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10.2-megapixel effective recording * APS-C-size CCD image sensor (23.6 x 15.8 mm) * AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR (vibration reduction) lens (35mm equivalent focal length: 27-82.5mm) * 3X optical zoom (approximate) * 3" color LCD screen with brightness adjustment * optical SLR viewfinder (with diopter adjustment) * Integrated Dust Reduction System to keep image sensor clean for spotless photos * Nikon EXPEED image processor for responsive shooting and high-accuracy photos * 11-point autofocus system for rapid, precise autofocusing * 3D Color Matrix Metering II for accurate automatic exposure control, plus center-weighted and spot metering modes * Active D-Lighting mode for better shadow and highlight detail in high-contrast shooting conditions * intelligent pop-up flash and flash exposure compensation * Guide mode makes selecting camera settings easy for beginning SLR photographers * in-camera image editing functions, including: D-Lighting, red-eye correction, cropping, image overlay, monochrome settings, filter effects, NEF (RAW) processing, miniture effect, color outline, and stop motion movie *
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Technical Details
- 10.2-megapixel DX-format imaging sensor for prints up to 20 x 30 inches- Includes 3x 18-55mm Zoom-Nikkor VR Image Stabilization lens
- Nikon EXPEED image processing; in-camera image editing and Active D-Lighting
- 3.0-inch color LCD screen; 170-degree wide-angle viewing
- Capture images to SD/SDHC memory cards (not included)
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By Monkey Poo
I'll compare this to the Canon Rebel XS, since I played with the XS heavily recently and also because they are the same target market (entry level DSLR).
Pros:
* Less mushy shutter button
* Nice roughness on the mode dial
* Great rough texture on the whole body for a nice grip
* Has more buttons on the left than Canon, the latter is way biased toward right-handed operation
* Bigger, 3" LCD screen
* More autofocus points
* Quieter auto-focus
* You can start zooming and playing with the last picture taken right away (Canon would show you the picture, but you had to press a button to start zooming/etc.)
* Autoplay "slideshow" of the last burst of pictures you took; I really missed this when I was using the Canon
* Viewfinder grid (the Canon didn't have one)
* More informative LCD (I like the aperture display)
* Clearer written material
Cons:
* Continuous shooting mode bizarrely slows down after a few shots. I tried turn off the Active D-Lighting, but it didn't help.
* Battery doesn't lock into place as well as on the Canon, I can feel it rattling a bit
* I noticed a couple of hot pixels on dark backgrounds (but to be fair, it's hard to find any sensor with zero dead/hot pixels)
* Minor, but annoying: Nikon rounds your pictures left to "1.0K" instead of a true value
* Autofocus seems slower
* Still some dumb UI decisions, like if I want to constantly do 2-sec self-timer photos, I have to keep reseting it. And the continuous file numbering is off by default, meaning it resets every time you format or do a new memory card. Overall, Nikon is amazing with ergonomics/UI design, but they are not perfect.
* It is missing what have come to be standard features in DSLRs these days: the XS came with auto exposure bracketing and auto white balance bracketing; the D3000 has neither.
Summary: Anyone on a budget or just getting their feet wet with DSLR technology and stepping up from point-and-shoots will be blown away by the features and image quality. Those people looking for a more refined or feature-filled DSLR experience should look at higher-end (and more expensive) models.
By D. Contos (Orlando, FL)
A. Little is right if you're going to treat this DSLR as a fancy P&S camera, but I think the point of buying a camera of this type (as opposed to some of the cheaper P&S's) should include: being able to get better IQ, take faster action shots and to shoot in darker conditions. We can't minimize the D3000's reduced noise handling ability in relation to the less expensive and older D40 it purports to replace (the third such attempted replacement, I may add) ([...]). You simply can't take good indoor shots (or darker) without ugly flash glare or more expensive lighting at ISO 200 on these models (can you do it at 400?). In addition, I challenge any hobbyist to be able to tell the differnece between the D3000's "faster frame rate" and the D40 in actual use (3fps v. 2.5fps); you'd have to go to 5 or 6 fps and a higher baffle before you get a workable difference, at least for my hard-earned $$. (One of the greatest cameras of all time, the Canon 5D Mark II, barely does 5fps). The D3000's GUIDE Mode will annoy anyone who actually learns the relationship between ISO, Aperature, and Shutter Speed and while useful for a newbie, not something you'd want to use for too long. The D3000's LCD is slightly larger physically, but the resolution isn't really increased from the D40 so the image produced isn't all that fetching; it's not bad, but it doesn't exactly add to its buy-me factor, either. Does this make the D3000 a bad camera? Of course not, its a good camera, but you can still get a NEW D40 for less and maybe we can't blame Nikon using fluff to try to boost its newbie/Noob sales or because it can't coax the same noise handling ability from its larger sensor.
Finally, yeah, the D3000 does have a few more MP's, but so did the D40x and so does the D60 and so do MANY P&S's...and they're still selling new D40's (and oh yeah, the D3000 is dropping to where it (along with its great VR lens) almost matches the D40's price and my earlier arguments become a bit moot)...don't buy into the MP Hype the sales people use to sell camera's (don't be a Noob); unless you are printing larger than 16x20 posters, 6 MP is all you will ever need, and its not a reason (by itself) to give up your hard earned $$. If you "need" things like DOF, older lens compatibility, flash control, higher frame-rate, a usable ADL/ADR assisted camera (students of photography don't really need live view...), then go for the D90 - my .02 =)
By Harry W (NJ)
I owned a D60 but I gave it to my sister. Bought this D3000 for myself since it seemed to be better than the D0 specs wise. Boy was I wrong. The pictures from this thing are terrible compared to the D60. Now the D60 itself needed a lot of ISO twiddling then it came down to increasing the depth of field in indoor settings. With the D60, I typically always used to shoot at f10-f16 at ISO800 with in body flash to get a better DOF and D60 did a very good job of handling & suppressing the noise at ISO800, however with this D3000, the pictures at ISO 8000 are turning out to be garbage with too much noise showing. If you are interested in only potraits, you might be OK but for shots where some subjects are 4-5 ft behind others in indoor settings, this camera is going to make it virtually impossible to take good pictures in that setting.
The quality of the LCD screen seems to have dropped too..
This is going back, I think I am going to order another D60 while it is still available.
By Julio Arango Sanchez (Colombia)
Nikon D3000 Is great for amateurs, Easy to use, value for the money, I bought it for my girlfriend, and she is really happy!!!
By R. Milliken (Santa Clarita, CA USA)
I love this camera I really do! I got it a week ago and have already taken almost 1000 pictures (but thats no problem with my 4 gb extreme 3 memory card!) What can I say! I love photography!! I had a canon powershot sd750 point and shoot and let me tell you that camera was no wimp. It gave me stunning shots while retaining lightness and compactness. But it was starting to limit me a bit. Like all the action shots I would take would come out blurry and outdoor shots of animals and such were no better. So I read up on a lot of dslr's for a long time and finally decided on this one. The day I got it I shot 200 shots. It was ready to use right out of the box! I had recently purchased a 4gb extreme 3 memory card and that went immeadiately into my camera. I absolutely love this camera. I didn't realize how badly I had been needing a camera like this!! There is a drawback though! I dont know if it is a defect on mine or not but it will only shoot four frames in a burst and then it slows down to one frame per second and at times slower than that. I dont know quite what to do but this is not to much of a drawback! I can get great action shots still with no problem! Anyway I debated a long time whether to get the canon rebel xs or this but this ultimately looked like a better camera. I would highly reccomend it for its ease of use and user friendliness. If your looking for a step up form a point and shoot this is the camera for you! But if you have a d40 or a d60 I would reccomend the d90 as an update for this camera! The d90 is $1100 but is worth every penny! P.S. I will update this review if I find out why it will only shoot four frames in a burst. Edit...
If you have active d lighting on it will slow down how fast your camera processes pictures. If you turn it off you can shoot as many as you want.
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Buy Nikon D3000 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens Now
