Nikon D3100
Review
Pros: Easy to use and includes a guide mode helps you learn. No extra purchases are needed to start shooting. Produces quality images
Cons: Can be a little slow and has a small view finder. Video is not excellent quality.
Cons: Can be a little slow and has a small view finder. Video is not excellent quality.
Verdict: The Nikon D3100 is sold most places DSLR's are sold. For a great deal you can also check out Amazon.
Who's it for?
The Nikon D3100 is a perfect for
entry-level photographers or those simply looking to take better pictures than
a simple point and shoot camera can capture. It is also a great camera
for new users looking to learn the art of photography. The camera is easy to
use; works in manual and auto mode so you can choose the settings and modes
yourself or let the camera automatically find the best one. It also includes
features like guide mode that show you how to choose the best setting to teach
you the art of photography. The camera is also perfect for those who don’t want
to spend a lot of money on lenses and other extra’s that also come with a DSLR.
The D3100 comes packaged with an AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens so
you’re ready to start shooting right away!
The NIKON D3100 is compact and
lightweight at on 1lb 1.8 0z. This makes it easy to carry around wherever
you go. It includes an ergonomic grip on the camera making it easier to
hold and snap pictures horizontally and vertically. The grip and camera strap
also make the camera less likely to slip and cause damage. It has a 3-inch
screen for looking at the pictures you’ve snapped. Controls used
frequently are placed for quick and easy access. Perhaps the biggest flaw in the design of this
camera is the viewfinder, which is on the small side. Though it won’t
necessarily affect the quality of the image it can make it difficult or
uncomfortable to use. Overall the design is compact and light, easy to carry
around and take on the go, great for the novice photographer.
The Controls
The controls on the NIKON D3100
are spread about in various places on the camera but placed for easy
access. There are five on the left side of the screen meant mostly for
viewing aspects. On the right side of the camera are controls that let you select,
scroll and delete photo’s. There is also a live view switch that lets you
easily and quickly switch back and forth between modes. The command dial is
also located here. On the top right corner of the camera are the controls
that allow you to fine tune your photo by changing modes and adjusting the
exposure and aperture. The shutter release button is also located on top.
All the controls are located for quick easy access so you can easily make
adjustments and snap a photo and are grouped in a logical manner. The grouping of controls makes the camera easy
and intuitive to use, which is great for everyone, but especially so for the
new user. The grouping of controls can
also make switching settings a slightly slower process then with other camera’s
which is more nuisance then anything else.
Special features
The Nikon D3100 doesn’t come
with as many bells and whistles as some DSLR’s, which makes it a lot more
simple to use, you are left without the advancement of them. The D3100 does
have several key features that make it easy to use and a great camera for those
just starting out. The cameras features also allow you to set the mode
and number for every setting manually or put it in auto and let the camera do all
of that for you. Special features include:
- 11 point auto Focus helps you to take sharper clearer pictures even with fast moving subjects
- Scene Auto selector will automatically select the best mode for the subject your shooting if you don’t want to do it manually.
- Guide mode is one of the features that makes this camera great for beginners. The guide mode will show you step-by-step how to change the camera settings to match the scene your shooting to get the best results possible.
- Video mode allows you take up to ten minutes of full 1080p HD video
IMAGE QUALITY
The
Nikon D3100 has a 14.2 megapixel DX-format CMOS sensor, which allows you take
high quality pictures with a high pixel count to allow clearer detail. The
sensor also reduces noise in the photographs as well. It also includes an ISO
range of 100 – 3200. The quality of photos
up to 800 is still very excellent and while the image quality decreases
slightly as the ISO goes up, the quality is still very usable at 3200 as well. The
high ISO allows you to shoot better quality photos in low light settings. With
the right settings being used the camera will deliver a quality image in bright
and low light. The D3100 shoots in both
RAW and JPEG. In general images are very clean and sharp although this will
vary depending on the lens that you use. While the image quality and color
reproduction for photos are very good for a DSLR, the video footage is average.
The D3100 also includes an Automatic image sensor cleaning, which protects from
things like dust to deliver the cleanest image possible. Overall this camera
shoots quality images and takes average videos.
It’s not made to be a video camera.
Specs
The specs according to the Nikon site. You can also follow a link to purchase the D3100 right from this site as well.
Overall
This
is a great camera, especially for entry-level photographers or those who just
want to take better quality photos without getting to sophisticated. The
camera teaches you how to use it and how to adjust and select the right mode,
aperture etc. to take great photos without spending a lot of time on it. It
takes quality images and allows you to capture video as well. While you may want to upgrade if you get
seriously into photography and want to advance your photography even more this
is a great start up camera and teacher if that’s all your looking for.
You can also see what CNET had to see about the Nikon D3100 for more advice.
You can also see what CNET had to see about the Nikon D3100 for more advice.
Genre: I can tell it is in the genre of technology, and more specifically the camera genre. In a lot of places the review states what the camera does but not how it does it, for example: "The Camera’s features also allow you to do everything manually or put it in auto and let the camera do the work for you." How does the camera do the work for me? And "Controls used frequently are placed for quick and easy access." What are the frequently used controls?
ReplyDeleteOrganization: The whose it for heading is great. I can tell that this camera is for people who want a nice camera but aren't avid photographers. I found the heading "The Body" a little confusing. Saying it is the body reminds me of the body of a paragraph, like this is where all the information will be. I do not see it and immediately think body of a camera. When I read the headings "Controls" and "Features" they sound like the same thing as if controls should be under features. When I think of controls on a camera I think oh that's a feature.
Voice: The voice of this review is that of a review on a website for the camera. It is very biased for the camera, which can be fine there is nothing wrong with being "for" the camera. It just sounds like a review you would find on the Nikon website as opposed to a review you would find on a website not affiliated with Nikon. If there are some downfalls to the camera, maybe state them? I know it says "While the Nikon D3100 doesn’t come with as many bells and whistles as some DSLR’s..." it makes an excuse for this by saying "it has several key features that make it easy to use and a great camera for those just starting out" Again, there isnt anything wrong with this. It is just the voice I picked up on while reading it.
Headings: The first heading "Whose it for?" is a question while the others are not. The second one says "The body" maybe it should say Camera Body, since the rest of the headings are very straightforward. As I said previously, maybe controls can go under features?
Visuals and Hypertext: The diagram is great it allows the users to see what and where the controls are. There are no hypertext links.
First Hand Use: Since the review is very biased it seems that Esther has used this camera before (And if she hasn't it sounds like she has).
Genre: I think that your review meets the expectations for the genre. Also, I think your review provides everything the reader would need.
ReplyDeleteOrganization: The flow of your content so far is very nice and natural. If I was to only look at the heading on your page, it is easy to understand and makes sense.
Voice: Your voice of this review is professional and may not be the best voice to use for a review. A less informal and more personal voice may be beneficial to readers.
Headings: Your headings are very clear and concise. The create a very scannable webpage- easy for people to get "grab and go" info- which is perfect for a review.
Visuals and Hypertext: The photo at the top looks great but maybe thinking about centering it on the page, along with centering the title above it on the page. The second visual with the parts and controls pointed out is hard to read and therefore is not helpful to the reader. If I could read it, I think that this would be a perfect image to use in your review- maybe making the size a bit larger would improve clarity?
First hand use: It is not so clear that you have used the product first hand. Mentioning first hand use, I think, would be a great thing to add to your review.
Overall, great job so far!
It should be "Who's" not "Whose"... Are capitals for headings typical for your genre? More detail needed? Are you providing enough information for a novice photograph to know if this is the right camera for him/her?
ReplyDelete