The stunningly simple-to-use D3100 is every family's answer to beautiful images. Whether the moment calls for a family portrait or a sharp shot of toddlers on the run, Guide Mode shows you how to capture stunning photos in no time at all. D-Movie lets you record full HD movie clips and capture the action in superb quality day or night. Nikon’s advanced EXPEED 2 image processing engine maximizes the performance of the 14.2 megapixel CMOS sensor for amazingly clear images with vivid colors. Incredibly lightweight for an SLR, the D3100 makes it easy to capture your family looking wonderful wherever you go.
14.2 megapixel DX-format CMOS image sensor delivers lifelike images with vivid colors, reduced noise and smooth tonal gradations.
EXPEED 2 image processing engine provides enhanced movie recording, high-sensitivity performance and maximum image quality.
High ISO (100-3200) light sensitivity - extendable up to 12800: features an Auto ISO setting and is manually extendable up to ISO 12800 using the Hi2 setting. Enables faster shutter speeds, significantly reducing the risk of blurred images when you shoot fast-moving subjects or take pictures in low light.
GUIDE mode: quick and easy-to-use in-camera assistance. Asks you about the picture you want to take and automatically optimizes settings for superior results. Sample images appear on the display to show you what will happen to your image if you apply the suggested settings.
D-Movie – full HD (1920 x 1080) movie clips: record beautiful high-definition (HD) movie clips with sound. The camera’s large image sensor and high ISO sensitivity offer exceptional image quality. NIKKOR lenses can be used to obtain cinematic effects and you can make simple edits of your clips in-camera by deleting scenes or saving specific frames as still images.
Live View with Scene Auto Selector: makes it easy to compose images using the LCD monitor. Scene Auto Selector will select the best mode for the scene and subject you want to capture, and Fulltime servo AF (AF-F) mode keeps subjects in focus without the need to press the shutter release button.
Large 7.5 cm (3-inch), high-resolution LCD monitor makes it easy to view essential camera information, and a pleasure to review and edit your photos and movies.
Razor-sharp 11-point Autofocus system offers fast and precise autofocus coverage across the frame. Four AF-area modes, including 3D-tracking AF, deliver sharp results, whether your subject is off-center, moving fast or completely unpredictable.
Active D-Lighting automatically retains details in highlights and shadows for stunning images with natural contrast.
Picture Controls lets you set the look and mood of your images before you shoot. Choose from six settings: Standard, Vivid, Neutral, Monochrome, Portrait and Landscape.
Extensive in-camera editing functions let you edit and enhance images and movies in the camera. Offers techniques such as Red-Eye Correction and Quick Retouch, as well as a range of Filter Effects.
Dual Integrated dust reduction system: Image Sensor Cleaning and Airflow Control systems keep dust away from the camera’s image sensor for clear, spot-free images.
Lightweight body and superior ergonomics: a secure grip makes the camera comfortable to handle. Dedicated controls for frequently used functions like Live View, D-Movie and shutter release make it a joy to operate.
Type
Single-lens reflex digital camera
Lens mount
Nikon F mount (with AF contacts)
Effective angle of view
Approximately 1.5x lens focal length (Nikon DX format)
Image sensor
23.1 x 15.4 mm CMOS sensor
Effective pixels
14.2 million pixels
Total pixels
14.8 million pixels
Dust-reduction system
Image sensor cleaning, Image Dust Off reference data (optional Capture NX 2 software required)
Image size (pixels)
4,608 x 3,072 (L); 3,456 × 2,304 (M); 2,304 × 1,536 (S)
Storage file formats
NEF (compressed RAW); JPEG: JPEG-Baseline compliant with fine (approx. 1 : 4), normal (approx. 1 : 8), or basic (approx. 1 : 16) compression; Simultaneous recording of compressed RAW and JPEG fine image possible
Media
SD (Secure Digital), SDHC, SDXC, and Eye-Fi memory cards
Picture Control System
Can be selected from Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Landscape, Portrait; selected Picture Control can be modified
Viewfinder
Eye-level pentamirror single-lens reflex viewfinder
Frame coverage
Approx. 95% horizontal and 95% vertical
Magnification
Approximately 0.8× (50mm f/1.4 lens at infinity, -1.0 m-1)
Eyepoint
18 mm (-1.0 m-1)
Diopter adjustment
-1.7 to +0.5 m-1
Focusing screen
Type B BriteView Clear Matte Mark VII screen
Reflex mirror
Quick return type
Lens aperture
Instant return, electronically controlled
Compatible lenses
AF-S or AF-I NIKKOR: All functions supported. Type G or D AF NIKKOR without built-in autofocus motor: All functions except autofocus supported. Other AF NIKKOR without built-in autofocus motor: All functions supported except autofocus and 3D color matrix metering II. IX NIKKOR and F3AF: Not supported. Type D PC lenses: All functions supported except autofocus and some shooting modes. AI-P NIKKOR: All functions supported except autofocus and 3D color matrix metering II. Non-CPU: Autofocus not supported. Can be used in exposure mode M, but exposure meter does not function. Electronic rangefinder can be used if lens has a maximum aperture of f/5.6 or faster.
Shutter type
Electronically controlled, vertical-travel focal-plane shutter
Shutter speed
1/4000 to 30 s in steps of 1/3 EV, bulb
Flash sync speed
X=1/200 s; synchronizes with shutter at 1/200 s or slower
Release mode
Single frame, continuous, self-timer, quiet shutter release
Frame advance rate
Up to 3 fps (manual focus, mode M or S, shutter speed 1/250 s or faster, and other settings at default values)
Self-timer
2 s, 10 s
Exposure metering
TTL exposure metering using 420-pixel RGB sensor
Metering method
Matrix: 3D color matrix metering II (type G and D lenses); color matrix metering II (other CPU lenses); Center-weighted: Weight of 75% given to 8-mm circle in center of frame; Spot: Meters 3.5 mm circle (about 2.5 % of frame) centered on selected focus point
Metering range (ISO 100, f/1.4 lens, 20 °C/68 °F)
Matrix or center-weighted metering: 0 to 20 EV; Spot metering: 2 to 20 EV
Exposure meter coupling
CPU
Mode
Auto modes (auto, auto (flash off); scene modes (portrait, landscape, child, sports, close up, night portrait); programmed auto with flexible program (P); shutter-priority auto (S); aperture-priority auto (A); manual (M)
Exposure compensation
-5 to +5 EV in increments of 1/3 EV
Exposure lock
Luminosity locked at detected value with AE-L/AF-L button
ISO sensitivity
ISO 100 to 3200 in steps of 1 EV; can also be set to approx. 2 EV above ISO 3200 (ISO 12800 equivalent); auto ISO sensitivity control available
Active D-Lighting
Can be selected from on or off
Autofocus
Nikon Multi-CAM 1000 autofocus sensor module with TTL phase detection, 11 focus points (including one cross-type sensor), and AF-assist illuminator (range approx. 0.5–3 m/1 ft. 8 in.–9 ft. 10 in.)
Detection range
-1 to +19 EV (ISO 100 at 20°C/68°F)
Lens servo
Autofocus (AF): Single-servo AF (AF-S); continuous-servo AF (AF-C); auto AF-S/AF-C selection (AF-A); predictive focus tracking activated automatically according to subject status. Manual focus (MF): Electronic rangefinder can be used
AF-area mode
Single-point AF, dynamic-area AF, auto-area AF, 3D-tracking (11 points)
Focus lock
Focus can be locked by pressing shutter-release button halfway (single-servo AF) or by pressing AE-L/AF-L button
Built-in flash
Guide number of approximately 12/39, 13/43 with manual flash (m/ft, ISO 100, 20°C/68°F); Auto, portrait, child, close up, night portrait: Auto flash with auto pop-up; P, S, A, M: Manual pop-up with button release
Flash control
TTL: i-TTL balanced fill-flash and standard i-TTL flash for digital SLR using 420-pixel RGB sensor. i-TTL balanced fill-flash is available with built-in flash and SB-900, SB-800, SB-600, or SB-400 when matrix or center-weighted metering is selected. Standard i-TTL is available with built-in flash and SB-900, SB-800, SB-600, or SB-400 when spot metering is selected (Flash mode can be set using Speedlight controls with SB-900, SB-800, and SB-600). Auto aperture: Available with SB-900/SB-800 and CPU lens. Non-TTL auto: Supported flash units include SB-900, SB-800, SB-80DX, SB-28DX, SB-28, SB-27, and SB-22S. Distance-priority manual: Available with SB-900 and SB-800
Angle of coverage
Sufficient to illuminate the angle of view of an 18 mm lens. Picture edges may be slightly dark depending upon conditions, such as the lens used and the aperture setting.
Flash modes
Auto, portrait, child, close up: Auto, auto with red-eye reduction, off available with built-in flash; Fill-flash and red-eye reduction available with optional flash units. Night portrait: Auto slow sync, auto slow sync with red-eye reduction, off available with built-in flash; Slow sync and slow sync with red-eye reduction available with optional flash units. Landscape, sports: Fill-flash and red-eye reduction available with optional flash units. P, A: Fill-flash, rear-curtain with slow sync, slow sync, slow sync with red-eye reduction, red-eye reduction. S, M: Fill-flash, rear-curtain sync, red-eye reduction
Flash compensation
-3 to +1 EV in increments of 1/3 EV
Flash-ready indicator
Lights when built-in flash or optional flash unit such as SB-900, SB-800, SB-600, SB-400, SB-80DX, SB-28DX, or SB-50DX is fully charged; blinks for 3 s after flash is fired at full output
Accessory shoe
ISO 518 hot-shoe with sync and data contacts and safety lock
Sync terminal
AS-15 sync terminal adapter (available separately)
Nikon Creative Lighting System
Advanced Wireless Lighting supported with SB-900, SB-800, or SU-800 as commander. Flash color information communication supported with built-in flash and all CLS-compatible flash units
White balance
Auto (TTL white balance with main image sensor and 420-pixel RGB sensor); incandescent, fluorescent (7 types), direct sunlight, flash, cloudy, shade, preset manual, all except preset manual with fine tuning.
Live view - lens servo
Autofocus (AF): Single-servo AF (AF-S); full-time-servo AF (AF-F). Manual focus (MF)
Live view - AF-area mode
Face-priority AF, wide-area AF, normal-area AF, subject-tracking AF
Live view - autofocus
Contrast-detect AF anywhere in frame (camera selects focus point automatically when face-priority AF or subject-tracking AF is selected)
Live View - Automatic scene selection
Available in auto and auto flash off modes
Movie - file format
File format: MOV
Movie - frame size (pixels) and frame rate
Frame size/rate: 1920 × 1080, 24 fps; 1280 × 720, 30 fps
Movie - video compression
Video compression: H.264/MPEG-4 Advanced Video Coding
Movie - audio recording format
Audio recording format: Linear PCM
Movie - audio recording device
Audio (Sound): Monaural microphone built in. Can be set to on or off.
Movie - metering
Metering: TTL exposure metering using main image sensor
Monitor
3-in. (7.5cm)., approx. 230k-dot TFT LCD with brightness adjustment
Playback
Full-frame playback; Movie playback; Thumbnail (4, 9, or 72 images or calendar) playback; Slide show; Histogram display; Highlights display; Auto image rotation; Image comment (up to 36 characters)
Retouch functions
D-Lighting, red-eye correction, trim, monochrome, filter effects, color balance, small picture, image overlay, NEF (RAW) processing, quick retouch, straighten, distortion control, fisheye, color outline, perspective control, miniature effect, edit movie
USB
Hi-Speed USB
HDMI output
Type C HDMI connector
Accessory terminal(s)
Remote cord: MC-DC2 (available separately); GPS unit: GP-1 (available separately)
Supported languages
Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish
Battery
One rechargeable Li-ion EN-EL14 battery (supplied)
AC adapter
EH-5a AC adapter; requires EP-5A power connector (available separately)
Dimensions (W x H x D)
Approx.124 × 96 × 74.5 mm (4.9 × 3.8 × 2.9 in.)
Weight
Approx. 500 g (1 lb. 1.6 oz.) with battery and memory card but without body cap
Durability
Body and shutter unit both durable up to approximately 100,000 cycles.
Great value kit. Enables you to shoot in low-light without a flash, for more natural-looking images. Includes the D3100 camera and the 3x zoom AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm VR lens that features Vibration Reduction to reduce the effects of camera shake.
Double lens kit that offers excellent value for money. Includes the D3100 camera, the AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm II wide-angle zoom lens and the AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-200mm telephoto lens. Both lenses feature fast, quiet autofocus and ED glass elements for sharp images.
Versatile double VR lens kit. Includes the D3100 camera, the AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm VR wide-angle zoom lens and the AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-200mm VR telephoto lens. Both lenses feature Vibration Reduction to reduce the effects of camera shake.
All-round lens kit. Includes the D3100 camera and the powerful AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-105mm VR lens with a 5.8x zoom range for superb versatility and Vibration Reduction to reduce the effects of camera shake.
Terrific double VR lens kit. Includes the D3100 camera, the AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm VR wide-angle zoom lens and the powerful AF-S DX NIKKOR 55-300MM F/4.5-5.6G VR 5.5x zoom lens with super-telephoto reach for stunning close-ups.