Proof
Freeze Proof
Shock Proof
Storage
Storage Type SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage Slots 1
Other Features
Self Timer
Selfie Friendly

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