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January 07, 2010
[REVIEW—NIKON D3000 DSLR]
Price: $1000
Good camera, pity about the penny pinching
The low-down: This 10.2 megapixel camera is Nikon’s new entry model, supplied with an 18–55mm (27–82 film equivalent) lens with vibration reduction. Sensor dust reduction is by sensor vibration. The medium resolution 75mm LCD doubles as the camera status screen. The body is small and construction is good with no squeaks from the plastic casing. The kit lens is smooth enough, but cost-cutting is seen in things like the plastic base plate. Controls are well laid out in the familiar Nikon configuration, but there is no secondary adjustment wheel. There is no live view, movie mode or automatic exposure bracketing. The inbuilt low-light focus assist lamp is a model of its kind.
Like: The images from the camera are consistently well exposed. Colour is generally good, except under incandescent light where auto white balance fails. Ergonomics are excellent and the noises – shutter and mirror slap – are amazingly refined. It does not feel cheap.
Dislike: Nikon pinch the pennies on their low end models – no auto bracketing, a limited range of auto-focus lenses (there is no focus drive in the body), poor LCD resolution and no live view. You wouldn’t buy this camera without looking at the Pentax K-x which is better featured, including movie mode, fast burst mode and in-camera high dynamic range image creation.
Verdict: We used the D3000, together with the Nikon SB600 Speedlight (flash) on Christmas Day to record the Imaging family knees-up. After nearly 400 shots the battery was still going strong. The camera is responsive – a Nikon characteristic – so we never missed a grimace of disappointment when the “just what I wanted” gifts were opened. We were impressed with the consistency of the photos. It is a good entry into the Nikon system.
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Posted by terry at January 7, 2010 07:20 AM
Worth Checking Out
Digital Cameras SydneyComments
beautiful photograph
Posted by: chris at February 5, 2010 03:06 PM