The Nikon Coolpix comes with a 3.2-megapixel CCD, 3x optical zoom and a good range of basic features needed for quick and easy shooting. One of the smallest in this round-up, the Nikon Coolpix 3100 is slightly larger than a credit card and about an inch and half thick. Its build quality is good and it will make an excellent travel accessory, easily fitting into a purse or a pocket.
Operating mainly under automatic control, the rear-panel layout is simple. It offers a range of scene and exposure modes, but does not allow the user to control the aperture or shutter speed directly. The 3100 uses CF cards to store images, but the 16MB supplied memory can hold only one picture at max resolution.
Though small size is typically considered to be a bonus for a camera, the 3100 feels cramped if used in both hands, the four-directional controller becoming tiresome after operation.
The Coolpix 3100 is a point-and-shoot camera geared to be pulled out and used anytime and taken anywhere, but it takes a moment to orient the hands on the small chassis.