For the opportunity Nikon D300 body camera review many thanks to Vadim Jadan http://vk.com/id23823306.
Nikon D300 review
Nikon D300 is positioned by Nikon as a professional APS-C camera (a camera with a matrix in which crop factor 1.5X). The camera was introduced on 23.08.2007 along with Nikon D3. D300 and D3 have opened up a whole new level of camera engineering among all Nikon cameras. A whole bunch of innovations was laid in them.
Popularly, Nikon D300 is legendary 'shooter', 'armor piercing', 'small D3', 'cropped D3', 'workhorse', etc. Actually, such epithets are the best characteristic of the camera.
View of Nikon D300 from different sides
The main parameters of the Nikon D300, which should be paid attention to the photographer:
1. Professional ergonomics in a very high quality case. The camera body is waterproof and dustproof. The entire body is made of magnesium alloy, this affects the weight of the camera (about 1 kg). The heavy weight of the camera helps with handheld photography and keeps weight balance well with heavy lenses. Even the lugs for the strap are asymmetrically positioned for proper weight distribution. The camera grip is rubberized, and the front and rear control dials are also rubberized. The camera fits perfectly in the hand.
The camera is very convenient to control, all the necessary control buttons are moved to convenient places. The Nikon D300 has an excellent large monochrome display for quick setup. Such a large monochrome display is only in Nikon D200 и Nikon D300s, other cropped models have this display 'cut down'. In general, Nikon D300 can be controlled only by this display and not enter the camera menu itself. But for whom it is not enough, Nikon D300 has an excellent 3-inch color display with 920.000 dots. The same display is used in Nikon D3, D3s, D700, D300s, D90... The camera has an 'info' button which calls up all basic settings on the color display.
2. The D300 uses a cropped CMOS sensor. Most likely the same matrix is taken as the basis for the camera Nikon D300s, D90 and D5000. The ISO range is available from 200 to 3200 units. Strange, but in the professional camera Nikon D300 ISO is used instead of ISO 100 lo1, which is a plug-in and is equivalent to ISO 100. The ISO value can be expanded up to 6400 units (indicated by 'Hi1'). I do not recommend shooting at ISO higher than 1600. At present, the matrix does not show very clear images at high ISO. 12 megapixels are enough for any kind of standard tasks.
3. The camera has a huge maximum continuous shooting speed - Nikon D300 is one of the fastest "crop". The camera can shoot 6 frames per second. And if you connect an additional power supply unit (booster), then the speed increases to 8 k / s.
4. Nikon D300 has a built-in focusing motor, which allows the use of non-motorized lenses marked with 'AF', sometimes this allows you to save on optics. Also the camera can work with old AI lenses and AI-S types. You can store information on 10 manual lenses.
5. A very important indicator of camera speed is the frame buffer capacity. The buffer is the fast internal memory of the camera, where the captured photos are stored before they are written to the memory card. The Nikon D300 can hold a maximum of 18 frames in RAW format.
- 17 frames with 12 bit RAW lossless compression
- 18 frames with 12 bit RAW standard compression
- 15 frames at 14 bit RAW
- 14 frames in TIFF format
- 21 frames in JPEG L format, quality priority
You can save RAW files in the camera in several ways: 12 or 14 bits per pixel and one of three compression levels. TIFF format is available.
Important: when shooting in RAW format with 14 bit color depth, the maximum shooting speed will be only 2.5 frames per second. This is a serious limitation, so if you count on a 14-bit color depth, you will need to sacrifice speed. One RAW file with 14 bit color depth occupies 25 MB on the card. The problem with a low shooting speed at 14 bit was solved in Nikon D7000but she surfaced again in Nikon D7100.
Important: when you turn on noise reduction at high ISO, noise reduction at slow shutter speeds, enable Active D-lighting frame buffer can be reduced to only 6 shots. I usually turn off all these features when shooting in RAW.
6. The camera can use Live View. True, the activation of the mode occurs through the mode selection ring near the "tower" of control. This location of the Live View switch is very inconvenient. Live View works in two modes: “tripod” and “manual”. In one of them, you can compose images through the display, but when you press the shutter button, the camera turns off Live View and focuses through the focus sensors, and only then takes a picture. In the other mode, Live View works like a conventional point-and-shoot camera, allowing you to focus using contrast focusing. When zoomed in on a portion of the image using Live View, the image begins slow down, such a defect is no longer in Nikon D90.
7. The Nikon D300 has one of the best Multi-CAM 3500DX Focusing Systems, which includes 51 focus points (15 of which are cross-shaped). The same number of focus points have Nikon D3, D3s, D3x, D4,D4s, D800,D800e, D7100 и D700. Focusing is very tenacious and has a huge amount of settings. Focus speed is very dependent on the lens.
8. The camera’s battery can withstand over 1000 shots on a single charge. In fact, if you use a lens without autofocus and without a stabilizer, you can squeeze over 2000 frames on a single charge. Batteries are fully compatible with Nikon D90, D200, D80, D700.
9. Camera supports fast FP sync with external flashes. This means that with external flash it will be possible to shoot at any shutter speed, even for 1 \ 8000 s (the shortest excerpt in the camera). Also, the flash may work in command mode and control two groups of flashes using Nikon CLS. You can set the sync speed to 1 \ 320 s.
10. The camera has another million useful little things: fine-tuning the focus for different lenses, the processing functions of captured images, bracketing for different values, etc.
Nikon D300 is the continuation of the line, which previously included Nikon D100 и D200. The camera body is very, very similar to D200after I exchanged my camera Nikon D200 on Nikon D300, for writing a review, when manipulating the camera during shooting, I did not feel any difference. The controls are in their convenient places, all the buttons are the same.
Separately, it is worth considering the difference between Nikon D200 and D300
- The main difference in the number of focus points. 11 points D200 and 51 points on the D300. The difference is almost 5 times.
- The D300 optical viewfinder covers 100% of the frame, the D200 only 95%, which allows you not to be afraid of the edges of the frame when shooting.
- D300 has Live View
- The D300 has a matrix cleaning system. The types of matrices are also different: CCD vs CMOS.
- The D300 has a much quieter sensor than the D200. The D200's biggest problem is its very “noisy” matrix.
- Burst speed increased to 6 (up to 8 with a booster) frames per second, versus 5 fps for D200
- The display has increased. The difference in the display when viewing pictures is very much felt.
- D300 works much better with voluminous memory cards
- D300 consumes an order of magnitude better battery life. One battery charge in the D300 is enough for 1000-1500 frames, and in the D200 only for 400-500.
- The D300 can save 14-bit RAW files, which improves the original image during processing.
The rest of the cameras are very similar. The old D200 has even one advantage over the D300: frame buffer holds 21 frames, while the D300 has only 18, given the camera speeds, the D200 can shoot continuous high-speed shooting for a couple of seconds longer than the D300. (21/5 = 4,2 seconds versus 18/6 = 3 seconds, or 18/8 = 2,25 seconds). But since the D300 works better with memory cards, the difference is not particularly noticeable. I do not recommend upgrading D200 to D300, D300s without much need.
To date, the Nikon D300 is morally obsolete, it has successor Nikon D300s. Details the difference between Nikon D300 and D300s described in Nikon D300s review.
For whom will such a camera be useful?
First of all, Nikon D300 will be useful for professional photographers who can apply all the useful functions hidden behind the huge camera menu. Especially the D300 is good at reporting. For beginners, I do not recommend buying the Nikon D300. If there is a desire to join the ranks of the owners of the CZK, then to begin Nikon D90, D7000 much better, but you can even start with Nikon D40.
Sample photos on Nikon D300
All photos in this review were shot on Nikon D300, RAW + JPEG, JPEG L quality priority, ADL normal, Noise reduction on. The size is reduced to 2048 * 1536 and the data about the shooting parameters from EXIF. All photos were taken with Nikon 50mm F1.8D.
UPDATE 2
Examples of photos on HELIOS-44M 2/58 and camera Nikon D300 with readers of Radozhiva shared by photographer Alexander Gvozd.
Personal experience:
I really like the Nikon D300 because it has a full Live View, but there is no video mode that I do not need. Working with the Nikon D300 is very pleasant, since all the controls are at hand. The camera works with any optics that can be planted on it. In hand Nikon D7000 и Nikon D7100 inferior to the convenience of the D300, and for me, convenience is a very important indicator, since I have to run around with the camera all day. On the other hand, Nikon D300 is much inferior in some respects to brand new cameras.
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Hack and predictor Aviator
Nikon D300 performs very well in use, it is one of the best Nikon 'crop'. In an unequal struggle with time, it began to yield in some parameters to newer amateur cameras. But still, when working at low ISO - Nikon D300 is a camera, after 'talking' with which you don't want to use something else.
Material prepared Arkady Shapoval. Training/Consultations | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Telegram
Good day. There is an option to take this unit with a mileage of 50 thousand for an interesting price. Are there any nuances that are worth paying attention to when buying this model? Thanks
General functionality. If you previously used a central brake puller, you should know what is important to you.
Hello Arkady, tell me up with Nikon d3100 on d300 reasonable?
In the evening, I rarely take pictures so that the noise at high ISOs somehow somehow.
Or is it better (cheaper) to take the d90 just for the sake of a screwdriver?
The D300 is a completely different level compared to the D90, which only costs 51 point focusing system in 300tk. I would definitely, with this choice, choose d300
And what will be better for your subjective opinion.
d7000 or still d300
The d7000 has a less noisy matrix, but how is it working with adjusting the back / front focus on the lenses? At the focus points, the d7000 loses, I know that and the case will be poorer than the d300
D300 - professional, d7000 - amateur, there is nothing to argue about.
But judging by the rumors, the D40X is in no way inferior to the D200 in image quality, it’s just that the D200 is more functional with an outdoor window.
Hello. Tell me, is it better to landscape Nikon D300 or Sony A57 with a Tokina 11-16mm lens?
DD is important for the landscape, because Sony is more suitable here.
I thank Arkady for the answer, and another question is not much off topic. Between the Sony A57 and Sony A580 for landscape, which is better? With the same lens?
It's hard for me to tell.
Thanks for the review, Arkady!
A question arose about the d300 memory buffer: On the dpreview website and in the nikon official brochures, it is indicated that
number of frames in jpeg at 6 frames - 100 jpeg. At 8 frames - 62 jpeg.
The number of frames in raw at a speed of 6 frames is 27 raw, 8 frames - 17 raw. So in terms of the buffer it surpasses the nikon d200 in every way. And if you reduce the speed to 5 frames like the nikon d200, then the shooting time will be longer.
Sincerely, Vladimir.
Brochures and previews mean continuous shooting, not a buffer. They write on the tricky: Continuous buffer and Continous Shooting. In the case, take the D300 and try it yourself, directly more than 18 pictures will not fit. The buffer is indicated in the lower right corner during shooting. I specifically emphasize this in the reviews.
When I come with keh.com, I’ll definitely try.) Now I'm photographing on d1x.
When it comes, be sure to unsubscribe :)
About image quality. In terms of image quality, the D 300 is in no way inferior to new cameras: professional, especially entry-level. Another question is that cameras such as the d300 require more careful adjustment before shooting, I repeat - before each shooting. Unfortunately, even professional photographers make elementary mistakes in the settings. In my opinion, this camera is still the best on crop. And the fact that megapixels are increased in new cameras, they are trying to improve something programmatically, but “things are still there” - the new cameras do not have a sharp picture improvement. With the existing technology of matrix production, a miracle should not be expected. Too many advertisements and few sober assessments in various tests. Trust your eyes more - they will not deceive you.
Hello Arkady! The camera came.) I like it very much, the only remark in comparison with d1x the color is worse (apparently due to different matrices, the color is closer to film photography). I had to chemistry with color profiles - now the main d2x mode1 with brightness correction. I checked Raw maximum for speed - 18, Jpeg - 40 and 100, further deceleration (settings for optimal quality, priority of size, while the buffer size shows 21 and 27, respectively) .Camera with a battery pack - 8 fps. Writes very quickly - not a camera, but some kind of machine gun.)
Sincerely, Vladimir
PS. What do you think, Arkady, what color profile and settings are better for setting pictures in daylight?
Yes, 18 RAW is the limit. I would use a neutral, rebuilt for myself, in general, you need to optimize everything to your own taste.
Thank you Arkady!
This morning I checked the raw buffer size once again. Here are the results: Raw vol. Compression, shooting speed 7s-21raw, 6s. - 24raw, 5k.s. - 28raw. Written to the Lexar prof. 2GB 300X card.
When shooting, the buffer volume indicates 18. Frees up the memory actually. Immediately. I think there is a direct dependence on the speed of memory cards and, of course, on the frame rate per second. So, I apologize for the persistence, and in this indicator it exceeds d200.)
Again, don't confuse volume with burst. Let me explain in more detail - if you install a slow memory card on the Nikon D300, it will shoot its 18 frames in RAW and will record the footage from the buffer to the memory card. Put a high-speed card on the D200 and it will also show more than 21 frames in continuous shooting. But the D200 has a higher buffer value.
Yes, I don’t seem to confuse.) I have d1x, with a buffer upgrade, more than 14raw, 21Jpeg and Tiff, at least put your horn on, at least put a super fast card, you can’t click it.) (Of course, this is the lack of support for fast cards) And d300 one size shows, and the other actually turns out. (of course, subject to faster cards and a decrease in speed). I think the real buffer capacity is important for a reportage camera, and not the one that is indicated on the top of the screen. Try with 5 frames at d 200, inserting a fast card to get the following result: raw compression - 28, priority of Jpeg size - 100, optimal jpeg quality - 41. At the same time, the d300 writes larger files and, as it seems to me, then frees this buffer faster than the d200. Sincerely, Vladimir.
You are tying the buffer to a memory card and to lowering the shooting speed, I have already set you an example with a slow memory card. I can put serial shooting at 1 fps and shoot 100 RAW files at a time, which is actually very easy to do, but then it’s stupid to say that the frame buffer is 100 shots. The real buffer capacity is important, and the very possibility of burst shooting, namely its length, can be improved with the help of quick cards.
1 frame is not 5 per sec.) But here we take d200 - 5 frames. and d300 - 5 fps, the same jpeg and raw, a 300x card (now there is much faster), (equal settings) press the shutter button and wait for the buffer to fill up and the camera starts writing files and freeing the buffer. I think in these conditions d200 will lose to d300. And 5 c.s. with 8 ks (as I understand d200 cannot shoot faster than 5 ks) it is incorrect to compare, although with a fast d300 card and at 8k. will not lose.
Why am I saying this, when shooting a report, the d300 series will be longer both in frames and in shooting time.
Series - yes, buffer no. I repeat, you are binding to a fast memory card, not to the real value of the buffer. I did not compare the D300 with the booster and the D200, I wrote about the basic D300 set, and its 6 fps.
Hello. Thanks for the review.
I have a deal, d300, d300s, d7000. Jakoba, the difference in levels (classes) does not bother me too much, I am a rather experienced amateur, close to a professional. I shoot mostly staged photo sessions for magazines, weddings, etc. My old man d100 is really far behind, if we are talking about leisurely work and about ISO not higher than 200 - it is tolerable, but it's worth touching on the reportage, one negative. The question actually is that there are a lot of negative reviews about D 7000, but it is new, d300 - d300s, of course, is a bestseller, but they are BU. And what would you advise me. Since the FF does not reach my budget.
Thank you.
I recommend the D7000.
Good afternoon, Arkady, please tell me what is better to take nikon d90 or nikon d300 which one will be better to photograph
In general, D300 for a photo will be better than D90, therefore I recommend D300
Good night happy new year
Tell me, nevertheless, which is better to take, d200 or d300, taking into account equal mileage, it will be used with a fifty-ruble 1.8, mostly portrait photography (although landscapes with a different lens are not excluded), I don’t know about ISO, but I don’t think I’ll have to lift higher 800. The difference in prices - d200 is 2 times cheaper. Is it worth overpaying? It is also possible to use an external flash.
I’ll shoot in RAW, and I'm not spoiled by the ideal colors of Skinton, so I won’t feel the advantages of ssd matrices or minus kmos.
Still recommend the D300, focus points and Live View often come to the rescue.
I bought a d300 for $ 600
I collect glasses for him
Medium Budget
I like to portret, shoot on the street.
I want a universal zoom with good clarity, 24-70 (too expensive for me) :)
Fix 50MM
And staffer
At the moment I think to get.
Zoom: Nikkor Lens 16-85mm f / 3.5-5.6G ED VR AF-S DX or Sigma 17-50mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM
Fix: Nikon 50mm f / 1.8G or AF 50mm f / 1.4D I do not know what to choose
Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f / 1.8G as a standard option cheap and lightweight
I'm going to buy everything in USA.
That suggest?
For starters, a fifty kopeck Nikon 50mm f / 1.8G, then it will be easier to determine which way to look.
The question is why is not 1.8D it is 2 times cheaper
And another question about the Sigma 17-50mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM read reviews say that for this amount the fastest zoom.
What do you say or advise another in this price niche. Its cost is $ 619
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=Sigma+17-50mm+F2.8+EX+DC+OS+HSM&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ma&Top+Nav-Search=
It is possible and 1.8D, in the reviews of fifty dollars their advantages and disadvantages are indicated https://radojuva.com.ua/2012/12/all-50mm-lens-nikon-together/. Sigma 17-50mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM did not use, but it is the same in luminosity as https://radojuva.com.ua/2011/11/tamron-17-50mm-f2-8-xr-di-ii-ld-aspherical-if/ or https://radojuva.com.ua/2012/06/tamron-af-17-50mm-f2-8-vc/
Thanks for the help!
I read about the difference in fifty dollars. Very informative. I learned a lot from your reviews.
Sigma 17-50mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM said about this that they did not like it at all
He is an amateur, but with 7 years of experience. He clarified that he barely sold for $ 200, while judging by Nikon 17-55 optics, the price between second-hand and new is minimal, maybe Israel did not appreciate it enough :)
Nikon AF-S 16-85mm f / 3.5-5.6 VR DX ED G is also interested, you haven’t found anything on it, but many respond well.
Thom hogan http://www.bythom.com/Nikkor16-85lensreview.htm It seems like a promoted photography guru.
and they respond well here http://www.photozone.de/reviews/377-nikkor_1685_3556vr?start=1
Recommend a couple of forums that you trust in the reviews.
And thanks again for the tips !!!
Forums do not advise, have to re-read a bunch of extra noise.
You answered someone in the top messages that 5d will be better than d300, you can say the better. Interested in working with fifty dollars for portraits. I read that 5d is more a studio camera, is that so? and I heard that on 5d it is better to induce current at a central point? Or is there a focus no worse than that of the same amateur 550d and others?
Better because it's a full-frame camera, that’s pretty much it.
Good day! Arkady, tell me please, I read that on a jeep from the D 7000 camera, skin tones are just awful - plasticine, brick, the camera is advised for shooting landscapes (wide DD), but not for portraits. Your advice?
My advice is to try it yourself with the lens with which portrait shooting is supposed to be and draw your own conclusions
Arkady, please advise which is better to buy. Filmed half a year on the D70. I am faced with the choice of D300 or D7000. Interested in the convenience of cameras, image quality. The video is not interested. Basically I photograph portraits, a subject, sometimes landscapes. There are AF 50 f1.8D, AF-S 40mm f2.8 micro lenses. Thanks. You have a very useful site. I often go in to watch new articles.
To feel comfortable, you need to hold the camera in your hands, for me 300tk is more convenient.
Thank you.
Tell me, is it worth changing the D5100 to the D300 or does it not make sense ???
Hello Arkady. I photographed children in kindergartens on d60 for montage - the camera was enough. Now I switched to reportage photography of children in different situations for albums. The absence of many opportunities was immediately felt. They offer a bu 300s camera with a range of 40 thousand frames, but the new d7000 at the same price. What would you suggest? Thanks.
d300s is a more serious camera than d7000, but in terms of noise level 7000 outperforms 300 tons. Based on the tasks and the required ISO values, you can make the best choice.
Good evening, to you, Arkady! Tell me please, I have a problem of choice. I use the Nikon D3000 camera. Photography became a means of extra income, and it took accordingly the choice of another camera. Tell me which camera (only from the Nikon line) would you recommend for such areas of activity: advertising photography, wedding photography, art photography, occasionally reportage work. It’s very difficult to make a choice on your own, as there are a lot of offers of models! Thank you, with respect to you and your project, Oleg!
If you have money - D800 / D600, no money - D7000 / D700 / D300 / D300s