Nikon has enjoyed plenty of success in recent years in the entry-level sector, although in the last year or so, the specifications of its models was increasingly being matched or bettered by rivals. The arrival of the D3100 couldn't have been timed any better, with Christmas – the time of year when budget DSLRs sell as fast as fir trees – only weeks away. This update of the excellent D3000 has a number of improvements, in particular a resolution bettered in the Nikon range only by the flagship D3x! It promises to set a new benchmark in this sector, but its specification alone isn't enough to make it the best in class. Its handling, ease of use and overall performance needs to set new standards too. We find out if it has what it takes to leave rival brands playing catch-up.

Handling & ease of use
Nikon DSLRs from entry-level to pro models have traditionally rated highly for handling and ease of use, so we expected the D3100 to score well in this respect, especially following Nikon's claims that ease of use is at the heart of the camera's design.
It doesn't take long while using it to realise that Nikon has subtly refined and updated an already excellent system to add further improvements to the control set-up. Little touches like the inclusion of a frame advance lever below the exposure mode dial on the top-plate, or the LiveView switch with HD video record button at its centre help to make access to functions fast and very simple. 
In every respect, the Nikon D3100 has been designed to appeal to first-time digital SLR users.
The small, compact body is a similar size to rivals from Sony and Canon and is reassuringly solid considering its price. While the small size of some cameras can inhibit handling, the same cannot be said for the D3100, which is very comfortable to hold, in the main thanks to its chunky handgrip and rubberised finish. The neat arrangement of buttons and controls is nicely laid out and clearly marked. Along with the well laid out menu system and info screens, the result is a camera that shouldn't cause anyone to have to refer to the instructions too often. Ease of use for absolute beginners is further aided by the Guide Mode, selected via the main dial. This series of info screens helps set up the camera for a number of shooting scenarios, such as to soften the background, freeze motion, and so on, without any need to understand the technicalities associated with the likes of shutter speeds and apertures.
At 3in, the LCD monitor is one of the largest in the entry-level sector, while the viewfinder is similar to rivals at this price point, offering a sharp, clear image, dioptric correction for spectacle wearers, and a frame coverage of 95%. 23/25
Features
The D3000 that this model replaces was a decent camera but its specification was clearly showing its age. For Nikon to succeed with the D3100, it really needs this update to offer a significant number of improvements – this latest model delivers on that score.
Firstly, the resolution sees a major jump from 10.2 to 14.2-megapixels which, apart from the flagship D3x, is the highest of any Nikon DSLR. The other major addition is the inclusion of an HD video facility, which didn't exist on the previous model. Better still, it's Full HD (1080P), which is a first on a Nikon, although movies are limited to ten minutes in length. A HDMI socket is located under a rubber cover on the left side but audio is via the built-in microphone only, as there is no socket for an external mic. The HD video is easily selected by pressing a red button at the centre once you've pulled the LiveView lever. LiveView is much improved on the D3100, with a new full-time-servo AF mode (AF-F), which promises more accurate AF in LiveView, and the option to choose between face-priority AF, wide- or normal-area AF and subject-tracking AF for moving subjects, all based around a contrast-detect AF detection system.
In standard usage, the autofocus works using the tried and tested Multi-CAM 1000 11-point AF system found in the D3000 and D5000, offering a choice of single-shot, continuous or Auto AF modes (AF-S, AF-C and AF-A respectively). You can have all points active or choose an individual AF sensor, and select dynamic area or 3D tracking, the latter two offering improved AF performance when a subject shifts position within the frame.
A 420-pixel RGB sensor handles metering, with a choice of 3D colour Matrix II, centre-weighted or spot, with exposure compensation of +/-5EV, AE-Lock and Active D-Lighting options.
The ISO range sees an improvement over its predecessor, offering a wider range of 100-3200 with the option to increase to 12,800 if required.
The flash system has plenty of options, with a choice of Auto, Auto with red-eye reduction, slow-sync and rear-curtain sync, along with flash exposure compensation for the integral flash, which has a respectable, if unremarkable, Guide Number of 12 (ISO 100, m). Use certain Nikon Speedlights, such as the SB-900, and you've access to more sophisticated options too, such as wireless flash control.
Scroll down to the Retouch Menu and you discover a variety of editing functions to try out, ranging from creative options like Monochrome to fun choices like fisheye, as well as more practical selections like Distortion or Straighten. You may not want to use them, but they're there for newcomers looking to try out lots of creative or fun options. With other options such as the Picture Controls to change variables such as saturation or contrast and facilities like the sensor's anti-dust system, it's clear Nikon has packed plenty of useful functions into the D3100. 23/25
Performance
Let's not beat about the bush. The Nikon D3100 is good. Very good indeed. It's easy to use, fast in operation and, above all, delivers very good results. This shouldn't come as too huge a surprise, as the AF and metering systems are based on tried and tested versions. 
The main difference to previous models is the sensor which, thanks to the higher resolution, allows for bigger prints or harsher crops to be performed compared to the D3000 or its main rivals. As with all JPEGs straight from the camera, images benefit from sharpening in Photoshop to truly appreciate the detail captured by the sensor. Colour reproduction is excellent and the Auto White Balance is very good, although indoor tungsten lights cause casts.
The LiveView performance using the AF-F is an improvement on previous generations but still struggles at times, much like rival systems (with the exception of Sony's excellent Live AF).
Noise isn't a problem unless you shoot at ISO 1000 or above, when it really becomes evident.
With the D3100 set to Raw+JPEG and continuous shooting, it doesn't take too many frames before the buffer starts to lag, but that's to be expected in a camera at this price point, although a faster frame rate than 3fps would be more useful. The camera's operation is pretty slick and fast, with little touches like the Fn button on the lens throat, which can be set to select one of a number of functions, proving very useful.
The Nikon proves an excellent all-rounder and represents an ideal first model for DSLR novices. 22/25

Verdict::
While there is plenty of choice in the entry-level sector, most of the models have been around a while, so Nikon has the benefit of being the new kid on the block. As such, you'd expect it to offer a better specification than its rivals and, as the table below shows, it really raises the benchmark of what you can expect to find. But a camera's performance isn't all about how many features it sports, it's also in how enjoyable it is to use. In this respect too, the Nikon scores highly, with a well balanced and nicely-made body that is easy to use and a joy to handle. It's not perfect by any means, but the plus points far outweigh the negatives, which are more niggles than major drawbacks: for instance, I'd have liked the LCD monitor to have a better resolution than it has, although the 230,000 screen is more than adequate. With its high resolution, inclusion of Full HD video and lots more besides, the D3100 is set to be a best-seller this Christmas and beyond.

Handling & ease of use     23/25
Features     23/25
 Performance     22/25
 Value For Money     22/25
OVERAL                  90/100

Supplied accessories
The Nikon D3100 kit is 
supplied with the following: 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR 
lens; MH-24 battery charger; EN-EL14 battery; strap;
 manual and software CD.

 Body Only: £500 (Guide) / £430 (Street)
 18-55mm VR kit: £580 (Guide) / £500 (Street)
IMAGE RESOLUTION: 14.2-megapixels
LCD: 3in (230,000 dots)
STORAGE: SD/SDHC/SDXC
WEIGHT: 455g (without battery and card)
PHONE: 0800 230220
WEBSITE: www.nikon.co.uk