Nikon D300S vs D7100 - Key Differences
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In some markets, Nikon is touting the recently announced Nikon D7100 as its new flagship DX camera. Therefore - having compared the D7100’s specifications to those of its most obvious forebear the D7000 - we were curious to find out how it stacked up against Nikon’s last truly pro-oriented DX model, the venerable Nikon D300S (read review). The two cameras share a number of components - such as a 0.94x pentaprism viewfinder with 100% frame coverage, a shutter unit capable of a maximum shutter speed of 1/8000s and rated for 150,000 actuations, a weather sealed construction and an auto focus module with 51 focus points - and a legion of features; but there are some rather significant differences too. The Nikon D7100 comes with a 24-megapixel sensor that does away with the low-pass filter, a new LCD screen, a newly developed OLED display inside the viewfinder, an updated AF system whose centre point can be used with lens-teleconverter combinations as slow as f/8, a so-called “1.3x crop mode,” a 2016-pixel RGB metering sensor, and Full HD video with a number of frame rate options. At the same time the D7100 makes do with a much smaller raw buffer, slower continuous shooting speed and less robustly built body, and lacks the dedicated AF-ON button and PC sync terminal of the D300S. In addition, it uses a different battery and charger and is incompatible with the D300S’s optional MB-10 portrait grip. Upgrading from a Nikon D300S to a D7100 thus involves a number of compromises in addition to the obvious benefits.
In order to help you get a clearer picture of how they compare to each other specifications-wise, we have compiled a handy little table summarising the key differences between the two models, based on information available to us at the time of writing.
| Key Differences | Nikon D300S | Nikon D7100 |
| Sensor | 12-megapixel CMOS With AA filter |
24-megapixel CMOS Without AA filter |
| Image processor | Expeed | Expeed 3 |
| Native sensitivity range | ISO200/24° to ISO3200/36° | ISO100/21° to ISO6400/39° |
| AF points usable through f/8 | 0 | 1 |
| AF sensitivity range | -1EV to +19 EV | -2EV to +19EV |
| “1.3x” crop mode available? | No | Yes |
| Exposure bracketing | 2 to 9 frames in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 2/3 or 1 EV | 2 to 5 frames in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 1, 2, or 3 EV |
| Continuous shooting speed (JPEG or 12-bit raw) |
7fps 8fps with MB-D10 grip |
6fps at full resolution 7fps in “1.3x” crop mode |
| Continuous shooting speed (14-bit raw) |
2.5fps | 6fps |
| Buffer size (14-bit raw, lossless compression) |
30 | 6 (8 in “1.3x” crop mode) |
| Metering sensor | 1,005-pixel RGB | 2016-pixel RGB |
| In-finder status display | LCD | OLED |
| Rear display | 3”, 921k-dots | 3.2”, 1,229k-dots |
| Wi-Fi connectivity | Via Eye-Fi cards | Via Eye-Fi cards or WU-1a Wi-Fi adapter |
| Movie | HD 1280x720 / 24fps VGA 640x424 / 24fps QVGA 320x216 / 24fps |
Full HD 1,920x1,080 / 60i Full HD 1,920x1,080 / 50i Full HD 1,920x1,080 / 30fps Full HD 1,920x1,080 / 25fps Full HD 1,920x1,080 / 24fps HD 1,280x720 / 60 fps HD 1,280x720 / 50 fps |
| Built-in microphone | Mono | Stereo |
| In-camera HDR exposure blending? | No | Yes |
| “Spot White Balance” in Live View? | No | Yes |
| Mode dial | No | Yes |
| Dedicated AF-ON button | Yes | No |
| PC sync terminal | Yes | No |
| Top-mounted ISO/WB/QUAL button cluster | Yes | No |
| Memory card slots | 1x SD 1x CF |
2x SD |
| Connection ports | 10-pin Terminal HDMI USB Stereo microphone input NTSC PAL |
Remote/GPS terminal HDMI USB Stereo microphone input WR-1/WR-R10 terminal |
| Battery | EN-EL3e | EN-EL15 |
| Bundled charger | MH-18a | MH-25 |
| Optional battery grip | MB-D10 | MB-D15 |
| Main magnesium alloy parts | Entire chassis (practically) | Top and rear plates |
| Weight | 840g | 675g |
| Dimensions | Width: 5.8 in. (147mm) Height: 4.5 in. (114mm) Depth: 2.9 in. (74mm) |
Width: 5.3 in. (135.5mm) Height: 4.2 in. (106.5mm) Depth: 3.0 in. (76mm) |
Do note that the table highlights the key differences only - there’s a number of interface changes as well, from the omission of the D300S’s physical AF area mode selector and metering mode selector to the inclusion of a D4-style live view mode switch and top-mounted movie record button as well as a completely new customisable “i” button on the rear plate; making the transition somewhat difficult for current D300S users.
NB: The image showing the two cameras side by side is not to scale.
#1 Red
You need to correct that comparison table since D300s can't shot faster then 2.5 fps in 14 bit mode but that table above says it can do 7 without grip and 8 with it. That is correct but ONLY in 12 bit mode.
12:27 pm - Saturday, February 23, 2013
#2 Peter
I can see why the D300s has stood up to the test of time, even in the digital age. As I don't shoot many movies, the extra movie features of the D7100 are of no real benefit. If I got a good deal on the D300s I'd probably go for that one because it is so well made and a proven workhorse.
8:40 pm - Sunday, February 24, 2013
#3 Zoltan Arva-Toth
Well spotted Red, we have updated the table to include this piece of information.
1:00 pm - Monday, February 25, 2013
#4 Pauline Wong
Hi,
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1:47 pm - Wednesday, February 27, 2013
#5 Pauline Wong
Hi,
Thanks for sharing some great examples.I know REX STUDIO who are also in photography field.
They have been launched an interesting contest in their website,where user can win some amazing prizes.Go through this URL https://www.facebook.com/rexstudio12/app_306225262780703 to participate in the contest&Win; amazing prizes.
2:03 pm - Wednesday, February 27, 2013
#6 PT10981
I shoot youth sports (baseball) with the D300 + 70-200 VR-I lens and just acquired the D7100 because it supposedly has the same 51-point focus system. The D300 wins for sports. The difference I have experienced swapping both bodies in three games so far is significant: the D300 locks focus correctly 97% of the time, whereas the D7100 about 90%. When the D7100 misses it looks like back focus issue, but the I seem to experience it as a speed to lock focus. The D7100 gets there, but not as fast as the D300.
3:47 pm - Sunday, March 31, 2013
#7 Jonathan
Just got the D7100 and have the D300S, and the focus of the D7100 in lower light conditions is faster than the D300S, in good light I se eno real diffs in autofocus times, but the D7100 is more responsive for sure. Its lighter but incredibly well built, I like the heft of the pro body D300S but the D7100 is 95% as solid, and being lighter, its easier to carry around. The one thing that amazed me was the that compared to the D600 the high iso of the D7100 is only about one stop behind, I compared on DPReview, but the D600 has a poorer AF system which doesnt inspire, I think the D7100 is a better, more versatile option.
9:28 am - Monday, April 15, 2013
#8 sampath
what camera good camera
300s r 7100
4:48 pm - Tuesday, April 30, 2013
#9 Frank
and wath about portraits?
Nobody talks about..
4:20 pm - Tuesday, May 14, 2013
#10 devis chassis
A very good post indeed. It's a shame about some of the responses. A very good post and an excellent blog.
10:31 am - Monday, June 10, 2013