I call the Nikon D100 the "VOLVO" of digital SLR cameras. It is safe and rugged, and once you buy one, you cannot buy any other. I bought the D100 about 3 months ago, and after test-driving it for a few months, I have been very happy with it.

Photography has been my hobby for the past 12 years. I am an avid (and loyal) Nikon user, being the owner of the N70, N90, F4, and F5 35mm SLR cameras (yes, I have a thing for Nikon). Therefore, it is almost logical for me to stick with the Nikon brand, and hope that the lenses are interchangeable.

I was quite skeptical about the capabilities of digital cameras, and I never thought digital technology will be able to catch up to film resolution for a while. Until now. I have to say that the Nikon D100 convinced me to take the first steps towards the digital revolution.

Now, I primarily use the Nikon D100, and use my film cameras as back-up. I've only used my film cameras during rainy days, so that my new toy/investment would not get wet.

I've made a brief list of what I noticed about the D100.

Pros:
-instant on
-fast response
-nice fit in [my] hand; very ergonomic
-superb resolution
-default pictures have higher contrast
-compatible with Nikon lenses, especially the Nikor F mount lens
-LCD monitor cover comes with the camera(Thanks, Nikon!)

Cons:
-6MP, compared to the 8MP of the Canon (20D and 350D)
-moire effects
-no firewire connection
-does not properly tag JPEG images with correct color profile; have to use Nikon View software to separate images for full Adobe compatibility

One camera that almost swayed me away was the Canon EOS 20D. I was fortunate to have friends who have these cameras, so I was able to make a head-to-head comparison of the Nikon vs. the Canon, and the pictures and features "side-by-side." The pros and cons of each camera balance each other out, so in the end, it all comes down to personal preference, and what you like or dislike about these cameras.

For me, it was because of loyalty* and investment. I saved a few thousand dollars because my lenses (especially the Nikor F mount lens) are compatible with the Nikon D100 (I was informed that they are also compatible with the D70, but that is second-hand information).

Conclusion: The Nikon D100 is a great camera, which is cheap enough for the amateur photographer, and advanced enough for the professional photographer.

Footnotes:

* Loyalty did not come instantly. Like I said earlier, I have been a photographer (and therefore camera enthusiast) for 12 years, and it took me a few years to appreciate a good camera.

The Nikon D100 is an excellent digital camera. I consider myself an advanced amateur and I bought the camera almost two years ago. I chose the D100 because I was very happy with the Nikon Coolpix 5000 and because of Nikon's reputation. The 6MP CCD sensor captures images with brilliant color and clarity. No one can tell that my photos are digital. I have enlarged photos up to 20x30 inches and it is still impossible to tell the photos are digital. After purchasing this camera, I hardly ever use my film SLR's.

The Nikon D100 was designed based on the Nikon N80. The D100 has a rugged, well-designed body. There is a large, bright LCD screen on the rear of the camera. The LCD is used for reviewing photos and changing settings. (Most digital SLR's use the LCD similarly.) The viewfinder must be used for taking photos. Most of the camera settings may be changed using the controls on the body or scrolling through the LCD. The camera uses compact flash memory cards which are readily available and is also compatible with microdrives. I prefer the faster speed 1GB compact flash cards.

The D100 comes with a rechargeable battery, battery charger, camera strap, manual, USB cable, AV cable and Nikon View software. The Nikon View software is used to transfer photos from the camera to the computer and has a few basic photo-editing tools. I recommend purchasing a compact flash reader for the computer. Nikon Capture software is also available separately. Nikon Capture is a powerful photo-editing program made specifically for the Nikon digital SLR's. Aside from photo-editing, Nikon Capture allows the photographer to connect the D100 to a computer without a compact flash card. Photos are stored directly onto the computer hard drive. Other features of the Nikon Capture software include changing camera settings and taking photos without touching the camera. Everything can be controlled from the computer. This is convenient for studio photographers. The battery life is amazing. I purchased an extra battery and usually charge the batteries after several months. The AV cable is a nice accessory because it can be used to display photos on the television in a slideshow mode.

Photos taken at the fine resolution (6 MP) are very sharp and detailed. There are three formats for photos - raw, jpeg and tiff. I have purchased several 1GB faster speed compact flash cards and I usually keep my camera at the large jpeg and fine setting. I have taken beautiful photographs in the raw setting as well. The enclosed Nikon View software allows the user to edit the photo without changing the file. The Nikon Capture software has far more editing tools and functions than Nikon View. I would recommend using faster speed compact flash cards in the raw setting, otherwise the camera sometimes lags when the buffer is full. (This only happens if more than six photos in the raw setting using a traditional, slower compact flash card are taken within a few seconds.) I seldom take photos in the tiff format. (Tiff is basically an uncompressed jpeg file.)

Nikon is famous for both cameras and lenses and has a large variety of lenses and accessories. After purchasing the D100, I bought a 24-85mm zoom lens, 28-300mm telephoto lens, 60mm macro lens, 1.5x teleconverter and SB-50 external flash unit. One zoom lens may be sufficient for amateurs. The three lenses have been more than sufficient for my needs. (I seldom use the teleconverter.) I may add a wide angle lens to my collection. When purchasing lenses for the D100 (or most other digital SLR's with CCD sensors), it is important to note that there is a 1.5x conversion factor (i.e., a 24-85mm lens becomes a 36-127.5mm lens). The conversion factor is great for distant subjects but may be inconvenient for close subjects. Nikon has released a series of DX lenses specifically to address this issue.

Other items that I bought after purchasing the D100, include the Canon i9100 photo printer and Adobe Photoshop. I used Photoshop LE before purchasing the D100 and decided to upgrade to the full version of Photoshop after my purchase. I use Photoshop for almost all my photo-editing. I only use Nikon View for photos in the raw format. Most of the time, I edit the raw photos as needed in Nikon View and then convert the raw photos into jpeg. The newer version of Photoshop CS is able to read the Nikon raw format. Adobe Photoshop Elements may be sufficient for most amateurs but Photoshop is more powerful and fun to use. The Canon i9100 prints stunning photos but it can be expensive to print photos at home. The ink cartridges and photo paper can become expensive over time. I print at home when I need a few sample photographs or I need the photos immediately. Most of the time, I print my digital photos at Costco One Hour Photo. The photos are reasonably priced and available within an hour. Similar photo processing services are now available at drugstores, grocery stores and discount department stores. It is also convenient for photographers who do not want to deal with the entire photo-editing and processing situation.

I recommend the Nikon D100 for advanced amateurs and professionals. The camera takes beautiful photos and is definitely a good investment. I learned a lot about digital photography and photography in general after purchasing this camera. I love this camera so much that I will probably never use film again.

This is a good camera, but it's a little behind the times. The only real complaint is the requirement to purchase a special adapter to use commerical lights etc.

The software and features are also a little dated, but it's still a pretty good deal overall, if you cant spend 5 Grand on a camera (The new DX2) it's a good choice.

Next year they are supposed to be bringing out updated pro-sumer SLR's but I still think the camera is a great value for your money.

[...]

[...]

Good luck, great camera.

As a serious amateur (means limited budget), the D100 was chosen for several reasons. 1. It would take all my Nikon lenses and resembled the layout and feel of my F80 (N80). 2. It is compatible with my SB28DX flash and has a cable release on the shutter button. 3. It has been out long enough (post Nikon D70) to have come down in price, and many are available second hand. 4. It has USB for down loading, and produces excellent 8 by 10's on my inexpensive ink jet printer. 5. The Nikon Viewer software is very user friendly, and links to Adobe Photoshop. 6. It produces RAW (NEF) files (nearly 10Mb!) and they make fabulous 11 by 17's at the commmercial labs. 7. Yes, it is heavier than my Sony DSCV1, but it is worth it. All in all I am very satisfied: compared to film...instant gratification!

I've always been an avid Nikon user. And from now on I'm even more than ever!
I haven’t been able to put it down since buying it in July, 2004.

The picture quality & clarity is amazing, as if you’re actually there in the photo!
I’ve flown front seat in a helicopter this summer and took some great arial photos! "National Geographic Magazine" here I come!!!

This baby has a lot of great functions!
The quick speed of the playback monitor & deletion of unwanted photos are must-have functions! It's nice to have only good photos, rather than over-exposed trash. I’ve been able to take so many photos with this thing, I don’t know what I’ll be doing with my F90X and the rest of my other film cameras. There’s no end to the imagination with the D100. With my F90X, the colors and effects are lost during the development of the film and the printing of the photo. Having the D100, I’ll have less worry over my photo’s results.

During my partner's 25-day business trip, he only shot about 362 photos out of 598 & only recharged the battery once. Spares come in handy, that's for sure! I have a 20-35mm. f/2.8D Zoom lens. I used that baby left and right with the F90X and it seems to be the perfect lens for the D100 (FYI…this lens is discontinued and has been replaced by a 17-35 f/2.8D).
Our D100 is loaded with a 1Gb memory card that gives me 598 frames configured as jpeg normal, large (3,008 X 2,000) Pixels.

Battery life is excellent. We don’t have to change the battery all that much, and when we do, it recharges quite promptly. If you don’t play with the monitor frequently you should be able to take about 1600 shots on 1 battery.
Obviously, frequent use of the Monitor takes up a lot of battery juice. I try not to use the monitor much because of just that. Owning this Baby is fantastic, because it’s saving us a bundle of money on film & reprints.
If our friends ask for a copy of a photo/s, we just email them out and it’s done! No more waiting on Friday afternoons at the photo lab!

Some Good Technical Points about the D100:
- Dynamic-Area AF (Auto Focus): Useful when you have an erratically moving subject. The focus will readjust itself.
- You can adjust the ISO sensitivity from 200 to 1600 and HI-1 and HI-2. Trust me, it works great with proper use!
- White Balance: (the color of light reflected from any object). The white balance makes sure that whites are whites in any given situation instead of coming out a shade of gray.
- AF-Assist Eliminator: It helps the camera Auto-focus on a poorly lit subject by sending a beam of light on the subject to help the focussing process.
- Memory Buffer: is extremely quick for fast, consecutive shots.
- Comfortable to hold in right hand
- Fairly Light, depending on the lens used
- You can input comments on the monitor, with the keyboard area, to the comment area and attach it to your picture.
- All Nikkor lenses are compatible with the D100, depending on the nature of the lens. Some minor adjustments or compensations or different settings may need to occur. (out of focus or manual lens, AF-S, AF-I Nikkor lenses etc…)
- True to life color photos

Photo Manipulation:
Each photo, when uploaded to the computer is about 1.5Mb in size.
With the use of Photoshop, I usually have to make only minor adjustments to the levels, depending on what needs to be enhanced. With the D100, I’ve tried taking photos indoors without the flash, but it doesn’t guarantee clarity unless you crank up the ISO sensitivity, and use the noise reducer. You may find yourself needing to use the flash indoors, more often, because it will most likely result in a blurred or distorted photo. With the D100, I'm able to capture indoor images I've only dreamt of, and didn't need to use slow speeds and a tripod.

Our first Nikon was the F1 standard model with a Photomic Head, in 1969. I've had many disappointments with my non-digital Nikon models because of multiple visits to the repairman, resulting in the carbon track in the Photometer being worn out & couldn't be replaced. That would explain why all my photos were always over-exposed. I’ve always had wrong readings.

My partner’s decision to switch to digital was one of his greatest purchases within the past year, among other things! I suggest you invest in this camera because you won’t be sorry!

My girlfriend purchased this camera for me for my birthday about 2 years ago, and I fell in love with it immediately. I'd already owned a Nikon 8008 film camera and was thinking of going digital anyway. But I'd recently spent a lot of money on new camera lenses for my SLR and didn't want to just lose out on the funds I'd expended. Amazingly, the Nikon D100 adapts my lenses to its frame and I can still use them! Awesome!

I would argue, though, that this camera is compact. It isn't. It's just as large as my 8008, but I don't mind that. I like the feel of a bulky camera in my hands. It feels firm and I have something substantial to hang onto. I've see these tiny little digitals that have buttons the size of pinheads on them and they drive me crazy! I'm a big guy (6'3, 250 pounds), so I need something bigger. Thankfully the D100 was (is) the answer.

I also enjoy the large view screen on the back of the camera, giving me a peek at the image I just took.

There is some controversy still surrounding digital imaging and printing. One group of photographers say that printing on a home printer is too expensive (ink and paper costs), while another group says that film is too expensive because you can't delete what you shoot, can't pick and choose which images to have developed; you've gotta pay for them all. I'm in the latter group. Although photo paper and ink cartridges are expensive, being able to delete images and select only the very best for printing far surpasses the film option in both convenience and cost.

This is a fantastic camera. But a friend of mine just purchased the D70 model (the latest and greatest Nikon Digital Camera), and boy does that one look nice, too! Hmm. What to do?

Now that Nikon and the rest have all moved on with the latest and greatest, this camera has come down in price enough to make it a good buy or at least worth a second look, for the serious amateur. It also makes a great entry-level pro camera.

Though its metal frame makes it heavier than most of its newer siblings, the solid construction of the D100 make it durable in even the most rugged conditions. With the addition of a new VR lens, it becomes an unbeatable digital SLR, especially for the price. While lacking some of the bells and whistles of the latest Nikon cadillacs, it's a sold performer and still easily competes in the most important category: image quality. Pictures are sharp and bright and the "purple" edging from which so many digicams and digital SLR pictures suffer, is unnoticable without serious magnification.

A single caveat here. As with most digital cameras these days, there are numerous functions accessible by a number of buttons and dials on the body, and even more through menu options. This is not a camera you can put in the closet for a couple months and expect to easily remember how to use when you pick it up again.

As a digital SLR, it does not fall prey to the dreaded shutter lag of digicams, of which the Nikon Coolpix line is the worst offender. If you're looking to upgrade from a simple point and shoot camera or are advancing in your career as a serious amateur, this unit cannot be recommended highly enough.

I call the Nikon D100 the "VOLVO" of digital SLR cameras. It is safe and rugged, and once you buy one, you cannot buy any other. I bought the D100 about 3 months ago, and after test-driving it for a few months, I have been very happy with it.

Photography has been my hobby for the past 12 years. I am an avid (and loyal) Nikon user, being the owner of the N70, N90, F4, and F5 35mm SLR cameras (yes, I have a thing for Nikon). Therefore, it is almost logical for me to stick with the Nikon brand, and hope that the lenses are interchangeable.

I was quite skeptical about the capabilities of digital cameras, and I never thought digital technology will be able to catch up to film resolution for a while. Until now. I have to say that the Nikon D100 convinced me to take the first steps towards the digital revolution.

Now, I primarily use the Nikon D100, and use my film cameras as back-up. I've only used my film cameras during rainy days, so that my new toy/investment would not get wet.

I've made a brief list of what I noticed about the D100.

Pros:
-instant on
-fast response
-nice fit in [my] hand; very ergonomic
-superb resolution
-default pictures have higher contrast
-compatible with Nikon lenses, especially the Nikor F mount lens
-LCD monitor cover comes with the camera(Thanks, Nikon!)

Cons:
-6MP, compared to the 8MP of the Canon (20D and 350D)
-moire effects
-no firewire connection
-does not properly tag JPEG images with correct color profile; have to use Nikon View software to separate images for full Adobe compatibility

One camera that almost swayed me away was the Canon EOS 20D. I was fortunate to have friends who have these cameras, so I was able to make a head-to-head comparison of the Nikon vs. the Canon, and the pictures and features "side-by-side." The pros and cons of each camera balance each other out, so in the end, it all comes down to personal preference, and what you like or dislike about these cameras.

For me, it was because of loyalty* and investment. I saved a few thousand dollars because my lenses (especially the Nikor F mount lens) are compatible with the Nikon D100 (I was informed that they are also compatible with the D70, but that is second-hand information).

Conclusion: The Nikon D100 is a great camera, which is cheap enough for the amateur photographer, and advanced enough for the professional photographer.

Footnotes:

* Loyalty did not come instantly. Like I said earlier, I have been a photographer (and therefore camera enthusiast) for 12 years, and it took me a few years to appreciate a good camera.