Nikon D3000 10.2 MP Digital SLR Camera - Black (Kit w/ AF-S DX VR G 18-55mm Lens)

The camera and lenses ecceeded my expectations. I really wanted the 12mp D5000 but had to settle for the entry level D3000. Though a bit small for my hand I bought the two battery holder hand grip and that made the trick. Lenses are of very good quality at the price. Going through the menu is relatively easy. Though the camera is full of automatic features one can have full conrol with aperture priority, shutter priority and manual modes. Bought it with a bit of sceptisism but I love it already. Bought it from eBay at a formidable price, couldn't do any better.

I used an analogue / film Nikon SLR in the olden days, and was really interested in using the full range of manual adjustments to take all sorts of photos.

Having put the old camera away several years ago when digital came along, I have wondered for a few years when I would take the step of buying a digital SLR.

Well a few months ago I did it. Being on a budget, and also being new to DSLR photography I stuck to this basic model.

In some ways it was the right choice.
I was disappointed not to get a paper manual, how they can think that a digital manual will do I really can't imagine. For the price you pay for the camera I'm sure it wouldn't be too hard to supply a proper manual as well.

Consequently I have learned through
1) fiddling with all the settings (doesn't everyone!);
2) trying to look at the digital manual on my tablet which is a complete pain and basically doesn't teach me much at all;
3) looking for advice on the internet, there are good tips around but what a long-winded way!
4) Giving up trying to figure it out and sticking to simple stuff.

I remember with my old Nikon I had a full but straightforward paper manual which taught me so much and enabled me to really learn my camera. And I could take it everywhere with me, and flick through the pages! But I really feel I don't know my new camera well.

I have discovered some good things about the camera :

- you can set the white balance for a given situation, so your pictures come out with great colours ( but I can't remember how I did it!)

- The focussing and shots are quick

- The zoom is pretty easy (better than a bridge camera and back to the good old days)

- it is great for taking product photos for my Ebay shop, and I can switch to a basic resolution for this;

- Overall for a beginner to photography the automatic settings are very useful;

- The camera is solid and has a good feel to it without being too heavy.


The bad points :

- although battery life is good, there is no battery level indicator, and there isn't much warning before it dies, and I don't have a spare, so this can be embarassing / annoying.

- you can't view the photo you are about to take on the digital display, only through the viewfinder. Why not?

- The close ups aren't close up, I love macro photography and this camera as is won't cope (on my old camera, I could turn around my lenses for great close-ups).

- Very hard to take astronomy photos without a B setting.

- And what about the cable release? Not a screw hole in sight.

- The kit lenses let in less light than my old lenses

- The spot focussing is good, but the automatic light metering is a complete pain and I find I have little control over it.

- I don't understand the settings where aperture is fixed but you can change time, and where time is fixed but you can change aperture. On my old camera that was so simple! Two rings and a lightmeter and bingo!

- to someone who likes using all the adjustments of the old cameras, this new camera can make life hard.

- Post processing! This is a new subject to me, and I could do with some training. I can adjust pictures well enough to display on Ebay, but I would love to try stock photography, something that requires not only great photography skills, but equally good skills in "fixing" the great photos you took so they are "punchy" etc.

Overall I am very pleased with my purchase, I just wish I had more time to learn it better, to make the most of it!

I am still a fan of Nikon ..

I own a Nikon D300 and have had several compacts for carrying around always. I just could not get used to the rubbish LCD's and not having a proper view finder to compose pics, and frustrating peformance. Even the best and expensive compacts seem to be slow or not consistant in picture quality. So for the price of a top range compact I could by a budget DSLR, having Nikon lenses already the D3000 was a simple choice. Reviews are average but the results Ive had are nothing like. Addmitedly the D3000 is simple no bells or whistles or masses of custermisation but at this price and market it is aimed for I find it fast much faster than compacts responsive and Auto focus is swift. A proper view finder with loads of info either easy for beginners or switchable to advanced for enthusiasts. Its light but seems robust and not very large indeed I think it is only a shave larger than the new breed of mirror less Hybrids out now like Samsung Nx10 or Lumix G2 etc but with DSLR handling.I can afford to carry this camera all day as it is light even with the 18-55vr lens. The picture quality is far beyond compacts even upto A4 and beyond. Quicker than my Fuji bridge camera I shall never return to compacts again even a second hand DSLR is better than a compact for me. In summary cheap DSLR's rein over expensive compacts hands down for me. I have not been let down by my carry any where D3000. Compliments Ronin Photography.

I'm a rank amateur when it comes to photography, having only ever used a point and shoot. For someone just moving up into the realms of DSLR the D3000 couldn't be easier. Two days into owning the camera I've taken some fabulous photographs, of which I'm very proud. The camera excels outdoors in natural daylight, and using the automatic setting. But I was very quickly tempted (and prompted by my expert niece!) to be a little more adventurous. I've messed about with aperture and shutter settings, and so far it's worked very well indeed. The camera is lovely to handle, but does benefit from a good quality tripod. The great thing is, when you're sporting a Nikon strap, fellow photographers stop and talk to you, and most importantly are happy to give advice. My advice is, if you're teetering on the ege of moving up to a DSLR, make the leap and buy the Nikon D3000

This camera is so easy to use, you can almost pick it straight up and take great photos. Its just a case of putting the camera on to the right seetting, adjusting the lens and taking the picture.
My main factor for buying it that is was the cheapest SLR I could find. But once I saw all the good reviews of it, it was as good as sold.