Customer Ratings & Reviews

This is my first, Digital SLR camera, and I have to say it is awesome. The picture quality is fantastic, and the video quality amazing. My two complaints with this camera are, the 50mm lens that comes with the camera is not a very high zoom, definately should purchase with a 200MM lens package, and the auto focus on the camera during video mode is VERY loud and will get picked up by the camera's mic. I switch it to manual focus and use it in that mode when filming. Other than that the price for the camera is definately justified by the quality of the output.

This is a great camera. Very intuitive and easy to use. It is extremely user friendly and the picture quality is great. The price is extremely reasonable for what you get. I am never disappointed with Nikon and once again it proves to be worth the money.

We bought this camera since we had stopped taking pictures of our kids with the 2 point and click cameras we had due to never being able to get a good picture. We LOVE the SLR camera and the 55-200 lens combination. We have taken over 1000 pictures in the first 4 weeks. We have gotten some of the BEST pictures of our kids ever. We bought the combo pack with bag, 55-200 lens, SD card (I bought a 4gb HIGH speed Card in addition) While we have only used the auto function, the camera is easy to use for novices.

I've been buying and using cameras for a very long time, and this is my 4th digital camera (not counting the ones that appear in cell phones and other stuff) but my first digital SLR. I am overwhelmed with both the quality and flexibility of this one. The pictures it takes are gorgeous. Photo modes are a little bit overwhelming but easy to use once you learn which to choose in a given situation. I recommend any new owner take the time to really learn the details offered by this camera. I got the most from one of the included intro videos. I'll admit I don't really need 14 Megapixels, but I guess too many pixels is not a problem. I'm really glad I bought this one.

I am a beginner and this is my first dSLR camera. I thought it would be overwhelming, and to a degree it is. The guide modes are really helpful. The picture quality is outstanding. We bought this camera mostly for our recent trip to Disney World with our our 4 year old son. The camera worked flawlessly over the 6 days we were there. I took over 1000 pictures and while some of them were not good due to operator error, for the most part the pictures were outstanding. Much more than I expected and obviously much better than a point and shoot. The guide mode came in really handy for action shots and for some night photography. I was able to take some pictures late in the evening when the sun was going down that would have been terrible, but the guide mode helped me get in the right settings and I even learned to tweak the settings to get an even better shot. I would highly recommend this camera to anyone. The only negatives so far are that strap is uncomfortable around my neck and the supplied software for transferring pictures and managing them is complicated.

I had done more research for this purchase than I had previously done for any other product. After my research this camera seemed to be the best value for the money. The auto features work great and it's low light capability is the best I've seen. The camera is designed in a logical manor that makes it very easy to use. I expected the camera to be bulkier than it is. The camera is lightweight and it feels comfortable in my hands. Extremely happy with this purchase. All of my research paid off!

I purchased this entry-level Nikon DSLR without much research in the process. Might have purchased the D3300 instead, but, I am happy with the camera. Since I am a novice I did seek out video courses in the basic operation of the D3100, and training in beginning photography. Probably will upgrade sometime down the road to an intermediate camera.

This is my first SLR camera. I LOVE it! Easy to use. Great pictures. I have been taking pictures on the Sports setting and continuous shots. Great mid air pictures of my dog catching the frisbee. The video camera is awesome! Go ahead and get an extra battery and a 55-300 lens for awesome shots even far away. Worth every penny.

For the cost of this camera, I don't think you can get anything better. The low light performance is off the charts. As a wedding photographer I regularly shoot with Nikon's high end professional equipment and I was amazed how close this camera is to a pro camera. Now let me get specific. In order to compare I took a look at 100% files out of each camera I own. Which camera excels Nikon D3100($Cheap) VS. D300($1600) VS. D700 ($2,700): * Lens = The D3100 is the only camera that comes with a lens at it's normal price * ISO Performance = Tie between D3100 and D700! (It could be Nikon's new processing but the JPEG looks fantastic I was shooting D3100 on 6400iso with very little noise at all) * Low Light Focusing = D700 * Focus Speed = D700 * External Buttons & Controls for Pros = D700 * Menu Navigation = D3100 * Ease of Use = D3100 * Megapixel = D3100 (14.2) * Sensor size = D700 (Much more important than megapixels but I won't get into this) * Can use older lenses with functionality = D700 & D300 * Video = D3100 of course! 1080P video looks amazing. * Frame Rate = D300 at 6 photos a second * Weight = D3100 (light as a feather) * Ergonomics = D700 (big enough for all my finger) Lens: The lens is a kit lens, it will work outside but not so great in low light. The Vibration Reduction will help indoors but Vibration Reduction can't stop a child or pet in motion indoors. Consider buying a 35mm 1.8dx AFS for around $200 and you will be super happy with this camera. Video: I purchased the 3100 specifically to shoot video, so I put on Nikon's brand new 85mm 1.4g Nano lens and shot video with it. The lens costs more than double the camera but I wanted to see how the 1080P video looked. It has the look of a cinematic movie. After the 85mm, I put on Nikon's 50 1.2 manual focus lens and was able to take very cinematic video in manual mode. In order to make it brighter or darker you either need to use a really old lens like the 50mm 1.2 and hit the AE-L (auto exposure lock) and twist the aperture to change exposure. Or you can hit the AE-L button when you get the exposure you like. Its not a perfect system but it works well for me. Inside the menu options you can change the AE-L button to hold the setting until you reset which is helpful. Jello Cam (What's not so great): This camera still suffers from the "Jello Cam" look in video if it is not on a tripod and you are shaky. The video can look like jello if moved too quickly. Use a monopod or tripod when shooting to avoid this. I'm not sure if a faster video frame rate 60fps would help - but at 24 and 30 it can suffer badly. Conclusion: This is an amazing deal! Unless you make most of your income from photography or have a stockpile of old lenses (this camera can only autofocus with AFS lenses) then this camera is the must have camera of the year. If you have good composition skills and an eye for light you can take photos worthy of a magazine with this. Seriously, you won't regret buying this camera. When you do, do yourself a favor and buy an additional Nikon AFS lens that has a maximum aperture of 2.8, 1.8 or 1.4. These lenses will take better portraits and deal better in low light than the kit lens.

This camera is a replacement for an old point & shoot digital. While the SLR camera's are much more expensive than typical p & s camera's, it's very easy to see why. The answer is quality. I'm not just talking the quality of the camera, which is by far much better, by the way. I'm talking quality of the pictures. I was amazed at some of the pics I was able to take with this camera. I am a beginner and never have really enjoyed taking photos. I now find myself taking more and more. The reason? I'm actually getting great photos from my camera. Before it was nearly impossible to get clear photos of my kids without it being blurry. Now I get crystal clear pictures. The only negative I could really come up with is the bulkiness compared to point and shoot. This camera is heavier, bigger than a typical point and shoot, but then again why go with a light weight, small camera that doesn't get the job done? What's the point? Yes this is a bulkier option, but the rewards will be worth it in the end. This is my first Nikon, my first SLR camera. I have had it just a few days, but can tell it will be a valued part of our family for a long time. I look forward to learning more about photography and the various features of this camera. Hope this helps!

While I am still a fairly new photographer, I have been keeping busy taking tons of photographs for friends, family and those looking for model portfolios. This camera delivers sharp, high quality photographs with lots of cool in camera features. The high definitely recording capability is excellent as well. This camera is surprisingly very light weight which is perfect when taking on lots of adventurous shoots! I definitely recommend this camera for any new photographer...it has been an amazing and well worth the money purchase!

This is a great entry level DSLR ,I have it now for 2 months ,I owned canonXSI before, the picture quality is great, low light performance is excellent.And I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the kit lens. It also autofocus in video, and shoots full HD,though the autofocus in video could be slow in fast moving subjects like my son (Canon T2i,T3i has manual focus only).But this isn't a camcorder, it is good for short clips and record up to 10 minutes at a time. The limitation are : the LCD is 230k pixel compared to over one milliion in canon T2I,T3I.but you save money with the 3100 which you can use for lenses, and Nikon has great package discounts,also burst mode is on the slow side of 3 fps which is acceptable unless you use it for fast action sports then you may need more advanced DSLR.(T2i has 3.7 fps). Also you can edit your pictures without using your computer, the guide mode is great if you haven't used DSLR before.

I only had one problem with this camera. There is no USB cable that comes with the camera, although it come with the software to download onto your computer. the packaging doesn't state exactly that it DOES come with a USB cable, but it does tell you were the USB cable is manufactured (Taiwan). By doing so, it gives the impression it would come with (or why else tell the consumer where it's made???). I did call Best Buy to ask about it and go nowhere with the problem. Actually I was basicly called a liar when the "gentleman" on the other end of the line said "there is nowhere on the box that it states where it's made"!! Other then that issue, the camera is great!! Works well, isn't too difficult to figure out and has all the features I was looking for in a camera!!

As a Canon 40D user, I purchased Nikon D3100 for the video features (especially, auto focusing) and am amazed at the picture quality as well as HD video recording. The picture images are clear and show little grains under low light conditions. ISO400 is very comparable to 40D's ISO200. ISO800 still shows little noises doing better job than 40D's ISO400. HD video is easier to record with autofocusing. I have tested Canon T2i and thus can tell that D3100 is the winner in that respect. The price is also reasonable. I wonder why I have sticked to Canon bodies.

I purchased this same camera about a year ago for personal use. I love the many features that allow for growth. We decided to purchase the same camera for my retired parents because we knew it would be simple enough for them to learn yet challenging for advancement.

I bought what I could afford. Five years ago, I might have bought much more but I am retired on a low fixed income. Ii I had another two or three hundred dollars to spend on the next camera up the line, i would have but I am delighted with what i bought. The camera itself is full of terrific features. It takes time to lean to use them I am still learning. The kit lenses are wonders. They are plastic which made them cheaper to produce and buy, but they are excellent lenses. Their lightness and versatility astounds me. The lenses are inexpensive and I could replace them in the future. Old Nikon lenses work but without some of the features. I received my shipment quickly. I highly recommend this camera and Best Buy service. I prefer buying online to in the the store though I live near a store. The camera did not include a memory card or a card reader which was not really a problem at all.

I'm a seasoned amateur and have owned 7 other digital cameras and the Nikon D40 which I had considered to be the best Camera I've ever used. I ordered the 3100 while my D40 was in for repair. At first I did not notice much of difference with the prints but when I had the time to compare them side by side, the 3100 was 30% better across the board than my D40. I shot over 100 pictures with both cameras with (3) different lenses in the automatic mode. I'm now selling my D40 which again is an outstanding camera but the processing improvement on the 3100 is simply better at least in the Auto modes. I've not had much time to get into the manual side yet. Only thing missing is an external mic option for videos which Nikon could have added for about a buck.

I have had this camera for about a month and I am really happy with it so far. I got the kit lens as well as the 55-200 zoom lens and both take great photos. I know my way around a SLR and enjoy taking photos but am not a serious photographer. This camera fits my needs perfectly. Just enough tools to add some control but no more than I need at my current skill level. I had a Canon Digital Rebel XT before this camera and was never very happy with it - even invested in a better-than-kit lens and never felt that the pictures were good. The photos were never sharp enough and the colors were dull. The Nikon has produced really vivid, sharp photos with just the kit lens. My husband has always been more of a Nikon fan than a Canon one and I'm glad he talked me into switching - this is a great purchase. My only quibble is that some of the more advanced controls could be more intuitive but this is mostly because I'm used to using a Canon.

I purchased this camera for my business in digital media and i believe it was the best choice I have ever made. The features on here are extremely easy to use even for beginner photographers. The Image quality is unbelievable and cannot be any clearer. There is one thing that i must mention that is a tiny disapointment but not a real big deal. When i got this i have been using the D5000. And on the 5000 the capture rate is etremely fast. And what i was expecting from this camera was an increase on the capture rate. But unfortunately its a tad bit slower. If you are aiming for very fast capture rate and maintain the highest quality you might be interested in the D5000. But this camera still capture awesome action shots. Its really a matter of skill. The other feature that I am very impressed with is the option to not only capture images as RAW but you can set it to capture RAW and JPEG at the exact same time and doing so there has been no lag in the capture rate. Just make sure you have a high performance SD card. In the end this camera is a must for all photographers. It is very reasonably priced for the hardware that you get.

I'm enjoying this camera, very much! I've always had point and shoot cameras. I feel very comfortable using the Auto feature to take pictures and then switch to manual occasionally when I have more time to mess around with all the features. This camera was recommneded by a professional for me, as a beginner, and I'm loving it!!! I wanted it to capture moments of my daughter and it's perfect. I would just make sure that if you're buying an SLR camera for the first time, keep the following items in mind that should be purchased at the same time. (or closely after) 1. You have to purchase a memory card to take any pictures on the Camera. 2. There are no cords to upload picutes from the camera to the computer. (Which, I'm told is recommended for better quality then uploading the memory card at the store to put on a CD) 3. Get a camera case ASAP to protect your new purchase.