Nikon D300 (w/ 18mm-200mm lens)

Manufacturer: Nikon Inc. Part number: 9481

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CNET Editor rating:
4.0 stars Excellent
Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 22 reviews

Jan 2008

More product information:: Editors' review; User reviews; Specifications; Product series; Manufacturer info

Bottom Line:: Visibly better photo quality and slightly improved performance make the Nikon D300 a significant upgrade over the D200 and an excellent all-around choice.

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CNET editors' review

Nikon D300 (w/ 18mm-200mm lens)

price range: $1,948.80 - $2,539.99

Reviewed by: Lori Grunin
Reviewed on: 01/28/2008
Released on: 11/28/2007

The good: Excellent performance and photo quality; solidly built; extremely flexible custom settings architecture; onboard wireless flash controller.

The bad: A bit too expensive, given the competition.

The bottom line: Visibly better photo quality and slightly improved performance make the Nikon D300 a significant upgrade over the D200 and an excellent all-around choice.

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Nikon D300

When you build the follow-up to a hot camera, how do you turn up the heat? When Nikon shipped the D200 a couple of years ago, its combination of speed and photo quality blew away the limited competition, and provided a powerful, relatively inexpensive alternative to Nikon's then top-of-the-line D2X. The D300 faces a far more crowded field. Not only does it take on its venerable and now lower-priced predecessor, but also a cluster of far-from-shabby dSLRs just at or below its price: the Canon EOS 40D, the Sony Alpha DSLR-A700, the Olympus E-3, and the Pentax K20D.

Nikon's offering a body-only box of the D300 as well as two kits: one with a DX 18mm-135mm f/3.5-5.6G ED AF lens (27mm-202.5mm equivalent with the camera's 1.5x crop factor) and one with a DX 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR lens (27mm-300mm equivalent). I tested the latter kit, and also used the camera with two non-DX lenses: a preproduction version of the 14-24mm 2.8G ED and the 24-70mm f/2.8G ED IF.

For the most part, Nikon sticks with the tried-and-true body design and interface of the D200, with its intelligently laid out controls. The dust- and weatherproof body weighs a hair over 2 pounds, and feels as solid as a little tank. The viewfinder is bigger and brighter, with 100 percent coverage. There are a few behaviors I'm not fond of, like the hard to manipulate metering dial (discussed in my more-detailed analysis of the design) and occasionally problematic AF-mode navigation (discussed below), but find the camera's operation comfortable and fluid. Nikon carries over the ultraflexible user-settings menus, which consists of two banks--shooting settings and custom settings--with four nameable slots each.

Though the DX-format (23.6x15.8 mm), 12-megapixel CMOS sensor is new, the D300 otherwise retains the raft of features that made the D200 so powerful, plus some high-profile enhancements. Most notably, the D300 increases to 51 AF points with 15 cross-type sensors, which contributes to the camera's new 3D-tracking 51-point Dynamic Area AF mode, and replaces the Group Dynamic AF of its predecessor. Essentially, the D300's 1,005-point 3D color matrix meter does double duty, feeding a low-resolution digitized version of the scene to the new Multi-Cam 3500DX AF module for tracking analysis. (You can see an interesting video simulation of it on YouTube.)

Based on the description (and the suggested use in the manual), the 3D tracking mode seems like an optimal solution for shooting well-defined subjects--those with strong color contrast relative to the background and which occupy a large percentage of the scene--that remain within the frame. And in shoots at a local dog run, it worked best for portrait-type situations, where it tracked the dogs' wildly moving heads while they themselves remained relatively stationary within the frame. However, for shots where the subject moves too quickly to keep in the viewfinder--as happens with most of the other dog-run shots--Nikon suggests using the 51-point dynamic AF without the 3D tracking. That works relatively well. (You can also choose 21-point or nine-point without 3D.) However, I miss the AF-group visual feedback provided by the D200. (Editor's note: The original version of this review had an erroneous complaint about not being able to assign these to custom buttons; in fact, you can assign swapping between the different multipoint AF modes to a custom button and dial combination.)

Like the 40D, the D300's Live View mode supports autofocus, but the D300 uses the typical too-many-mirror-flips implementation that makes it far less useful than it could be. There's actually a flow chart in the manual explaining the series of steps it takes to shoot in Live View--with a tripod it can use contrast AF, which doesn't require the constant mirror flippage. It is neither complicated, nor the shooting experience one should expect.

Like Canon, Nikon has a lot invested in lens-based optical-image stabilization technology, so the D300 lacks the in-body sensor-shift stabilization that Sony, Pentax, Olympus, and Panasonic offer. That's not a big deal if you already have an investment in Nikon's VR lenses or don't really use/care about stabilization. But if you do care about it and making your first dSLR purchase, or contemplating shifting from another brand, then don't discount its importance; the fact that the two kits require a choice between VR and non-VR lenses foreshadows future lens choices you'll have to make.

Other boosts over the D200 include an upgrade to a 3-inch LCD with a 170-degree viewing angle, a stop higher on the sensitivity scale to an effective ISO 100-6,400, the addition of a 14-bit raw mode, and an HDMI connector for optimal HDTV output. Before going into production, Nikon dropped the Virtual Horizon capability (which did make it into the D3). Nice features carried over from the D200 include built-in wireless flash control; selectable 6mm, 8mm, 10mm, or 13mm center-spot for center-weighted metering; and a shutter-speed range of 1/8,000 to 30 seconds. (For a complete list of the D300's features and capabilities, check out the PDF manual.)

There's nothing to complain about with the D300's shooting speed--though it delivers average performance for its class, the D300 does belong to a pretty zippy class of cameras, and it outpaces the D200 on a few tasks. CNET Labs' tests indicate that it wakes up and shoots near instantly, in about 0.1 second. Under good, high-contrast lighting, it focuses and shoots in just under half a second, rising to 0.9 second in dimmer conditions. Typically, it captures consecutive frames in the same half second, edging up to 0.6 second with the built-in flash enabled. And it delivers a quick 5.8 frames per second for high-speed burst shooting. (We tested without the optional battery grip, which brings the speed closer to 8fps.) Nikon traditionally delivers excellent low-light focus performance in its dSLRs, and the D300 is no exception. Even shooting a black cat sitting in the shadows of a dimly lit apartment proved no problem.

As for photo quality, the D300 delivers great results, with a visibly superior noise profile to the D200 as well as to the Sony DSLR-A700 (which uses the same sensor). At their best, photos are sharp, with excellent exposures, accurate colors, and broad tonal ranges. Flash with the SB-800 Speedlight unit especially showed off how well the metering system works, with none of the harsh, overexposed look that I frequently get on the most difficult shots. (For more details on the photo quality, click through the slide show.)

Although the lack of in-body stabilization can be a big liability for certain users, and its interface not quite as streamlined as I'd like, these negatives are more than offset by the great performance and class-leading photo quality delivered by the Nikon D300--earning it an Editors' Choice.

Shooting speed (in seconds)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)

Time to first shot

Raw shot-to-shot time

Shutter lag (dim light)

Shutter lag (typical)

Canon EOS 40D

0.3

0.4

0.9

0.5

Nikon D300

0.1

0.5

0.9

0.5

Nikon D200*

0.2

0.5

Sony Alpha DSLR-A700

0.5

0.6

1.2

0.5

Note: * Note: We retested the D200 using our currently methodology in December 2007, so these numbers differ from earlier reports.

Typical continuous-shooting speed (in frames per second)
(Longer bars indicate better performance)

Canon EOS 40D

6.3

Nikon D300

5.8

Nikon D200*

Sony Alpha DSLR-A700

4.8

Note: * Note: We retested the D200 using our currently methodology in December 2007, so these numbers differ from earlier reports.

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User reviews

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Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 22 reviews
My rating: 0 stars

Showing opinion 1 to 10 out of 22

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9 stars

Move over Canon... the KING is here...

by jessiethe3rd on August 31, 2007

Pros: 8fps, speed, body, ergonomics, design, 51 point AF

Cons: weight, 51 point AF centered

Summary: Move over Canon, the KING is here. After playing with the D300 at an Asian trade show I must say that the D300 is real and a very good camera. ...

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Summary: Move over Canon, the KING is here. After playing with the D300 at an Asian trade show I must say that the D300 is real and a very good camera. Yes it's APS-S... no it's not full frame... however, it is the best APS sized sensor camera available and it will probably remain that way for a long time. I believe this may be the last of the APS professional cameras by Nikon, however, birders and sports shooters should rejoice - this thing is KING.

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8 out of 12 users found this user opinion helpful.
9 stars

SAMPLE OF PHOTOS TAKEN WITH NIKON D300

by henryrocket on January 27, 2008

Pros: NICE FEEL, SEALED BODY, ALLOY CONSTRUCTION,

Cons: STILL LOOKING

Summary: I just bought my Nikon d300 w/ 18-200mm VR AFS lens and I'm still testing my new camera out. Please check out my blog to check out photos taken ...

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Summary: I just bought my Nikon d300 w/ 18-200mm VR AFS lens and I'm still testing my new camera out. Please check out my blog to check out photos taken with my D300. I will be testing this camera out to see what it can do and what it can't.

www.photocrumb.blogspot.com

You can click on my shots to get an enlarged version of all of my photos. Have fun with your camera.

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4 out of 5 users found this user opinion helpful.
9 stars

The amazing Nikon D3 -- but smaller!

by mentalman1369 on April 4, 2008

Pros: Save time/effort with superior colour, tone and contrast control; ergonomics; ease-of-use

Cons: No dedicated Picture Control button; no detailed MF indicator; (needs more customisable buttons)

Summary: Just to get to the point: this is hands down the BEST DSLR for almost all enthousiast photographers -- bar none. (And depending on where you buy, it can be ...

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Summary: Just to get to the point: this is hands down the BEST DSLR for almost all enthousiast photographers -- bar none. (And depending on where you buy, it can be dirt cheap as well -- I got mine for less than $2000 AUD (body only, but I also got the 18-200 mm VR and 50 mm f/1.8 prime plus SB-600 flash))

The reasons are many for this commendation. From its almost identical feature set to its bigger brother, the Nikon D3, such as superior colour rendering (able to be EXTREMELY vibrant/saturated), tone and contrast control (Active D-Lighting works VERY well); to unbelievable ease-of-use and ergonomics -- this is a true D3 without the weight or size (and lack of built-in flash). (However, the high-ISO capabilities are nowhere near that of the D3, but neither is any other camera out there that doesn't cost less an arm or a leg.)

The importance of aforementioned features (esp. better colour, tone and contrast control) really make photographing so much easier -- from beginning to end. Less or no adjustments are needed during both the shooting and review stages, which just makes life so much better for prolific shooters (like myself - 20,000+ shots since Dec 2007!). Artistic vision is so much more easily realised with this camera - it's truly ground-breaking. Time saved with this camera is easily worth the premium over other DSLRs like the Canon 40D.

Miniscule gripes include the lack of a dedicated Picture Control button (as on the limited-edition D3P for members of NPS) to change quickly between different colour modes (like Saturated, Normal, Neutral, Monochrome, etc.) as well as no detailed Manual Focus indicator (as in the small arrows which give detailed feedback during manual focusing).

Tiny nit-picking aside, the D300 is an amazing camera with which anyone who is truly serious about their photography (and is looking for a DSLR) should definitely top their short-list.

Go to
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mentalman1369/
for some photos I've taken with the D300.

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2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
9 stars

Top flight

by riteon on February 11, 2008

Pros: Sharp excellent color rendition

Cons: A bit on the heavy side

Summary: Nikon again proves it is the top of the line.

Summary: Nikon again proves it is the top of the line.

2 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
10 stars

Awesome Camera

by salockhart on July 8, 2008

Pros: Beautiful Pictures

Cons: A little pricey

Summary: I played with the Sony a700 and overall, the D300 was easy to use and the image quality, awesome. Saw a post about the auto focus, but mine has been ...

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Summary: I played with the Sony a700 and overall, the D300 was easy to use and the image quality, awesome. Saw a post about the auto focus, but mine has been perfect. I do not regret purchasing this camera.

Also, hold the camera feels so natural. I love this camera. I am going acamping this weekend and I know I willhave some great pictures to share!

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1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
10 stars

Camera and lens is a very fine combination

by ole byskov on June 25, 2008

Pros: Very fine pictures with this combination

Cons: The combination is a bit heavy

Summary: After my Nikon D70 I bought the D300 and used the "old lenses" with the new D300 camera. I have now bought the VR AF-S Nikkor 18mm-200mm lens and the ...

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Summary: After my Nikon D70 I bought the D300 and used the "old lenses" with the new D300 camera. I have now bought the VR AF-S Nikkor 18mm-200mm lens and the combination is very fine.

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1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
10 stars

Finally a digital camera that performs better than film.

by rdpate on June 15, 2008

Pros: 6-8 frames per second, Sharp pictures, ease of use.

Cons: The camera is a little heavy.

Summary: The Nikon D300 performs like my 35mm film camera. Its fast, clear and sharp. The focas is quick to lock on and is accurate. The operation is easily mastered and ...

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Summary: The Nikon D300 performs like my 35mm film camera. Its fast, clear and sharp. The focas is quick to lock on and is accurate. The operation is easily mastered and can be used by both the novice as well as the professional. Simply put the camera in program mode and its a point and shoot and even my wife will use it. Switch the camera over to aperature, shutter or manual and with all the options, bells and whistles it is a professionals dream. This camera will be with me for a long time to come.

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1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
9 stars

Nikon D300 Worth every penny?

by jolen1aub on June 10, 2008

Pros: W/ the 18-200mm VR lens packaged-no lens changes needed/ less chance exposure to debris.

Cons: Photos taken with default settimgs were a little soft -required adjusting sharpness.

Summary: Got this Camera 3 weeks ago and debated over the 40D.
This camera is just very pleasant to use and learn. Lots of flexibility and excellent noise reduction beyond ISO
...

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Summary: Got this Camera 3 weeks ago and debated over the 40D.
This camera is just very pleasant to use and learn. Lots of flexibility and excellent noise reduction beyond ISO 800.
Top-notch LCD display and awesome/quick 51 point AF.
Quite impressive good/useable low-lite photos without using the built-in flash. Its worth the $500 diifference over the 40D IMHO. I like the 18-200MM lens (27-300mm equiv.) package w/c eliminates or minimizes lens-switching w/c also reduce the risk of debris getting in your camera. Almost got the 40D w/ 2 Canon lenses (equiv. to Nikon 18-200mm VR) but the thought of the inconvenience switching lenses swayed me towards the D300. Not to mention D300's 12 Mp resolution over the 40D's 10 Mp. Bottom line you can't go wrong with either!
It boils down to pre-owned gear, economics, and
personal taste/ preferences. BTW I upgraded from an OLYMPUS E500 8Mp-dual lens which I plan to keep. Got my D300 at a local Ritz Camera store. Great service! If your considering either cameras I strongly suggest to do your homework and try them out at your local camera store before making that investment. NOTE: This camera does not have an "auto" mode nor does it have the scene- presets like you're use to ( Point-and-shoot cameras and some DSLRs). Hope this helps potential DSLR enthusiast buyer.

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1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
10 stars

Best prosumer DX camera there is.

by csbrice on June 5, 2008

Pros: Live view, design, CMOS chip, on camera flash, 3D matrix focus and tracking, flash unit fires wirelessly w/ SB 600/800 ,

Cons: Rear eyepiece does not have a built in shutter for specilized shooting (manual eyeshield is provided)

Summary: Really, just cruise the internet and read the photo journals to see how good this camera is (and its full frame cousin, the D3). Paired with the 17mm-200mm VR lense, ...

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Summary: Really, just cruise the internet and read the photo journals to see how good this camera is (and its full frame cousin, the D3). Paired with the 17mm-200mm VR lense, this camera is a dream. I really can't add to the substantial in-depth analysis that one can obtain from all the internet sources. I can only verify that the D300 is really that good! A little expensive but worth it.

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1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
8 stars

Great Consumer Grade Camera

by leerandallstewart on March 4, 2008

Pros: High Mega Pixel Count

Cons: You have to be a pro to know how to work it

Summary: This is a great camera, and I use it as my backup camera when I shoot weddings. I love the high mega pixel count, and it uses all my DC ...

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Summary: This is a great camera, and I use it as my backup camera when I shoot weddings. I love the high mega pixel count, and it uses all my DC lenses. I would discourage others, however, to venture into the wedding business with this as their main camera. It is not set up as a professional DSLR...it is more consumer based.

<A HREF="http://leerandallstewart.com">Lee
Randall Stewart Photography</A>

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2 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.

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Specifications

Manufacturer: Nikon Inc.
Part number: 9481
Description: The D300 features Nikon's exclusive EXPEED Image Processing System that is central to driving the speed and processing power needed for many of the camera's new features. The D300 features a new 51-point auto focus system with Nikon's 3D Focus Tracking feature and two new LiveView shooting modes that allow users to frame a photograph using the camera's high-resolution LCD monitor. The D300 shares a similar Scene Recognition System as found in the D3 that promises to greatly enhance the accuracy of auto focus, auto exposure and auto white balance by recognizing the subject or scene being photographed and applying this information to the calculations for the three functions. The D300 reacts with lightning speed, powering-up in a mere 0.13 seconds and shooting with an imperceptible 45 millisecond shutter release lag time. The D300 is capable of shooting at a rapid six frames per second and can go as fast as eight frames per second when using the optional MB-D10 Multi-Power Battery Pack. In continuous bursts, the D300 can shoot up to 100 shots at full 12.3 megapixel resolution. The D300 incorporates a range of innovative technologies and features that will significantly improve the accuracy, control and performance photographers can get from their equipment. Its new Scene Recognition System advances the use of Nikon's acclaimed 1,005-segment sensor to recognize colors and light patterns that help the camera determine the subject and the type of scene being photographed, before a picture is taken. This information is used to improve the accuracy of auto focus, auto exposure and auto white balance functions in the D300. For example, the camera can track moving subjects better and by identifying them, it can also automatically select focus points faster and with greater accuracy. It can also analyze highlights and more accurately determine exposure, as well as infer light sources to deliver more accurate white balance detection. The D300 incorporates Nikon's Multi-CAM 3500DX auto focus module that features an intelligent array of 15 cross-type sensors and 36 horizontal sensors. These sensors can either be used individually or in groups, with the option for Single area AF mode and Dynamic AF modes using groups of either nine, 21 or all 51 focus points. The system also features 3D tracking with automatic focus point switching that takes advantage of all 51 AF points as it uses color and light information to accurately track the subject. Nikon's new Scene Recognition System and improved focus algorithms also contribute to the impressive performance of the new 51-point AF system. Taking a cue from the popularity of Nikon's D-Lighting technology, the D300 features a new Active D-Lighting mode that, when enabled, provides remarkable real-time highlight and shadow correction with optimized image contrast. Active D-Lighting produces broader tone reproduction in both shadows and highlights by controlling highlights and exposure compensation while applying localized tone control technology to achieve a more pleasing level of contrast across the entire image. And because the advantages of Active D-Lighting are applied as images are captured, image editing time can be shortened.

General
Product Type Digital camera - SLR
Weight 1.8 lbs
Width 5.8 in
Depth 2.9 in
Height 4.5 in
Body Material Magnesium alloy

Nikon D300 (w/ 18mm-200mm lens)

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