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01-22-08
Duration of ownership: 1 Months
Strengths: build, picture quality, meetering
Weaknesses:live view implementation, accurace white balance @ low light
Overall Evaluation: sofar, you could buy a camera each 2nd year and see a big step forward. With the d300, i believe i'll working for the next 10 years. Of course there will be newer and better models, but this one works on a level beyond which, for me, improvements are academic
05-02-08
Duration of ownership:
Strengths: High mega pixel image, sealed body, fast shutter speed, excellent battery life, high resolution screen, "live view", built in flash, manual options galore.
Weaknesses:Here are a few things that might concern average users - No auto pop up of the flash and no auto image settings.
Overall Evaluation: Ok, this camera is a huge upgrade from my previous D70. It offers a 12 MP image processor, sensitivity up to 6400 ISO, a 3.0 screen with high resolution and "Live View" which enables the framing of the picture without using the viewfinder. Combined with my 70-200 VR, it's a hard camera to beat. It uses a 51 point focusing system which is far more powerful than most other cameras at this price point today. The body is sealed so it can be used in bad conditions without fear. A few things to keep in mind if you are moving up from one of Nikon's lower end DSLRs. The flash will not pop up automatically, so you'll have to remember to do this manually. Not a big deal as most photographers using this camera will probably have an SB-800 attached most of the time. Also, no "scene" or auto modes, but you can program these as needed. Overall, an excellent camera that produces images that are amazing.
03-23-08
Duration of ownership: 2 Months
Strengths: d200 body taken up a notch, the screen!, the 'info' button (from the d40), live view
Weaknesses:should have more/better indicators in the viewfinder, drop in 14-bit raw continuous shooting
Overall Evaluation: the camera i was waiting for after learning with a d50 and toying with a canon 20d. very good iso/noise characteristics; advanced af and metering; a gorgeous screen that is great for reviewing shots and live view focusing; sturdy, balanced body; takes older ai lenses; better battery life than its d200 sibling. there are a few things that would make it better though - using the exposure meter in the viewfinder to fine tune manual focus (it's in the new d60, why not here? especially since using manual lenses is listed as a major feature). an focus type indicator (single/continuous/manual) in the vf - in case you accidentally knock the lever by the lens mount into a different mode than intended. the info screen should tell what shooting mode (single/mirror lockup/timer/live view) you're in, rather than just single/continuous - it's hard to see the control pod of the camera in the dark and it's a pain to try to memorize and count each click to switch modes. should have a seperate center button in the control pad - as the 'ok' button and because it's tricky to hit the center in a rush. and lastly (though not a huge point for my needs) is the lack of histogram in live view.it's an expensive body, but worth the investment (unless you have the extra $3k to buy a d3). the camera delivers everything that it promises, which for its level is more than anyone else. also, be prepared to invest more in cf cards and hard drive space - 14bit raw is a space eater.
02-14-08
Duration of ownership: 6 Weeks
Strengths: Handling; 12.3 megapixel sensor; 3" color monitor; LiveView; 51-point auto-focus; Scene Recognition System; D-Lighting feature; sensor cleaner; build quality; compatibility with most Nikkor lenses
Weaknesses:None so far
Overall Evaluation: I love this camera! I recently purchased the Nikon D300 as my first digital camera. I also own two Nikon 35mm film cameras -- a Nikon F100 that I purchased five years ago and a Nikkormat FTn that I purchased in the late sixties. Although I am still learning its multitude of features, I am very pleased with the performance of my D300 so far, and am glad I made the purchase. The following is a summary of my impressions relating to some of the D300's features. Of course, a brief review cannot cover all of its great capabilities. Handling: The D300 is similar in size and weight to my other Nikon cameras and feels "just right" in my hands. It is by no means a lightweight when compared with other cameras, but I feel that the camera's extra heft contributes towards more stability when shooting. The features and control layout are similar to my F100, so my learning curve is not as steep as it might otherwise be. The viewfinder provides a large, beautiful optical image, and works together with the information panel on top of the camera to provide all the needed shooting information. Shutter release response is instantaneous, as you would expect from a quality DSLR. Sensor: The D300 uses a DX-format 12.3 megapixel CMOS sensor with an ISO range of 200 to 3200. (According to the manual, you can go as low as ISO 100 or as high as ISO 6400, but the results may show degradation of picture quality.) Several different combinations of file types, file sizes and image qualities are available through the D300's easy-to-navigate menu system. The DX-format sensor size results in approximately a 1.5X focal length multiplication factor compared to 35mm film cameras. Thus, my 28-105mm lens that I bought for my F100 now provides the equivalent performance of a 42-158mm lens when mounted on the D300. Monitor: I've found the D300's large 3" color monitor to be bright and clear, making image review, in-camera editing and menu navigation a pleasure. The monitor can also be used as a "LiveView" display in two modes, Hand-Held and Tripod. Hand-Held mode is intended for moving subjects, while Tripod mode provides greater focusing precision for static subjects. I've not yet explored the LiveView capability. Autofocus: The D300's 51-point autofocus system makes focusing operations quick, accurate and flexible. You can manually select a single point or groups of points. There is also a mode where all 51 focus points are used and the camera selects the ones most relevant to the scene, such as recognizing and homing in on a human face. There is also a 3D tracking capability with automatic focus point switching to lock onto and track a moving subject. Built-In Intelligence: The Scene Recognition System evaluates subject and scene conditions prior to shooting to provide more accurate exposures. D-Lighting brings out details in otherwise over-exposed areas of the frame. This can be applied while taking the image ("active" D-Lighting), or after the fact in the image editing mode. So far I've used only the edit version, and it seems to work well. The "active" D-Lighting should work even better. Sensor Cleaner: The D300 is the first Nikon "pro-sumer" camera to provide a built-in sensor-cleaning capability. I've not had to use this feature yet, but it is reassuring to know it is there. Build Quality: The D300 is ruggedly built, with magnesium-alloy construction and added dust and moisture sealing. It is designed to withstand the rigors of professional use. As such, I expect to get many years of enjoyment out of it. Lens Compatibility: The D300 is compatible with Nikkor F-mount autofocus lenses, including ones made specifically for DX-format DSLR's as well as those designed for 35mm film cameras. The D300 also works with non-CPU AI Nikkor lenses. This should be helpful for those who already have an array of autofocus and manual Nikon lenses. Cost/Benefit: At $1800 (U.S.) the D300 is more costly than other consumer-oriented Nikon DSLR's, all of which are reported to deliver excellent image-making performance. The D300 features a higher level of capabilities and ruggedness than these other cameras. It is up to the purchaser to decide whether these are worth the added cost. For me, they were. Hope this helps.
02-01-08
Duration of ownership: 1 Days
Strengths: LIve ViewBuild
Weaknesses:As always with Nikon, priceweight
Overall Evaluation: I've always been a Nikon fan. Had purchased a D200 a couple years ago and was disappointed with no live view type feature now i have it. I like the self cleaning sensor. 3" LCD screen is beautiful faster auto focus. High ISO with little noise. overall great camera. Live view is a must when you cant get your eye to the view finder !
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