Main
Where to Find It
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Q&A Index
Taking Photographs
Viewing Photographs
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Retouching Photographs
Menus and Settings
Connections
Maintenance and Optional Accessories
Table of Contents
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Introduction 1
Basic Photography and Playback 23
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More on Playback 99
Connections 115
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Menu Guide 129
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Technical Notes 167
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For Your Safe ty
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WARNINGS A
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Notices
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D3100
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Introduction
Symbols and Conventions
Overview
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Getting to Know th e Camera
Take a few moments to familiarize yourself with camera controls and displays.
The Camera Body
The Camera Body (Continued)
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Rotate the power switch as shown to turn the camera on.
Rotate the power switch as shown to turn the camera off.
The Mode Dial
The camera offers a choice of the following shooting modes and g mode:
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The Release-Mode Selector
Use the release-mode selector to choose from the following release modes:
The Information Display
Camera settings can be viewed and adjusted in the information display.
Press the P button once to view settings, and again to make changes to settings.
Highlight items using the multi selector and press J to view options for the highlighted item.
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The Command Dial
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The Viewfinder
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The response time and brightness of the viewfinder display may vary with temperature.
Camera Menus
Most shooting, playback, and setup options can be accessed from the camera menus.
To view the menus, press the G button.
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First Steps
Charge the Battery
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Unlatch (q) and open (w) the battery-chamber cover.
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Insert the battery as shown at right.
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camera body cap.
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Vibration Reduction (VR)
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Basic Setup
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Insert a Memory Card
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Basic Photography and Playback
Step 1: Turn the Camera On
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remaining.
Step 2: Select i or j Mode
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Step 3: Frame the Photograph
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Step 4: Focus
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Step 5: Shoot
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Creative Photography (Scene Modes)
The Mode Dial
Scene Modes
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Basic Playback
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Deleting Unwanted Photographs
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Guide Mode
The Guide
Guide Mode Menus
Shoot
More Settings
Start Shooting
View/Delete Set Up
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The following operations can be performed while the guide is displayed:
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Live View
Follow the steps below to take photographs in live view.
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Recording and Viewing Movies
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Movie Settings
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recording options.
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Viewin g Movies
The following operations can be performed:
Movies are indicated by a 1 icon in full-frame playback (099).
Press J to start playback.
Editing Movies
Trimm ing Movi es
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Release Mode
Self-Timer Mode
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More on Photography (All Modes)
Focus Mod e
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Highlight a focus mode and press J.
To ret urn to shooting mode, press the shutter-release button halfway.
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AF-Area Mode
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Focus Point Selection
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(Auto-area AF; 058).
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Focus Loc k
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Manual Focus
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The Electronic Rangefinder
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Image Quality and Size
Image Quality
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Highlight an option and press J.
To ret urn to shooting mode, press the shutter-release button halfway.
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Using the Built-in Flash
Using the Built-in Flash: i, k, p, n, and o Modes
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Using the Built-in Flash: P, S, A, and M Modes
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ISO Sensitivity
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P, S, A, and M Modes
P, S, A, and M modes offer different degrees of control over shutter speed and aperture:
Shutter Speed and Aperture
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Mode S (Shutter-Priority Auto)
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Mode A (Aperture-Priority Auto)
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Mode M (Manual)
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Long Time-Exposures (M Mode Only)
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Exposure
Metering
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Flash Compensation
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Active D-Lighting
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White Balance
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Fine-Tuning White Balance
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Copying White Balance from a Photograph
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Picture Controls
Selecting a Picture Control
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Picture Control Settings
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The GP-1 GPS Unit
Setup Menu Options
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More on Playback
To play photographs back, press the K button.
The most recent photograph will be displayed in the monitor.
Full-Fr ame Play back
Photo Information
Photo information is superimposed on images displayed in full-frame playback.
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RGB Histogram*
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Highlights *
* Displayed only if Highlights is selected for Display mode> Detailed photo info (0130).
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Shooting Data Page 21
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GPS Data *
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*AUTO is displayed if photo was taken with Active D-Lighting on.
Thumbnail Playback
To display images in contact sheets of four, nine, or 72 images, press the W button.
Calendar Playback
To view images taken on a selected date, press the W button when 72 images are displayed.
Taking a Closer Look: Playback Zoom
The following operations can be performed while zoom is in effect:
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Protecting Photographs from Deletion
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Deleting Photographs
Full-Frame, Thumbnail, and Calendar Playback
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Slide Shows
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Q
Connections
Before Connecting the Camera
Supplied Software
Supported Operating Systems
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Printing Photographs
Connecting the Printer
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Printing Pictures One at a Time
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Press 1 or 3 to highlight an option and press 2 to select.
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Printing Multiple Pictures
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Creating Index Prints
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(DPOF) item in the playback menu.
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Viewing Photographs on TV
Standard Definition Devices
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HDMI Options
Output Resolution
Device Control
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Menu Guide
Choose a folder for playback:
To display the playback menu, press G and select the D (playback menu) tab.
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Display Mode
Image Review Rotate Tall
CThe Shooting Menu: ShootingO ptions
To display the shooting menu, press G and select the C (shooting menu) tab.
Select Yes to reset shooting menu settings.
The shooting menu contains the following options:
Reset Shooting Options A
Auto ISO Sensitivity
ISO Sensitivity Settings
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Auto Distortion Control
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Color Space
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Noise Reduction
AF-Assist
Choose the flash mode for the built-in flash in P, S, A, and M modes.
Built-in Flash
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BThe Setup Menu: Camera Setup
To display the setup menu, press G and select the B (setup menu) tab.
Reset Setup Options
The setup menu contains the following options:
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LCD Brightness
Info Display Format
The Classic display is shown below.
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When the camera is rotated 90, shooting information rotates to match camera orientation.
Auto Info Display
Video Mode Flicker Reduction A
Time Zone and Date
Language
Image Comment
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Auto Image Rotation
Dust off Ref Photo
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Auto off Timers
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Self-Timer Delay
Beep
Rangefinder
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When a photograph is taken, the camera names the file by adding one to the last file number used.
File Number Sequence
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Fn Button
AE-L/AF-L Button
AE Lock
Buttons
Slot Empty Release Lock Date Imprint
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Date Counter
Naming and Renaming Folders
Storage Folder
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Eye-Fi Upload
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Firmware Version
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NThe Retouch Menu: Creating Retouched Copies
To display the retouch menu, press G and select the N (retouch menu) tab.
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Creating Retouched Copies
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D-Lighting
Red-Eye Correction
Trim
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Monochrome
Choose from the following filter effects.
Filter Effects
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Color Balance
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Small Picture
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Quick Retouch
Straighten
Distortion Control
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Fisheye
Color Outline
Perspective Control
Miniature Effect
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Before and After
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mRecent Settings
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Technical Notes
The f-number given in lens names is the maximum aperture of the lens.
This camera supports autofocus with AF-S and AF-I CPU lenses only.
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Compatible Non-CPU Lenses
Non-CPU lenses may only be used when the camera is in mode M.
Selecting another mode disables the shutter release.
Some non-CPU lenses can not be used; see Incompatible Accessories and Non-CPU Lenses, below.
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Optional Flash Units (Speedlights)
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The Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS)
CLS-Compatible Flash Units
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The following features are available with CLS-compatible flash units:
Other Flash Units
The following flash units can be used in non-TTL auto and manual modes.
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Other Accessories
At the time of writing, the following accessories were available for the D3100.
Approved Memory Cards
Attaching a Power Connector and AC Adapter
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Caring for the Camera
Storage
Cleaning
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Clean At
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Manual Cleaning
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Caring for the Camera and Battery: Cautions
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Available Settings
The following table lists the settings that can be adjusted in each mode.
Defaults can be restored with Reset shooting options (0131).
Memory Card Capac ity
Troubleshooting
Shooting (All Modes)
Display
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Shooting (P, S, A, M)
Playback
Miscellaneous
Error Messages
This section lists the indicators and error messages that appear in the viewfinder and monitor.
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Specifications
Nikon D3100 Digital Camera
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The AF-S DX NIKKOR 1855mm f/3.55.6G VR
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For more information, see Getting Good Results with Autofocus (056).
Supported Standards
Battery Life
Index
Symbols
Numerics
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G
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J
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U
V
W
