Reference Manual
Where to Find It
Error Messages
Index
IThe Shooting Menu
GThe Setup Menu
WRecent Settings
OThe Playback Menu
Viewing Photographs
Taking Photographs
Connections
Menus and Settings
Maintenance and Optional Accessories
Retouching Photographs
Table of Contents
More on Photography All Modes
Release Mode
Live View
Recording and Viewing Movies
Connections 115
More on Playback
Vii
Menu Guide 129
Viii
Technical Notes 167
For Your Safety
AUse appropriate cables
AObserve proper precautions when handling batteries
AObserve proper precautions when handling the charger
Use only batteries approved for use in this equipment
Page
Xii
Battery Charger
Xiii
Items prohibited by law from being copied or reproduced
Comply with copyright notices
Xiv
Before Taking Important Pictures
Life-Long Learning
Symbols and Conventions
Overview
This icon marks references to other pages in this manual
Camera Body
Getting to Know the Camera
Camera Body
Power Switch
Camera offers a choice of the following shooting modes Mode
Mode Dial
IContinuous 0
ESelf-timer 0
Release-Mode Selector
8Single frame
Button
Information Display
See Also
Hiding Shooting Information
Rotating the Camera
Shutter-Speed and Aperture Displays
Choose an aperture mode M
Command Dial
Choose a combination of aperture and shutter speed mode P 0
Choose an aperture mode a 0
Choose a flash mode 0
Set exposure Compensation Mode P, S, or a
Viewfinder
Viewfinder
Guide Mode
To display the on-screen guide, rotate the mode dial to g 0
Camera Menus
Select a menu
Using Camera Menus
Display the menus
Highlight the icon for the current menu
Highlight an option
Position the cursor in the selected menu
Highlight a menu item
Display options
First Steps
Charge the Battery
Turn the camera off
Insert the Battery
Open the battery-chamber cover
Close the battery-chamber cover
Autofocus
Attach a Lens
Vibration Reduction
Vibration Reduction VR
Detaching the Lens
CPU Lenses with Aperture Rings
Basic Setup
Setup Menu
Clock Battery
Camera Clock
Slide the card slot cover out q and open the card slot w
Insert a Memory Card
Open the card slot cover
Insert the memory card
Press J
Format the Memory Card
Turn the camera on Display format options
Highlight Yes
Adjust Viewfinder Focus
Adjusting Viewfinder Focus
Remove the lens cap Turn the camera on Focus the viewfinder
Turn the Camera On
Check the battery level
Image Sensor Cleaning
Point-and-Shoot Photography i and j Modes
Select i or j Mode
To shoot where use of a flash is prohibited
Check the number of exposures remaining
Frame the photograph
Using a Zoom Lens
Frame the Photograph
Ready the camera
Shoot
Check the indicators in the viewfinder
In-focus indicator Description
Focus
Shutter-Release Button
Auto-Meter Off
Built-in Flash
Mode
Mode Dial
Creative Photography Scene Modes
Scene Modes
Use of a tripod is recommended to prevent blur
PChild
Photograph will be displayed in the monitor
Basic Playback
Press the K button
View additional pictures
Delete
Deleting Unwanted Photographs
Display the photograph
Delete the photograph
Page
Shoot View/delete Set up Take pictures
Change camera settings
Guide
Start Shooting
Guide Mode Menus
More Settings
Shoot
Set Up
View/Delete
Flicker reduction Eye-Fi upload
Use
Rotate the live view switch
Framing Photographs in the Monitor
Follow the steps below to take photographs in live view
Choose a focus mode
Choose an AF-area mode
Press the P button again to return to live view
Choose the focus point
Subject Tracking
Focus
Exit live view mode
Rotate the live view switch to exit live view mode
Take the picture
Count Down Display
Shooting in Live View Mode
Flicker
Exposure Compensation
Out
Using Autofocus in Live View
Manual Focus
Will appear in a gray frame at the bottom right corner
Page
See on page 38 for more information
Movies can be recorded in live view mode
Recording Movies
As described in of Live View 0
Be locked by pressing the AE-L/AF-Lbutton 0 80 or
Start recording
End recording
Press the movie-record button to start recording
Audio Sound
Movie Settings
Select Movie settings
Choose frame size and sound recording options
Count-Down Display
Recording Movies
2Icon
Viewing Movies
Following operations can be performed
Use Description
Choose a starting or end point
Editing Movies
Trimming Movies
Display a movie full frame
Trimming Movies
Choose an option
Delete frames
Save the copy
Create a still copy
Saving Selected Frames
View the movie and choose a frame
Choose Save selected frame
Choosing a Release Mode
Take the photograph
Self-Timer Mode
Select self-timer mode
Mount the camera on a tripod
Display focus-mode options
Focus Mode
Focus
Place the cursor in the information display
Getting Good Results with Autofocus
Continuous-servo Autofocus
Beep Speaker
AF-Assist Illuminator
AF-Area Mode
Display AF-area mode options
Option Description Single-point AF
3D-tracking 11 Points
Focus Lock
Focus Point Selection
Lock focus
Recompose the photograph and shoot
AE-L/AF-L Button
Selecting Manual Focus with the Camera
Set the lens focus-mode switch
Slide the switch to M
Manual Focus
Is 46.5 mm 1.83
Exposure Indicator
Electronic Rangefinder
Focal Plane Position
Choose a file format and compression ratio image quality
Image Quality and Size
Image Quality
Display image quality options
File Names
Choose a file type
NEF RAW Images
NEF RAW + Jpeg Fine
Image Size
Display image size options
Choose an image size
Choose a flash mode 0 Take pictures
Using the Built-in Flash
Using the Built-in Flash i, k, p, n, and oModes
Using the Built-in Flash P, S, A, and M Modes
Flash modes available vary with shooting mode
Flash Mode
Display flash mode options
Choose a flash mode
Flash Modes
Aperture, Sensitivity, and Flash Range
Mode Shutter speed
Shutter Speeds Available with the Built-in Flash
N, P, a
ISO Sensitivity
Display ISO sensitivity options
Choose an ISO sensitivity
Hi 1/Hi
Auto
Shutter Speed and Aperture
Mode Description
Shutter Speed and Aperture
Lens Aperture Rings
Flexible Program
Mode P Programmed Auto
Command dial flexible program. Rotate the dial
Frame a photograph, focus, and shoot
Mode S Shutter-Priority Auto
Choose a shutter speed
To take photographs in shutter-priority auto
Mode a Aperture-Priority Auto
Choose an aperture
To take photographs in aperture-priority auto
Choose aperture and shutter speed
Mode M Manual
Close the shutter
Long Time-Exposures M Mode Only
Self-timer Mode
Open the shutter
Choose a metering method
Exposure
Metering
Display metering options
Recompose the photograph
Autoexposure Lock
Set metering to M or N0
Lock exposure
Exposure Compensation
Display exposure compensation options
Choose a value
Mode M
Using a Flash
E Button
Display flash compensation options
Flash Compensation
Y M and E Buttons
Button
Optional Flash Units
Display Active D-Lighting options
Active D-Lighting
Active D-Lighting Versus D-Lighting
Active D-Lighting
White Balance
Display white balance options
Choose a white balance option
Color Temperature
Cool-white fl ,200 K
Day white fluorescent 5,000 K Shade 8,000 K Fn Button
Save changes and exit
Fine-Tuning White Balance
Select a white balance option
Fine tune white balance
Light a reference object
Preset Manual
Measuring a Value for Preset White Balance
Select Preset manual
Check the results
Measure white balance
Studio Settings
Measuring Preset White Balance
Preset White Balance
Other Methods for Measuring Preset White Balance
Copying White Balance from a Photograph
Choose a Picture Control
Picture Controls
Selecting a Picture Control
Display Picture Controls
Select a Picture Control
Adjust settings
Modifying Picture Controls
Display the Picture Control menu
Picture Control Settings
Option Description Yellow
Previous Settings
Picture Control Grid
Filter Effects Monochrome Only
GP-1 GPS Unit
Setup Menu Options
Full-Frame Playback
100
Photo Information
Histograms
RGB Histogram
101
Playback Zoom
Highlights
Shooting Data Page 1
102
Shooting Data Page 2
Shooting Data Page 3
103
GPS Data
Overview Data
104
105
Thumbnail Playback
106
Calendar Playback
107
108
Protecting Photographs from Deletion
Select an image
Press the L a button
Press the O button again
Deleting Photographs
Full-Frame, Thumbnail, and Calendar Playback
Press the O button
Selected Deleting Selected Photographs
Playback Menu
Select the highlighted date
Select Date Deleting Photographs Taken on a Selected Date
Choose Select Date
Highlight a date
112
Slide Shows
Select Slide show
Select Start
113
114
Supported Operating Systems
Connecting to a Computer
Before Connecting the Camera
Supplied Software
Turn the camera on Transfer photographs
Connecting the Camera
Turn the camera off Turn the computer on
Connect the USB cable
117
Connecting the Printer
Printing Photographs
Turn the camera off Connect the USB cable
118
Printing Pictures One at a Time
Select a picture
Display printing options
No.
Adjust printing options
119
Press 1 or 3 to highlight an option and press 2 to select
120
Printing Multiple Pictures
Start printing
Display the PictBridge menu
121
Select pictures or choose a date
Menu
Errors
122
To previous menu
Creating Index Prints
Select Index print
123
124
Creating a Dpof Print Order Print Set
Select pictures
Display imprint options
Highlight Done and press J to complete the print order
Select imprint options
Complete the print order
125
126
Viewing Photographs on TV
Standard Definition Devices
Connect the A/V cable as shown
127
Close the Connector Cover
High-Definition Devices
Connect the Hdmi cable as shown
128
Output Resolution
Hdmi Options
Device Control
Choose a folder for playback
Playback Folder
129
Playback menu contains the following options
130
Display Mode
Image Review
Rotate Tall
Shooting menu contains the following options
Reset Shooting Options
Select Yes to reset shooting menu settings
131
132
ISO Sensitivity Settings
Adjust ISO sensitivity 0
Auto ISO Sensitivity
Auto Distortion Control
Color Space
133
AF-Assist
If On is selected and lighting is poor when photographs are
Focus mode when e Auto-area AF is selected for AF-area
Noise Reduction
SB-400
Built-in Flash
135
Manual
136
BThe Setup Menu Camera Setup
Reset Setup Options
Setup menu contains the following options
Select a background color
LCD Brightness
Info Display Format
Select a format
Classic display is shown below
138
Time Zone and Date
Video Mode
Auto Info Display
Flicker Reduction
Language
Image Comment
140
141
Auto Image Rotation
Dust off Ref Photo
Choose a start option
Image Dust Off Reference Data
Frame a featureless white object in the viewfinder
Acquire dust off reference data
142
Auto off Timers
Self-Timer Delay
143
Rangefinder
Indicator Description
Using the Electronic Rangefinder
Beep
File Number Sequence
KReset
File Number Sequence
145
AE Lock
Buttons
Fn Button
AE-L/AF-L Button
Slot Empty Release Lock
Date Imprint
147
148
Date Counter
Folder Names
Storage Folder
Naming and Renaming Folders
149
View the current camera firmware version
Eye-Fi Upload
Firmware Version
150
151
NThe Retouch Menu
Create a retouched copy
Creating Retouched Copies
Display retouch options
Select retouch options
Rapidly to other areas of frame. Navigation
Lighting
Red-Eye Correction
153
Selected image press 1 to increase color
Trim
Monochrome
154
Filter Effects
155
Intensifier , or blues Blue intensifier . Press 1 to
156
Color Balance
Small Picture
Select Choose size
Deselect. Selected pictures are marked by an
Choose the desired size
157
Highlight Select image and press
Highlight a photograph
Image Overlay
Select Image overlay
Display NEF RAW images
Preview the overlay
Select the second photograph
Set gain
Highlight the Preview column
Select a photograph
Adjust NEF RAW processing settings
NEF RAW Processing
Select NEF RAW processing
161
Quick Retouch
Straighten
Distortion Control
162
Fisheye
Color Outline
Perspective Control
Miniature Effect
163
Press Description
164
Before and After
Select Before and after
Compare the copy with the original
MRecent Settings
Removing Items from the Recent Settings Menu
165
166
IX Nikkor Lenses
Compatible Lenses
Compatible CPU Lenses
167
Identifying CPU and Type G and D Lenses
168
Incompatible Accessories and Non-CPU Lenses
Compatible Non-CPU Lenses
169
Lens
170
171
AF-Assist Illumination
Calculating Angle of View
AS-15 Sync Terminal Adapter
Use Only Nikon Flash Accessories
Optional Flash Units Speedlights
172
Guide Number
Nikon Creative Lighting System CLS
CLS-Compatible Flash Units
173
174
Other Flash Units
Shown at right
175
SB-900 AF-assist illumination is available for all focus
Is available only with the focus points shown at right
176
Other Accessories
177
Approved Memory Cards
178
Attaching a Power Connector and AC Adapter
Insert the EP-5A power connector
Connect the AC adapter
179
Cleaning
Caring for the Camera
Storage
Low-Pass Filter
Clean Now
Display the Clean image sensor menu
Select Clean now
181
Clean At
Select Clean at
Select an option
Manual Cleaning
Under no circumstances should you touch or wipe the filter
Clean the filter
Use a Reliable Power Source
183
184
Caring for the Camera and Battery Cautions
185
186
Available Settings
Noise reduction AF-area mode Viewfinder
Focus mode Flexible program
187
Memory Card Capacity
188
Troubleshooting
Display
Shooting All Modes
189
190
Adjust Set Picture Control settings 0
Shooting P, S, A, M
Playback
191
Miscellaneous
192
Error Messages
193
194
Specifications
Nikon D3100 Digital Camera
195
196
197
198
199
200
Camera
Keep the CPU contacts clean
AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR
201
Subject does not fill the focus point
Supplied Accessories
Optional Accessories
202
Supported Standards
203
Trademark Information
Battery Life
204
Once every other shot. Live view not used
205
Index
104
206
131
207
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