| The rugged D300S' hallmarks include versatility, speed, agility and exceptional image quality. Versatility is its 12.3-megapixel, DX-format CMOS image sensor, with Nikon EXPEED image processing that captures stunning low-noise stills and extraordinary 24 fps, 720p HD video with sound. Speed is split-second startup and continuous shooting at up to 7 fps-8 fps with the optional MB-D10 grip, which also extends shooting capacity and makes shooting more comfortable. Accurate image review, Live View shooting and Menus come alive on a 3-inch tempered glass-protected, 920k-dot LCD monitor, while image quality is bolstered by a 51-area AF system and Nikon's 1,005-pixel RGB exposure sensor, in concert with the newly accelerated Scene Recognition System-technology that increases exposure and AF accuracy, improves white balance detection, and more. Photographers have preferences, and the D300S offers choices-including Picture Control, Center-Weighted and Spot Metering, user-assignable CompactFlash and SD card slots and an external stereo microphone input. Included is Nikon ViewNX software-ready to process rich 14-bit NEF (RAW) or JPEG files. For more editing power, optional Capture NX 2, with U-Point technology, safeguards image quality and speeds workflow. The D300S' pro-level performance, paired with world-famous NIKKOR lenses, was engineered to exceed the expectations of demanding photographers. Nikon's D300s. Fast. Precise. Agile. Evolution in Motion. 12.3-megapixel DX-format CMOS Image Sensor
Delivers stunning high resolution, low-noise images with striking detail and tonal gradation. Continuous Shooting up to 7 fps
High speed shooting and fast response-essential to versatile performance in a wide variety of shooting disciplines. Nikon EXPEED Image Processing
Drives breathtakingly rich image fidelity, low noise and fast image processing. D-Movie HD Video
Capture cinematic 24 fps, 720p HD movie clips |
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 The Camera of My Dreams (But know what you're buying) |
| Review Date: December 7, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Daniel Neve, Salt Lake City, UT, USA |
Hello everybody, My name is Daniel and I am about as serious as you can be and still be considered "amateur". I have been taking photos on SLR's since I was 10 years old on an old film Minolta and I bought my first DSLR (a Nikon D50) and since then I have owned everything from a base line Canon XSi all the way up to the the best camera I have ever handled... the D300s. I have operated the D3, D3s, D3x and the top of the line professional $10k Canons, and this is still my favorite ALL AROUND camera. So here is the break down to why I love this camera and I will give you a list of pros and cons. I love this camera for many reasons... [...]... not many people can justify spending another $4,000 (2-3 times the money) when they are looking to spend around $1,500- $2,000 for a good DSLR. So here is the benefits that I see to D300s over the other great Nikon models.
1. if you are into sports the D300s has a higher continuous frame rate than other models including the ever so popular full frame D700. With it's DX sensor it has a crop factor of 1.5 which means more bang for you buck when using a telephoto zoom lens. If you purchase the MB-D10 battery pack it will shoot at even higher speeds of 8fps when using continuous shooting and also allows for up to nearly 5,000 pictures to be taken on one charge (when upgraded battery is purchased). With 51 auto-focus and 3-D tracking you are almost guaranteed to have your subject in focus every time you take a picture. The D300s also features Active D Lighting which makes to so your pictures end up properly exposed so you don't end up with areas of under and over exposure which tend to be common in sports and in shadowy landscape photography
2. Freedom: although all Nikon DSLR's allow you to manually adjust your settings they are difficult to change until you get to the semi-pro D300 model. If you understand f-stops, DOF, aperture, shutter speed, ISO, focus points, light metering and other technical jargon and really want to experiment with all of these then a D300s is the camera for you. with shooting modes including: single, cont. low speed, high speed, timer, quiet, and mirror up mode this camera gives you all the freedom you could ever ask for.
3. Learning: this camera will make you learn the true in's and out's of photography. With the very accurate light meter it's not very hard to get the exposure right. No matter what your ISO and f stop is at.
4. User interface. With the dedicated live view and info button new to the D300s over the original D300 it cuts menu times down significantly however it no longer has the memory card hatch release switch. The D300s includes great features such as custom menus, easy to understand menus with the classic (?) button which will explain every camera function in easy to understand terms. On the fly changes include ISO, WB, Quality, shooting modes, a user adjusted fn button, AF/AE lock, light metering, and af adjustments. So the only limitations are your imagination. Selecting your focal point is as easy as looking in the viewfinder and pushing the directional button and watching the selector move around until you have exactly the right spot selected. With two selectors (one for shutter speed and one for f stop) it allows you to never have to take your eye out out of the viewfinder.
The bottom line (why you would choose this over any other Nikon DSLR):
why you'd choose this over the D90: 51point AF w/ 3D tracking, more fps, control of image adjustments, not much more money for a lot more freedom and creativity, contrast auto-focusing during movies, ability to utilize dual card slots (CF and SD), 14bit RAW, Active D Lighting.
Over the D700: full 12MP when using DX lenses rather than 5MP, more fps, $600-$1,000 less, movie mode, smaller pixels for more refinement at low ISO, 100% viewfinder coverage
Over the D3 and D3x: A ton of money, shooting speed, optimization of DX and FX lenses and movie mode, and built in flash, 100% viewfinder coverage which allows for better framing.
This is a great camera HOWEVER NOTE THE FOLLOWING!!!!!
The D700, D3,x,s have FX photo sensors which allow for a much bigger and brighter view finder, it also allows for a wider view (no crop factor instead of 1.5x like the DX) which means if you want more area in your pictures for such things as landscapes then the D700 or the D3 lineup maybe a better option because a 50mm lens in a DX camera looks the same as a 75mm lens on an FX camera.
The D700 and D3 lineup (minus the D3x) utilize the large FX sensor and still only have a 12MP capacity which means that the pixels are larger which allows for better depth of color, better definition in shadows, and better high ISO clarity. The D300 can go to extended ISO of 6400 however the image quality is poor at best when the D3 can shoot ISO 6400 all day long and look great. The D700 also does better at high ISOs than the D300 does because it has the same sensor as the D3 however the D3 still does better than the D700 at extreme ISOs. However also consider the fact that the smaller the image sensor the larger the depth of field so the D700 and the D3 are better for macro or portrait photography and the D300 will give you a larger DOF equivalent to about one f-stop.
THIS IS NOT A VIDEO CAMERA video is pretty good and the utilization of lenses is a great feature however if you want good video spend the money on a video camera. Even a Flip HD does better. The camera produces good video but it doesn't do well during panning if you plan on putting the camera on a tripod and filming then by all means its fine and with the option for an external mic to give you stereo sound is nice.
When it comes to portability, price, features, weight, usability, image adjustments ect. I personally believe it doesn't get any better I hope this review helped and I hope you get one too and really enjoy it as much as I have. This camera is the best of all worlds. I say save the money from an FX camera and buy a really nice lens or two or three for that matter. Anyway here is the camera of my dreams and hopefully the camera in your bag shortly I promise you'll love it, I know I do.
UPDATE: For all you HDR photographers look no further than the D300s you can easily create HDR photos by selecting "multiple exposures" and then setting up multi-step exposures for + or - EV per exposure and after the exposures are done voila you have a beautiful HDR photo. Keep in mind however: you will need a cable release (I recommend the MC-36) for the multiple exposures. OR take a few pictures at different exposures and overlay the photos in the in camera retouch menu and there you have it perfect HDR photos every time! Goodbye Photoshop (for HDR anyway)
The D300s and flash compatibility: I have noticed almost no one has talked about the fantastic flash compatibility with the D300s over many cameras. I figured it needed to be covered so here it goes: The D300s is a DREAM to work with when paired with any Nikon Speedlight Dynamic Lighting System. My favorite and most frequently used flash is the SB-600 Speedlight which can be wirelessly operated for NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE with the D300s, you just have to know what settings to change. Unlike the D3 which has to either have a hot shoe flash controller unit or an SB-800 ($900) the D300s can operate a nearly unlimited number of flashes wirelessly without any accessories. So if you are like so many other Nikon users and own an SB-600 just push and hold the "Zoom" and the "-" button at the same time until you get to custom menu and cycle through until you can adjust the squiggly Z shaped line and turn it to on and it defaults to channel 3 then either push and hold the "zoom" and "-" button to get out of the menu or just push the power button. Then go to the "Custom Setting Menu" (the pencil) on your D300s and change "e3" "flash cntrl for built-in flash" to the Commander mode and set to channel 3, and pop up your built in flash and there you go...ABSOLUTELY FREE WIRELESS FLASH with perfect exposure compensation every time using a $250 flash unit. Hope it helps someone I know it helped me so have fun and remember to change it back to TTL flash when you're done.
UPDATE #2: I have had a lot of question on why you would get this over a D300 and here you go the main reasons for buying the D300s over the D300 is the designated info button, and live view button, movie mode, designated okay button instead of one crappy directional selector, quiet mode AND dual memory card slots. It's also 7 months newer so you won't have an out dated camera as soon. It also has slightly different menus and new software for shooting modes including landscape, and portrait modes. |
Thoughts on Upgrade from D70 to D300s
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| Review Date: October 26, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Sammy, San Francisco, CA |
I recently got a D300s for shooting pictures of my 3-year old. Previously, I used a Nikon D70, a 6-megapixel DSLR. I honestly think that the D70 is a fine camera and takes beautiful pictures if you use good lenses with it, but I got the D300s because it is much faster at focussing (51 focus sensors vs. 5 focus sensors), and can snap pictures at 7 frames per second (versus 3 frames per second for the D70). So now I feel I'm getting great pictures of my fast-moving daughter that I probably would have missed with my older camera. As for the quality of the pictures themselves, I don't notice any significant improvement from the D70, which already produced excellent pictures as long as things were moving slowly enough for it to lock focus.
The bottom line is this: If you're often dealing with fast-moving subjects, then the very fast focus and the machine-gun like 7 frames per second capability of the D300s will maximize your chances of getting good shots. The reason to get this camera is for its SPEED. That's what you're paying extra for when you buy this camera over a lower-priced Nikon SLR. If, on the other hand, you don't need the high speed (e.g., landscape and scenery pictures), then get a D40 or D90 and use the money you save on a good lens. |
Great new semi-pro flagship from Nikon
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| Review Date: October 3, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Nicolaas Traut, Qatar |
I actually planned to purchase the D300 as replacement for the D200 that used to be the backup for my D3, when Nikon announced the D300s. I placed the unit on pre-order with Amazon and received it shortly after the official launch date.
First impressions out-of-the-box was that the unit is as solidly built as the D200 with a good grip and feel. Controls are well placed and within easy reach for manual shooters. I've now used mine for almost one month, primarily with the Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 lens, and some telephoto shooting with the 80-400mm Nikkor zoom. Focusing is fast and sharp, and picture quality is very good, with outside shots at ISO200 almost comparable to the D3. Shutter actuation sounds very smooth and quiet compared to the D3 and I used the D300s extensively inside some cathedrals without feeling embarrassed.
I do lots of manual shooting, but also took many shots in P-mode with exceptional results and perfect exposure. Color rendition is great and noise is minimal, even at ISO800 on some of the indoor shots. This camera is a great option for any semi-pro or professional photographer and I give it a 5-star rating with confidence.
One con is the fact that there is no menu option for having a PC see the D300s as a drive letter, so you need to use a Windows utility or the Nikon software to transfer files to the PC, unless you use an external card reader of course. I have logged a call with Nikon regarding this and will update this post when I hear from them. Another feature that are being criticized by some reviewers is the video capability. Of course this is a still camera and the video option is a nice-to-have. The couple of videos that I have taken looks quite good to me, but I am not a videographer, and if I were, I would have purchased a video camera without expecting it to take great photographs. |
Quite an upgrade from the D90!
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| Review Date: October 13, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Roberto Pedraza, Queretaro, Mexico |
| As a former D90 owner (and I dont have complains of it) this is clearly a big step ahead. I spend most of my shooting in the outdoors and clearly the D300s is a camera designed for a much more rough use, although it shares functions and characteristics with the D90, but I dont regret at all the upgrade. Its a very fast and accurate machine in all its functions, wonderful image quality and small learning curve, I can see a difference in the image quality. The video is a nice addition. Completely recommended. |
Great Camera with splendid attributes and picture quality
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| Review Date: September 23, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Cesar Moreno, New york |
| After being an olympus SLR user for 3 years (honestly without any complains) I decided to switch to Nikon for various reasons, but particularly for the high ISO capabilities. These camera has met and surpassed all my expectations, and continues to amaze me with every set of pictures I upload. The camera is extremely well built, it is responsive, and the quality of the pictures is great. The video is a great attribute but it needs some tweaking if you want to improve your footage. I would recommend using a tripod and avoid fast moving objects because of the 'rolling shutter' problem that all video SLR cameras still have. Putting this aside, it is obvious that the purpose of this camera is for photography and I have no complains regarding this. I would recommend this camera to any semi-professional or enthusiast photographer that wants an upgrade. |
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December 3rd, 2009 | 
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