Nikon CoolPix 3100 User manual

En
DIGITAL CAMERA
The Guide to Digital Photography
with the
En

Trademark Information
Apple, the Apple logo, Macintosh, Mac OS, Power Macintosh, PowerBook, and Quick Time are registered trademarks
of Apple Computer, Inc. Finder, Power Mac, iMac, and iBook are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. Microsoft and
Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Internet is a trademark of Digital Equipment Corpora-
tion. CompactFlash is a trademark of SanDisk Corporation. Lexar Media is a trademark of Lexar Media Corpora-
tion. Adobe and Acrobat are registered trademarks of Adobe Systems Inc. All other trade names mentioned in this
manual or the other documentation provided with your Nikon product are trademarks or registered trademarks of
their respective holders.

i
For Your Safety
To prevent damage to your Nikon product or injury to yourself or to oth-
ers, read the following safety precautions in their entirety before using this
equipment. Keep these safety instructions where all those who use the
product will read them.
The consequences that could result from failure to observe the precautions
listed in this section are indicated by the following symbol:
This icon marks warnings, information that should be read before using your
Nikon product to prevent possible injury.
WARNINGS
Turn off immediately in the event of
malfunction
Should you notice smoke or an unusual
smell coming from the equipment or from
the AC adapter (available separately),
unplug the AC adapter and remove
the batteries immediately, taking care
to avoid burns. Continued operation
could result in injury. After removing
the batteries, take the equipment to
a Nikon-authorized service center for
inspection.
Do not use in the presence of flam-
mable gas
Do not use electronic equipment in the
presence of flammable gas, as this could
result in explosion or fire.
Observe caution when using the cam-
era strap
Never place the strap around the neck
of an infant or child.
Do not disassemble
Touching the product’s internal parts
could result in injury. In the event of mal-
function, the product should be repaired
only by a qualified technician. Should the
product break open as the result of a fall
or other accident, take the product to a
Nikon-authorized service center for in-
spection after unplugging the AC adapter
and removing the batteries.
Observe proper precautions when han-
dling batteries
Batteries may leak or explode if improp-
erly handled. Observe the following pre-
cautions when handling batteries for use
in this product:
• Before replacing the batteries, turn the
camera off and make sure the power-on
lamp has gone out. If you are using an
AC adapter, be sure it is unplugged.
• Use a pair of rechargeable Nikon EN-MH1
NiMH batteries, one CRV3 lithium battery,
two ZR6 (AA) nickel manganese batteries,
or two FR6/L91 (AA) lithium batteries.
Do not use other types of battery. Do
not mix batteries of different types.
• When inserting batteries, do not at-
tempt to insert them upside down or
backwards.
• Do not short or disassemble batteries.

ii
For Your Safety
• Do not expose batteries to flame or to
excessive heat.
• Do not immerse in or expose to water.
• Do not transport or store with metal
objects such as necklaces or hairpins.
• Batteries are prone to leakage when
fully discharged. To avoid damage to
the product, be sure to remove the bat-
teries when no charge remains.
• Immediately after use, or when the
product is used on battery power for
an extended period, the batteries may
become hot. Before removing the bat-
teries, turn the camera off and allow the
batteries to cool.
• Discontinue use immediately should you
notice any changes in the batteries, such
as discoloration or deformation.
Use appropriate cables
When connecting cables to the input and
output jacks, use only the cables pro-
vided or sold by Nikon for the purpose,
to maintain compliance with product
regulations.
Keep out of reach of children
Particular care should be taken to prevent
infants from putting the batteries or other
small parts into their mouths.
Removing memory cards
Memory cards may become hot during
use. Observe due caution when remov-
ing memory cards from the camera.
CD-ROMs
The CD-ROMs on which the software
and manuals are distributed should not
be played back on audio CD equipment.
Playing CD-ROMs on an audio CD player
could cause hearing loss or damage the
equipment.
Observe caution when operating the
flash
Using the flash close to your subject’s
eyes could cause temporary visual impair-
ment. Particular care should be observed
if photographing infants, when the flash
should be no less than one meter (39˝)
from the subject.
Avoid contact with liquid crystal
Should the monitor break, care should
be taken to avoid injury due to broken
glass and to prevent liquid crystal from
the monitor touching the skin or entering
the eyes or mouth.

iii
To ensure continued enjoyment of your Nikon product, observe the follow-
ing precautions when storing or using the device:
Cautions
Keep dry
The device will be damaged if immersed
in water or subjected to high levels of
moisture.
Handle the lens and all moving parts
with care
Do not apply force to the lens or lens
cover, or to the connector, card slot, or
battery chamber covers. These parts are
especially susceptible to damage.
Turn the product off before removing
or disconnecting the power source
Do not unplug the product or remove
the batteries while the product is on,
or while images are being recorded or
deleted. Forcibly cutting power in these
circumstances could result in loss of data
or in damage to product memory or in-
ternal circuitry. To prevent an accidental
interruption of power, avoid carrying the
product from one place to another while
the AC adapter (available separately) is
connected.
Do not drop
The product may malfunction if subjected
to strong shocks or vibration.
Keep away from strong magnetic fields
Do not use or store this device in the
vicinity of equipment that generates
strong electromagnetic radiation or
magnetic fields. Strong static charges
or the magnetic fields produced by equip-
ment such as radio transmitters could
interfere with the monitor, damage data
stored on the memory card, or affect the
product’s internal circuitry.
Avoid sudden changes in temperature
Sudden changes in temperature, such as
occur when entering or leaving a heated
building on a cold day, can cause con-
densation inside the device. To prevent
condensation, place the device in a carry-
ing case or a plastic bag before exposing
it to sudden changes in temperature.

iv
Notices
• No part of the manuals included with
this product may be reproduced, trans-
mitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval
system, or translated into any language
in any form, by any means, without
Nikon’s prior written permission.
• Nikon reserves the right to change the
specifications of the hardware and soft-
ware described in these manuals at any
time and without prior notice.
E3100
• Nikon will not be held liable for any
damages resulting from the use of this
product.
• While every effort has been made to
ensure that the information in these
manuals is accurate and complete, we
would appreciate it were you to bring
any errors or omissions to the attention
of the Nikon representative in your area
(address provided separately).
Notice for customers in the U.S.A.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Radio Frequency Interference Statement
This equipment has been tested and
found to comply with the limits for a
Class B digital device, pursuant to Part
15 of the FCC rules. These limits are
designed to provide reasonable protec-
tion against harmful interference in a
residential installation. This equipment
generates, uses, and can radiate radio
frequency energy and, if not installed and
used in accordance with the instructions,
may cause harmful interference to radio
communications. However, there is no
guarantee that interference will not occur
in a particular installation. If this equip-
ment does cause harmful interference to
radio or television reception, which can be
determined by turning the equipment off
and on, the user is encouraged to try to
correct the interference by one or more of
the following measures:
• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
• Increase the separation between the
equipment and receiver.
• Connect the equipment into an outlet
on a circuit different from that to which
the receiver is connected.
• Consult the dealer or an experienced
radio/television technician for help.
CAUTIONS
Modifications
The FCC requires the user to be notified
that any changes or modifications made
to this device that are not expressly ap-
proved by Nikon Corporation may void
the user’s authority to operate the equip-
ment.
Interface Cables
Use the interface cables sold or provided
by Nikon for your equipment. Using other
interface cables may exceed the limits of
Class B Part 15 of the FCC rules.
Nikon Inc.,
1300 Walt Whitman Road, Melville, New
York
11747-3064, U.S.A.
Tel.: [phone]

v
Notices/ For Your Safety
Notice for customers in Canada
CAUTION
This class B digital apparatus meets all re-
quirements of the Canadian Interference
Causing Equipment Regulations.
ATTENTION
Cet appareil numérique de la classe B res-
pecte toutes les exigences du Règlement
sur le matériel brouilleur du Canada.
Notice Concerning Prohibition of Copying or Reproduction
Note that simply being in possession of material that has been digitally copied or repro-
duced by means of a scanner, digital camera or other device may be punishable by law.
• Items prohibited by law from being
copied or reproduced
Do not copy or reproduce paper money,
coins, securities, government bonds, or
local government bonds, even if such
copies or reproductions are stamped
“Sample.”
The copying or reproduction of paper
money, coins, or securities which are
circulated in a foreign country is pro-
hibited.
Unless the prior permission of the
government has been obtained, the
copying or reproduction of unused post-
age stamps or post cards issued by the
government is prohibited.
The copying or reproduction of stamps
issued by the government and of cer-
tified documents stipulated by law is
prohibited.
• Cautions on certain copies and re-
productions
The government has issued cautions on
copies or reproductions of securities is-
sued by private companies (shares, bills,
checks, gift certificates, etc.), commuter
passes, or coupon tickets, except when
a minimum of necessary copies are to be
provided for business use by a company.
Also, do not copy or reproduce pass-
ports issued by the government, licenses
issued by public agencies and private
groups, ID cards, and tickets, such as
passes and meal coupons.
• Comply with copyright notices
The copying or reproduction of copy-
righted creative works such as books,
music, paintings, woodcut prints, maps,
drawings, movies, and photographs is
governed by national and international
copyright laws. Do not use this product
for the purpose of making illegal copies
or to infringe copyright laws.

vi
Notices
Before Taking Important Pictures
Before taking pictures on important occasions (such as at weddings or before taking
the camera with you on a trip), take a test shot to ensure that the camera is function-
ing normally. Nikon will not be held liable for damages or lost profits that may result
from product malfunction.
Use Only Nikon Brand Electronic Accessories
Your Nikon COOLPIX camera is designed to the highest standards and includes com-
plex electronic circuitry. Only Nikon brand electronic accessories (including battery
chargers, batteries, and AC adapters) certified by Nikon specifically for use with your
Nikon digital camera are engineered and proven to operate within the operational and
safety requirements of this electronic circuitry.
THE USE OF NON-NIKON ELECTRONIC ACCESSORIES COULD DAMAGE YOUR CAMERA AND MAY VOID YOUR
NIKON WARRANTY.
For more information about Nikon brand accessories, contact your local authorized
Nikon dealer.

vii
Table of Contents
For Your Safety ................................................................................................ i
Cautions .......................................................................................................... iii
Notices ............................................................................................................ iv
Before You Begin .............................................................................................. 1
Introduction ..................................................................................................... 1
Parts of the Camera ......................................................................................... 2
The Monitor..................................................................................................... 4
The Mode Dial ................................................................................................. 6
Navigating the Menus...................................................................................... 7
The Shutter-Release Button .............................................................................. 7
First Steps .......................................................................................................... 8
Inserting Batteries ............................................................................................ 8
Inserting Memory Cards................................................................................... 10
Checking the Battery Level............................................................................... 12
Basic Setup ...................................................................................................... 14
Basic Photography ............................................................................................ 16
Step 1—Select Mode................................................................................ 16
Step 2—Frame the Picture ............................................................................... 18
Step 3—Focus and Shoot................................................................................. 20
Step 4—View the Results................................................................................. 22
More on Photography ...................................................................................... 24
When Lighting Is Poor: Using the Flash............................................................. 24
Taking a Self-Portrait: Using the Self-Timer ....................................................... 26
Easy Close-ups: Macro Close-up Mode............................................................. 27
Assist and Scene Modes................................................................................... 28
Framing Assist.................................................................................................. 29
Scene Mode............................................................................................ 34
More on Playback ............................................................................................. 38
Viewing Pictures on the Camera....................................................................... 38
The Picture Enhance Menu........................................................................... 40
Retouching Pictures.................................................................................. 41
Small Picture............................................................................................. 42
Cropping Pictures ..................................................................................... 43
Viewing Pictures on TV..................................................................................... 44
Viewing Pictures on a Computer ...................................................................... 45
Printing Pictures ............................................................................................... 48
Movies ............................................................................................................... 51
Recording Movies ....................................................................................... 51
Viewing Movies ............................................................................................... 53
Editing Movies ................................................................................................. 54

viii
Table of Contents
The Shooting Menu .......................................................................................... 56
Using the Shooting Menu ................................................................................ 56
Image Quality/Size............................................................................................ 58
White Balance ( Only) ............................................................................... 60
Exp. +/– ........................................................................................................... 62
Date Imprint .................................................................................................... 63
Continuous ( Only) ................................................................................... 64
Best Shot Selector ( Only).......................................................................... 65
Image Sharpening ( Only) ......................................................................... 66
CF Card Format................................................................................................ 67
The Playback Menu........................................................................................... 68
Using the Playback Menu................................................................................. 68
Slide Show....................................................................................................... 69
Delete.............................................................................................................. 72
Protect ............................................................................................................. 74
Auto Transfer ................................................................................................... 75
The Setup Menu................................................................................................ 77
Using the Setup Menu ..................................................................................... 77
Welcome Screen .............................................................................................. 78
Brightness........................................................................................................ 79
Volume ............................................................................................................ 79
Auto Off .......................................................................................................... 79
Video Mode..................................................................................................... 80
Reset All .......................................................................................................... 80
Technical Notes.................................................................................................. 81
Optional Accessories ........................................................................................ 81
Caring for Your Camera ................................................................................... 82
Error Messages................................................................................................. 84
Troubleshooting ............................................................................................... 87
Specifications................................................................................................... 90
Index ................................................................................................................. 92

1
Before You Begin
Introduction
Thank you for your purchase of a Nikon COOLPIX 3100 digital camera. This
manual has been written to help you enjoy taking pictures with your Nikon
digital camera. Read this manual thoroughly before use, and keep it handy
when using the product.
To make it easier to find the information you need, the following symbols
and conventions are used:
This icon marks cautions, informa-
tion you should read before use to
prevent damage to your camera.
This icon marks tips, additional
information you may find helpful
when using your camera.
This icon marks notes, information
that you should read before using
your camera.
This icon indicates that more infor-
mation is available elsewhere in this
manual or in the Quick Start Guide.
Life-Long Learning
As part of Nikon’s “Life-Long Learning” commitment to ongoing product support and
education, continually-updated information is available on-line at the following sites:
• For users in the U.S.A.: http://www.nikonusa.com/
• For users in Europe: http://www.nikon-euro.com/
• For users in Asia, Oceania, the Middle East, and Africa: http://www.nikon-asia.com/
Visit these sites to keep up-to-date with the latest product information, tips, answers
to frequently-asked questions (FAQs), and general advice on digital imaging and pho-
tography. Additional information may be available from the Nikon representative in
your area. See the URL below for contact information:
http://www.nikon-image.com/eng/

2
Parts of the Camera
Self-timer lamp ( 26)
Built-in Speedlight ( 24)
Viewfinder ( 18)
Lens ( 18)
Power switch ( 12)
Memory card slot cover
(10)
Eyelet for camera
strap
Shutter-release
button ( 7)
Power-on lamp ( 12)
Mode dial ( 6)
Attaching the Camera Strap

3
Before You Begin
Zoom ( / ) buttons
( 18)
USB ( 46)/
Video-out ( 44) connector
Multi selector( / / )
( 7)
(play/transfer)
button ( 22, 45)
Battery-
chamber
cover
(8)
Battery-chamber
cover latch ( 8)
Tripod socket
(25, 26)
(menu) button
( 56)
(monitor) button
( 5)
Monitor
(5, 18)
Viewfinder ( 18)
DC-in connector
(9)
Green (AF) lamp
( 20)
Red ( ) lamp ( 20)
Interface connector cover
(delete) button
( 22, 23)
Interface connector cover

4
Shooting
The Monitor
19
7
13
12
14
16
17
19
18
13
5
6
91011
4
8
15
2
1Zoom indicator1......................18
2Focus indicator........................20
3Recording indicator .................21
4“Date not set” icon2...............15
5Camera shake icon3................25
6Battery level indicator4.............12
7Self-timer indicator..................26
8Date imprint indicator .............63
9Number of exposures remaining/
length of movie...........16, 17, 51
10 Flash mode .............................24
11 Image quality/size indicator .....58
12 Exposure compensation ..........62
13 Sensitivity gain indicator5.........25
14 Continuous shooting mode.....64
15 Best Shot Selector (BSS)...........65
16 White balance.........................60
17 Macro close-up mode .............27
18 Image sharpening ...................66
19 Shooting mode ...................6, 16
1 Displayed when zoom buttons are pressed.
2 Appears when camera clock has not been set.
3 Appears at slow shutter speeds to warn that pic-
tures may be blurred.
4 Appears when batteries are running low.
5 Indicates that camera has raised sensitivity auto-
matically.

5
Before You Begin
Playback
1Current folder .........................23
2File number and type ..............23
3Battery level indicator1.............12
4Current frame number/
total number of frames ...........22
5Image quality/size indicator .....58
6Protect icon.............................74
7Print-order icon .......................48
8Transfer icon ...........................75
9Time of recording..............14–15
10 Date of recording..............14–15
1 Appears when batteries are running low.
Controlling the Monitor
To hide or display indicators in the monitor, press the button. In and
modes, you can also use the button to turn the monitor off.
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1
2
3
4
5
7
6
8
9
10
Monitor shows
current settings and
view through lens
Monitor shows view
through lens only
Monitor off
(and
modes only)
19

6
The Mode Dial
Using the mode dial, you can select from eight shooting modes and setup
mode. Choose a shooting mode according to shooting conditions.
To select a mode, align the mode icon with the
“ ” mark next to the mode dial.
Setup ( 77)
Choose this mode to dis-
play the setup menu, where
you can perform such tasks
as setting the camera clock
and adjusting monitor
brightness.
Manual ( 17, 56)
In addition to the shoot-
ing-menu options available
in auto mode, you have
access to such menu items
as white balance and image
sharpening.
Portrait Assist
Landscape Assist
Sports Assist
Night Portrait Assist
Use framing assist to help
compose pictures suited
to a particular type of
subject ( 28–33).
Auto ( 16)
A simple “point-and-shoot”
mode in which the majority
of camera settings are con-
trolled by the camera. Rec-
ommended for first-time us-
ers of digital cameras.
Scene ( 28, 34–37)
Choose from ten “scenes”
suited to different subjects
or shooting conditions and
let the camera do the rest.
Movie ( 51–52)
Make silent movies up to
40 s in length.

7
Before You Begin
Navigating the Menus
The multi selector is used to navigate through the camera menus.
Move cursor up
Cancel and return to previous
menu, or move cursor left
Make selection or
move cursor right
Move cursor down
The Shutter-Release Button
Your camera has a two stage shutter-release button. The camera sets focus
and exposure when the button is pressed halfway. The green (AF) lamp next
to the viewfinder will light when the focus operation is complete. Focus
and exposure will remain locked while the shutter-release button is pressed
halfway. To take the picture, press the shutter-release button the rest of the
way down.

8
Inserting Batteries
Your camera uses:
• Nikon EN-MH1 rechargeable nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries (×2), or
• non-rechargeable CRV3 lithium batteries (×1)
1Open the battery-chamber cover
Pressing the battery-chamber latch ( ; 1),
slide the battery-chamber cover out ( 2) and
flip it open ( 3).
2Insert the batteries Insert the batteries as shown in the label
inside the battery chamber.
3Close the battery-chamber cover Close the battery-chamber cover ( 1) and
slide it in until it latches ( 2). Be sure that the
battery-chamber cover is properly latched.
CRV3
EN-MH1/AA
1
2
3
1
2

9
First Steps
• Batteries with a flat negative terminal. Do not use
such batteries even if the insulation adequately covers
the area around the negative terminal.
Replacing Batteries
Turn the camera off and make sure that the power-on lamp has gone out before
removing or inserting batteries.
Read Battery Warnings
Read and follow all warnings and instructions supplied by the battery manu-
facturer.
Damaged Batteries
The following batteries can not be used:
• Batteries with peeling or damaged insulation. Using
batteries with damaged insulation could result in
leakage, overheating, or rupture. Note that due to
manufacturing defects even new batteries may have
faulty insulation.
• Batteries with insulation that covers only the sides
of the battery and not the area around the negative
terminal.
EN-MH1 Batteries
Using an MH-70 battery charger, charge EN-MH1 batteries before first use. Charge
each pair of batteries at the same time—do not charge batteries one at a time or mix
batteries with different charges. Note that EN-MH1 batteries may discharge quickly
immediately after purchase or after the batteries have been left unused for an extend-
ed period. This is normal, and the batteries will retain a charge for longer periods after
being used and recharged several times. For more information on charging batteries,
see the documentation provided with the MH-70.
Alternative Power Sources
• To power the camera continuously for extended periods, use an EH-61 AC adapter
( 81). Do not, under any circumstances, use another make or model of AC
adapter. Failure to observe this precaution could result in overheating or in damage
to the camera.
• We recommend that you buy CRV3 lithium batteries as a back-up power source.
• The camera can also be used with a pair of ZR6 (AA) nickel-manganese batteries or
FR6/L91 (AA) lithium batteries.

10
Inserting Memory Cards
Your Nikon digital camera stores pictures on CompactFlash™memory cards.
1Confirm that the camera is off The power-on lamp should be off.
2Open the memory card slot cover
3Insert the memory card Insert the memory card in the direction of the
arrow as shown in the label on the underside
of the memory card slot cover. The memory
card is fully inserted when the eject button is
level with the top of the memory card.
Inserting Memory Cards
Insert the memory card terminals first. In-
serting the card upside down or backwards
could damage the camera or the card.
Check to be sure the card is in the correct
orientation.
4Close the memory card slot cover
Front
Direction of
insertion
Terminals