GENERAL OVERVIEW
The Nikon Coolpix 3100 is one of the smallest digital cameras on the market.
The Coolpix 3100 is designed to fit nicely into shirt or jacket pockets There is a 3x optical zoom lens built into the Coolpix and a 3.2-megapixel CCD for capturing high quality images, and a ... Read review
The Nikon Coolpix 3100 is one of the smallest digital cameras on the market.
The Coolpix 3100 is designed to fit nicely into shirt or jacket pockets There is a 3x optical zoom lens built into the Coolpix and a 3.2-megapixel CCD for capturing high quality images, and a great amount of preset shooting modes.
The camera works mainly under automatic control and both control layout and menu display are very easy ... ...As I stated above, this Nikon model is very easy to use. It’d better be because it’s aimed at the novice market.
The menus (terribly easy to navigate on) include the incredible array of features this camera are provided with. Some of them are listed below.
· Welcome Screen.
· Language:
· Date:Sets date.
· CF Card Format: Formats the CompactFlash card
· Reset All: Resets all camera settings to default ones. ... more
GENERAL OVERVIEW
The Nikon Coolpix 3100 is one of the smallest digital cameras on the market. The Coolpix 3100 is designed to fit nicely into shirt or jacket pockets There is a 3x optical zoom lens built into the Coolpix and a 3.2-megapixel CCD for capturing high quality images, and a great amount of preset shooting modes. The camera works mainly under automatic control and both control layout and menu display are very easy to use.
The Coolpix 3100 comes with a real-image optical viewfinder (recommended) and a 1.5-inch color LCD screen. Though the LCD monitor provides more accurate framing, its battery consumption is excessive. The camera is fitted with a 5.8-17.4mm zoom lens equivalent to a 38-114mm lens on a 35mm camera. Again in a digital camera we find ourselves with a moderate wideangle and an also moderate tele. I know that this model is aimed at begginners but…
Other camera features include both a Self-Timer mode and a Continuous Shooting mode.The Coolpix 3100 is just a little bit taller than a credit card. I don’t know about you , but I have fairly big hands used to work with photographic gear as big as Nikon’s F4’s and F5’s. So, I found it really awkward to use such a tiny camera. But what for me is a drawback may be heaven to a great number of users.CAMERA OPERATION
Despite the Coolpix 3100's limited exposure control, the camera offers a nice selection of external control buttons, making for an easy-to-navigate user interface. Flash mode, Self-Timer mode, Macro mode, zoom, record mode, and an Erase function are all accessible via external controls. The Mode dial on top of the camera accesses the main operating modes, and a multi-directional Arrow pad on the back panel navigates through on-screen menus, in addition to accessing camera features directly. The good thing is that you’ll only need the instruction manual for the odd reference. I think this camera is extremely easy to use: beginner’s paradise!
Camera Modes and Menus As I stated above, this Nikon model is very easy to use. It’d better be because it’s aimed at the novice market. The menus (terribly easy to navigate on) include the incredible array of features this camera are provided with. Some of them are listed below. · Welcome Screen. · Language: · Date:Sets date. · CF Card Format: Formats the CompactFlash card · Reset All: Resets all camera settings to default ones.
Shooting menu offers the following features:
-Image Size and Quality: Sets the image resolution and compression level White Balance: Adjusts the overall color balance of the image.
· Exposure Compensation: Increases or decreases exposure from -2 to +2 EV.
· Date Imprint: Prints date, time or both on your images. Can be deactivated.
· Continuous: Accesses the camera's drive mode.
· CF Card Format: Formats the CompactFlash memory card.
· Image Size and Quality: Sets the image resolution and compression level.
Thera are different factory set programs. I don’t use them usually, but there’s no account for tastes.Here they come without descriptions of what they can do because I find their names to be self-explanatory.
Power The Coolpix 3100 can use a pair of rechargeable NiMH AA batteries, one CRV3 lithium battery or two LR6 AA nickel manganese batteries for power.
THE COOLPIX 3100 IN USE.
As I mentioned above this camera is so tiny for me that I found myself unconfortable using it. Anyway, as I love you so much, I run it through some tests and found interesting things: 1- The camera handled pastel tones as well as highly saturated ones nicely. Skin tones were particularly good and overall colour performance is better than the camera’s size. I was really impressed by the way this tiny machine managed different light situations. The blue was captured well, not very often done by other more expensive cameras. Also turned in a much better than average performance under the very difficult incandescent lighting.
2- The Coolpix copes very well too in the exposure deparment. Maybe the only drawback is the flash performance. Shots with the camera's flash were quite dim . Nikon take note.
3- Sharpness and resolution are quite good for a 3.2 megapixel camera. Anyway don’t expect a slide like performance here.
4- If you are a close-up buff like me you’ll enjoy the close up mode. It can cover a minimum area of 1.99 x 1.50 inches. My advice is not to use this mode with the built in flash because the results are simply disappointing.
5- The 3100's optical viewfinder is a little tight, showing approximately 86 percent of the frame at wide angle, and approximately 85 percent at telephoto. This is a very typical performance among consumer digicams, but I still would strongly prefer to see the viewfinders show more of the final field of view. The LCD monitor did much better, showing approximately 95 percent at wide angle and about 97 percent at telephoto. Given that I like LCD monitors to be as close to 100 percent accuracy as possible, the 3100 performed fairly well here.
6- The Coolpix 3100's battery life is about 83 minutes in its worst-case power drain mode.
7- If you turn off the LCD this life can get as long as 4 days!!!! Amazing.
8- Last but not least a final question: What do you get in the box where the Coolpix lies waiting for you to use. Well, A wrist strap; a 16 MB lexar CompactFlash card; video cable; USB cable; two non-rechargeable AA batteries; a CD-ROM with the drivers and Nikon View software and the usual instruction manual.
Verdict. From the sharp Nikon optics to the full range of exposure control, this Coolpix may satisfy a wide range of users. As in the earlier 885 and 775 models, Nikon continues to extend the Coolpix line toward the novice user. In the 3100, this focus is expressed in the new Framing Assist modes, providing nearly infallible framing and exposure for entry-level users. The Coolpix 3100 is an extremely flexible point-and-shoot camera, with just enough features to produce great images with little hassle. Best of all, the 3100's image quality lives up to almost every potential users’ expectations. The price around 179 pounds won't break your bank.
For further tech specs you can go to: http://www.nikon-image.com/eng/PDF/coolpix3100.htm
Advantages: alot of pre-sets, great features and great value Disadvantages: no sound on the videos
...little over £100 on this Nikon Coolpix 3100, and I was not disappointed!
I didn't know a great deal about digital cameras but I knew that I needed something over 2 mega pixels and with optical zoom. The Nikon offers 3.2 effective mega pixels, 3x optical zoom and a massive 14 scene modes! It is a small camera that fits perfectly into your hand but at the same time can fit in a pocket or bag with no problems. The display screen on the back is a great ... ...you can review the picture once it is done. This may seem like a basic feature on a digital camera but the screen saves a lot of memory when shots don't come out as you may have wished. Rather than waiting until you get home to check how your pictures have taken you can simply refer to the screen, delete accordingly and take until you are happy with the result. The memory card with the camera is 16mb which fits 144 pictures at 640 resolution which ...
chrismoll 29.05.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Nikon Coolpix 3100
Advantages: Easy to use, excellent picture quality, clear bright LCD, preset photo modes, picture enhancing options. Disadvantages: Small memory card, short battery life, no case supplied.
Nikon Coolpix 3100
I would class myself as an enthusiastic amateur photographer and having researched the digital camera market for three months I eventually decided on the Nikon Coolpix 3100. I was not disappointed. This light weight 3.2 million pixel camera is easy to use and has excellent results.
General The camera has a maximum picture resolution of 2048 x 1536 pixels and this produces clear and detailed pictures which are photo quality up ... ...with this preset mode the Nikon 3100 has many other modes including:
Indoor/party mode - which allows you take bright, well lit indoor photos (slightly harder to take as the exposure time is longer and you have to keep very still to avoid blurring).
Sunrise and sunset modes - this lets you capture the beauty of a natural lighting effect and has excellent results.
Ski/bright sunshine mode - preset to allow you to capture good detail even in very ...
Melbug 13.01.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Nikon Coolpix 3100
Advantages: Compact, quite easy to use, good picture quality Disadvantages: Batteries have a short life, many picture options may puzzle some
...leads, 16mb flash memory, the Nikon software and the instruction manual
I was very pleased to discover that the batteries were rechargeable, but I was not impressed with the poor battery life. They last a mere few hours before the red warning light begins to flash and the camera begins to turn itself off to save power. The charger is easy enough to use. It plugs into the mains and charges the two rechargeable batteries. I normally charge the batteries ... ...on every camera
The Nikon Software can be used to copy the photos on to your hard drive, but is not required. It can edit, view, transfer and browse pictures but I rarely use it because I find it easier to open the folder where the camera stores the pictures and video but that is down to personal preference. The Nion software has a nice interface and can create some nice effects
With my camera I received a 16mb flash memory card which is sufficient ...
jonty68 17.05.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Nikon Coolpix 3100
Advantages: Small (Pocket sized) but not fiddly, Good instructions and easy to use and excellent pictures. Disadvantages: Batteries don't last very long but this is always the case with cheap Digital Camera's
...searching I came across the Nikon Coolpix 3100 for £146.00
I always go on first impressions and this obviously made a good impact - It looked funky, small enough to fit into my pocket, the specifications/technical information was simple to understand and sounded just what I was looking for.
It offered: Small size and able to take it anywhere!
3.2 Effective Mega pixels and 3x optical Zoom-Nikkor lens plus digital zoom up to 4x magnification.
Simple ... ...and two CD's: Nikon View CD-ROM that is software programme where you can transfer, browse, view and make minor adjustments to your digital images and also print or email output directly.
Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0
The whole price including delivery and the extra accesories such as the extra memory and carry case came to £196.00
After looking through all this information I was eager to get started so I looked at the Quick start guide (v.helpful) ...
Julie_ha_francis 19.05.2004 (20.05.2004)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Nikon Coolpix 3100
Advantages: Great picture quality, small and lightweight Disadvantages: Night photos can become blurred
...Once you load up the Nikon software you simply transfer the entire contents from the camera to your hardd rive and thats it. SIMPLE.
View Finder Monitor - This has to be the best part of the camera it makes taking pictures simple. You get a image of what the camera can see in the monitor on the back of the camera and you just simply have to line up the image, zoom in or out and the snap away. The camera has 2 types of zoom. First of all you zoom ... ...within the photo and take the picture. Then when you look at the photos on the flash card you can further zoom in to the photo and perform many functions on the picture like cropping where you cut the picture to the size you want to get rid of any unecessary background.
This camera is a brilliant little piece of technology. Any beginner photographer looking for a camera that is small, top quality and very easy to use then this is for you. ...
gilly_uk 06.06.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Nikon Coolpix 3100
A compact, lightweight digital still camera with 3.2 effective megapixels and a powerful 3x zoom lens, the Coolpix 3100 is a friendly and versatile model, even for those who are using a digital camera for the first time. The Coolpix 3100 is ideal for people who want an easy-to-use digital still camera that offers great image quality, and who are looking to get more fun out of digital photography. The camera's compact body fits easily in a pocket for carry-anywhere portability. Featuring a 3x optical Zoom-Nikkor lens and 4x digital zoom, the Coolpix 3100 provides excellent optical performance. Coupled with Nikon's advanced image-processing algorithm, this ensures vibrant color, contrast and clarity in every picture. The camera's 3.2 effective megapixels offer remarkable resolution in printouts as large as B4 size. Shooting is simplified by general-use Auto Mode and 14 Scene Modes, four of which offer a Scene Assistance function for perfectly composed pictures, which allow users to capture the essence of every situation and fully experience the fun of digital photography. The Coolpix 3100 also features Continuous Shooting Mode and four Movie Modes, including one capable of recording a clip as large as 640 x480 pixels. Users can take up to 40 seconds of smaller-size video in color, B/W or sepia. In Macro Mode, the camera can shoot as close as 4cm (1.6 inch) from a subject and still get sharply focused shots. The Small Picture function creates reduced-size pictures that are perfect for e-mailing or Web posting, while the Date imprinting function allows users to date a picture at the time of shooting. Image effects such as B/W, sepia and halo filters extend users' creative options. The Quick Review button allows images to be viewed right away on the LCD monitor while maintaining live-action viewing. The Transfer function simplifies uploading image data to a computer.
