Here we test the new D3100 entry-level Nikon DSLR with a new 14.2 megapixel sensor, Live View and a full HD 1920x1080 / 1080p, 24fps video recording.

14.2 megapixel sensor with low noise; Lowest price DSLR with full HD Video; Very good ISO performance; Good battery life; Excellent video; Easy to use with built in guide; Quiet shutter – with additional quiet live view option

Only autofocuses with AF-S lenses; Continuous shooting not available with flash; 3fps continuous shooting beginning to look dated

Nikon's presence in the entry-level DSLR market has been strong for many years, and following the success of the D60 and D3000 , the latest D3100 amps things up a couple of gears.

Guide Mode; Full HD movie capture; well-handled image quality

Pricier than many entry-level models; no Depth of Field preview button; limitations to movie capture

The Nikon D3100 provides a painless entry point into the Nikon dSLR system. It enables amateurs to capture more professional-looking images with the minimum of fuss and prior knowledge.

Lightweight yet robust construction; Fast and responsive for an entry-level model; Reasonably priced; Large; well-labelled buttons and controls; Built-in 'guide' mode

Handgrip is on the small side; Video not as quick or easy to shoot with as other dSLRs

Here are my impressions about the Nikon D3100 DSLR camera . This is the entry level camera at Nikon when it comes to DSLR cameras. The D3100 replaces the D3000 but the way it supersedes the D3000 in so many ways it is a really interesting, the biggest difference is that the new model it adds video...

The D3100 is Nikon's replacement for the . Aimed squarely at the entry-level DSLR camera market, it's certainly going to be a wake-up call for other manufacturers. The D3100 has 14.2MP and full HD movie mode.

Nikon's D3100 is the baby of the company's extensive dSLR range " and baby is the operative word: this little camera really is light and compact, especially compared to the more upmarket models.

Compact size; Outstanding control layout; Very good images at the price

Needs G series ultrasonic lenses to autofocus; Slightly slow AF on kit lens

Nikon D3100 Review - The Nikon D3100 looks to raise the bar for entry-level DSLRs. But just how good is it? What Digital Camera's Nikon D3100 review digs below the surface to try and find out...

Guide mode; featured specification

Price; no DoF preview; no focus switch

With sales of micro-system cameras (MSCs) increasing, the position of the MSC's direct competitor, the entry-level DSLR, comes under the spotlight. While Nikon has hinted that it is looking into launching an MSC model, nothing has been announced yet.

Nikon's D3100 is the company's latest entry-level DSLR. Announced in August 2010, it's the successor the best-selling D3000 and makes several key upgrades to that model. Most notably the new D3100 now features Live View and video recording facilities – indeed it becomes the first Nikon DSLR (hotly...

14 Megapixel sensor with great quality; Friendly goal-oriented GUIDE mode; 1080p HD video with autofocusing; Decent metering and 11-point AF system

Relatively expensive for an entry-level DSLR; Continuous AF in movies can be slow and noisy; No bracketing; DOF preview or AF with non AF-S lenses; Changing multiple settings requires many clicks

The D3100 steps into the entry level position in Nikon's line-up featuring a new sensor with higher resolution than its predecessor's and an expanded sensitivity range. It also adds Live View shooting plus Full HD video recording.