I bought the Nikon D3100 camera along with the 18-55mm AF-S lens kit back in May and have been a keen user ever since. I wanted a camera that was easy to use so that I could start to take good pictures straight away and learn more of the camera's functions as I went along.

The first thing I noticed when I opened the box was that ther was no instruction manual. I panicked a little thinking how could I possibly figure out how to use this camera, only to notice that the manual is in fact provided on a CD-Rom.

Assembly of the camera is incredibly straightforward. Simply remove the caps from both the camera and the lens, put the lens in place and twist to secure it.

Pictures can be taken from then on by simply selecting the auto function on the picture dial. This means you simply point, allow the camera to focus and then click to take the shot. Once you become more familiar you can use more of the presets for different shots, for example portrait or macro shots.

I have begun to use the manual settings now and so far have found the settings easy to find and alter and the general menus easy to navigate. Some of the pictures I have taken are really impressive (probably more fluke than anything!), but the D3100 does make it easy to take good pictures right from the outset.

The battery life is okay, but can drain quickly on longer sessions. I purchased an additional battery and a dual-battery grip to extend the battery life when in use for longer periods.