Nikon D3100 Modes & Menus

Nikon D3100 Modes and Menus

Nikon D3100 Capture Modes

The mode dial on the right side of the D3100's top panel provides access to its various exposure modes, with the usual Program, Aperture-priority, Shutter-priority, and Manual operating modes found on all Nikon DSLRs, plus an Auto mode, a total of seven Scene modes, and a Guide mode that helps beginners get to grips with their first DSLR. Here's a list of what's available:

• Auto: The camera sets everything. Used for snapshots or users who just don't want to be bothered with the details of how the camera will do its work. The AF-assist light will come on if needed, and the camera selects the AF point covering the closest subject.
• Guide: Provides access to the camera's Record, Playback and Setup options through one user-friendly, graphically rich menu system. The user is prompted to select the type of photo they're looking to achieve, and then the camera provides a recommended setup. These can then be further customised by the user, with the camera explaining the effect of each individual setting. Fully manual shooting isn't possible in this mode, but manual aperture or shutter adjustment can be made for certain types of photos. For some modes where the user can adjust aperture or shutter speed, a small example image visually demonstrates the effect that might be achieved.
• Program: Puts the camera in charge of aperture and shutter speed, though all remaining camera settings are available. You can vary the combination of aperture and shutter speed the camera has selected, while retaining the same exposure level, by rotating the Command Dial. Called Flexible Program in Nikon parlance, this function is otherwise known as Program Shift, and is a great way to quickly bias your exposure without needing to switch to a Priority mode.
• Shutter Priority: The user controls shutter speed, from 1/4,000 to 30 seconds, while the camera sets the aperture value.
• Aperture Priority: The opposite of Shutter Priority mode, this mode lets the user control the aperture, while the camera sets the shutter speed.
• Manual: Gives the user complete control over the exposure (both shutter and aperture settings), and provides access to the camera's Bulb shutter setting, for exposures longer than 30 seconds.
• Auto (Flash Off): The flash is disabled, and the camera will vary the sensitivity up to a maximum of ISO 3,200, to capture images using available light. By default, the autofocus assist light will come on if needed, although this can be manually disabled. This mode is great for museums and other places where flash isn't permitted, more natural-looking indoor shots, etc. (Do note though, that you may need to use a tripod, as the shutter speeds may still be on the slow side, even at ISO 3,200.)
• Portrait: Opens the lens aperture to soften the background, helping the main subject to stand out more clearly. Sharpness and color saturation are moderated somewhat, to give softer, more natural-looking skin tones. The built-in flash will pop up and fire if the lighting is too dim, and the AF assist lamp will illuminate if needed.
• Landscape: Boosts color saturation, contrast, and sharpening for landscape shots. The built-in flash and AF assist lamp are both disabled in this mode.
• Child: Boosts sharpness and saturation for clothing and background details, but renders skin tones soft and natural-looking. The built-in flash will pop up and fire if the lighting is too dim, and the AF assist lamp will illuminate if needed.
• Sports: Uses higher shutter speeds to freeze subject motion. The camera switches to continuous-servo autofocus while the shutter button is held down halfway, tracking the subject in the center focus area. The focus point can be chosen with the Multi-Selector. Both the built-in flash and AF assist lamp are disabled.
• Close up: Reds and greens are pumped up. The camera defaults to using the center focus point, but other points can be chosen with the Multi-Selector. The built-in flash will pop up and fire, and the AF assist lamp will illuminate, if the lighting is too dim.
• Night Portrait: Uses slow shutter speed with flash, balancing the two so that night portraits look natural even with flash. Closest-subject AF is used. Use a tripod to avoid blurring.
  
  
  

Nikon D3100 Menus

The menu system on the Nikon D3100 follows that of the D3000 fairly closely. Like that camera, the D3100 lacks a Custom settings menu, and includes a Guide menu that aims to make the camera more approachable.See the tables below for details.

Playback Menu:

Shooting Menu:

Setup Menu:

Retouch Menu:

Nikon D3100 Guide Menu:

As first seen in the D3000, the D3100 retains Nikon's user-friendly Guide Menu. Accessed via its own position on the mode dial, this menu aims to make more approachable the various complexities of a digital SLR. The photographer is guided through a series of options that ascertain the type of photo needed, and then advise on the relevant setup. It's clever, if rather deeply nested and hence difficult to display logically on a web page. Rather than attempting to list the entire Guide menu (which duplicates functions accessible through the camera's other menus), we've listed the main sections and summarized the rest.

Recent Settings Menu:

The Recent Settings menu consists of the twenty most recently used settings, which are automatically added to the menu during operation. It's also possible for individual options to be removed from the menu by highlighting them and pressing the delete button twice. Hence, the structure of this menu changes with the usage patterns of the photographer, and its contents can't be mapped out. The screenshot below shows one possible permutation of options you could see in the Recent Settings menu.