Anyone have a D3000 or D3100??

[Tanya Kurnik]

Tripods are not to expensive. Amazon has great prices. Get one 50in or higher.

[TNH]

Originally Posted by Tanya Kurnik

Tripods are not to expensive. Amazon has great prices. Get one 50in or higher.

Thanks! I'll remember that!

[LakesideAnnie]

I got the D3100 for Christmas last year. I consider it to be my "starter" DSLR and fully intend to upgrade at some point.

When I first got it, I was somewhat disappointed in my shots. Nothing seemed clear or sharp; colors were not as vibrant as I thought they should be. I didn't even try the video because I was still learning how to use this camera. Granted the "bokeh" that showed on the shots were so much better than any of my Point and Shoots, but sometimes I felt defeated by this monster.

~ 1 year later, over 14,000 shots, a drop, a 6 week stint at the repair shop, ... I think I'm beginning to get the hang of it all.

I'm still considering a separate video camera. We were in Vegas a few weeks back, me with the D3100, my SO with my little P&S and we took nighttime video of the fountains at the Bellagio. He was sure my camera was getting a better video, but when I uploaded and viewed them, I think his did a better job keeping focus.

If you'd like to see my D3100 shots, you can see them here.

[Randomjack]

I've only had my D3100 for a couple weeks, but I love it dearly. It was my jump into DSLR photography after working with a mixture of manual film and point and shoot. I'd researched it extensively to be sure it was right and I can speak for its quality.

I don't have much kit to compare it to, but its plenty for my needs - that is, frequent landscape photography with full creative control. One thing that caught me about it was the efficient, easy to work with displays - I picked up how to shoot manual on it quicker than any of the other models in the store display.

The kit lens has been treating me kindly as well. The 18-55 range covers most of my needs, from wide angle to portrait to minor telephoto. The only complaint i can even think of with the camera or lens is that the lowest aperture doesn't open as much as id like (f 3.5), but for a basic lens thats totally normal.

Long story short, I'm very glad i picked it as my first dslr. Nice price, nice quality, nice functionality.

[Poider]

I had the D3100 but my wife took it off me and this is one of the pictures she took with it



It is an excellent camera
Peter

[fallia]

My wife got me a D3100 last christmas...use to shoot 35mm 20 years ago in college haven't shot much since (also mamiya C-33). I have enjoyed my nikon and there are allot of helpful sites (here included) that have helped me get a better understanding of the camera ( i miss the dumb days). I have also used lensrental.com to rent lenses (great ones that i can't afford right now. I also recently purchased lightroom (1/2 off through adorama). That software has helped me as well.

good luck

[TNH]

Thanks for the replies, everyone! You've been really helpful!
I think I have finally decided on the d3100 as my first dslr. It seems like just what I want, and in a good price range. Just about everyone in reviews and things say that it's great. I've looked at and tried it out in the store. I think my mind is finally made up.

Now I only have one problem... money. I need some! x-(
It'll take awhile to save up that much money... but hey, I saved up $500 for a laptop computer. I can do it again.

[stevefizz]

The D3100 is amazing, iv had it for 12 months now. I am thinking about upgrading now to the D7000 though, more bells and whistles.


Swans Necking by SteveFizz, on Flickr

[jpjanette]

Originally Posted by mbrobich

taken with my D3100

hi,this a very nice photo.. what lens did you use for this? i have my regular lens 18-55mm, i wonder if this kind of photo can catch with 18-55mm. my dslr is just one week old, a beginner in this field too. =)

[ccting]

If i am you, i will get the near obsolete ones for best price. D3000 is outperformed D5100. It autofocus much faster and accurate then D5100. The cost of battery is more than 3 times cheaper than D5100's battery. I am not sure about D3100..

You never keep pace with the camera body. They come out with new bodies almost every year.. D5100, D3100, D7000 last year, and this year with D4, D800, D800e.. and a few more..by now, D3100 is almost obsolete..with 16MP vs 32MP (for me at least). So.. get 2nd hand D3000 or D90 that cause only USD150-300?