Why You Need a Nikon D3100 This Holiday Season
November 25, 2010 By Blake Robinson on Mashable
This post is part of the Mashable 10, Mashable’s gift guide of the 10 hottest gadgets that that our editors think should be on everyone’s wish lists this holiday season. To view all 10 posts, please visit this link.
[EDITOR'S NOTE: Due to an unfortunate oversight, a previous version of this article inadvertently recommended the discontinued D5000.]
Virtually everyone now has a camera in their mobile device. The image capture capabilities of these devices tend to range from three to five megapixels. And they’re increasingly including LED flashes — a feature that is sorely absent from many mobile devices from just 12 months ago.
In their pursuit to be all-in-one, on-the-go gadgets, mobile devices have marched deep into territory once firmly held by point-and-shoot cameras. The result is that many pocket cameras have effectively become redundant.
If, however, you find the image quality of your phone is not always up to snuff, a digital single-lens reflex camera (DSLR) will take your photography to new levels. It just won’t fit in your pocket.
Nikon D3100
That said, this holiday season has few better DSLR options than the Nikon D3100. It is that rare device that manages to pack a ton of performance at an extremely competitive price.
With 14.2-megapixels, the D3100 is capable of resolutions greater than any non-professional photographer would likely need. Additionally, the bundled 18-55mm lens has built-in image stabilization and is a great starter lens for anyone just getting into DSLR photography.
The D3100 features a particularly competent automatic mode that will allow you to get your DSLR bearings. As you gain experience with the device, there are a slew of manual settings that will allow you to tweak your images to professional levels. Settings like ISO and white balance, for instance, are extensively adjustable.
It also includes a handful of smaller features that make it stand out in the category. The D3100 is capable of 1080p HDSLR video. Sure, even with its autofocus, it requires a tripod to roll video, but when you get it right, it’ll look amazing.
At its core, though, the only D3100 feature that really matters is the quality of pictures. And in that category, it performs on an exceptionally high level.
The Bottom Line
It’s important to consider that all DSLR cameras are essentially lens systems. As you grow as a photographer, you can expand your camera with new lenses and when you outgrow the capabilities of the D3100, those lenses will carry over with you to your next Nikon.
In the end, if you feel like your mobile device isn’t quite right for shooting every occasion, and you want to take pictures that look amazing, DSLR is the way to go. For about $650 with an included image stabilizing lens, we feel that the Nikon D3100 is among the best entry-level DSLR options currently on the market.
