Nikon D3000

	Resolution Summary
• Barrel distortion problem with kit lens at wide angle, acceptable results at other focal lengths • Generally unimpressive sharpness results, particularly at full zoom • Offers RAW shooting with in-camera processing • Middle-of-the-pack dynamic range results • In-lens image stabilization system effectively reduces blur
	Noise	Page 5 of 17	White Balance

Resolution (7.36)

There are three components to our resolution testing: distortion, chromatic aberration and sharpness. For SLRs we don't include the distortion result in our scoring, but we do report on the result using the kit lens. In this case, the 18-55mm VR lens produced easily noticeable barrel distortion at wide angles. Even without that negative factor, the D3000 didn't score very well in our resolution testing. The sharpness score was only marginally higher than the disappointing results we saw with the Nikon D5000, and the chromatic aberration results were essentially the same. We test resolution by shooting a slant-line chart under bright 3000 lux illumination and analyzing the resulting images using Imatest software, producing a result that's independent of raw megapixel count.  Click here for more on how we test resolution.

Distortion
The kit lens showed significant flaws at the widest setting, measuring 3.17% barrel distortion. At the midrange and full telephoto, though, distortion was negligible.

Chromatic Aberration
The worst chromatic aberration occurs at the widest lens setting, with horizontal fringing that escalates as you move outward from the center of the lens. When not shooting at the widest angle, though, chromatic aberration falls within an acceptable range.

Sharpness
The top sharpness results were found in the center of shots taken at the widest-angle setting, with 1388 lw/ph horizontally and 1375 vertically. Performance was very similar when shooting at the midrange, but images became much softer when shooting at full zoom.

The tables below include actual-size crops taken from our test images at three focal lengths, with three aperture settings at each distance.

	Image Sharpness and Chromatic Aberration
	f/3.5			f/9			f/22
18mm

At the 18mm setting we find good sharpness in the center, falling off somewhat with the lens fully stopped down. There is noticeable color fringing along the outer edges at all of the aperture settings.

	Image Sharpness and Chromatic Aberration
	f/5			f/13			f/32
35mm

At 35mm chromatic aberration becomes less of a problem, but the slanted edges are quite soft, even in the center except when the lens is wide open.

	Image Sharpness and Chromatic Aberration
	f/5.6			f/14			f/36
55mm

The chromatic aberration is effectively gone but the softness is at its peek when shooting at full zoom.

While the overall resolution score for the Nikon D3000 is slightly better than we found for the D5000, it still lags behind the other comparison cameras by a significant margin.

Resolution Score Comparison

NOTE: We updated our testing and scoring procedures in January 2009. For comparison purposes, we re-tested several cameras we'd reviewed in 2008, producing the scores shown in the chart above for the Canon Rebel XS. However, the scores in the original reviews for the re-tested cameras remain unchanged, for consistency's sake.

Picture Quality & Size Options (8.15)

The D3000 offers three image size settings:

There are three JPEG compression settings: fine (approximately 1:4), normal (approximately 1:8) and basic (approximately 1:16).

The D3000 also supports RAW files in the Nikon NEF format, either on their own or in RAW+JPEG mode. Only basic JPEG images can be recorded in RAW+JPEG mode, though.

Dynamic Range (6.55)

The Nikon D300 dynamic range performance isn't a train wreck by any means -- those usually occur with smaller-sensor cameras such as the Olympus E-620 -- but it's nothing to brag about either. When shooting high-contrast subjects, the camera will do a fair job of maintaining detail in both the highlights and the shadows.

We test dynamic range by shooting a 20-patch Kodak Stepchart at each standard ISO setting, then use Imatest to analyze how many individual patches were distinguished in each test shot, and calculate an aggregate score. Click here for more on how we test dynamic range.

Dynamic Range

Dynamic range inevitably decreases as ISOs rise. The progression here is very similar to what we found when testing the Nikon D5000, except that the D5000 started with a significantly higher range at ISO 200 (7.46 stops versus 6.22 for the D3000 at the same setting), and maintained this advantage throughout the ISO settings.

Dynamic Range Comparison

The D3000 is less able to deal with high-contrast situations than most of the other tested cameras, though the difference is nowhere near as significant as the gap between he rest of the pack and the Olympus E-620, where image noise overwhelmed the ability to pick out clear distinctions on the dynamic range stepchart.

Dynamic Range Score Comparison

NOTE: We updated our testing and scoring procedures in January 2009. For comparison purposes, we re-tested several cameras we'd reviewed in 2008, producing the scores shown in the chart above for the Canon Rebel XS. However, the scores in the original reviews for the re-tested cameras remain unchanged, for consistency's sake.

Image Stabilization (7.54)

Unlike the Nikon D40, the D3000 ships with an image-stabilized lens, the 18-55mm Nikkor VR, and in our testing we found that the vibration reduction system produced significantly sharper images when used under relatively low-shake conditions, and was somewhat helpful with more intense camera movement.

To test image stabilization we mount the camera on a custom computer-controlled rig, which produces repeatable movement patterns. We've programmed it for a low-level shake (about what you'd get when the average person shooting handheld) and high-shake (which might occur if you were moving and shooting at the same time). For each shake pattern, we take a series of test photos at a range of shutter speeds, with and without the image stabilization system engaged, and compare the blur levels in each batch, using Imatest software to analyze the images. In addition to testing two levels of shake, we perform separate tests for horizontal and vertical camera movements. Click here for more on how we test image stabilization.

Nikon D3000 Image Stabilization: Low Shake
Horizontal: Sharpness Vs Shutter Speed	Vertical: Sharpness Vs Shutter Speed

Under low shake conditions, the image stabilization system produced a worthwhile improvement at most shutter speeds for both horizontal and vertical movement.

Nikon D3000 Image Stabilization: High Shake
Horizontal: Sharpness Vs Shutter Speed	Vertical: Sharpness Vs Shutter Speed

When we cranked up the camera movement the VR lens was less effective, though there is still a definite gain when combating vertical movement at relatively high shutter speeds. It's also worth noting that, unlike some cameras we've tested, there's essentially no harm done leaving the image stabilization system engaged at any shutter speed.

The D3000 received an exceptionally high score in this test. The Canon Rebel XS was tested before our image stabilization testing procedures were finalized, so it is not included in the score comparison graph below.

Image Stabilization Score Comparison

The chart below includes representative same-size crops taken from our image stabilization testing, to help visualize the actual differences involved.

	Image Stabilization Comparison Table
	Low Shake IS Off	Low Shake IS On	High Shake IS Off	High Shake IS On
1/500
1/250
1/125
1/60
1/30
1/15
1/8