Nikon D300 Digital SLRs

Nikon D300 Digital SLRs 

DESCRIPTION

Introducing the D300 — A new 12.3 effective-megapixel DX-format CMOS image sensor, Nikon's original EXPEED digital image processing concept, Scene Recognition System and the new Picture Control System advance all aspects of system performance.

USER REVIEWS

Showing 1-10 of 19  
[Oct 28, 2011]
Anthony Reiss
Professional

Strength:

Solid mag alloy body feels like a tank.

Nicely balanced ergonomic design handles well on long shoots.

WB-QUAL-ISO mode button is superb and better than the analog mode dials of other cameras.

Weakness:

Memory Bank A, B, C, D.

For your piece of mind and sanity, forget about these. Don't even go there.

This is the equivalent of the C1 and C2 of the Canon mode and the equivalent of the U1 and U2 in the D7000.

But in the D300, everytime you change a setting, the whole bank changes to that setting! There is NO WAY you can LOCK a setting you have arranged!

Just use the A banks and forget about the rest.

Nikon should come out with a firmware patch to totally remove this Banks because it just creates confusion and frustration.

Basically a great all around camera camera to use for a long time as it has all the features one will ever need for the next 5 to 7 years sans the video mode.

It is the body of a D700 with the Full Frame sensor taken out and replaced by a 1.5 cropped APS sensor.

Love the sound of the graflex like snap of the reflex mirror. Estimated to let you hear that sound for at least over 150,000 times.

What a large top LCD!

Customer Service

None

Similar Products Used:

Nikon D200
Nikon D70
Nikon D5000
Canon 5D
Canon 600D (T3i)

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Sep 24, 2011]
Brad Tillotson
Expert

Strength:

Megapixels! I know it is more expensive than the D200 like the review above said, but the beauty is you can crop out so much 'noise' and blow up your cropped picture to a 10x14 or 16x20 without losing anything. Continuous shooting with a battery pack you can shoot 7-9 shots a second. I bought a DVD on the 'how toos' of the camera and once you get familiar with it, you will want to hold it all day.

Weakness:

It is a bit heavy... Specially on summit day!

I took this beast up to the top of North America. Yes, all the way up to 20,320feet on top of Mount Mckinley and I am going to photograph a wedding in 3 weeks. From -40F to capturing a couple's love... this camera has rocked my world. I love it.

Customer Service

Sent it back to Nikon every year for a tune up and cleaning. They are great.

Similar Products Used:

F100, This is my first Digital Camera

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Jun 01, 2010]
Prettym1k3
Intermediate

Strength:

6 frames per second, ISO 1600 is moderately clean, can auto-focus AF-S as well as non AF-S lenses, can meter off of all sorts of lenses, easy user menus, sturdy billed, water resistant, fantastic battery life, and well built.

Weakness:

The D300s has a dedicated LiveView button. Doesn't matter much to me, but that would be nice. Also, the focus points when looking through the view finder of the D300s seem better placed and slightly more accurate. On the d-pad on the back of the camera, the D300s has an "ok" button smack in the middle of the d-pad that I really wish the D300 had. Guess I should upgrade sometime soon? Lastly, on my body in particular, I've found that sometimes my M, S, C switch will wander or creep from "S" to "M". I usually pick up on this right away, and it's not the end of the world, but it's happened a few times.

I love this camera. I purchased it used in late 2009 from a private party who absolutely babied it. It was, and still is, in immaculate condition. The controls are perfect, the body fits in my hand "like a glove", and everything is easy to reach, easy to adjust. The camera takes awesome photographs, with usable ISO's up to 1250 or, in some circumstances, 1600, although I wouldn't go much higher than that.

Customer Service

Haven't had to use Nikon's Customer Service for anything, so I guess that speaks volumes.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon D50, Nikon D40.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[May 27, 2010]
jim-green
Casual

I bought a nikon d300 camera from www.glad-shopping.com about a week or two ago and have so far been very pleased.The camera is a bit heavier, but you're moving into a more solid body compared to the intros and even the middle grade D90. The ability to use remote flashes and take easily 6fps shots without thinking is wonderful. The 3D tracking system if you adjust the autofocus refresh time is amazing.

OVERALL
RATING
2
VALUE
RATING
1
[Mar 11, 2010]
William Kazak
Professional

Strength:

AF works well once you understand your settings. Sturdy/pro level results. Nice preview screen.

Weakness:

AF is very hard to understand with all kinds of options which seem silly to me. Simplify it so that we can immediately get the idea. Pre-flash does not work with all settings nor does your focus point become visible at all settings. Menu seems overly complex and not intuitive. I don't trust the meter because I don'rt know what the Matrix is really doing. Therefore, I use an external meter and I leave the camera on M. The built in meter seems handy but you must learn to make tweaks with it for best results.

I moved up from a pair of D70s digital bodies to a pair of D300 bodies and I am glad that I did. This camera has a nice preview screen, the AF works better and I get better results with the SB-800 flash units. Higher ISO is also better as well as more dynamic range. I shoot everything in Nikon NEF. I import to Adobe Lightroom, tweak a few settings and I am good to export as JPG.
This camera handles well for my small hands and it has all of the features I need and more. I always shoot with the camera in M for control. I tweak my fill flash using the SB-800 with the D300 in M and I know what the camera is going to do. The camera will not over ride my tweaks when in M mode.
This camera was a lot of money for me but for the weddings it shines. I like the DX crop factor, being a people photographer, and it works well at the darker receptions. I never used Live View at all nor active D lighting because I don't need it. I don't use the fastest cards either and the camera writes fast enough for me to get a short burst if necessary without the SB-800 flash. Battery life is just fine. I carry a spare with me, even taking it to the beach.
Make no mistake about it. This is a pro levelcamera to me. Get a hand held meter and use it for consistent results.

Customer Service

Not necessary.

Similar Products Used:

This reminds me of my old F3 camera bodies; pro level build and works well with my small hands for many years of service.

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
4
[Mar 08, 2010]
Prettym1k3
Casual

Strength:

Strength, weather proofing, fast FPS, ease of controls.

Weakness:

Focus points are iffy, and my continuous/single/manual focus switch drops down into continuous on its own sometimes. Maybe that's because it's a used body.

I love this camera. While I like the "ok" or "enter" button in the center of the D-pad on the D300s better, that's about the only thing that I like better then the D300. The 6fps is plenty fast enough, and if it's not, add the battery grip and give it 8fps. Fast enough to capture just about anything.

As for the camera itself, it's built strong and tough, and takes a beating. It's weather resistant, and hasn't failed me yet. I've got about 40,000 clicks on it.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon D40/D50.

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
4
[Feb 16, 2010]
Axle
Expert

Strength:

- Live View: handy for manually setting the white balance

- Battery Grip: if you're putting on big/heavy lenses the grip is key for better balance, plus if you upgrade to a D700, the MB-D10 grip can just be removed and placed on the D700.

- Weather Sealing: I've used the camera out in a downpour and through abandoned buildings and have never had a problem.

Weakness:

- Weight: This sucker is heavy.

- No Video: it was introduced with the D300s.

Don't need a D3?
But feel you've grown out of your D70s, D80, but don't really want to get a D90.

Try your hand at a D300. This beautiful piece of equipment is the flagship of Nikon's DX (APS-C) sensor cameras. This is the perfect camera for the advanced amateurs who want to do more with there cameras or the budding professional.

If you've shot with Nikon equipment before it will be dead easy to switch over to the D300, with similar menu structures and camera controls, going up from a D40, D50, D60 or similar camera may be too much of a leap when it comes to controls, I would upgrade to a D90 first if you're going to upgrade from one of those machines.

Since I've gotten this camera I've taken it into many abandoned buildings, weddings, portrait sessions, and vacations and it's never failed me. It hangs at my side, I flip it on, pull it up and it's ready for action right off the bat.

Customer Service

None required.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon D70s
Canon 30D

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
5
[Jun 30, 2009]
hitec_sl
Intermediate

Strength:

very fast speed - absolute superb pictures.Built like a tank.

Weakness:

If you knit pick then there are so many flaws other wise superb no major ones to talk about.

I started with a Nikon D 70 then updated to Nikon D 70s further updated to Nikon D80. I still have the Nokon D 80 - just bought the Nikon D 300 >am really impressed & enjoying the Camera after the D70s.Buy this camera if you have passion for Photography other wise you shoudl go for point & shoot. Dont see the date of manufacture when you by this camera. Look at the features and what it can do - Till date the best. I also use a Canon 50D but still this one continues to impress me.

Customer Service

still did not need to use customer service

Similar Products Used:

Canon D 50 D

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
3
[Jun 27, 2009]
PhilipT
Expert

Strength:

12 meg pix

Weakness:

None yet !

Nikon D300 - Great camera with good quality both jpeg and RAW / Good focus and back screen. In fact there is a lot to learn !

OVERALL
RATING
5
VALUE
RATING
4
[Jan 31, 2009]
wayofthewarrior
Expert

Strength:

51 point AF, frame speed, live view(though not as handy as on the D90) 12mp(?)
Alloy body with seals, Customizable menu settings and save options.

Weakness:

Price, Batter grip, price and design, 12mp(?), my D200 10mp was just fine for my work, made prints 16x20, no problems

I will make this as short and brief as I can, all the tech stuff is on the net. I still own and use my D200. The 51 point AF system is great, however, I hardly use it. Image quality may be a little better than the D200, maybe, 1500-1700 dollars better, doubt it. I bought the camera with the battery grip and the 18-200mm lens. I like the menu set up and menu banks in the D200 better, I have used both bodies with my Nikon 80-400mm lens and the D200 takes better photographs with that lens IMO. I thought at first it was just because I was used to the D200 but over time and using very similar settings the D200 still looks better with that lens. The 18-200mm lens produced great images with both bodies. The battery grip cost almot 250 dollars, a little high in my book. The continous shooting does smoke, it flames through them and sport photographers should love this as long as they have a fast lens to go along with that speed, like the 70-200mm f2.8.

I am not really going to waste time with boring details as u can read pro reviews and form your own opinion about this. I am writing this for people who are considering the upgrade. I bought this camera and it is a great camera, it has some minor issues, mine seems to shoot hot in bright sunlight, an easy fix with exposure comp. It took a little getting used to after using the D200 for so long, not an issue, more time with it and just like the D200 you get used to it.

However, that said, if I could do it again, nope, would not have bought it, the 2500 dollars was not worth it to replace my D200, which I decided to keep. Get a D90 instead, some glass and wait for the next generation D400 or whatever it is going to be, I was one of those guys that bought the next gen everytime it was released, no more, the marekting gurus are good, they throw some new bells and whistles out there and I trip over my feet to get to the shop,,,,,then I use it...mmmm, my old rig was doing a fine job.

IMO, if you can find a D200 and find it at a great price, get one, save the coin and get some decent glass, I have found the investment in the glass outweighs any other investment you can make, in the long run it does not matter, soon the D300 will be old school and and there will be another in the spotlight stealing the thunder, the glass will be there waiting to attach itself to whatever you buy and make some great images................save the cash,,,get the glass.

Customer Service

NA

Similar Products Used:

D70,D80,D90,D300,Fuji S3

OVERALL
RATING
4
VALUE
RATING
4
Showing 1-10 of 19  

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