The
new Nikon Coolpix 3100 has a look that generally resembles earlier
cameras such as the Coolpix 4300, but with a noticeably smaller and rounder
shape.
The
Coolpix 3100 is turned On and Off with a switch around the shutter release.
The switch is spring loaded and pulling it to the right while holding
the camera turns it On or Off, the switch returning to its starting position.
The Mode Dial is the only other control on top of the Coolpix 3100, and
it is positioned so that it can be rotated from the back of the camera.
The Mode Dial has 9 positions:
Manual
Mode: provides controls over the white balance, exposure compensation,
shooting mode, image sharpening.
Auto
Mode: is a simple point-and-shoot mode. The camera takes care
of all settings.
Scene
Mode: the scene mode is the access to the 10 pre-programmed
Scene modes available with the Coolpix (see the Characteristics
section for a description of the modes).
Portrait:
uses a wide aperture to soften background details and is enhanced
by a Frame Assist function.
Landscape:
slightly sharpens outlines, colours and contrasts and is enhanced
by a Frame Assist function.
Sports:
optimizes the shutter speed to freeze action, and is also enhanced
with a Frame Assist function.
Night
Portrait: to capture portraits against dimly lit backgrounds,
and also provides a Frame Assist function.
Movie
Mode: captures video clips without sound with either a frame
size of 640 x 480 or 320 x 240 pixels.
Setup
Mode: displays the Setup menu of the Coolpix 3100.
The Coolpix
3100 is equipped with an optical viewfinder which allows turning off the
LCD screen when the subject is a reasonable distance away, avoiding potential
a parallax
error. The viewfinder has no markings for the AF point, and no diopter
correction.
The
other controls of the Coolpix 3100 are organized to the right, and below
the 1.5 inch, 110,000 pixel LCD screen. The zoom control is shaped to
fit the upper right corner of the camera's back, and in addition to controlling
the optical/digital zoom, it provides for:
Thumbnail
(index) display: 4 thumbnails per screen, and if pressed again,
9 thumbnails per screen.
Magnification:
a photo displayed on the screen can be zoomed in to see detail.
A 6X maximum magnification is possible.
Directly
below the zoom control, the Multi-selector is used to navigate the menus
of the Coolpix 3100, and control the Self-timer, flash modes and macro
mode. When any of the three options are called up, a small window pops-up
on the screen and the Multi-selector is used to choose the appropriate
option.
Flash:
provides Auto, Auto with Red-eye reduction, Forced off, Fill Flash,
(Slow Synch is automatic using the Night Portrait Scene mode, but
cannot be selected specifically).
Self-timer:
provides a 10 second delay.
Macro:
allows the camera to come as close as 4cm (1.56 inch) from a subject.
The remaining
buttons are aligned below the screen. Starting from the right side:
Play:
starts the playback mode. In addition the button also starts the
automatic transfer of images when the camera is connected to a computer
via USB.
calls
up the camera menu according to the shooting mode in use.
Monitor
controls the monitor and its display. Pressing the button cycles
through Monitor On with an information overlay showing camera settings,
then only the image coming from the lens, then Off. Should the monitor
be turned off, pressing the Multi-selector to choose the flash mode,
the self-timer or the macro mode turns on the screen.
Delete:
in the shooting modes, the button serves to delete the last picture
taken. In playback it can be used to delete any number of images.
