Although the name D100 suggested that it was a digital version of the Nikon F100, the camera design more closely resembles the Nikon F80 (also known as Nikon N80 in the United States), which is a much more consumer-oriented camera than the professional F100.
Aj keď meno D100 naznačuje, že fotoaparát je digitálnou verziou modelu Nikon F100, dizajn fotoaparátu viac pripomína Nikon N80, ktorý je viac spotrebiteľsky orientovaný fotoaparát ako profesionálny Nikon F100.