D3100 Tips and settings

jdeg

^ broke something
Staff member
Here are some beginner tips and settings for the new D3100 user:

Modes:
  • P = Programmed Mode
  • S = Shutter priority auto
  • A = Aperture priority auto
  • M = Manual
Next to the mode dial you'll find the Release modes. They are in this order:
  • Single Frame - One photo is taken each time the shutter-release button is pressed.
  • Continuous - The camera records about 3 frames per second while the shutterrelease button is pressed.
  • Self-timer - The camera takes a photograph about ten seconds after the shutter-release button is pressed. Use for self-portraits.
  • Quiet shutter release - As for single frame, except that the camera makes no sound after shooting and that a beep does not sound when the camera focuses, keeping noise to a minimum in quiet surroundings.
Focus Modes:
  • AF-A - Auto-servo AF - Camera automatically selects single-servo autofocus if subject is stationary, continuous-servo autofocus if subject is moving. Shutter can only be released if camera is able to focus.
  • AF-S - Single-servo AF - For stationary subjects. Focus locks when shutter-release button is pressed halfway. Shutter can only be released if camera is able to focus.
  • AF-C - Continuous servo AF - For moving subjects. Camera focuses continuously while shutter release button is pressed halfway. Shutter can only be released if camera is able to focus.
  • MF - Manual focus
Post any tips you have for the D3100 here.

Please post question in a new thread under this forum.
 

eummagic

New member
Thank you very much for the tips, can you also post the best settings while recording a video on D3100. Does different program modes help in capturing quality video? your advise psl...
 

PavementPilot

New member
For video, I would set it to 720p as this is DVD quality. If you go 1080p, you are shooting in Blu-Ray quality, and if not needed, you are wasting card storage space. Set the lens to AF-C.
 

Browncoat

Senior Member
That's not an entirely accurate statement.

1080p is full-HD. The ultimate difference will lie in what size monitor the final video is displayed on. In many cases, most people can't tell the difference between 720p and 1080p on a 36" or smaller television. This is because the relative size of the pixels is about the same. However, as the screen size increases to 40, 48, 52, and 60 inches...the difference becomes much more apparent as the pixel size increases. Think of it this way. If you had a 99.9% white screen with a single black pixel in the center, most people aren't even going to see it on a small screen. But do the same thing on a bigger screen, and that tiny black dot gets much bigger and more noticeable.

1080p is the established standard for production video and the true 16:9 aspect ratio used in movies. This standard is being widely adopted by both computer monitor and television manufacturers as "widescreen format". I won't go so far as to say that recording in 720p would be like using 8mm, but it would be a regression in technology.
 

eummagic

New member
For video, I would set it to 720p as this is DVD quality. If you go 1080p, you are shooting in Blu-Ray quality, and if not needed, you are wasting card storage space. Set the lens to AF-C.

That's not an entirely accurate statement.
1080p is full-HD. The ultimate difference will lie in what size monitor the final video is displayed on. In many cases, most people can't tell the difference between 720p and 1080p on a 36" or smaller television. This is because the relative size of the pixels is about the same. However, as the screen size increases to 40, 48, 52, and 60 inches...the difference becomes much more apparent as the pixel size increases. Think of it this way. If you had a 99.9% white screen with a single black pixel in the center, most people aren't even going to see it on a small screen. But do the same thing on a bigger screen, and that tiny black dot gets much bigger and more noticeable.

1080p is the established standard for production video and the true 16:9 aspect ratio used in movies. This standard is being widely adopted by both computer monitor and television manufacturers as "widescreen format". I won't go so far as to say that recording in 720p would be like using 8mm, but it would be a regression in technology.

Thank you all for your suggestion, I normally set it to 720p and if I am capturing more details like landscape/fast moving scenes then 1080p. But, Iam more interested to know the other settings like PavementPilot had mentioned like "AF-C". Do I need to set to any preferred program mode and what about the metering settings like 3d tracking, centre-weighted, spot, dynamic area etc. Which of these works best for video mode? Can you pls throw some light on these settings...
 

PavementPilot

New member
I beleive I have found the optimum settings for video on my D3100, and I believe they are the same for the D7000.

  1. Turn on camera
  2. Turn on Live View
  3. Press the 'I'nfo button
  4. Use cursor pad to navigate and highlight 'Movie Settings' and set to your preference
  5. Highlight Focus Mode and select 'AF-F'
  6. Highlight AF-area mode and choose your preference (Face-priority, Wide-area, Normal-area, and Subject-tracking)
  7. Highlight ISO and set for available light and aperture setting.
  8. WB, Metering and Active D-Lighting are at your preference.
These settings can only be accessed by doing steps 1-3 in that order. Step 6 can not be selected until step 5 is done.

Anyone using the D7000, please amend this as needed if there is any different steps for that model.

These settings will give you auto focus and refocus.
 

eummagic

New member
I beleive I have found the optimum settings for video on my D3100, and I believe they are the same for the D7000.

  1. Turn on camera
  2. Turn on Live View
  3. Press the 'I'nfo button
  4. Use cursor pad to navigate and highlight 'Movie Settings' and set to your preference
  5. Highlight Focus Mode and select 'AF-F'
  6. Highlight AF-area mode and choose your preference (Face-priority, Wide-area, Normal-area, and Subject-tracking)
  7. Highlight ISO and set for available light and aperture setting.
  8. WB, Metering and Active D-Lighting are at your preference.
These settings can only be accessed by doing steps 1-3 in that order. Step 6 can not be selected until step 5 is done.

Anyone using the D7000, please amend this as needed if there is any different steps for that model.

These settings will give you auto focus and refocus.
Thanks for your inputs...I'm going to try these settings...
 

pavloskl

New member
Tried the settings mentioned above and the video is perfect. Of course the conditions are perfect as well (sun, light). Thanks a lot!!!
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Luminous

Senior Member
Hello,
Fresh newbie on dSLRs, first post on this forum.
I have bought today my new D3100. I have just tried the video settings mentioned above in night shoot, hand held, shooting a small indoor waterfall with a lamp underneath (at 720p) and it was great!
I had just only change the focus mode to 'Single' because it was hand held.

Thanks for the tips.
 

kathryn0915

New member
Ok on the same train of thought -recording video's....how do you adjust thr roecrding volume of the mic? I hav found where to adjust for playback...but need to adjust during recording....plz help....thx kathryn
 

sasi0316

New member
Hi , I have a nikon d3100 and I recently bought a remote for shutter release from Amazon Basics. But unfortunately I couldn't find the mode in the camera. Does Nikon d3100 has the option for remote shutter release?? Please help. Thanks!
 
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