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Nikon D3100 DSLR  (Source: DPReview)
D3100 is an entry level D-SLR with 1080p recording mode

Nikon has gone official with the D3100 D-SLR after rumors have made the rounds and some of the features of the camera have been leaked online. The D3100 is the successor to the entry-level D3000 that surfaced last summer.

The D3100 packs in some nice features for an entry-level camera including being the first Nikon D-SLR that can record 1080p video. The camera has a 14.2-megapixel CMOS sensor and has a 3-inch rear LCD. The camera also boasts an ISO range that is wider than the D3000 with 100-3200 expandable to 12800.

The camera uses the Nikon EXPEED 2 image processing engine. The 1080p video records at 24 frames per second and the camera has a HDMI output to watch the movies you record on a TV. The rear LCD offers Live View mode and the camera has an 11-point autofocus system. A myriad of features makes the D3100 a good choice for the first time D-SLR user with things like Active D-Lighting that keeps photos from being too bright in direct sunlight and picture control to let the user choose the photo type before they shoot. 

The camera also has a dust reduction system built-in. Nikon will ship the D3100 soon in Europe with an 18-55mm VR lens for £579.99. DPReview spent some hands on time with a pre-production unit. The publication points out in the preview that the 1080p recording is limited to clips lasting only ten minutes.

Nikon competitor Canon, on the other hand, has announced the launch of three new PowerShot cameras including the S95, SD4500 IS, and the SX130 IS. The S95 and SD4500 IS cameras use the Canon HS high sensitivity system for improved low light performance. The cameras can record HD video.

"Image quality consistently remains a top priority at Canon and with each generation of PowerShot cameras, we look to build the features and technology that will best improve a customer's experience with our cameras," said Yuichi Ishizuka, executive vice president and general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A. "New features, like the Canon HS SYSTEM for enhanced low light performance and high-speed shooting, helps consumers to capture images in dimly lit settings, further increasing the beauty of a moment."

All three of the cameras also have the Miniature Effect movie mode to improve the video quality. The mode is also available for still shots and makes large objects look small. The S95 camera records 720p HD video and HDR scene mode along with Hybrid IS technology. It also has 3.8x optical zoom and a control ring that allows for access to manual controls. The S95 will ship in late August for $399.99.

The SD4500 IS is the first digital Elph model to record 1080p video.  The camera also has super slow motion mode that records 240 frames per second along with a burst mode for shooting at 8.4 fps for fast bursts. The SD4500 IS will ship in early September for $349.99. The final new camera is the SX 130 IS. This camera has 12x optical zoom and a 3-inch rear LCD. The camera has 720p recording and lots of shooting modes. It will ship in Late August for $249.99.

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MP Race in SLR world?
By DeepBlue1975 on 8/19/2010 1:15:38 PM , Rating: 2
Doesn't make sense.
Every new generation has slightly worse image quality than the previous one, thanks to the resolution increase without increasing the sensor's resilience to noise build up.

Leave that silly race for P&S, but for entry level SLRs they should let the resolution stay put, unless they can warantee equal or superior quality (specially in low light conditions) along with the higher MP count.




RE: MP Race in SLR world?
By SPOOFE on 8/19/2010 2:05:51 PM , Rating: 3
quote:
Every new generation has slightly worse image quality than the previous one, thanks to the resolution increase without increasing the sensor's resilience to noise build up.

No, that's just plain not true. The D3 was a big leap up from the D2 generation. The D300 was a big leap from the D200, the D90 a very impressive leap from the D80. On the Canon side, similar big improvements were seen in everything except the 50D, which saw less significant improvements over its predecessor.

I'm not saying there aren't duds every generation but to suggest that image quality is just getting worse is ridiculous.


RE: MP Race in SLR world?
By spread on 8/19/2010 2:05:59 PM , Rating: 2
Overall, as megapixels go up, noise goes down, even though each pixel has slightly more noise. The overall noise for the image goes down.

Downsize the images from an old sensor and a new high megapixel sensor and you'll see a difference.


RE: MP Race in SLR world?
By SPOOFE on 8/19/2010 2:09:21 PM , Rating: 2
There's also the hardware back-end to consider; pixel density goes up, but image processing also gets faster and more feature-rich.


RE: MP Race in SLR world?
By spread on 8/19/2010 2:43:41 PM , Rating: 2
The hardware engine is supposed to make the most of the sensor's abilities. As far as image processing, the reason most people buy DSLRs is to get away from that.

In camera image processing is weak sauce. Even the noise reduction is terrible in most DSLRs. It's better to shoot in RAW and then use software processing.


RE: MP Race in SLR world?
By SPOOFE on 8/19/2010 4:22:21 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
As far as image processing, the reason most people buy DSLRs is to get away from that.

You misunderstand; I don't mean "post-processing", Photoshop-type adjustments. I mean simply moving pixels from one place to another within the camera. Better hardware behind the sensor means the camera can extract better information from the sensor.

quote:
It's better to shoot in RAW and then use software processing.

It's better for some purposes, although I confess that I'm spoiled by Nikon's excellent JPEG output; in most situations, the extra data afforded by RAW output is unnecessary for me. But then, I'm no pro.


RE: MP Race in SLR world?
By spread on 8/19/2010 7:30:45 PM , Rating: 2
The camera's not supposed to do much to the pixels. That's the point behind raw. Did you mean the hardware JPEG engine? Well, that's nice and all but JPEG images are inferior to RAW. I don't see how that's an improvement.

The whole point of the "image processing" hardware is to push the image sensor to as high a sensitivity as it can go, and collect the images from the sensor as fast as possible and deposit to a memory card. Sometimes noise reduction if the sensor has known quirks like that purple amp noise.

The hardware behind the sensor doesn't do much in terms of image quality. It helps with overall performance.


RE: MP Race in SLR world?
By SPOOFE on 8/20/2010 12:27:14 PM , Rating: 3
quote:
The camera's not supposed to do much to the pixels

It's funny that you say this immediately before describing a bunch of things that the camera's supposed to do to the pixels. :D

quote:
The camera's not supposed to do much to the pixels

That's part of the hardware back-end, but not the only part.

quote:
Well, that's nice and all but JPEG images are inferior to RAW.

Except in terms of data, in which there is far more to shunt around; shunting around which is helped by improvements to the hardware behind the sensor.

quote:
The whole point of the "image processing" hardware is to push the image sensor to as high a sensitivity as it can go

High sensitivity is part of it. Accuracy is another, an aspect of photography further helped by good hardware and firmware behind the sensor. Noticing a theme? :D

quote:
The hardware behind the sensor doesn't do much in terms of image quality. It helps with overall performance.

I don't see the two as separate things. A poorly-performing camera will making acquiring good image quality more difficult. If you have to wait a few seconds before you can take a picture again because your buffer is filled to the brim with RAW data, and you miss a good shot while waiting... well, better hardware behind the sensor would have done wonders for image quality in that scenario, wouldn't it?


RE: MP Race in SLR world?
By bug77 on 8/22/2010 3:11:59 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
I confess that I'm spoiled by Nikon's excellent JPEG output


Actually, Nikon's JPEG output is soft. You can get much more detail if you process the raw files yourself. Depending on circumstances, you may even want to lighten things up a bit since some cameras (intentionally?) underexpose some scenes.
Of course, all the above may not apply in your case, but it does for newer models (like my D5000 - aka precioussssss).


meh
By Visual on 8/19/2010 11:16:06 AM , Rating: 2
I find the DSLR segment too expensive for me so can't comment on the first announcement.
But boy am I disappointed by the Canon part. They still have not introduced anything better than the 2 year old SX1 which they discontinued for no good reason at all.




RE: meh
By spread on 8/19/2010 2:01:14 PM , Rating: 2
You'll get far more life out of a DSLR then a point and shoot camera. The sensors are huge and capture tons of light even in dim conditions.

I picked up a Pentax K-X kit for only $650 Canadian last year. Best camera purchase I ever made. A point and shoot won't surpass this camera's quality for a long, long time.


RE: meh
By SPOOFE on 8/19/2010 2:08:21 PM , Rating: 2
Eh, P&S's can still be excellent cameras, especially if you get the right one. I love using a DSLR more than a P&S primarily because I enjoy holding a big device, but also because I understand its strengths and weaknesses versus a compact. There's no reason nigh any P&S these days can't produce excellent images, unless it's just a disgustingly poorly designed product.


RE: meh
By spread on 8/19/2010 2:52:55 PM , Rating: 2
In ideal conditions, like a bright day outside, you won't notice much difference between a DSLR and a point and shoot.

But as you get into darker and darker conditions, the difference becomes larger. Try taking a nice picture at night indoors without a bleachy flash. The point and shoot wouldn't even focus properly in most cases.

The DSLR wins thanks to:
1. Larger lenses which capture light.
2. Bigger sensors which capture more light and lower noise.
3. Phase detection instead of contrast detection for focusing.
4. Manual control over most camera funtions.
5. RAW mode. No crappy compressed JPEGS. You wouldn't believe what you can recover from most RAW files and still get a great image out of it.


RE: meh
By SPOOFE on 8/19/2010 4:25:21 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
You wouldn't believe what you can recover from most RAW files and still get a great image out of it.

Sure I would. I've done it. :D


RE: meh
By Visual on 8/20/2010 7:08:34 AM , Rating: 2
I don't know about most of those things... but have you used an SX1? It does have RAW format at least, and the lens seems large like a DSLR, just not changeable. I'm quite impressed with the zoom range, and while I bet DSLRs can beat that, it would require knowledge and experience for picking correct lenses etc, while a P&S simplifies it for dummy me.
FullHD video recording is not something that's popular with DSLRs yet as well, and I like it a lot.

Unfortunately Canon are being retarded and not producting anything on the level of SX1 any more, let alone anything that could be considered a successor to it. I am probably going to get a FZ100 when it becomes available.


RE: meh
By Dorkyman on 8/20/2010 11:29:00 AM , Rating: 2
Point-and-shoots are around for two very good reasons: they are inexpensive and they are small.

There are many times I bring along my itty-bitty Canon where I wouldn't consider bringing a big camera.

But there's no denying the tiny sensors on a small camera have limitations. I would point out noise and limited dynamic range as the two major ones.

The nice thing about most Canon consumer cameras is that you can load up the open-source CHDK firmware and transform the camera into something entirely different. That, and using HDR (High Dynamic Range) bracketing and software means my little Canon P&S can shoot some amazing stuff.


Not too bad
By B3an on 8/19/2010 11:36:31 AM , Rating: 2
Pretty good for the entry level i suppose. But it's about Canon.




Movie mode
By SPOOFE on 8/19/2010 12:28:33 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
The publication points out in the preview that the 1080p recording is limited to clips lasting only ten minutes.

That's an improvement, at least. The D90 could only do five minutes of 720p. I wonder if the twitchy exposure has been rectified.

Still, I think it's going to be a while before DSLR video is polished enough for the ubiquitous "most people" to take advantage of it. I think the smaller P&S's would be better for most, at least in terms of video; those that can take advantage of the potentials of DSLR video are few and far between, and probably already doing it professionally.




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