Frustrated with quality of Nikon D3100

[michaelhschmitt]

This is my first post on DPS. There are two images attached. One (0975) was taken with a Nikon d3100 and the other (2624) with Canon S90 (point & shoot).
The lens on the Nikon is a AF-S Nikkor 18-55mm. VR was "on", F=3.8, and shutter speed was 1/80. The Canon image was taken with an F=4 and shutter speed was1/60.
In my opinion when I examine the two full-size images, the Canon image is superior. I would hope that a Nikon D3100 would out perform the Canon. Thoughts?

[Krusty79]

Welcome to the forums. I actually think the first shot is a lot better. The Nikon has handled the dynamic range better, as the dark areas have more detail and there are fewer blown out spots. In addition, I think the first shot has more accurate colors, especially when you look at the color of the wood. The colors of the vegetation are more accurate in the first shot also. I have a Canon DSLR, so you know I'm not pushing Nikon.

[inkista]

Well, yeah, if you just point and shoot, the point and shoot's going to look better, because that's what it's designed for: to compensate for users having no technique. A P&S, by default, adds sharpness and saturation to images in the JPEG processing, and the tiny lens/sensor combination yields some massively deep DoF so that focusing generally isn't an issue.

Try it again, stopping the 18-55 down to at least f/8. Shooting with the 18-55 at f/3.5 is shooting with the lens wide open. You have a much shallower depth of field than the S90 does so you have to accurately focus the lens. You'll also have better sharpness, because the 18-55 tends to be quite a bit softer wide open than stopped down to f/8-f/16.

Image quality is not going to be the biggest difference between these two cameras. Control is. And even then, maybe not as much as you're thinking if you really worked the s90 to its limits: the S90 is a very capable camera: RAW, full Manual mode, f/2 max. aperture, and passable iso performance up to 800. It can easily rival some dSLRs in specific situations. But it is more limited. Get some more lenses for your D3100, or put an external flash unit on it, and you'll start to appreciate how much. You bought the dSLR to use the system. Not just for a snapshot camera (one hopes).

But for a simple outside daylight snapshot? Not gonna be much to choose between the two. Try shooting at iso 1600, or at moving subjects, and you'll start to see why the D3100 might be a better tool for some types of shooting.

I have a 5D Mark II and a 50D. I still keep an S90 in the bag. It's a damn good tool.

[michaelhschmitt]

I agree that the Nikon image color is more true. But when I zoom into the wood siding, I see more detail in the Canon.
Yes, I was hoping that $600+ camera would out perform a $300 point and shoot. I am an old 35mm SLR camera person, so I'm not new to photography. I bought a Pentax ME Super in 1982 and used it for years.

[RLucas]

Originally Posted by michaelhschmitt

I agree that the Nikon image color is more true. But when I zoom into the wood siding, I see more detail in the Canon.
Yes, I was hoping that $600+ camera would out perform a $300 point and shoot. I am an old 35mm SLR camera person, so I'm not new to photography. I bought a Pentax ME Super in 1982 and used it for years.

I deleted my last post. It looked a little snarky. My apologies. I don't know if you are using auto or not, but I would suggest using aperture priority at least and stop down to about f/8 or so. The 18-55 kit lens is a good lens, but like any other lens, it has a sweet spot. It also tends to be a little softer at wider apertures. It may give you a better representation.

[michaelhschmitt]

Inkista, thanks for the great feedback. I'm ring to keep working with the D3100, and I did buy it to have greater capability. I'll try some of your suggestions ! ! !
Thank you.

[michaelhschmitt]

Great, thanx Rlucas !

[Zeke Menuar]

Originally Posted by michaelhschmitt

Inkista, thanks for the great feedback. I'm ring to keep working with the D3100, and I did buy it to have greater capability. I'll try some of your suggestions ! ! !
Thank you.

Did you do anything with the ISO settings?

I noticed the D3100 tends to default to the highest ISO possible when using auto ISO.
I keep the ISO setting to 100 or 200 and leave the auto-ISO off.
If I'm in a situation that needs a little flexibility I set the Auto-ISO from 100-400.

Once I started limiting the ISO my pictures came out a whole lot better

[michaelhschmitt]

ZM,

Thanks for the input. The ISO was 200 on the Nikon image, and 160 on the Canon.

[Zeke Menuar]

Originally Posted by michaelhschmitt

ZM,

Thanks for the input. The ISO was 200 on the Nikon image, and 160 on the Canon.

You're welcome.

I bought my D3100 in March of this year. It took some time for me to get images that I was happy with.