Nikon D3100? Beginners DSLR? Any Good?
Nikon D3100? Beginners DSLR? Any Good?
Yeah, looks really good for the price. Good sensor, high megapixel and a lot of features for a beginner DSLR. I prefer Canon's though, they usually have better video quality.
Yes, the D3100 is a great camera to start off with. Even better is the D5100.
It is suitable but you will feel that you are pulling at the leash within 18-24 months, as it does lack so many desirable functions. If you buy a D90 or a D7000 what you get extra will probably mean you get 4-5 years of use from it if you don't bash it around too much, and once you're done with it the camera may still be worth £200, so depreciation isn't too bad either, and with the D90 being around for so long already good second hand ones are very affordable.
On the bigger Nikons like the D90 you get:
- AF motor (for older AF lenses)
- Pentaprism finder
- Wireless CLS/AWL
- Cable release socket
- Secondary control dial
- Top down LCD
The D7000 adds on top of what the D90 has:
- AI coupling ridge (for older AI/AI-S manual focus lenses, and metering with non CPU lenses)
- Weather sealing
- Magnesium alloy body
- Better AF sensor and algorithm
All of these added function mean that as you broaden your photographic skills they will be available to you immediately rather than having to upgrade your camera. The only thing that these cameras lack are PC-sync sockets.
Yes, or if you can afford the extra £100 or so, go for the D3200. Another good starter is the Canon 1100D
Yes, very good. ANY DSLR will give you great results. The large sensor gives high quality images. Nikon glass is very good, even in their cheap kit lens. It is hard to go wrong.
If you can afford the D5100 then that is an even better DSLR as it will give you more long-term flexibility, but the D3100 would be fine if that's all you can afford.
The good news is that Nikon have cashback at the moment on both D3100 and D5100.
See http://www.nikon.webfulfilment.com/cashback/christmas2012.asp
That is £35 back on the D3100 or £55 on the D5100
The D5100 is coming in at £400 at Amazon right now: http://www.amazon.co.uk/...004U4UHTQ/
That has been reduced because the D5200 launch is imminent, so with £55 cashback you only end up paying £345, which is a brilliant price for a much better camera than the D3100.
If you can't afford that, go for the D3100 for £300 at Amazon and then claim £35 cashback, so the final price ends up at £265, which is a real bargain for a good DSLR: http://www.amazon.co.uk/...00403MA4M/
Be careful when buying though - companies like Pixmania or some on ebay offer cheap imports, but they don't necessarily have full UK Nikon warranties and are not eligible for the cashback scheme. When buying from Amazon you are fine if the stock is supplied by amazon.co.uk