nikon D3100 argos E294

Notch000

http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/5599523/Trail/searchtext%3ED3100.htm

Kenny Logins

Could be a mis-price, it's £299 on the UK site.

Kenny Logins

€35 cash back from Nikon too - http://www.nikon.co.uk/sites/cashback/offer-roi-spring13.html

loki7777

Price is fine.

DubOnHoliday

Just got one in Stephens Green. Good price.

Kenny Logins

http://checkargos.com/StockCheckPage.php?productId=559%2F9523

tigershould

good price. was only looking at this a couple of weeks ago and its €100 more at most other places.

http://www.currys.ie/Product/NIKON-D3100-Digital-SLR-Camera-with-1855mm-Zoom-Lens/298363/176

imitation

Dang thats temptingly cheap !

Columbia

That's a great price. I bought this camera at Christmas, I think it was 395 or 399 then, and it was worth that money, so 295 is great.

It's an ideal first DSLR for a beginner. The interface has a guide mode that explains a lot of terms (the first time you see the screen it can look intimidatingly complex), general use is fairly easy, and picture quality is excellent for the price.

ShiverinEskimo

The only catch I can see is that it's marked as the non-VR kit lens. The camera itself doesn't have Vibration Reduction/Image Stabilisation so I'm not sure if the Argos product carries an inferior lens.

The Amazon version is clearly marked as a VR lens kit:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nikon-Digital-Camera-18-55mm-14-2MP/dp/B00403MA4M

EDIT - in fact there was a non-VR version and here is some more info on the differences. It seems to be a fairly inferior lens:

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/D3100/D3100A4.HTM

DubOnHoliday

ShiverinEskimo wrote: »

The only catch I can see is that it's marked as the non-VR kit lens. The camera itself doesn't have Vibration Reduction/Image Stabilisation so I'm not sure if the Argos product carries an inferior lens.

The Amazon version is clearly marked as a VR lens kit:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nikon-Digital-Camera-18-55mm-14-2MP/dp/B00403MA4M

Even so, a good price even it was just the camera body.

ShiverinEskimo

DubOnHoliday wrote: »

Even so, a good price even it was just the camera body.

Fair point. The body-only option on Amazon for example is £260. Works out at about 307 euro.

The newer version of this camera the D3200 with the VR lens kit is £408 (€480).

Here's the Argos stock checker link for this Bargain Alert:

http://www.checkargos.com/StockCheckPage.php?productId=559%2F9523

Notch000

ShiverinEskimo wrote: »

The only catch I can see is that it's marked as the non-VR kit lens. The camera itself doesn't have Vibration Reduction/Image Stabilisation so I'm not sure if the Argos product carries an inferior lens.

It would be the standard Nikor 18-55mm which is a very good lens in iteslf, much better than the cannon offering

you wont miss VR, i had a D40 with no VR and now have a D5100 No VR and never missed it. Ironically i got my D4 cheap in 2009 off bargain alerts, so it gone full circle and hopefully someone wil get s good treat off this

partyatmygaff

VR is useful but it's not essential. Just don't go around trying to take handheld shots at 1/10s and you'll be fine.

dmcg90

Anyone got a reservation for Galway?

ShiverinEskimo

I disagree with you in regards to the VR. Think it's very useful in certain awkward situations and anything that reduces the need to haul a tripod around is a bonus for me.

Overall though I don't want to take away from what is a good bargain - regardless of lenses.

Kenny Logins

ShiverinEskimo wrote: »

I disagree with you in regards to the VR. Think it's very useful in certain awkward situations and anything that reduces the need to haul a tripod around is a bonus for me.

Overall though I don't want to take away from what is a good bargain - regardless of lenses.

You are right about this being an inferior lens, as it's not just the VR that's missing - I believe the 18-55 kit lens' optics were also upgraded when the VR version was introduced.

This is a €260 ready-to-go DSLR though, and a great intro to photography, and so I wouldn't worry too much about the kit lens, it'll either be accepted as-is or outgrown and replaced.

imitation

Does this model have autofocus or does it need an AF lens ?Was thinking of upgrading my A200, but I don't think I would hack not having AF.

Kenny Logins

imitation wrote: »

Does this model have autofocus or does it need an AF lens ?Was thinking of upgrading my A200, but I don't think I would hack not having AF.

Needs AF-S (lens with auto focus motor) lenses.

funkyouup

According to the argos description the lens does have a motor, im very confused.

slegs

funkyouup wrote: »

According to the argos description the lens does have a motor, im very confused.

No one ever said it didnt have autofocus? It doesnt have VR image stability but besides from that the two lens options for the Nikon 3100 are identical.

18-55mm f/3.5-5.6GII AF-S DX Nikkor.

slavedave

The lens does have a motor but not the image stabilisation function of a VR lens. Just note that the non VR lens has been mentioned as being "inferior" to the VR lens. This may be true optically - you can have a look on the dpreview guide for the camera, but it is all relative. Nikon are widely regarded as fantastic lens manufacturers amongst their peers. The standard lens is still a great lens - it just won't allow you to shoot pictures as easily in low light conditions as the VR lens. If this is an important consideration for you then don't forget that, almost invariably, you will get hooked by photography when you get a dslr and will want to buy other lenses in any case.

The D3100 doesn't have a motor in it's body to power lenses (unlike the higher spec Nikons) therefore it has to employ lenses with their own motors in ( or you can go manual but that is soo retro - using older lenses that fit it).

You won't go wrong with the camera at that price though.

DubOnHoliday

funkyouup wrote: »

According to the argos description the lens does have a motor, im very confused.

This is the lens that came with mine... http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-18-55mm-3-5-5-6G-AF-S-Nikkor/dp/B000LWJ1ES
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/477230-USA/Nikon_2170_18_55mm_f_3_5_5_6G_ED_II.html

Kenny Logins

funkyouup wrote: »

According to the argos description the lens does have a motor, im very confused.

Yes, this lens has an auto-focus motor, because this camera body does not and therefore must use AF-S lenses.

Bowlardo

Lads,

Planing on buying th GF a camera for her birthday. She will only be taking photos of Holidays, parties and concerts.
She would like something that would have great picture quality and is easy to bring in her bag

I had it in my head to get her a decent one - Nikon or Cannon. the budget is €300.

Should I definitely get this? this would surely meet her requirements would it not?

I have not researched too much on what camera to get but if someone with a bit of knowledge could let me know that would be greatly appeciated

Kenny Logins

Bowlardo wrote: »

Lads,

Planing on buying th GF a camera for her birthday. She will only be taking photos of Holidays, parties and concerts.
She would like something that would have great picture quality and is easy to bring in her bag

I had it in my head to get her a decent one - Nikon or Cannon. the budget is €300.

Should I definitely get this? this would surely meet her requirements would it not?

I have not researched too much on what camera to get but if someone with a bit of knowledge could let me know that would be greatly appeciated

Nah, too big and awkward for casual in-the-bag use.

Bowlardo

Kenny Logins wrote: »

Nah, too big and awkward for casual in-the-bag use.

Are you sure Kenny? She carries around pretty big bags

If not this what would you recommend?

Kenny Logins

Bowlardo wrote: »

Are you sure Kenny? She carries around pretty big bags

If not this what would you recommend?

This is more suited to somebody getting into photography, taking the time to learn about exposure, aperture, shutter speeds, ISO, and upgrading lenses etc. etc.

I wouldn't rate it for the uses you mentioned above (some concert venues don't even allow DSLRs), IMHO you'd see better results with a good point and shoot camera - some have many of the same features and comparable picture quality.

I have no idea about those, but there's a good list here -

http://snapsort.com/recommend#!general=price&price=275&type=mirrorless

Kenny Logins

Kenny Logins wrote: »

This is more suited to somebody getting into photography, taking the time to learn about exposure, aperture, shutter speeds, ISO, and upgrading lenses etc. etc.

I wouldn't rate it for the uses you mentioned above (some concert venues don't even allow DSLRs), IMHO you'd see better results with a good point and shoot camera - some have many of the same features and comparable picture quality.

I have no idea about those, but there's a good list here -

http://snapsort.com/recommend#!general=price&price=275&type=mirrorless

Nikon V-1 looks good...

GalwayGaillimh

E35 Cashback as well via Nikon's Spring Promotion
http://www.nikon.co.uk/sites/cashback/offer-roi-spring13.html

coffee to go

Bowlardo wrote: »

Lads,

Planing on buying th GF a camera for her birthday. She will only be taking photos of Holidays, parties and concerts.
She would like something that would have great picture quality and is easy to bring in her bag

I had it in my head to get her a decent one - Nikon or Cannon. the budget is €300.

Should I definitely get this? this would surely meet her requirements would it not?

I have not researched too much on what camera to get but if someone with a bit of knowledge could let me know that would be greatly appeciated

I would have felt that for the uses you describe, a compact travelzoom would best fit the bill. The Lumix TZ30 would be a fine choice at your budget (20x optical zoom, starting at 24mm at the wide end, great for landscapes, but zooming in to 480mm, great for travel and concerts, full HD video and GPS):

http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/5598067/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7CPhotography%7C14419436/c_2/3%7Ccat_19780865%7CDigital+cameras%7C14419441.htm

Review:

http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/panasonic_lumix_dmc_tz30_review/

(I'd say you'll get it cheaper than that Argos link too if you hunt around some other stores)