QUICKFACT SHEET
Category: Beginner Amateur – Family DSLR
The Nikon D3000 DSLR is Nikon’s newest affordable entry-level DSLR camera. It replaces the award-winning D60 (or D40 before it). The Nikon D3000 is packed with Nikon’s latest digital technology and know-how found in its more expensive DSLR models. It retains 10.2MP resolution and all the practical features that made its predecessors so popular. Main features are:
- 10.2 MP resolution (on an APS CCD image sensor)
- Guide Mode
- Active D-Lighting
- PASM
- RAW
- Picture Control
- 3.0 –in. LCD (230K dots)
- 11-point AF
The Nikon D3000 is meant to be as user-friendly as possible for entry-level DSLR camera users upgrading from a point-and-shoot digital camera. Select the brand new Guide Mode right on the Mode Dial and it displays an easy-to-use interface to walk you thru selecting the appropriate shooting mode and other appropriate settings. The Shooting options are divided into 3 sections:
- Easy Operation: Auto, No Flash, Distant subjects, Close-ups, Sleeping faces, Moving subjects, Landscapes, Portraits, Night Portrait,
- Advanced Operation: Soften backgrounds, Freeze motion (people), Freeze motion (vehicles), and
- Timers and Remote Control.
As you grow more confident with using your camera, you can, of course, bypass the Guide Mode and select the desired shooting mode and settings directly.
A must-have feature that helps both beginner photographers and advanced photographers capture better pictures is Active D-Lighting which restores details in the highlight and shadow areas of an image, ensuring all parts of the image is properly exposed.
The Nikon D3000 also allows beginner photographers to express their creative and artistic side with features such as Soft Filter and Color Online Retouch options. New is the Miniature effect that changes the appearance of distant subjects to make them look like close-ups of miniature models.
The Nikon D3000 DSLR also caters to the more advanced photographers. They have the full PASM modes and can record pictures in RAW for maximum control over image quality. Furthermore, the Nikon D3000 camera also features a Picture Control System that allows key digital image capture characteristics to be customized to suit your exacting personal preferences. You can select the default or customize settings for sharpening, contrast, saturation and hue for the following 6 picture controls:
- Standard
- Neutral
- Vivid
- Monochrome
- Portrait
- Landscape
The D3000 comes with the AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR kit lens which is optically image stabilized. Manual focus is possible. The D3000 also accepts any AF-S and AF-I NIKKOR lenses.
A built-in flash allows indoor photography. For professional flash photography, a hot shoe accepts an external flash. Advanced wireless lighting is also supported when using the SB-900, SB-800 or SU-800 speedlights as commander.
The Nikon D3000 DSLR camera provides an affordable and easy way for those looking to step up from point-and-shoot to digital SLR photography.
If you want Live View, an articulated LCD, and Movie in your DSLR, check out the Nikon D5000 for about US $250 more.
Read our Nikon D3000 Review…
| Nikon D3000 DSLR |
QuickFact™ Sheet
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| Image Sensor | 10.2 million pixels, CCD sensor, 23.6 x 15.8 mm; Nikon DX-format; Dust-reduction System |
| File Format | NEF (RAW), JPEG, NEF (RAW) + JPEG |
| Media | SD/SDHC |
| Viewfinder | Pentamirror, 95% horizontal and 100% vertical frame coverage, 0.8x magnification |
| Shutter Speed | 1/4,000 to 30 s Flash Sync Speed: 1/200 s |
| Frame Advance Rate | 3 fps |
| Exposure Modes | Auto, Programmed auto with flexible program (P); Shutter-priority auto (S); Aperture-priority auto (A); Manual (M), Scene Modes |
| Exposure Metering | Matrix, Centre-weighted, Spot Exposure Compensation: -5 to +5 EV |
| ISO sensitivity | ISO 100 to 1600, ISO 3200 equivalent |
| Active D-Lighting | ON or OFF |
| Autofocus | 11 focus points with AF-assist illuminator |
| White Balance | Auto, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Direct Sunlight, Flash, Cloudy, Shade, preset manual |
| Live View | n/a |
| LCD Monitor | 3-in.230,000-dot, with brightness adjustment |
| Movie | n/a |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | Approx. 126 x 97 x 64 mm / 5.0 x 3.8 x 2.5 in. |
| Weight | Approx. 485 g ( without battery, memory card, or body cap) |
| MSRP | Body only: UK £429.99 / €522.00 With AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens: US $599.95 / CAD $639.95 / UK £499.99 / €607.00 |
Related Links:
– Nikon D3000 Press Release
– Sample Images | more
– DSLR Comparison
– D3000 SLR Digital Camera with 18-55mm VR Lens
| Amazon | |
| Nikon D3000 | |
| Body only | with 18-55mm kit lens |
| Nikon D3000 DSLR |
Technical Specifications
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| Type of Camera | Single-lens reflex digital camera |
| Lens Mount | Nikon F mount (with AF contacts) |
| Effective Picture Angle | Approx. 1.5 x lens focal length (Nikon DX format) |
| Effective Pixels | 10.2 million |
| Image Sensor | CCD sensor, 23.6 x 15.8 mm; total pixels: 10.75 million; Nikon DX-format |
| Dust-reduction System | Image Sensor Cleaning, Airflow Control System, Image Dust Off reference data (optional Capture NX 2 software required) |
| Image Size (pixels) | 3,872 x 2,592 [L], 2,896 x 1,944 [M], 1,936 x 1,296 [S] |
| File Format | NEF (RAW) JPEG: JPEG-Baseline compliant with fine (approx. 1:4), normal (approx. 1:8), or basic (approx. 1:16) compression NEF (RAW) + JPEG: Single photograph recorded in both NEF (RAW) and JPEG formats |
| Picture Control System | Can be selected from Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait, Landscape; selected Picture Control can be modified |
| Media | SD (Secure Digital) memory cards, SDHC compliant |
| File System | DCF (Design Rule for Camera File System) 2.0, DPOF (Digital Print Order Format), Exif 2.21 (Exchangeable Image File Format for Digital Still Cameras), PictBridge |
| Viewfinder | Eye-level pentamirror single-lens reflex viewfinder |
| Viewfinder Frame Coverage | Approx. 95% horizontal and 95% vertical |
| Viewfinder Magnification | Approx. 0.8 x (50mm f/1.4 lens at infinity, -1.0 m-1) |
| Eyepoint | 18 mm (-1.0 m-1) |
| Diopter Adjustment | -1.7 to +0.5 m-1 |
| Focusing Screen | Type B BriteView Clear Matte Mark V screen with focus frame (framing grid can be displayed) |
| Reflex Mirror | Quick return |
| Lens Aperture | Instant return, electronically controlled |
| Compatible Lenses | AF-S and AF-I NIKKOR: All functions supported Type G or D AF NIKKOR without built-in autofocus motor: All functions except autofocus supported. IX NIKKOR lenses not supported. Other AF NIKKOR: All functions supported except autofocus and 3D colour matrix metering II. Lenses for F3AF not supported. Type D PC NIKKOR: All functions supported except some shooting modes. AI-P NIKKOR: All functions supported except 3D colour matrix metering II. Non-CPU: Autofocus not supported. Can be used in exposure mode M, but exposure meter does not function. Note: Electronic rangefinder can be used if lens has a maximum aperture of f/5.6 or faster. |
| Shutter Type | Electronically controlled vertical-travel focal-plane shutter |
| Shutter Speed | 1/4000 to 30 s in steps of 1/3 EV, Bulb, Time (requires optional Wireless Remote Control ML-L3) |
| Flash Sync Speed | X=1/200 s; synchronizes with shutter at 1/200 s or slower |
| Release Modes | Single-frame, continuous, self-timer, quick-response remote, delayed remote |
| Frame Advance Rate | Up to 3 fps (manual focus, mode M or S, shutter speed 1/250 s or faster, and other settings at default values) |
| Self-timer | Can be selected from 2, 5, 10, and 20s duration |
| Exposure Metering | TTL exposure metering using 420-pixel RGB sensor |
| Exposure Method | Matrix: 3D colour matrix metering II (type G and D lenses); colour matrix metering II (other CPU lenses) Centre-weighted: Weight of 75% given to 8-mm circle in centre of frame Spot: Meters 3.5-mm circle (about 2.5% of frame) centred on selected focus point |
| Range (ISO 100, f/1.4 lens, 20oC) | Matrix or centre-weighted metering: 0 to 20 EV Spot metering: 2 to 20 EV |
| Exposure Meter Coupling | CPU |
| Exposure Modes | Auto modes (auto, auto [flash off ]), Scene Modes (Portrait, Landscape, Child, Sports, Close up, Night portrait), programmed auto with flexible program (P), shutter-priority auto (S), aperture-priority auto (A) manual (M) |
| Exposure Compensation | -5 to +5 EV in increments of 1/3 EV |
| Exposure Lock | Luminosity locked at detected value with AE-L/AF-L button |
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ISO sensitivity |
ISO 100 to 1600 in steps of 1 EV. Can also be set to approx. 1 EV above ISO 1600 (ISO 3200 equivalent), auto ISO sensitivity control available |
| Active D-Lighting | Can be selected from On or Off |
| Autofocus | Nikon Multi-CAM 1000 autofocus sensor module with TTL phase detection, 11 focus points (including one cross-type sensor), and AF-assist illuminator (range approx. 0.5 to 3m / 1 ft. 8 in. to 9 ft. 10 in.) |
| Detection Range | -1 to +19 EV (ISO 100, 20oC/68oF) |
| Lens Servo | Autofocus (AF): Single-servo AF (AF-S); continuous-servo AF (AF-C); auto AF-S/AF-C selection (AF-A); predictive focus tracking activated automatically according to subject status Manual focus (MF): Electronic rangefinder can be used |
| Focus Point | Can be selected from 11 focus points |
| AF Area Mode | Single-point AF, dynamic-area AF, auto-area AF, 3D-tracking (11 points) AF |
| Focus Lock | Focus can be locked by pressing shutter-release button halfway (Single-servo AF) or by pressing AE-L/AF-L button |
| Built-in Flash | Auto, Portrait, Child, Close-up, Night portrait: Auto flash with auto pop-up P, S, A, M: Manual pop-up with button release |
| Guide Number | Approx. 12/39, 13/43 with manual flash (m/ft, ISO 100, 20oC/68oF) |
| Flash Control | TTL: i-TTL balanced fill-flash and standard i-TTL flash for digital SLR using 420-pixel RGB sensor are available with built-in flash and SB-900, SB-800, SB-600, or SB-400 (i-TTL balanced fill-flash is available when matrix or centre-weighted metering is selected) Auto aperture: Available with SB-900, SB-800 and CPU lens Non-TTL auto: Supported flash units include SB-900, SB-800, SB-80DX, SB-28DX, SB-28, SB-27, and SB-22S Range-priority manual: Available with SB-900 and SB-800 |
| Flash Sync Mode | Auto, auto with red-eye reduction, fill-flash, auto slow sync, auto slow sync with red-eye correction, and rear curtain with slow sync |
| Flash Compensation | Auto, auto with red-eye reduction, fill-flash, auto slow sync, auto slow sync with red-eye correction, and rear curtain with slow sync |
| Flash compensation | -3 to +1 EV in increments of 1/3 EV |
| Flash Ready Indicator | Lights when built-in flash or optional flash unit such as SB-900, SB-800, SB-600, SB-400, SB-80DX, SB-28DX, or SB-50DX is fully charged; blinks for 3 s after flash is fired at full output |
| Accessory Shoe | ISO 518 hot-shoe with sync and data contacts and safety lock |
| Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS) | Advanced Wireless Lighting supported with SB-900, SB-800, or SU-800 as commander; Flash Colour Information Communication supported with built-in flash and all CLS-compatible flash units |
| Sync Terminal | Sync Terminal Adapter AS-15 (optional) |
| White Balance | Auto, incandescent, fluorescent (7 types), direct sunlight, flash, cloudy, shade, preset manual, all except preset manual with fine turning |
| Live View | n/a |
| LCD Monitor | 3-in., approx. 230 k-dot TFT LCD with brightness adjustment |
| Movie | n/a |
| Playback Function | Full-frame and thumbnail (4, 9, or 72 images or calendar) playback with playback zoom, playback of stop-motion movies created with D3000, slide show, histogram display, highlights, auto image rotation, and image comment (up to 36 characters) |
| USB | Hi-Speed USB |
| Audio Video Output | Can be selected from NTSC and PAL |
| Supported Languages | Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish |
| Battery | One Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL9a |
| AC Adapter | AC Adapter EH-5a; requires Power Connector EP-5 (optional) |
| Tripod Socket | 1/4 in. (ISO 1222) |
| Operating Environment | Temperature: 0 to 40°C Humidity: Less than 85% (no condensation) |
| Supplied Accessories (may differ by country or area) |
Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL9a , Quick Charger MH-23,, Eyepiece Cap DK-5, Rubber Eyecap DK-20, USB Cable UC-E4, Video Cable EG-D100, Camera Strap AN-DC3, Accessory Shoe Cover BS-1, Body Cap BF-1A, Software Suite CD-ROM |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | Approx. 126 x 97 x 64 mm / 5.0 x 3.8 x 2.5 in. |
| Weight | Approx. 485 g without battery, memory card, or body cap |
Specifications and equipment are subject to change without any notice or obligation on the part of the manufacturer.