where there’s smoke there’s forum fire
Oops! Somehow the entire D3100 announcement thread got deleted?! We got hit by Spammers tonight so i think something got knocked loose and for some reason the forum software won't undelete the thread(?). So I'm starting this thread until we can resurrect the original discussion.
Do you think the D3100 with a 35 f1.8 lens now becomes a temporary answer to EVIL cams? That lens with that ISO performance sounds like a great little travel camera!
I was under the impression that the EVIL disign cameras were meant to be able to use the venerable F-mount so as to be of use to owners of older Nikkors as well as new lens. Is the D3100 allowing the use of older AI and non-AI Nikon optics (even with limitations), like the D3s and D700 do? Or is the D3100 a step back from the D700 and puts emphasis on the HD 1080/24 video?
Nikos, the D3100 is nothing like the D700, it is an entry level camera designed for beginners. Since the camera isn't even out we have no idea how well it will perform ISO wise, but I expect that it will be at least as good as the D90/D5000, if not a little better. The D3100, like the D40, D60 and D5000 can use AI-S, pre-AI lenses, but it will not meter with them and you'll have to guess the exposure.
Niko, I think the D3100 is Nikon's answer to the EVIL cameras, especially now that Nikon has a nice set of AF-S prime lenses with the introduction of the 85mm F1.4G. If the ISO range proves to be good, just think about it, with some serious cash you could have a nice compact camera body, and use the AF-S prime lens lineup, 24mm F1.4G, 35mm. F1.8G, 50mm F1.4G and 85mm F1.4G or 85mm F3.5G VR for more cash strapped users. That may be a lot of money, but if size and weight are an issue that is a solution, as none of the primes are overly large or heavy.
No it's not Nikon's answer to EVIL competitors because we know there's a Nikon EVIL camera coming, but the D3100 probably explains why Nikon isn't going to put them on sale until next year (maybe). An EVIL camera with this same sensor would hurt sales. Especially if it's as compact as Sony's NEX cameras.
The real question is going to be in the lens selection. The 110mm size EVIL sensor and smaller than DX lenses is starting to make a lot more sense to me now.
Sigh...
My D40 is starting to look kinda lame about now.
Maybe, but it is still a nice camera.
I think one of the best moves Nikon made with the D3100 was to add real rubber on the grip, rather than plastic grip of the earlier entry level models.
Not if you're allergic to rubber it's not! But I guess there was plenty of oil floating around the Gulf of Mexico that nobody wanted so it's cheaper to use rubber now than plastic :^)
Impressive specs for an entry level camera! The only thing that bothers me is the 240,000 Dot LCD but hey, its an entry level camera so you won't get everything. The D90 refresh looks like it will unreal then. Just imagine the D700 refresh if the specs are this good on the D3100! Will Nikon even bother?
I had no idea the D3100 was priced so low ($699 w/18-55mm VR). It may be too tempting not to buy a D3100 body (as a 1080p24 filmmaking tool), as soon as it's available for sale without a kit lens. I remember waiting quite a few weeks for the D90 to be sold as a body-only kit, when it first came out. A couple questions:
1. How long after its launch did the D90 become available as a body-only kit?
2. Anyone know the expected selling price of the D3100 body alone?
3. Also, given the specs, is everyone expecting the D3100 to exceed the current D90 in noise-floor and overall image quality?
1. I don't know—1-2 months?
2. Probably around $550, but I actually don't recall seeing the D3000 body only. Maybe that's because I wasn't looking but I always thought it was for people who were just getting into SLRs and didn't have a lens collection. You could get it and try out the kit lens then sell it for $100 or whatever if you don't use it.
3. I can almost give you a good answer here because I'm guessing they're using the 14MP sensor in the Sony NEX-5. I think the noise-handling is about like the D90's, but I can't say for certain because lightroom still won't process raw files from the NEX-5, so it's hard to get a completely fair comparison.
Remember the D3100 has no AF screw, so AF will be manual unless you've got AF-S lenses. You probably don't want continuous AF in video if you're serious, anyway—you'll want to pull focus because you'll know your subject better than the camera. Continuous AF's been great on the NEX-5 for clips of my two boys, though.
jonnyapple said:
Probably around $550, but I actually don't recall seeing the D3000 body only. Maybe that's because I wasn't looking but I always thought it was for people who were just getting into SLRs and didn't have a lens collection. You could get it and try out the kit lens then sell it for $100 or whatever if you don't use it.
Thanks for the info, jonny--helpful! I seem to remember it being something like 1-2 months for the D90 to be sold as a body-only kit (it seemed like forever!). I already have a $100 refurb copy of the AF-S Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 VR kit lens (which I actually love!).
jonnyapple said:
Remember the D3100 has no AF screw, so AF will be manual unless you've got AF-S lenses. You probably don't want continuous AF in video if you're serious, anyway—you'll want to pull focus because you'll know your subject better than the camera.
Exactly. I'll be mounting manual-focus Nikkors on it almost exclusively, anyway. Thanks again for your comments!
The body only "should" be availiable a few weeks after they go on sale. (Same with the new D90). Oh and yeah the new sensor and a lot more on the new D90 is gonna be awesome :^)
Does Nikon ever sell its entry level cameras body-only? I think you'll have a hard time finding the D3100 except as a kit, but I might be wrong.
Seems to vary by vendor. I know I've seen 'em, but it's like finding a needle in a haystack. Seems to be more the indie places that carry 'em, at least as far as walking into a store. Otherwise, you'd have to look online.
Niko: sounds like you know something we don't. May we have a hint? :)
Yes they do sell them body only but vendors make more money off of the kits so they rarely ever stock body only with the low end models. Although I think the D3100 might change that because of it's specs and low price!
Hint: This is just the beginning :^)
I do not understand Nikon engineers at all, D3100 has the same waves under the 50Hz lights in video mode, pretty much the same situations from two years ago with D90, so it basically means that the new Nikon cameras are unusable in 50Hz countries. Thank you Nikon.
NikoDoby said:
The body only "should" be availiable a few weeks after they go on sale. (Same with the new D90). Oh and yeah the new sensor and a lot more on the new D90 is gonna be awesome :^)
Are you testing the new D90 under an NDA, Niko? A simple statement about beer will work for an affirmative. Even if we knew you had one, we know nothing about you so how could we track you down to steal/photograph it anyway?
Stormwatch, this is a problem with more than just SLR video. If you've got lights with bad ballast (60Hz or 50Hz), you'll get those effects in video (or stills with fast shutter speeds). They're not discriminating against you based on your electric mains frequency. ;-)
Now, I feel exactly as I did two years ago . . . waiting for what seemed like months, for the D90 to come out in a body-only kit so I could make cinema-quality movies on a super-35mm class sensor that eclipses the tiny 2/3" sensor of a $70,000 Sony HDW-F900R CineAlta, at less than 1/100th the price of an Arriflex Alexa. I really don't need two 18-55mm VR lenses, but I may HAVE to buy the kit version . . . I can't wait!
stormwatch said:
I do not understand Nikon engineers at all, D3100 has the same waves under the 50Hz lights in video mode, pretty much the same situations from two years ago with D90, so it basically means that the new Nikon cameras are unusable in 50Hz countries. Thank you Nikon.
Stormwatch, have you tried it you're self or you have heard from other people because this camera just came out and I think it is to soon to tell ?
If that is the case then Nike have lost the plot again in video mode. They said that it will compete with EOS 550d but looking at the specs agains eachother Nikon is behind again, the only one thing that Nikon had better is aoutofocus points.
Man what are they doing ?
Hold onto your shorts for just a second, when did Nikon say this was meant to compete with the T2i/550D? They aren't even in the same class of cameras. The D3100's closest rival price and spec wise is the T1i/500D. I love how fast people are to jump on the new entry level camera and say, why isn't this better than, that, without even having used it yet. lol
valonqe said:
Stormwatch, have you tried it you're self or you have heard from other people because this camera just came out and I think it is to soon to tell ?If that is the case then Nike have lost the plot again in video mode. They said that it will compete with EOS 550d but looking at the specs agains eachother Nikon is behind again, the only one thing that Nikon had better is aoutofocus points.
Man what are they doing ?
Let's get something clear, i'm a Nikon fanboy but I do not like to be nosepulled no matter what company is involved. I have seen this waves on a presentation two days ago, and guess what, those waves are getting worse in low-light conditions, as same as on D90 two years ago.
Don't worry mate about nose pulling because we are all Nikon fan boys in here but I just wanted to know more about that camera since you mention that you have seen it on the show.
The good question is, who would want a D5000 if the D3100 is this great as it is?
I feel sorry for the many who bought a D5000 within the last month or two. I guess if you really wanted the flip screen, you'd get the D5000, but this seems to beat it in every spec. It's not even as if the D5000 has an autofocus motor.
Drab said:
3100 Doesn't have the interval timer (IIUC), no bracketing, and fewer D-lighting issues.
Anything else?
The interval timer's no big deal, the D90 doesn't have it too, I think, nor is bracketing.
Heck, the D40 that I use is much more crude than this. Other than the faster flash sync, spec wise the D40 is surely beat in everything else, especially the autofocus.
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