All technical data can be found in the description and I'll just go into it in part. As I wrote in another review, I have been photographing since analog time with the cameras of the company Nikon. And I'm definitely of the opinion that Nikon is not with all appliances in the great attempt has succeeded. The only for a better understanding of the reader, not to give the impression that is Nikon who MUST be necessarily good. But now to the small self-D3100:
Feel:
Yes, small it is well and who is accustomed to the other cars of the company must get used to even think about it. And again, yes, it is made of plastic, but who wants a dust-proof magnesium housing, which must rely considerably deeper into their pockets. Here, too, one should not lose sight of the competition. For other manufacturers have built just such a plastic case in cameras that are twice as expensive. Nevertheless, the camera acts valent than you might think. As usual, the handles are also here rubberized and have a very good and secure grip. If you already own a predecessor of the brand Nikon, one will quickly come to terms with the buttons and switches, because everything is in its usual place. But even the layman will find their way very quickly with the elaborate assignment concept.
Photo feature:
Technically this photo camera playing very high up with. Razor-sharp photos in very neutral colors give the user every freedom for manual editing on the PC. But even those, which appears too cumbersome, will not be neglected by the camera own post-processing options. The autofocus works in the viewfinder for a camera in this price range very quickly. Unfortunately, in the viewfinder, because in the Live Preview on the monitor, he works extremely badly. It has not been able to provide me with a 70-300 mm VR lens from a certain zoom the object of my desire sharply. The focus drove just out and in seconds. In the viewfinder, however, but it worked quite fast. I go but assume that owners of an SLR anyway using only the viewfinder, so this point remains rather negligible. Not so for the video function. But more on that later in more detail. 11 Areas for autofocus are sufficient for this price class. A D300 By comparison, more than 50, but also costs three times as much. 7 different scene automatics are much easier and inexperienced users to first use of the new camera. Active D-Lighting function is very useful in bright sunlight and makes for a really well-balanced light-shade representation. Despite all the automatics, the camera features but also for the advanced enough manual controls so that the creativity know no bounds. If you wöllte, you could criticize even the lack of mirror lock-course now. I do not want to do, because for a beginner's camera, such is not really needed. Especially considering how rarely it really needs. I have completely switched to the conclusion of the testing times, the Guide function. For an inexperienced user this round has succeeded. Better than ever to lug the user. Everything is very clearly explained and accessible from any mode. But I'm pretty sure that most of this function after one month hardly need more. A last sentence still to noise performance. This little camera takes up to an ISO of 3600 absolutely low-noise photos. ISO 3600! That should let melt times on the tongue. When I read here that the D3100 at ISO 12,500 roars, I seriously wonder: ISO 12,500 ???
Who please photographed with this setting? A caver in the illumination of bats? But this would be usefully rely on infrared. No seriously now. Here one should times get carried away and only criticize what is really worthy of criticism. I photograph for years, have this setting but not nearly ever needed.
Video feature:
And here we have arrived at a point that I also want to run a little further out of personal interest. Nikon himself writes: With NIKKOR lenses, effects can be achieved, which would otherwise only be realized on the big screen. I can only agree with that. This Nikon thinks of course the depth of field. Due to the much smaller-size imagers in today's camcorders are front and backgrounds almost on a focal plane. This may in many cases be desirable (eg Granny Marta before the Eiffel Tower). However, creative filmmakers wish for a long time affordable cameras where you can shift the focal plane impressively. This is absolutely possible with this camera. Even my Canon XH-A1 (thus eg Crank 2 was filmed) gets not nearly as good out how this small SLR. Unfortunately, the films, as already confirmed by other reviewers, only in Live View, so on the monitor possible. This has the disadvantage (and this time it really is a) that you can forget the autofocus. Who does not want to mislead or has very very patient actors or people on camera, it should absolutely refrain. Here only the manual focus, which helps but not at work because of this fact Kidobjektiv has no focus ring to adjust. I have tried a Tokina 28-80mm 2.8, and was rewarded with really great movie look. For scenic Filmer is this property of incredible advantage. Similarly, this feature makes super in image, commercial and music video productions. Of course, used only in moderation. For the rest of you will then be better camcorder. A tripod is when shooting with the D3100 an absolute must! This is due to the ergonomics. The camera weighs about 500g. A relatively decent lens before fourfold. A little tip on the edge yet: You should necessarily prove the "AE-L AF-L" key with the function "Exposure store on-off". Is quite easy to do in the menu.
Otherwise, it happens that the camera pans from light to darker immediately will correct the exposure, leading to constant pumping and has absolutely restless images result.
Now to the sound. Den can be described in two words. Horribly and Mono. Each Zoom noise and handling on the camera is incorporated. But this camera is just not done. I go but here again the assumption that filmmakers as described above record, the sound certainly externally. Unfortunately, the camera has no microphone port, so that has to be used here to external recording devices. Here one must therefore conclude by saying that the video function for the "amateur filmmakers" limited is suitable unless he backed the film later with music or the like.
The limitations of clip length to 10 minutes is fine. Who is filming been 10 minutes at a time without getting bored? Unless you want to get secretly record a live concert. But it's the camcorder sometimes are even smaller than this camera. Are 10 minutes ago, just press again on the little red button and you get back a new clip with the same length. This can be repeated as often until the memory card is full. Speaking of memory card: You please stay here on a good SDHC card! Although normal SD cards go well, but then the film breaks after a few moments (tested 17 sec.), Because they are simply not fast enough to process the vast amounts of data.
Finally, we come naturally even to video - image quality. My personal opinion: Absolutely impressive. Funnily enough, a lot of color-neutral as my cam's from other manufacturers. Full HD resolution at maximum and adjustable down to 640 x 424 (but who wants that?).
The kit lens:
I really call again a big hit. A 18-55mm VR for this price? I will sometimes call incredibly cheap. Such lenses with the same imaging performance are usually at about 300 Euros and have no image stabilizer. Quite big performance!
Sure, we get through the crop factor here too only 27mm wide angle. However, even the zoom of 55mm to 82.5mm increases and already we have provided decent light conditions, a super portrait lens.
General:
I regret that no monitor cover was provided. That was so far in all my Nikons the case. The other accessories from the supply is sufficient. A lack of USB cable? Honestly. So a EUR 1.50 part you actually default at home. Most digicams and MP3 player function with it. Truly Outrageous contrast, I find the current price for a replacement battery. As I wait for the products of foreign manufacturers. Should not take long. It testifies indeed the business acumen of the company Nikon to constantly throw new batteries on the market, but customer friendliness is something else.
Keywords battery grip. Already its predecessor was waived. Here unfortunately.
Just when you want to film in addition with the camera would have been a very fine thing, another battery pack in the battery grip. But the'd work well with cheap AA Mignon batteries, so we let the time off.
Beware of vendors in various auctions worldwide. The stranger produced battery grip for D3000 NOT fit into the D3100, although the we read there. At the time of this review, there is no matching battery grip for the D3100.
Supplement 23.07.2011
So these attacks there are now actually. But what bothers me is that they all rely on the batteries. There is no handle by normal AA batteries, for example, (zBEneloop) can incorporate as an alternative. Also this page cable I find disturbing. The only advantage I can see is that the camera thus really much more stable in the hand.
Conclusion:
+ Price
+ Image quality
+ Improved sensor
+ Very fast autofocus in the viewfinder
+ Navigation, key arrangement
+ Video Quality
+ Kit lens
- Autofocus in Live View (Monitor)
- Sound
- Battery Price
- No battery grip Releases
Ultimately, I had to decide the allocation of points. 4 or 5 here was the question.
In the end, I still decided to go for a 5, which was instrumental in the price and on the finding that the battery company policy and the poor autofocus in Live View when pure photography is irrelevant.
