Just getting started 3100?

[Cstrong112]

We are just getting started in quality photography. We are trying to decide if the D3100 is a good camera. We have been told so many different things all the up to mega pixels is the most important thing. I do not buy that but also want to make sure the 3100 will give us high quality. Any suggestions?

 

[SCraig]

Define "High Quality". The D3100 is Nikon's lowest entry-level body and as such certainly isn't going to produce the image quality or have all of the features of their top-of-the-line bodies. That said, the D3100 can produce outstanding images depending on the lens and the capabilities of the person behind the camera.

 

[Cstrong112]

No noise, and crisp clear nice shots. I guess I am in the debate over megapixels. Is the 3200 that much better for the price? A presentable photo quality

 

[Tailgunner]

I was able to produce really decent photos with my D3100. Now with that said, it really depends on what you're looking for in a camera. Anyhow, I have to go but I would suggest buying the best you can afford. If you can afford a D5200/5300 or D7100 for example, than go that route instead.

 

[robbins.photo]

We are just getting started in quality photography. We are trying to decide if the D3100 is a good camera. We have been told so many different things all the up to mega pixels is the most important thing. I do not buy that but also want to make sure the 3100 will give us high quality. Any suggestions?

Megapixels are not the most important. I use a d5100 myself and am very happy with the results. I guess my first question would be are you planning on just taking pictures occasionally or do you think that this is going to become a fairly serious hobby?

Sent from my LG-LG730 using Tapatalk

 

[jaomul]

Nikon made some sensor improvements recently (using sony and toshiba sensors). The d3100 certainly can make excellent images but its sensor tech has been superceeded by the d3200 and others. I would suggest looking at a d5100. It is a step up in bracket from the d3100, can be got very cheap new, has the newer sensor tech and an articulating screen. It is 16mp, but mp are not everything and 16 is loads for most people. If you end up with the d3100 you likely wont be disappointed. All dslrs can do great quality photos. Most of the money in the higher spec models goes into build and features

 

[SCraig]

No noise, and crisp clear nice shots. I guess I am in the debate over megapixels. Is the 3200 that much better for the price? A presentable photo quality

There is no such thing as "No Noise". Regardless of the body, regardless of the conditions, regardless of the ISO there is always some level of noise present. It may be so low as to not be visible but it is an electronic fact of life and is always there. Entry-level bodies, such as the D310, will start to show noticeable noise at much lower ISO settings than higher grade bodies. My D90, which is higher level body than the D3100, started to show objectionable noise at ISO 400 whereas my D7100 doesn't start to show that same level of noise until ISO 1600.

DxO Mark rates the Nikon D3200 is 41st in low-light response whereas the D3100 is rated 65th. Overall the D3200 is rated #27 and the D3100 is rated #100, so yes there is a significant difference in performance between the two.

Personally I agree with Tailgunner. I do not recommend either the D3100 or D3200 and would suggest that you hold out for at least a D5200. I have a Nikon D60 (which was the predecessor of the D3xxx series) and it took about 6 months before I outgrew it and wanted something better. Entry-level is just that, it is entry level.

 

[KmH]

How much noise an image has depends on how accurate the exposure is. Under exposure makes image noise more visible.
Because of the way digital images work, photographers display the image histogram on the rear LCD to evaluate how accurate their exposure settings are.

• Understanding Histograms, Part 1: Tones & Contrast
• Understanding Histograms, Part 2: Luminosity & Color

Exposing to the right - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
ETTR
Optimizing Exposure

Clear crisp shots depends on the lens used, the depth-of-field used, the shutter speed, and how steady the camera was when the exposure was made.
In other words, clear crisp shots almost entirety result from photographer skill and knowledge.

• Understanding Sharpness
• Understanding Camera Exposure: Aperture, ISO & Shutter Speed
• Understanding Camera Metering
• Understanding Depth of Field
• Understanding Camera Lenses: Focal Length & Aperture
• Camera Lens Quality: MTF, Resolution and Contrast
• Understanding Camera Autofocus

 

[goodguy]

The Nikon D5100 is less then 100$ more expensive and is by far better then the D3100

Get the D5100

 

[hirejn]

The most important thing is skill. Someone telling you to get more megapixels is only trying to sell you something. The D3100 is a great starter camera. Don't let anyone make you feel your equipment isn't good enough or that you need more to start with. Those people likely have better gear than photographs. Any DSLR is capable of recording professional imagery. There's no crap-to-art conversion filter. If you can't craft a perfect negative, it won't matter if you have a D3100 or a D4. The camera is simply doing its job -- recording negatives according to your instructions. I don't discount gear as an important and fun tool, but it's only as good as your ability to control it and what goes into it. Invest in a cheap, entry-level DSLR and use it to learn the fundamentals. For more insight on buying a DSLR, read this. About megapixels -- if want 16x24 prints at minimum resolution for most labs, you need about 4 megapixels; at standard photo resolution, you need about 8.6.