I have been using a D 90 for about 17 years now, and have great luck with it, and recently purchased used 3100 body which functions just fine and has good features in comparison. The main thing I found is that the batteries in the 3100 have a real bad lifespan in terms of usage. My D90 battery has proven to last t least 4 times as long as a battery in the 3100, this is a real con for sure. As a basic starter if you don’t need good battery life.
Lou Pistorius
March 15, 2020 9:54 pm
My only bug with the Nikon D3100 is that there is no mode where the flash can be turned off and exposure compensation can be used. For example, in landscape and sport mode, the flash can be turned off (but exposure compensation cannot be used); in all the other modes (including manual) it is possible to use exposure compensation, but the flash cannot be turned off. (Or am I missing something?) Otherwise, as enthusiastic amateur, I’m using the camera with great pleasure.
Sandy
August 29, 2014 8:58 pm
I have this camera and am trying to learn how to photograph people better. My images are often grainy. I set the ISO to 100 from Auto. I have not taken any pictures yet since I have changed the ISO setting. Do you have any other subjections? I found a printing company who are awesome if I could get my pictures looking worth printing Id be set… I bought Moose’s cheat sheets in hopes they help me get better quality pictures. I would like all the help I can get. I am new and feel a little overwhelmed and like I am doing a poor job at my new hobby.
shafri
June 1, 2013 1:52 pm
Hallo all, I bought this camera D3100 in august 2012 and have been shooting various subject, I found that the auto focus was slow, mount with a Tamron 18-200mm, and than I realized there are two blur parallel vertical lines on the sides of the center focus point when view thru the view finder but not the live view, It’s obvious when focusing on subject such as writing on a billboard, I could see a fade shadows, I sent to a Nikon service center and it took only two days for me to collect back my camera. They told me they have changed the prism box reinstalled the firmware and clean the sensor FOC, as it is under warranty. I am glad that my camera are more responsive and the image are superb, with that I bought a Nikkor 50mm 1.8g, Now I really enjoy taking picture, and I go everywhere with it everyday
Cheryl
May 3, 2013 9:24 pm
I have this camera, and am trying to learn it, in order to take better pictures. I do have a question though, can I change lens on this camera? And are their any online classes or sites that help beginners get accustomed to this camera and the settings? Thanks in advance for any help?
Hi Cheryl, Yes you can change the lens on this camera. I have the same camera and I use 3 different lens. You can find on Youtube seveal videos that will talk about this camera. Enjoy, its a great beginners camera.
Ram
March 16, 2013 2:43 pm
Hi I am beginner in photography and searching for a DSLR I am looking at D3100 which is quite good as I read about it in your above article an impressed by the descriptive knowledge of your about photography. Can you please suggest me for a beginner level camera.
Dan
May 3, 2012 5:45 pm
Own this cam, it’s my first SLR & am enjoying it very much, I really wish it had bracketing though, as HDR seems to be coming more & more common – even my phone has real HDR. Looking forward to a firmware upgrade or hack, unless theres another option (excluding manual & fake options)?
robin
October 18, 2011 5:37 pm
thank you very much i owe you for ur great deal of help for this good review…i really needed it….im a beginner in DSLR’s ….thank you….im gonna buy my NIKON D3100….
Ivan
October 16, 2011 12:58 pm
Nasim, this is a nice review and the comparison between the D3100 and D90 is encouraging.
Just to be clear, I’m referring to the fact that this is the only review that shows that the D90 is not worse than the D3100 when pushed to ISO3200 and 6400. All the other reviews “favor” the D3100. The pics from the D90 look “blotchy” in those reviews (the pics at dpreview.com for instance, although those are from the D5000, but AFAIK, that’s the same sensor).
So what gives? Are they wrong? I hope they are ….. I really want to buy the D90, but I can’t buy an “old” camera that has worse IQ than the current entry level model. :)
Dear Ivan, you can not compare D3100 with D90 because D90 is far far better camera than D3100, In every aspect like sensor size, ISO, Aperture all technical things is much more updated . so if u want to buy D90 it will be the best deal…Best of LUCK IVAN…
Theresa Boshoff
July 6, 2011 8:33 am
Help!! I am so confused. I am an very old school photographer (from before the days of auto anything) I own a Leica R4 and a Canon AE-1. I have not used either in about 20 plus years. I love shooting landscapes but ran out of time and money to deal with film so I am looking at upgrading to digital but do not know where to begin. I want to be in the under 600 range. So please advice is the D5000 right from me? Reply
316 ) Theresa Boshoff July 6, 2011 at 8:32 am
Now to add to my confusion I have found the D3100 at about the same price. So now I am really confused. I used to play with my landscapes in the dark room to make them Ansel Adams like. but not sure which camera is for me? Please advise which you would buy for your first DSLR but not SLR?
I have been using a D 90 for about 17 years now, and have great luck with it, and recently purchased used 3100 body which functions just fine and has good features in comparison. The main thing I found is that the batteries in the 3100 have a real bad lifespan in terms of usage. My D90 battery has proven to last t least 4 times as long as a battery in the 3100, this is a real con for sure. As a basic starter if you don’t need good battery life.
My only bug with the Nikon D3100 is that there is no mode where the flash can be turned off and exposure compensation can be used. For example, in landscape and sport mode, the flash can be turned off (but exposure compensation cannot be used); in all the other modes (including manual) it is possible to use exposure compensation, but the flash cannot be turned off. (Or am I missing something?) Otherwise, as enthusiastic amateur, I’m using the camera with great pleasure.
I have this camera and am trying to learn how to photograph people better. My images are often grainy. I set the ISO to 100 from Auto. I have not taken any pictures yet since I have changed the ISO setting. Do you have any other subjections? I found a printing company who are awesome if I could get my pictures looking worth printing Id be set… I bought Moose’s cheat sheets in hopes they help me get better quality pictures. I would like all the help I can get. I am new and feel a little overwhelmed and like I am doing a poor job at my new hobby.
Hallo all, I bought this camera D3100 in august 2012 and have been shooting various subject, I found that the auto focus was slow, mount with a Tamron 18-200mm, and than I realized there are two blur parallel vertical lines on the sides of the center focus point when view thru the view finder but not the live view, It’s obvious when focusing on subject such as writing on a billboard, I could see a fade shadows, I sent to a Nikon service center and it took only two days for me to collect back my camera. They told me they have changed the prism box reinstalled the firmware and clean the sensor FOC, as it is under warranty. I am glad that my camera are more responsive and the image are superb, with that I bought a Nikkor 50mm 1.8g, Now I really enjoy taking picture, and I go everywhere with it everyday
I have this camera, and am trying to learn it, in order to take better pictures. I do have a question though, can I change lens on this camera? And are their any online classes or sites that help beginners get accustomed to this camera and the settings? Thanks in advance for any help?
Hi Cheryl,
Yes you can change the lens on this camera. I have the same camera and I use 3 different lens. You can find on Youtube seveal videos that will talk about this camera.
Enjoy, its a great beginners camera.
Hi
I am beginner in photography and searching for a DSLR I am looking at D3100 which is quite good as
I read about it in your above article an impressed by the descriptive knowledge of your about photography.
Can you please suggest me for a beginner level camera.
Own this cam, it’s my first SLR & am enjoying it very much, I really wish it had bracketing though, as HDR seems to be coming more & more common – even my phone has real HDR. Looking forward to a firmware upgrade or hack, unless theres another option (excluding manual & fake options)?
thank you very much i owe you for ur great deal of help for this good review…i really needed it….im a beginner in DSLR’s ….thank you….im gonna buy my NIKON D3100….
Nasim, this is a nice review and the comparison between the D3100 and D90 is encouraging.
Just to be clear, I’m referring to the fact that this is the only review that shows that the D90 is not worse than the D3100 when pushed to ISO3200 and 6400. All the other reviews “favor” the D3100. The pics from the D90 look “blotchy” in those reviews (the pics at dpreview.com for instance, although those are from the D5000, but AFAIK, that’s the same sensor).
So what gives? Are they wrong? I hope they are ….. I really want to buy the D90, but I can’t buy an “old” camera that has worse IQ than the current entry level model. :)
Thanks.
Dear Ivan,
you can not compare D3100 with D90 because D90 is far far better camera than D3100, In every aspect like sensor size, ISO, Aperture all technical things is much more updated . so if u want to buy D90 it will be the best deal…Best of LUCK IVAN…
Help!! I am so confused. I am an very old school photographer (from before the days of auto anything) I own a Leica R4 and a Canon AE-1. I have not used either in about 20 plus years. I love shooting landscapes but ran out of time and money to deal with film so I am looking at upgrading to digital but do not know where to begin. I want to be in the under 600 range. So please advice is the D5000 right from me?
Reply
316
) Theresa Boshoff
July 6, 2011 at 8:32 am
Now to add to my confusion I have found the D3100 at about the same price. So now I am really confused. I used to play with my landscapes in the dark room to make them Ansel Adams like. but not sure which camera is for me? Please advise which you would buy for your first DSLR but not SLR?