D300 - Reviews by PhotoCamel Members

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Nikon D300

Reviews	Views	Date of last review
4	3529	Mon August 8, 2011

Recommended By	Average Price	Average Rating
100% of reviewers	$1,799.33	9.0

supersize

Description:

A new 12.3-megapixel DX-Format CMOS Sensor combined with Nikon's exclusive digital image processing system advances DX-format image quality to all new levels The 3.0-inch super density 920,000-dot VGA color monitor with 170-degree wide-angle viewing and tempered-glass protection makes critical image review possible Continuous shooting up to 6 frames per second, and up to 8 frames per second* with the new optional MB-D10 Multi-power Battery Pack, makes the D300 a powerful performer for a wide variety of shooting disciplines * When using the EH-5a AC Adaptor or the MB-10 Multi-Power Battery Pack with batteries other than Rechargeable Li-on En El3e Fast, accurate 51-point autofocus with 3D Focus Tracking and three Dynamic AF modes deliver exacting autofocus precision at blazing speeds Nikon's exclusive Scene Recognition System (SRS), with an improved 1,005-Pixel 3D Color Matrix Metering II, provides even more intelligent auto exposure capabilities, along with smarter auto white balance detection and faster, more accurate AF performance. Dynamic Integrated Dust Reduction System with self-cleaning ultrasonic sensor unit minimizes degradation of image quality due to dust particles Two LiveView shooting modes, Hand-held or Tripod is perfect when shooting in a studio, remote situations or from challenging angles. New Picture Control settings give photographers dramatically advanced color control with 4 preset options: Standard, Neutral, Vivid and Monochrome, as well as 9 customizable settings. Rugged magnesium-alloy construction, advanced dust and moisture protection and a durable shutter mechanism tested to 150,000 cycles make the D300 a perfect choice for photographers who demand high performance and handling agility.

Keywords:

Nikon D300

Author

Review Date: Fri November 30, 2007

Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: None indicated | Rating: 9

Pros:	Great price,High quality
Cons:	Multi function buttons require some getting used to.

My impression On the Nikon D300.

If you have been waiting for high quality images at an affordable price, then the d300 is for you.
My first impression when I removed my D300 from the box was nothing short of exciting.

That same old feel that I’ve become used to was there with this model, with some subtle changes.

The grip is nice to hold onto and the rubber feels like it well fastened to the body.
Tank is the first thought I can summon for build quality, however the toggle switches feel a bit cheap and require some fiddling with to use: I think Nikon wanted to keep anything from snagging; hence the low profiling of them.

How is it for operating and shooting, well it’s a Nikon.
Nikon managed to keep all of its familiar symbols and icons. That was a relief to me as I jumped right into shooting mode.
There is many new features such as in camera Active-D; this feature allows for better control over shadows and highlights, with three settings that allow for greater versatility. (Raw adjustments available)
The newest and best feature reminds me of a camcorder: The large rear viewing screen with high resolution. Live view are welcomed with open arms also the eye view finder100% frame, and bright.
Live view allows for shooting in mirror up mode, and viewing the image directly with the rear display; very nice for shooting on ground or other situations that it is difficult to use the view finder.

The quality of the images with the sensor is amazing to say the least. The color rendering is dead on and details are crisp and clear.
I tried a few ranges of iso 200 up till 1000 and found some color noise at 1000, but hey what else is to be expected; the small amounts are quickly cleared up with a little tweak in Nikon Capture Nx software (provided for free with the camera!)
Focusing has gone under some revamping, 3d (tracking focus) multi points that are adjustable, so you can choose where you would like it positioned in the frame, or just the good ole focus functions that are still there from previous models.

To summarize this it would be safe to say Nikon should earn another camera of the year award with this model.
Great looks,good erorgonomics,large high quality files, endless in camera tuning and keeping things the same but better.

This is just a view from a shooter perspective if you would like specs you can obtain them from Nikon.com.

Regards david.

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MyPerspective
Vicuna

Registered: November 2008
Posts: 79

Review Date: Thu November 6, 2008

Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: $1,799.00 | Rating: 10

Pros:	like the 1.5x crop-factor, and ISO 6400 images!!!
Cons:	Its not a D700, but definitely a GREAT & INCREDIBLE CAMERA!!!

OK, I'm going to be frank. I would love to own a D700. But one-of my main reasons for getting a D300 is the fact that for a portrait / on-location portrait photographer, the xx-70mm f/2.8 lens is ideal! The smaller sensor's crop-factor yields a 1.5x magnification that you don't have with a D700! Therefore, for focal lengths that I use most, the 1.5x magnification factor is a very good thing! Something that I wouldn't have with a D700! Therefore, the xx-70mm f/2.8 lens is actually better-suited for a D300 than a D700! And the 1.5x magnification on a 70-200mm f/2.8 becomes ideal for sports, as the 70-200mm lens becomes 105-300mm, which is ideal for sports! The same is true of any camera with a sensor that is smaller-than 35mm. You end up with a magnification-factor, that allows you the privilege of getting the focal-length you need out've a smaller lens. (You don't have to lug-around big heavy lenses like you would with a 35mm or larger camera. That's what I love about the focal-length of the 28-70mm lens, it's my favorite lens on a D300!!!) So there are (these) IMPORTANT ADVANTAGES to the D300's smaller sensor!

I get VERY UPSET when I read negative comments about the D200, D300, D700, Canon 5D, or similar-sized and weight of cameras. I absolutely LOVE this size and weight-of camera! I wouldn't change a thing! This camera's size and weight is just what I want and love! It's perfect! It feels GREAT in your hands! EVERYTHING is so well thought-out and designed! It just such a NICE CAMERA! I cannot say this about other brands .... but that's WHY I CHOSE A NIKON! Its just so well built!

EASY, so EASY to use! Too complicated? Says who? Someone who gets used to a Nikon, is used to Nikon's features. Someone who uses a Canon, is used to Canon's features.

Picture-quality? VERY, VERY GOOD! FOR THIS LEVEL-OF CAMERA; OUTSTANDING PICTURE-QUALITY!

I do recommend shooting in NEF RAW, using Nikon's CaptureNX RAW-image converter rather-than Adobe as Adobe just doesn't have as good-of noise-reduction, and doesn't have the dynamic range capabilities, nor the ability of backing out of a decision like CaptureNX does.

LiveView? Sure its got LiveView. However, unlike cheaper cameras with mirror viewfinders, this camera has a true pentaprism optical viewfinder. Therefore, the viewfinder is much brighter and sharper than your naked eyesight! So who needs or wants LiveView when you've got this level-of optical viewfinder? None the less, for those who cannot live without LiveView, sure, its got Live??View. And a BRIGHT 3" display that can be seen equally-well and distortion-free from all viewing angles.

The ONLY design flaw that irritates me is that you cannot set the 2-second timer together with exposure-bracketing. This means that you've got to use a cable-release when taking mutiple-exposure HDR images. This isn't really a problem, just that it would've been nice to use the timer when doing multiple-exposure-bracketing.

Noise? Well, acceptable. Not too bad. Its really a very low-noise camera. But if you zoom-in and look for digital nose, its there. But not at normal picture-sizes. I'm attaching an image taken at ISO 6400. It definitely isn't one-of my sharpest images as I've got MUCH MUCH SHARPER ones than this! Even at ISO 6400, which is the maximum ISO of this camera, it takes no back-seat or seconmd-fiddle position. At least not in this level-of camera! So this is the extreme ISO limit for this camera. None the less, I am sufficiently satisfied with the ISO 6400 limits and picture-quality. (see the attached images taken at ISO 6400. Shutter-speed of 1/500s, f/5.6 at 200mm using the not-so great 18-200mm kit lens). Note that the 18-200mm kit lens is a very convenient all-in-one lens. The ONLY good thing that I can say about *ANY* all-in-one zooms is that they are convenient. So this 18-200mm is convenient, and has very good image stabilization. IF you ZOOM-IN on an image on your computer taken with this camera, you'll be very disappointed as the clarity goes to blur! However, the lack-of clarity isn't the camera, but the limitations-of the kit lens that's blurring the image. Getting a HIGH-DOLLAR lens will reveal the true CAPABILITIES of this camera! With a REALLY GOOD LENS, image-quality, even at wall-sized-prints are IMPRESSIVE! I am attching a picture taken with the kit-lens, so it is pretty much average-camera image quality, and definitely not what the D300 is really capable of producing. **WITH A GOOD LENS, you'd be surprised what this camera is capable of! The attached image was taken with the 18-200mm kit-lens at 200mm. And at this size-of picture -at- ISO 6400-! looks quite good-! Especially for ISO 6400! Agree?

WCUBE

F1 Camel

Registered: March 2008
Location: Texas
Posts: 4101

Review Date: Sat January 23, 2010

Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: $1,799.00 | Rating: 8

Pros:	Quality equipment for a reasonable price, Excellent 51 point auto focus
Cons:	Noise starts to becomes an issue above 800 ISO for me

Great camera with enough pro features to allow most photographers room to grow without the need to reinvest in more advanced equipment. It would be a steep learning curve for someone who is moving from a point and shoot, but if you have a basic understanding of what is required to obtain a properly exposed image you will find it capable of doing just about anything you can imagine.

With four menu shooting banks, you can custom Tailor menus options for just about any combination you could imagine. I have mine set so that I can choose from original factory setting, landscape, portrait, and Vivid+. By selecting one of these menus I can go from shooting outside to portraits by pushing one button. You can also set up four custom settings banks for Auto focus, metering/exposure, timers/AE lock, shooting/display, bracketing/flash, and controls. All this give you the flexibility to rapidly change settings.

A couple of other features I use often when shooting HDR images are the interval timer shooting and auto bracketing. G-man explained how this works for me and I wish to thanks him again. I don't think I could do a better job explaining so the following is his explanation.

"Just setup exposure bracking like you normal would in and make sure you are in single shot mode (and not continuous or manual). Hit menu and go under the shooting menu (the image of the camera)->interval timer shooting->Now->set interval to 1 sec (i don't think it matters what you set here since it's all only considered one shot)->set number of shots to 1->Start set to On. Then it goes and fires the whole sequence.

Once you have things setup in the interval timers shooting menu you can just go there and hit left on the directional pad at the first step of "Now" and hit "OK and the Start On menu."

Hope this helps anyone who is considering this camera, it is extremely well built, easy to use and very versatile.

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Wallace
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Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment. - Will Rogers

williamkazak

Vicuna

Registered: March 2008
Location: Lansing, Illinois
Posts: 206

Review Date: Mon August 8, 2011

Would you recommend the product? Yes | Price you paid?: $1,800.00 | Rating: 9

Pros:	Large Preview screen. Auto dust remover. Nikon quality and feel.
Cons:	Not 1/500 flash syn just 1/250. Complex menus. Native ISO at 200, not 100.

I moved up from a pair of D70s bodies to a pair of D300 bodies after shooting with film F3 bodies for a very long time. I like the D300 a lot. This is Nikon quality and feel. The AF is reasonably fast and ISO 3200 is usable. The menu is so complex that you probably will never learn how to use this camera most effectively. Get a manual like the Magic Lantern books. The pop up flash is helpful for some fill but use the compensation on the top button, which is visible on the upper right screen and don't forget to change it back when you pop the flash back down. Auto WB works well most of the time but tweak as necessary in camera or in post. LR is good for this and for other tweaks such as adding more fill flash. I use Lightroom and Photoshop. The Nikon programs might be better for RAW, which is what I always shoot, but the interface is too slow for events. The Nikon 12-24mm F4 AFS works nicely on this camera, so consider it as a "go to" wide lens. Pair it with the 35mm F1.8G as your normal lens. I have used and tried quite a few Nikon lenses with this camera and my current tele is the Nikon 85mm F1.8G. This is a serious camera. High ISO is the only weakness here. Make your own tests on that.

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Nikon F100, Nikon D300 (2), 24mm F2.8 AFD, 50mm F1.8G, 85mm F1.8G, 300mm F5.6 Celestron Reflex, SB800 (3)