Is the Nikon D3100 any good?

[visi0n]

Hello everyone,

I decided to choose the Nikon D3100 as the camera to purchase, but I would like your guys' input on this camera. Just some background information, I plan to use it for landscape, scenery/outdoors, and people. I'm also a complete noob to cameras/DSLR's/photography and just wanted this specific DSLR cause supposedly it's very good/well-rated, easy to use, and great for beginners since its a entry-level DSLR. So that I just had a few basic questions about camera...

1) Though DSLR's are interchangeable when it comes to lens, does the stock 18-55m lens allow "Macro mode"?

2) Does the Nikon D3100 use a electric viewfinder or a optical viewfinder? Also is the difference and which is better?

3) Does the D3100 have burst shot? If so, how many shoots can be shot per mode?

4) Does the camera have fast shutter speed? Does it shoot as fast as I can click the shutter button?

5) I plan to spend no MORE than $550, which other entry levels would you suggest? I was looking at the Canon T3, Canon XS, and other entry level DSLR, but still prefer the Nikon D3100, but any other DSLR would you guys suggest?

I know I'm a complete beginner and these question a very noobie, but the help would be much appreciated. But yes would you say this is a great camera for beginners and a good entry-level DSLR?

Thanks for the help!!
Harris

 

[MTVision]

Hello everyone,

I decided to choose the Nikon D3100 as the camera to purchase, but I would like your guys' input on this camera. Just some background information, I plan to use it for landscape, scenery/outdoors, and people. I'm also a complete noob to cameras/DSLR's/photography and just wanted this specific DSLR cause supposedly it's very good/well-rated, easy to use, and great for beginners since its a entry-level DSLR. So that I just had a few basic questions about camera...

1) Though DSLR's are interchangeable when it comes to lens, does the stock 18-55m lens allow "Macro mode"?

2) Does the Nikon D3100 use a electric viewfinder or a optical viewfinder? Also is the difference and which is better?

3) Does the D3100 have burst shot? If so, how many shoots can be shot per mode?

4) Does the camera have fast shutter speed? Does it shoot as fast as I can click the shutter button?

5) I plan to spend no MORE than $550, which other entry levels would you suggest? I was looking at the Canon T3, Canon XS, and other entry level DSLR, but still prefer the Nikon D3100, but any other DSLR would you guys suggest?

I know I'm a complete beginner and these question a very noobie, but the help would be much appreciated. But yes would you say this is a great camera for beginners and a good entry-level DSLR?

Thanks for the help!!
Harris

1. It's not a macro lens so you cannot get 1:1 magnification. You would have to buy a macro lens or maybe some extension tubes. Don't know how well tubes work on a kit lens

2. Optical viewfinder. Don't know the other answers. Sure you could find them by google ping a google search

3. Shooting JPEG it can take about 24 images before recycling for another burst

4. 3 frames per second and the highest shutter speed is 1/4000

If you do an online search for the d3100 and/or any different cameras you will find complete reviews and the answer to any other questions like the ones you posted - that's how I got the answers for you. D3100 is a decent camera though and I'm only familiar with Nikon.

 

[marmots]

i recommend a used t2i, or d5100

they are much better cameras

mainly in build quality

 

[KmH]

Electronic viewfinders have a time lag, optical viewfinders don't. The D3100 and the T3 both have Live View available for use on the rear LCD.

Electronic viewfinders can suffer by not having enough display resolution. DSLR Optical viewfinders lose some light that has to be passed onto the auto focus system, and in a camera like the D3100 the viewfinder only shows about 96% of what the lens projects to the image sensor.

D3100 from Nikon
D3100 from Nikon
Canon U.S.A. : Consumer & Home Office : EOS Rebel T3 18-55mm IS II Kit
Canon U.S.A. : Consumer & Home Office : EOS Rebel T3 18-55mm IS II Kit

The D3100 is an entry-level, inexpensive DSLR consumer camera, and all of the cameras at this level have the same max shutter speed and pretty much the same frames-per-second rate (about 3 fps).

The D3100 has Spot metering mode and the metering system is color aware. The Canon T3 and XS do not have Spot metering, but the T3 does have Canon's version of color-aware metering.

The D3100 has a self cleaning image sensor, but neither of the Canon cameras you mentioned do.

The D3100 has 11 auto focus points, and Spot metering can be made concurrent with the selected focus point. The Canon T3 has 9 auto focus points, but as mentioned, no Spot metering mode.

The D3100- has Nikon's Creative Lighting System (CLS), though it does not have the Commander mode like the D7000 and more expensive Nikon's.

With a budget of $550, you will want to look for a refurbished D3100, becuase new D3100 kits are closer to $650:
Nikon D3100 14.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens