Nikon D300 Review

The mid-range digital SLR camera market has never been so competitive, with new models recently announced by virtually all the major manufacturers. The Nikon D300 is the latest prosumer model to pass through our review lab. With the highest price-tag of any of the main contenders, it has a lot to live up to, but a quick glance at the spec sheet reveals some impressive features. A new 12.3 APS-C sized sensor, 51 point AF system, 3 inch LCD screen, 6fps continuous shooting, Live View mode and ISO range of 100-6400 are all squeezed into the D300‘s dust and water resistant magnesium alloy body. We published some impressive photos and an in-depth report when nature photographer Jan Vermeer took the D300 all the way to Antarctica. Now Gavin Stoker hits the not-quite-so-cold streets of London to find out what the Nikon D300 is capable of in a more everyday setting.

Website: Nikon D300 Review

Published: Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Reader Comments

1. seriously, why do you bother with 'reviews' like this when they are littered with mistakes and misunderstandings and unsubstantiated sweeping statements about performance? Get someone who understands the product and the potential user or don't bother. All this review tells me is that you don't know enough about SLRs to be writing about them. Sorry

   sparky at 10:54pm on Monday, January 21, 2008

2. Worst productshots ever, why would you take photos with wideangle. In the not-so-hard to do ISO-comparison shots, the ISO 200 is not in focus.
   
   Certainly doesn't really give good impression about your knowledge in photography.

   Ville at 02:25pm on Tuesday, January 22, 2008

3. Don't hold back now sparky and Vile... in the spirit of sharing the site is built on, why not offer your own specific opinions on the product, or alternative user experience if you have one to offer?
   
   After all, you certainly have a way with words.

   Gavin at 07:00pm on Tuesday, January 22, 2008

4. >It might have been handy though to have had some form of illuminating this display for easier reference though when shooting in lower light conditions.
   
   If you press sideways on the on/off switch the top LCD illuminates.

   squeamish at 03:14pm on Wednesday, January 23, 2008

5. I ordered this camera the day it was announced to use for my wedding photography business. When tweaked right, it takes the most vivid photos I've ever seen. I wouldn't trade this camera for anything.

   Naples Wedding Photographer at 08:09pm on Wednesday, January 23, 2008

6. This is a great camera, but I've had electrical problems that rendered my first D300 useless. Several users have experienced false low-battery warnings that lock up the camera sporadically.
   
   Ritz was nice enough to replace mine with a new unit, even though it's been more than 30 days. You can see a video of what happened to my camera here:
   http://www.notebooks.com/2008/01/22/d300-false-low-battery-warningsworthless
   -dslrthanks-a-lot-nikon/

   Xavier at 09:50pm on Thursday, January 24, 2008

7. Hi:
   
   You review was right on the money! I was one of the first to get a camera delivered in the U.S. and have put 1000's of shots on it already.
   
   It is a mind-bogglingly awesome camera and I was not surprised when Nikon Corp. recently announced they were increasing production by several thousand camera's per month to meet the demand!

   Frank at 05:00pm on Saturday, January 26, 2008

8. D300 is a great cam. but this review is very poor, images shoot in auto, with poor focus, bad framing and very generic comments

   Gianluca at 10:01pm on Wednesday, January 30, 2008

9. This is my upgrade from Kodak SLR/n's. After an a hour in the air with it, I became excited all over agian as an aerial photographer. High ISOs and 6 frames/sec. are a hole new ball game. Very solid feel. Fewer pexils per image than the Kodaks but the quality-detail is sooo much better that it is a "Plus Move" . Here are some great video reviews:
   http://www.infoborder.com/Digital_Cameras/Video/NikonD300.php
   
   Problems
   I would have given it all 5s but this camera can not fire "on demand" in live view without dropping the mirror first. Even if I have set it to manual focus and pre-focused the lens. I station a camera in an inaccessible location during flight an fire by viewing through a video camera. Don't plan to capture exact moments via "live view".

   Martol at 09:07am on Monday, February 18, 2008

10. Large Viewfinder !!! Nikon D300 gives posibility composing in a large area not like the other... You an easiliy focus manually... Very fast and sensitive and trustable... No need to compare with Eos 5...

    Uygar Ozel at 12:06pm on Monday, March 17, 2008

11. The awful sample images in this review were almost enough to turn me against this camera, but having now had hands on the quality is amazing. What were the samples shot at?
    3200 iso jpeg with noise reduction at max?

    Harry at 12:39am on Saturday, March 22, 2008