Nikon 3100 not so bad?

jamiebonline

jamiebonline

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Jamie
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I am doing a lot of thinking about gear and not enough money right at this time to make a difference. I bought a little Oly xz-2 and was disappointed with the image quality. Sure, it's cute and portable but I was used to the D7000 with prime lenses so the step down was just too dramatic for me. :-/ I plan to buy back a D7000 when I have the money. (It's a long boring story about me selling my nikon gear and trying to switch to Sony mirrorless and ultimately being dissatisfied).

In the meantime, I would really like a camera to take home with me at Christmas (I live abroad) to take decent pictures. Luckily I have a 50 1.8 D lens still. So I am selling the Olympus and buying a D3100. Investing any more in what will be another back up crop body is a waste of money, I think. I know the 3100 is much bigger and bulkier to the Oly but I accept that trade off.

Anyway, any thoughts on this little entry level DSLR? It can surely deliver decent images with that 50mm? I am sure not the same as the D7000 but a hell of a lot better than the olympus. Incidentally there is a D200 and D40x available too where I live but these are worse I guess.



J
 
The D3100 won't autofocus with your lens, nor will the D40x. The D200 will though...

I have a D3100 at work and I really like the images it produces, even with the kit lens.
 
I went from the d3100 to the d7000 a year or so ago and regretted it. Ok, I got better / easier access to the menus but no difference in IQ at all for photos that I took.

You'll be more than happy with it I'm sure
 
Nawty said:
The D3100 won't autofocus with your lens, nor will the D40x. The D200 will though...

I have a D3100 at work and I really like the images it produces, even with the kit lens.
Click to expand...

What?? :( the 50 1.8 D won't autofocus on a D3100? I am surprised.
 
Nawty said:
No it won't, the D3100 doesn't have a built in AF motor so you need AF-S lenses, not AFD.
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Ah right. I wonder what manual focusing would be like on the 3100. Some manual focus assist of any kind?
 
jamiebonline said:
Ah right. I wonder what manual focusing would be like on the 3100. Some manual focus assist of any kind?
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Why don't you just sell it and buy a lens that will AF? Can't be that much difference in price. Wouldn't a 35/1.8 be a better fit as a single lens anyway?
 
Mpb have a d3100 with c2500 shutter count for £119, same price for a 50mm 1.8g or the 35 from £99
 
OK I could put up the 50 D for sale, buy a 35 1.8 G (I agree it is more suitable focal length for what I want) and get the 3100. Will maybe lose a bit of money in the process but...

Anyone good to see the 3100 getting recommended
 
I have just past on my 3100 to wife, it was my first DSLR in 2011, for what it is entry level I couldn't fault it,
if you want an idea of iq check out my flickr, pics were taken with 18-55....35 prime.... 55-300...as a kick about camera don't think you will go far wrong
 
jamiebonline said:
is there a focus confirmation chip? the little black dot that appears?
Click to expand...
switch lens to manual focus,turn on live view,on a tripod of course,select the magnify button to toggle between 5x and 10x magnification.then with the focusing ring on the lens dial in the sharpness so the edge of the subject is as sharp
as it can be
 
There is also a D3100 for sale in the classifieds.
Great little camera!
 
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