Nikon D100 DSLR Camera (Discontinued by Manufacturer)

Amazon.com As digital imaging continues to make inroads into the world of professional photography, Nikon's release of the D100 proves that far from being a flash in the pan, digital SLRs really can make a valuable contribution. Styled around the more traditional N80, the D100 has a full-featured body, is nicely weighted and considerably lighter than you might expect, given the amount of technology that's packed into it. The controls are nicely situated, and navigating through the settings using the provided four-way movement pad becomes second nature very quickly. Picture preview comes courtesy of the built-in 1.8-inch LCD screen, which allows for a cursory check of any pictures taken. Unlike earlier Nikon products, it's not possible to use the screen on the D100 as an alternate viewfinder, restricting its use in tight situations, but the results through the "traditional" viewfinder are perfectly adequate. As you would expect from a 6-megapixel camera, the image quality is superb at all levels, from the highest resolution (a mighty 3,008 x 2,000 pixels) down to a less intense 1,504 x 1,000 pixels. At any resolution, the output images are really very good, color saturation is well up to par, and overall the results stand up well. On the downside, perfectionists may well find there's a tiny amount less definition, but there's nothing here to raise anything approaching serious issues. Power is provided from a supplied rechargeable battery pack, which is both light and long lasting--up to a maximum of two hours, depending on flash usage. To recharge from empty takes around two hours, so it would be worth investing in a second pack. The D100 takes Type I and II CompactFlash as well as Microdrive units, which are invaluable for users looking to take any more than a handful of pictures in a single session. Our tests showed a 256 MB CF card could handle around 40 high-resolution uncompressed TIFF images, suddenly making a 1 GB Microdrive look extremely attractive. The built-in flash unit, which pops up above the lens, is powerful and efficient, proving effective in a variety of conditions. Unlike many digital cameras, it only fires a single flash, effectively reducing red-eye without sacrificing performance. It's difficult not to be impressed by the D100. It's a stylish and good-looking camera that proves that beauty isn't just skin deep by providing results well above expectation. The inclusion of the fast-charge battery pack means downtime is kept to a minimum, and the software packages provided by Nikon (including NikonView 5) make it easy to manipulate your images and save them out to hard drive, CD, or DVD. This is not a cheap buy, especially when you consider the base price excludes any form of lens, but for those with deep pockets the D100 is a force to be reckoned with. --Elly Russell Pros: Superb image quality--up to 3,008 x 2,000 pixels Nicely weighted, full-featured body Compatible with Microdrives Cons: Noticed a bit less definition to images From the Manufacturer Developed to meet the growing needs of the advanced digital SLR market, the Nikon D100 digital SLR camera provides compact and lightweight design, and is loaded with exciting high-performance features. Taking its place alongside the successful D1H and D1X models, the D100 will appeal to customers ranging from advanced amateurs who enjoy both great pictures and the process of making them, to people with needs for photography in their business profession. The D100 features sophisticated digital image control technology; exclusive, high-performance Nikon features such as 3-D matrix metering; five-area dynamic autofocus with focus tracking and lock-on; plus, the convenience and performance of a new built-in Speedlight which features D-TTL flash control capability. And of course, the D100 provides full compatibility with more than 40 AF Nikkor lenses, as well as numerous other Nikon accessories, including a new multifunction battery pack and a new Nikon Capture 3 software. Feature include: 6.1 effective megapixels for 3,008 x 2,000-pixel images New CCD sensor is the same size as that of D1 series SLRs (lens image coverage factor x1.5) 3-D digital matrix image control for precise exposure control, TTL auto white balance, and optimal color accuracy High-performance built-in Speedlight with D-TTL flash control for multisensor balanced fill-flash and manual control On-demand grid lines can be displayed in viewfinder Top shutter speed of 1/4,000 second and flash sync speed up to 1/180 second Compatible with Type I and Type II CompactFlash memory cards, including 512 MB/1 GB IBM Microdrives