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Nikon D3000 PDF User Manual

Did you lose or misplace the instruction manual that came with your Nikon D3000? It happens all too easily, but fortunately Nikon makes a soft copy available that you can browse through online, print out, or download (see the pdf file below). It is certainly good practice to carefully familiarize oneself with the many different functionalities and options that the D3000 offers, and the official user manual is without doubt an authoritative and comprehensive source of respective information.

That said, the instruction booklet can be a dry read, so that a dedicated camera guide book from a professional photographer that illustrates the camera's core functions in a real life photography context can be a very helpful complement. Yes, getting one of these camera guides (see here at amazon) would involve an additional expense, but if that book helps to exploit the camera's potential to the full, the (small) additional investment may well be worth it.

Also, you might want to check out the video tutorial on the Nikon D3000 below.

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In any case, the D3000 is an advanced imaging tool, whose many features merit serious attention. This DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) camera was revealed to the public on July 30th, 2009, which means that, as of today, the camera is 5598 days old (young?). The camera has meanwhile been discontinued and was succeeded by the Nikon D3100 as a replacement in the same line of cameras.

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Nikon's reference manual for the D3000

The camera's reference manual is 216 pages long. The pdf version is embedded below. As you browse through, you will hopefully find the information you are looking for. You can also print out a hard copy by right clicking on the manual and then choosing the respective menu option. For convenience, a summary of the key specs of the D3000 is included towards the bottom of this webpage.

Don't forget to bookmark this page for future reference (Ctrl-Shift-D on a Windows PC; Cmd-Shift-D on a Mac). Happy browsing!

Click on the button below to download the pdf version of the Nikon D3000 manual to your computer. The file will open in a new browser window.

Download the Manual

If you prefer to read the user guide in another language, please check the respective availability on Nikon's support site. That site also provides complementary online resources, such as information on the compatibility of various camera accessories or the availability of firmware updates that are not necessarily comprehensively covered in the instruction manual.

Printed, hardcopy versions of the Nikon D3000 manual can sometimes be found online. You can check the availability on amazon and ebay via the buttons below.

amazon.com ebay.com

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Video tutorial for the Nikon D3000

Perhaps instead of reading through a manual or operations guide, you might prefer to better familiarize yourself with your D3000 by watching a video tutorial. It can notably help to quickly get to know the key functions and to set up your camera according to your particular preferences and needs.

Once again, the Nikon D3000 is a sophisticated imaging tool and not exploiting its capabilities to the full would be a pity. Hence, taking the time to study online information material or to read through a well-written camera guide book is highly recommended to make the most of your purchase.

Find D3000 guide book at
amazon.com

Nikon D3000 FAQ

Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the D3000.

What technology is the imaging sensor in the Nikon D3000 based on?

The camera is build around a CCD (Charged Coupled Device) sensor.

Which image processing chip is used in the Nikon D3000 to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?

Nikon equipped the D3000 with the EXPEED image processor.

What is the ISO sensitivity range of the Nikon D3000?

The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 1600.

What is the life expectancy of the shutter in the Nikon D3000?

Nikon mentions a shutter rating of 100 000 actuations for the D3000. This number represents a Mean Time before Failure, that is an average value. The shutter might fail earlier, or it might last longer. Anyway, in order to exhaust the expected shutter life of the D3000 over, say, three years, one would have to take about 100 pictures each and every day.

How do I find the shutter count on my Nikon D3000?

Nikon embeds the number of shutter actuations in image metadata. You can check the number of shots that your D3000 has taken up to now by uploading a recent image to the free online shutter count finder app.

Does the Nikon D3000 feature an autofocus assist light?

Yes, the camera has a lamp built-in that can illuminate the subject and improve autofocus in low-light settings.

What is the fastest shutter speed that can be used with the Nikon D3000 for flash photography?

The D3000's flash sync speed is 1/200 sec.

Which battery does the Nikon D3000 use?

The camera gets its power from the Nikon EN-EL9a (here at amazon), which is a rechargeable Lithium-Ion power pack.

Is there a vertical grip available for the Nikon D3000?

Nikon does not offer an optional battery grip, but third party suppliers do (see here on ebay).

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Further reading

How does the D3000 stack up against available alternatives? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities with other camera models, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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    Core camera specifications

    Here is a list of the main features and technical characteristics of the Nikon D3000.

    Specifications Summary
    Camera Model Nikon D3000
    Camera Type Digital single lens reflex
    Camera Lens Nikon F mount lenses
    Launch Date July 2009
    Launch Price USD 599
    Sensor Specs
    Sensor Technology CCD
    Sensor Format APS-C Sensor
    Sensor Size 23.6 x 15.8 mm
    Sensor Area 373 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 28.4 mm
    Crop Factor 1.5x
    Sensor Resolution 10 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 3 872 x 2 592 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 6.11 μm
    Pixel Density 2.69 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability no Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 1 600 ISO
    ISO Boost 100 - 3 200 ISO
    Image Processor EXPEED
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 62
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 22.3
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 11.1
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 563
    Screen Specs
    Viewfinder Type Optical viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 95%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.53x
    Top-Level Screen no Top Display
    LCD Size 3.0 inch
    LCD Resolution 230k dots
    LCD Attachment Fixed screen
    Touch Input No touchscreen
    Shooting Specs
    Focus System Phase-detect AF
    Manual Focusing Aidno Peaking Feature
    Maximum Shutter Speed 1/4000s
    Continuous Shooting 3 shutter flaps/s
    Shutter Life Expectancy100 000 actuations
    Silent Shootingno E-Shutter
    Time Lapse Photographyno Intervalometer
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium SDHC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot
    UHS card support no
    Connectivity Specs
    External Flash Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0
    HDMI Port no HDMI
    Wifi Support no Wifi
    Body Specs
    Battery Type Nikon EN-EL9a power pack
    Battery Life (CIPA)500 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 126 x 97 x 64 mm
    (5.0 x 3.8 x 2.5 in)
    Camera Weight 536 g (18.9 oz)

    Did you notice an error on this page? If so, please get in touch, so that we can correct the information.

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