I want all the readers regarding repetitions. Technical details that are already read elsewhere x-fold, save and write only about my personal view about why I with this DSLR just like to take pictures!
* Fits comfortably in the hand and feels good! A purely subjective matter, since there is nothing to discuss, if you like attacking the thing, that's just an advantage! Nikon has since apparently the knack to produce something that appeals to many photographers! Is a bit like in a woman (women are of course not "things" already clear ;-) - you stand on it, without being able to justify why reasonable!
* The menus are largely intuitive, it comes almost automatically to where you want to go, the fingers seem to know the way. This is of course an individual type question and certainly an important reason that there is a Nikon and a Canon-camp!
* I like the vibrant colors and even the entire visual impression! Canon is there a bit "cautious" seems to me. I, however, like to have it, wenns "pops" and "booming"! Problem is also none, since I almost only RAW Scan and the photos anyway nachbearbeite in the style that I like. I like the Nikon image impression, as it comes directly from the camera, which is certainly a main reason why I often reach for this camera! Incidentally, I use the free program supplied ViewNX2 to edit my RAW files, I often only slightly nachschärfe (usually by 2 steps) then convert and JPGs. Canon offers here with DPP to better free software. As a convenient man I use the technical sophistication of modern camera technology and thus also as the scene modes from full and then check off the JPG conversion, if everything is as ego wants. ViewNX2 displays the RAW files the same as the camera would process them as JPG, which I very accommodating comes as the camera itself usually already made a fairly good job, I already in "good shape" have the images in front of me and often must work more little! (More strenuous contemporaries because work is like in Lightroom from "flat screen" up to their very own creation!) During photography interest me especially my motive, the right framing, the depth of focus and the exposure largely fits! (Exposure compensation, wenns not do!) Everything else is adjusted later. My favorite modes: Program, AV and fully automatic, the latter, when the top priority is the subject really "capture" without wasting time with the exposure parameters. JPG photographer I recommend to use creative (not available in Full Auto and Scene programs unfortunately) always ask Picture Control and focus it at level 5. (Except in portrait mode because less is often more ..) Nikon is a bissl been hesitant for my liking in the basic sharpening the D3100 - no problem, all set!
* Autofocus is reliable, even in low light! This is true at any rate on my copy, and thus differs from my Nikon my Canon 550D, which - with automatic AF point selection - unfortunately at dünklerer environment sometimes is totally wrong!
* The display solves current standards to lean, but is rich in contrast and varied in brightness. Good enough for my feeling you get after a short time the zoom-a "feel" for what is hot. Counting does anyway the image result and that's usually very ok!
* At minus degrees the trigger reacts sometimes not very reliable! Well, that's how it is, at least for my model, but I could not stop to shoot still horny Winter photos!
* ISO sensitivity: good to ISO 800, and ISO 1600 usable for viewing on screen and prints up to A4, when you do not cut-outs.
* Battery Power: super in my view! Comparable to the Canon 550D - hundreds of photos before then goes away once a bar. In a lot of Live View shooting and films naturally gehtŽs faster.
* Serial shots: good enough for me with about 3 FPS! Action and sports photographers should rather to grab something else.
* Full HD video feature: I use rarely, is ok in my opinion! AF during filming is well-known compromise (slow, unreliable and audible) - since Canikon have to come up with a better technical solution! The latest models have not solved this problem satisfactorily. The best focus before or manually during recording.
* The camera is, as already mentioned, very easily! I love not having a millstone around the neck, but a slight small piece of ingenious technology, which allows me to produce very good pictures!
Conclusion: there are often used in the language of photo commentators such terms as "entry-level DSLR". Now I find myself, after almost 40 years of enthusiastic Photography certainly no longer on entry-level! Nevertheless, I really enjoy working with this small, lightweight and sophisticated camera and achieved very good results! I use in addition to the already mentioned Canon 550D also the Canon G12 and Nikon D5100. The Nikon D3100 is the dedicated amateur photographers the offer in about 95% of what it needs and I can highly recommend! Even better high-ISO performance offer in Nikon DX-segment D5100 (has rotatable display!) And D7000 (has a housing made of a magnesium alloy and "Weather Sealing" - a certain tightness to weather, a larger viewfinder with 100% but field of vision and a Serienbildgeschwindingkeit of about 6 FPS. It is also considerably larger, heavier and more expensive!)
I hope my review makes a constructive way to contribute to the purchase decision with regard to this DSLR, which is to have very low by now!
