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Canon 10 Megapixels PowerShot G11 Review by MacWorld With Rating 4/5


Nikon 10.2 Megapixels D3000 DSLR Camera Review by NeutralDay With Rating 8.5/10

2010-01-26 01:22 | Source
Average Camera Review Rating [14 reviews]
Currently selling at $448 (down from $505 from about 2 months ago), the new entry-level D3000 from Nikon offers a number of improvements over its predecessor, the D40, including 10.2-megapixels of resolution, a 3-inch LCD, faster 11-point auto-focus, continuous shooting at 3 fps (frames per second) with full resolution, and an automatic dust-reduction system. The camera also comes with an expanded ISO range from 100 to 1600, with an additional Hi-1 setting that extends the ISO to 3200.

The D3000 offers several new features that target the DSLR beginners switching from a point-and-shoot camera. There is a function called Guide mode, which is accessed from the mode dial on top of the camera, offers step-by-step instructions for choosing the right settings, including example shots. Nikon also included several new creative filters, including a Miniature effect which blurs parts of the image to mimic the look of miniature-model photography. Here is the review conclusion from NeutralDay, giving the camera a image quality rating of 8.5 out of 10:

"Clearly intended for the beginner DSLR user, the D3000 delivers both in quality and ease of use. With a price tag of well under $600, there isn't much question of the relative value of the D3000. The D3000 provides a fun and simple photographic experience while possibly enabling the user to learn a thing or two about photography via its "Guide Mode"

Pros
  • Lightweight and sturdy.
  • Comfortable.
  • Easy user interface.
  • Guide mode.
  • Very good image quality (at lower ISO).
  • Fast and accurate 11 point AF system.
Cons
  • Sight Shutter lag.
  • Takes some time for buffer to clear.
  • Lack of grip material.
  • Flimsy battery and card door.
  • 230K LCD lacks resolution.
  • Smallish viewfinder (though competitive).
  • Images on the noisy side at higher ISO.
  • Lack of HD Movie mode.
  • No Live View.
  • Limited to AF-S lenses (or similar from non-Nikon lenses).

As stated above, we like this camera quite a bit for the beginner DSLR user. The D3000 delivers in both ease of use and image quality. And while maintaining a good degree of simplicity, it is surprisingly equipped to provide a fun and high quality shooting experience. That said it doesn't include Live View and by technical extension, the ability to shoot HD movies, both features being close to mandatory on all new DSLR cameras these days. In use, the camera performs quite well hampered only by its low resolution LCD which makes checking focus more difficult than it should be, and occasionally it's slowed down while its buffer cleared. Outside of that, the D3000 makes for a great partner to start the journey that is DSLR photography. Slightly more skilled photographers might want to compare it with some of its competitors, but for newcomers to DSLR cameras, the Nikon D3000 is definitely Highly Recommended."

Photo Album: Nikon D3000 10.2 Megapixel Digital SLR



Nikon D3000 Sample Photos on Flickr



Nikon D3000 Camera Reviews Roundup


byThom: "Battery performance is good, about right for the intended user of the camera. I was able to get more than 1000 images to a charge. Nikon suggests that the camera gets 550 image for the CIPA standard test, and 2000 for their continuous release test. Actual use seems to fall in between those two test patterns. I never approached 2000 images in normal use, though I could duplicate Nikon's numbers with exactly their tes..." - Aug 17 2010 More »
Adorama: "As with other lower-end Nikon DSLRs, the D3000 lacks an internal autofocus engine, and must rely on the less powerful ones built into its G-series lenses. Besides the fact that this limits how many AF lenses will actually focus automatically on this camera, the result (when using lenses with built-in AF engines) is sluggish autofocus performance. Using the included 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens, I found focus to be slo..." - Jun 03 2010 More »
N/A
DPInterface: "The Nikon D3000 is a great camera for new users to test the waters of the digital SLR world - it offers the core experience of using an SLR: good image quality, full manual controls and quick operation. The camera is fairly small, but at the same time comfortable to hold and simple to use. The D3000's number of controls are well-thought out (not too few, but not too many either) and well placed. There's a big 3 inch..." - Feb 11 2010 More »
N/A
MacWorld: "On my test jaunts in outdoor light, the D3000 produced good, natural color, though a little on the cool side; I remedied that by using the Warm mode. My photos were generally sharp, and the autofocus was fast and accurate. The lens did hunt a bit in low light, certainly not uncommon for an entry-level camera. Though the ISO performance was not outstanding, it was quite acceptable at speeds of 400 or less. Start..." - Jan 11 2010 More »

Nikon D3000 Reviews Roundup [Total 19 Reviews] »



Nikon D3000 Camera Recent User Reviews

Great camera when paired with extras, Chris R. - May 09 2013
Excellent camera. It is easy to use and the picture quality is very good. Considering the price that you pay for this camera with a few basic additions like extra lenses and different filters, this camera is amazing. Highly recommend to anyone with an interest in photography, even if its just a few pictures a year this camera is worth it. I would like to see an option fo...


Awesome camera for the price, Patricia Elgart - May 06 2013
I still have so much more to learn about this camera and what it can do. Only problem for me so far, with my limited skill set, is the size - kinda miss the smaller more compact camera I used to have. But I know this can do so much more, but not videos folks!...


Great camera, Abraham Bloom - May 01 2013
Good reliable and easy to use. Great pictures and decent video as well. The kit came with 2 lenses and they come in handy....


Awesome Camera, Donnie Fiegle - Apr 29 2013
This is a wonderful DSLR camera for those who want to learn how to shoot with a DSLR. It's an easy camera to use and a camera with a lot of features. I wanted a camera that I could grow into....


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