Operation Viewfinder Modes & Menus
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Nikon D3000 Viewfinder

 

As with most DSLRs, the Nikon D3000 has an optical viewfinder that lets you view your subject through the lens. Unlike many new SLRs however, the D3000 offers no Live View mode via the LCD.

Nikon's main specifications for the D3000's optical viewfinder are pretty typical for an entry-level DSLR. It employs a less expensive pentamirror design (as opposed to a solid glass pentaprism) with coverage rated at 95% (our test results agree) and magnification of 0.8x (measured with a 50mm f/1.4 lens at infinity, -1.0 m-1). Eyepoint is rather short at18mm (at -1.0 m-1), and the diopter adjustment range of -1.7 to + 0.5 m-1 is not very generous either.

The Nikon D3000 does however offer more than the usual viewfinder information for its class, as well as an on-demand grid, which is a feature normally found on more expensive SLRs. The graphic and table below shows what information is displayed in D3000's viewfinder.

1
On-demand framing grid
12
"K" (appears when memory remains for over 1000 frames)
2
Reference circle for Center-Weighted metering
13
Flash ready indicator
3
"No memory card" warning
14
Flexible program indicator
4
Battery indicator
15
Exposure indicator
5
Focus points
Exposure compensation display
6
Focus indicator
Electronic rangefinder
7
Autoexposure (AE) lock indicator
16
Flash compensation indicator
8
Shutter speed
17
Exposure compensation indicator
9
Aperture (f-number)
18
Auto ISO sensitivity indicator
10
Battery indicator
15
Warning indicator
11
Number of exposures remaining
Number of shots remaining before memory buffer fills
White balance recording indicator
Exposure compensation value
Flash compensation value
ISO sensitivity value

 

Viewfinder Test Results

Coverage
Average coverage accuracy from the optical viewfinder. The Nikon D3000 does not support Live View.

60mm, Optical

The Nikon D3000's optical viewfinder showed about 95 percent coverage accuracy with our Nikkor 60mm f/2.8 prime lens. This is average for an entry-level digital SLR, matching Nikon's specification for the camera. The viewfinder image was also tilted somewhat compared to the imaging sensor, which unfortunately is not that uncommon. The amount of tilt isn't that great (many novice users might not notice), but we'd personally find it an annoyance, and would return the camera to the store for another.

 

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Operation Viewfinder Modes & Menus
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