The Nikon Coolpix 3100 is a 3-megapixel compact digital camera released in 2003. Several common problems may be experienced with the 3100 that will keep it from operating as intended. When these problems arise, troubleshoot the camera and attempt to fix it yourself to avoid the time and money it takes to send it to a repair technician.
Strange Characters on the Monitor
The 3100 is an electronic device that is subject to external static charges. Static charges that have an effect on the camera often manifest themselves as strange characters on the monitor, or in the camera becoming unresponsive. To release the static charge buildup on the components in the camera, power down the device and remove the batteries for several seconds. If the 3100 is plugged into an AC adapter, unplug the adapter from the camera. Reinsert the batteries or plug the adapter back into the camera and turn it on. You should be able to use the camera as normal.
Camera Turns Off By Itself
The 3100 may power down by itself due to a problem with the battery. In most cases, the batteries are exhausted and need to be replaced or recharged. Place fresh batteries in the camera and resume using it as normal.
Another cause of your camera shutting down by itself is cold batteries. Cold batteries will lose a portion of their charge and the batteries will deplete quicker. In cold shooting conditions, carry an extra set of batteries, preferably in a warm place, to replace the cold batteries that lose their charge faster.
Pressing the Shutter Button Does Not Take a Picture
There are several reasons why the 3100 will not take a picture when the shutter button is pressed. First, check that the camera is in "Shooting" mode and not "Playback" mode. If you are in "Playback" mode, press the "Playback" button on the back of the camera.
Next, check to see if the flash-charge indicator is blinking red. When blinking, the flash is recharging, and you will need to wait until it is fully charged to take a picture. You can avoid waiting for the flash by turning off the flash before you take your shots.
You may see the error message "Out of Memory" on the LCD screen. When this occurs, there is not enough room left on the memory card to store pictures at the set resolution size. To continue taking pictures you will need to delete images from the camera or lower the picture quality so that your pictures do not take up as much space on the memory card. Delete images by entering "Playback" mode and scrolling to the picture you want to delete. Press the "Delete" button on the camera to delete the image. When prompted, press the down arrow button to select "Yes" and the right arrow button to confirm the deletion.
To change the size and resolution of the photographs you are taking, press the "Menu" button, highlight "Shooting Menu" and press the right arrow button. Use the navigation buttons to select "Image Quality/Size" from the menu. Finally, choose one of the sizes that is smaller than the currently chosen size. Note that you still may not be able to take a large number of pictures as there is a finite amount of space on the memory card.
Tags: arrow button, memory card, Playback mode, batteries will, cold batteries, Coolpix 3100