Specifications#
- Brand
- Nikon
- Model
- D3100
- Camera type
- DSLR
- Released
- 2010-01-01
- Lens mount
- Nikon F
- Sensor size
- 23.1 × 15.4 mm (APS-C)
- Crop factor
- 1.56×
- Resolution
- 14.2 MP (4,608 × 3,072 px)
- Continuous shooting
- 3 fps
- Weight
- 455 g (16.0 oz)
- Sensor
- 23.1 mm × 15.4 mm Nikon DX format RGB CMOS sensor, 1.5 × FOV crop, 4.94 μm pixel size
- Viewfinder
- Optical 0.80x, 95% Pentamirror
- AF points / area
- 11-area AF system, Multi-CAM 1000 AF Sensor Module
- Metering
- TTL 3D Color Matrix Metering II metering with a 420-pixel RGB sensor
- Shutter
- Electronically-controlled vertical-travel focal-plane shutter
- Flash
- Built in Pop-up, Guide number 13m at ISO 100, Standard ISO hotshoe, Compatible with the Nikon Creative Lighting System
- Battery
- Nikon EN-EL14 rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery
- Lens
- Interchangeable, Nikon F-mount
- Predecessor
- Nikon D3000
- Successor
- Nikon D3200
- Drive
- 3 frame/s
Specifications merged from Wikipedia, Wikidata, Lensfun and openMVG. Spot an error? Tell us.
Sensor size compared#
Focal length equivalents & field of view#
Multiply any focal length by 1.56 to get the full-frame field of view. Angles are for a rectilinear lens focused at infinity.
| Lens on this camera | Full-frame equivalent | Horizontal | Vertical | Diagonal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 mm | 12 mm | 110.6° | 87.8° | 120.1° |
| 10 mm | 16 mm | 98.2° | 75.2° | 108.5° |
| 12 mm | 19 mm | 87.8° | 65.4° | 98.3° |
| 14 mm | 22 mm | 79.0° | 57.6° | 89.5° |
| 16 mm | 25 mm | 71.6° | 51.4° | 81.9° |
| 18 mm | 28 mm | 65.4° | 46.3° | 75.3° |
| 20 mm | 31 mm | 60.0° | 42.1° | 69.5° |
| 24 mm | 37 mm | 51.4° | 35.6° | 60.1° |
| 28 mm | 44 mm | 44.8° | 30.8° | 52.7° |
| 35 mm | 55 mm | 36.5° | 24.8° | 43.3° |
| 40 mm | 62 mm | 32.2° | 21.8° | 38.3° |
| 50 mm | 78 mm | 26.0° | 17.5° | 31.0° |
| 56 mm | 87 mm | 23.3° | 15.7° | 27.8° |
| 70 mm | 109 mm | 18.7° | 12.6° | 22.4° |
| 85 mm | 132 mm | 15.5° | 10.4° | 18.6° |
| 100 mm | 156 mm | 13.2° | 8.8° | 15.8° |
| 135 mm | 210 mm | 9.8° | 6.5° | 11.7° |
| 200 mm | 312 mm | 6.6° | 4.4° | 7.9° |
| 300 mm | 468 mm | 4.4° | 2.9° | 5.3° |
| 400 mm | 623 mm | 3.3° | 2.2° | 4.0° |
| 600 mm | 935 mm | 2.2° | 1.5° | 2.7° |
| 800 mm | 1247 mm | 1.7° | 1.1° | 2.0° |
Depth of field table#
Total depth of field at each subject distance, using a circle of confusion of 19.2 µm (the 0.030 mm full-frame standard scaled by the crop factor). Detailed tables: 24 mm f/1.8, 24 mm f/2.8, 35 mm f/1.8, 35 mm f/2.8, 50 mm f/1.8, 50 mm f/2.8.
| Focal | Aperture | 50.0 cm | 1.00 m | 2.00 m | 3.00 m | 5.00 m | 10.0 m | Hyperfocal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 mm | f/1.8 | 8.7 cm | 36.0 cm | 1.60 m | 4.39 m | 39.5 m | ∞ | 5.67 m |
| 14 mm | f/2.8 | 13.6 cm | 58.5 cm | 3.11 m | 15.1 m | ∞ | ∞ | 3.65 m |
| 14 mm | f/4 | 19.8 cm | 91.1 cm | 7.98 m | ∞ | ∞ | ∞ | 2.56 m |
| 14 mm | f/8 | 44.7 cm | 3.88 m | ∞ | ∞ | ∞ | ∞ | 1.29 m |
| 28 mm | f/1.8 | 2.1 cm | 8.6 cm | 35.1 cm | 80.2 cm | 2.31 m | 10.9 m | 22.7 m |
| 28 mm | f/2.8 | 3.2 cm | 13.4 cm | 55.2 cm | 1.28 m | 3.87 m | 25.9 m | 14.6 m |
| 28 mm | f/4 | 4.6 cm | 19.3 cm | 80.5 cm | 1.91 m | 6.41 m | 480 m | 10.2 m |
| 28 mm | f/8 | 9.4 cm | 39.6 cm | 1.82 m | 5.31 m | 212 m | ∞ | 5.12 m |
| 48 mm | f/1.8 | 0.7 cm | 2.9 cm | 11.8 cm | 26.7 cm | 74.9 cm | 3.06 m | 66.5 m |
| 48 mm | f/2.8 | 1.1 cm | 4.5 cm | 18.3 cm | 41.6 cm | 1.17 m | 4.92 m | 42.8 m |
| 48 mm | f/4 | 1.5 cm | 6.4 cm | 26.2 cm | 59.8 cm | 1.70 m | 7.48 m | 30.0 m |
| 48 mm | f/8 | 3.0 cm | 12.8 cm | 53.1 cm | 1.23 m | 3.72 m | 23.9 m | 15.0 m |
| 78 mm | f/1.8 | 0.2 cm | 1.1 cm | 4.4 cm | 10.0 cm | 28.1 cm | 1.13 m | 176 m |
| 78 mm | f/2.8 | 0.4 cm | 1.6 cm | 6.8 cm | 15.5 cm | 43.7 cm | 1.77 m | 113 m |
| 78 mm | f/4 | 0.5 cm | 2.3 cm | 9.7 cm | 22.2 cm | 62.5 cm | 2.55 m | 79.1 m |
| 78 mm | f/8 | 1.1 cm | 4.7 cm | 19.5 cm | 44.6 cm | 1.27 m | 5.36 m | 39.6 m |
Equivalent aperture#
Exposure is identical at the same f-number on any format; equivalence only describes depth of field and total light.
Diffraction & pixel pitch#
With 5.01 µm pixels, diffraction starts to soften pixel-level detail around f/7.5. For maximum sharpness keep landscapes between f/4.1 and f/7; stopping down further trades detail for depth of field.
| Aperture | Airy disk diameter | Spread over | At 100% view |
|---|---|---|---|
| f/2.8 | 3.8 µm | 0.7 px | sharp |
| f/4 | 5.4 µm | 1.1 px | sharp |
| f/5.6 | 7.5 µm | 1.5 px | sharp |
| f/8 | 10.7 µm | 2.1 px | slight softening |
| f/11 | 14.8 µm | 2.9 px | slight softening |
| f/16 | 21.5 µm | 4.3 px | visibly soft |
| f/22 | 29.5 µm | 5.9 px | visibly soft |
Maximum print sizes#
At 14.2 MP the Nikon D3100 produces 4,608 × 3,072 pixel images. See the 14 megapixel guide or the print size calculator.
| Resolution | Typical use | Inches | Centimetres |
|---|---|---|---|
| 300 DPI | Photo-lab quality | 15.4 × 10.2 in | 39 × 26 cm |
| 240 DPI | Fine-art inkjet | 19.2 × 12.8 in | 49 × 33 cm |
| 200 DPI | Wall print | 23.0 × 15.4 in | 59 × 39 cm |
| 150 DPI | Poster, viewed from 1 m+ | 30.7 × 20.5 in | 78 × 52 cm |
Night-sky exposure limits#
Longest exposure before stars trail. The NPF rule accounts for pixel pitch and is stricter than the classic 500 rule — use it for pin-sharp stars on high-resolution sensors.
| Focal length | 500 rule | NPF f/1.8 | NPF f/2.8 | NPF f/4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 mm (14 mm eq.) | 35.6 s | 23.7 s | 27.6 s | 32.3 s |
| 13 mm (20 mm eq.) | 24.7 s | 16.4 s | 19.1 s | 22.3 s |
| 15 mm (23 mm eq.) | 21.4 s | 14.2 s | 16.6 s | 19.4 s |
| 22 mm (34 mm eq.) | 14.6 s | 9.7 s | 11.3 s | 13.2 s |
| 32 mm (50 mm eq.) | 10.0 s | 6.7 s | 7.8 s | 9.1 s |
Handheld shutter speed guide#
The reciprocal rule uses the equivalent focal length. High-resolution sensors may need one stop faster than this for pixel-sharp results.
| Focal length | No stabilisation (1/equiv. focal) | With 3-stop IS | With 5-stop IBIS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 mm | 1/25 s | 0.3 s | 1.3 s |
| 32 mm | 1/50 s | 1/6 s | 0.6 s |
| 64 mm | 1/100 s | 1/13 s | 0.3 s |
| 128 mm | 1/200 s | 1/25 s | 1/6 s |
Lenses for the Nikon D3100#
Native Nikon F lenses in our database (319 total). Also adaptable: T-mount (T2), M42 screw mount, Deckel (DKL), Tamron Adaptall, M39 / LTM (Leica thread).
- Samyang 8mm f/3.5 Fish-Eye CS 8 mm
- Samyang 10mm f/2.8 ED AS NCS CS 10 mm
- Laowa 12mm f/2.8 Zero-D 12 mm
- Samyang 12mm f/2.8 Fish-Eye ED AS NCS 12 mm
- Samyang 14mm f/2.8 AE ED AS IF UMC 14 mm
- Samyang AF 14mm f/2.8 14 mm
- Sigma 14mm f/1.8 DG HSM | A 14 mm
- Laowa 15mm F/4 Wide Angle Macro 15 mm
- Samyang 16mm f/2.0 ED AS UMC CS 16 mm
- Samyang 20mm f/1.8 ED AS UMC 20 mm
- Samyang 24mm f/1.4 ED AS IF UMC 24 mm
- Samyang T-S 24mm f/3.5 ED AS UMC 24 mm
- Sigma 24mm f/1.4 DG HSM | A 24 mm
- Sigma 28mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art 28 mm
- Sigma 40mm F1.4 DG HSM | Art 40 mm
- Laowa 60mm f/2.8 2X Ultra-Macro 60 mm
- Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 DG OS HSM | S 70–200 mm
- Samyang 85mm f/1.4 IF UMC Aspherical 85 mm
- Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM | C 100–400 mm
- Sigma 100-400mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM | C +1.4x ext. 100–400 mm
- Sigma 105 mm F1.4 DG HSM Art 105 mm
- Samyang 135mm f/2 ED UMC 135 mm
- Sigma 4.5mm f/2.8 EX DC HSM circular fisheye 4.5 mm
- Nikon Nikkor AI-S 6mm f/2.8 Fisheye 6 mm
- Sigma 8-16mm f/4.5-5.6 DC HSM 8–16 mm
- Sigma 8mm f/3.5 EX DG circular fisheye 8 mm
- Nikon Nikkor AF-P 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6G DX VR 10–20 mm
- Nikon Nikkor AF-S 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5G DX ED 10–24 mm
- Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 EX DC HSM 10–20 mm
- Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC 10–20 mm
- Sigma 10mm f/2.8 EX DC Fisheye HSM 10 mm
- Tamron 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 Di II VC HLD 10–24 mm
- Tamron SP AF 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) 10–24 mm
- Nikon Nikkor AF 10.5mm f/2.8G DX ED Fisheye 10.5 mm
- Tamron SP AF 11-18mm f/4.5-5.6 Di-II LD Aspherical (IF) 11–18 mm
- Tokina AF 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X Pro DX 11–16 mm
Similar cameras#
Other APS-C cameras from around the same time.
- Pentax K-5 2010
- Sony Alpha 65 2011
- Pentax K-r 2010
- Samsung NX100 2010
- Sony Alpha 290 2010
- Sony Alpha 33 2010
- Sony Alpha 55 2010
- Sony NEX-5 2010
- Sony NEX-7 2011
- Sony Alpha 230 2009
- Sony Alpha 500 2009
- Sony Alpha 550 2009
Frequently asked questions#
What is the crop factor of the Nikon D3100?
The Nikon D3100 has a crop factor of 1.56× relative to 35 mm full frame (diagonal 27.8 mm vs 43.3 mm).
What size is the Nikon D3100 sensor?
23.1 × 15.4 mm (APS-C), an area of 356 mm² — 41% of full frame.
Is the Nikon D3100 full frame?
No — its sensor is APS-C, which is 2.4× smaller in area than full frame.
How many megapixels does the Nikon D3100 have?
14.2 megapixels (4,608 × 3,072 pixels), enough for a 15 × 10 inch print at 300 DPI.
What lens mount does the Nikon D3100 use?
The Nikon D3100 uses the Nikon F (flange distance 46.50 mm).
How long can I expose the night sky with the Nikon D3100?
With a 13 mm lens (20 mm equivalent) the 500 rule gives 25 s and the stricter NPF rule at f/2.8 gives 19 s.
Sources & licences#
- Wikipedia: Nikon D3100 — CC BY-SA 4.0
- Wikidata Q585275 — CC0
- Lensfun camera database — CC BY-SA 3.0
- openMVG sensor width database — MPL-2.0
Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources