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Nikon D300 reviews
You can find here the most interesting reviews / ratings from the well-known expert sites about the Nikon D300 Camera. Here are the reviewers:
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- 03 February 2009 - |
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- 5 |
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- 01 May 2008 - |
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- 0 |
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- 13 March 2008 - |
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- 4.5 |
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- 19 February 2008 - |
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- 5 |
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- 07 February 2008 - |
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- 0 |
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- 21 January 2008 - |
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- 4.5 |
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- 14 December 2007 - |
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- 0 |
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- 06 December 2007 - |
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- 4.5 |
DevHardware 's conclusion / rating - 03 February 2009 |
“ The features and quality of the D300 are exceptional at this price point. For the price of a prosumer model, Nikon have managed to produce a camera that crosses well over the line into professional territory. It's rewarding to see the company incorporating features such as the auto-focus system that are at home in much more expensive equipment, and while this might not impress higher end purchasers, it does bring serious quality within reach of the serious amateur.
However, these capabilities do come at a certain price: the D300 is not a machine for the uninitiated photographer. Lacking the "standard" modes that often tend to oversimplify lower range equipment, the camera has to be studied and learned to get the best out of it. Nonetheless, for those prepared to put in the work required to master it, and certainly for those who already have the necessary knowledge, it's easy to see the D300 becoming an essential tool for virtually all types of photography, from artistic and landscape shots to action and wildlife, and encompassing virtually all points in between... ”
DevHardware's rating: |
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- 5 |
Complete review here
Steves Digicams 's conclusion / rating - 01 May 2008 |
“ Nikon's new D300 further raises the bar in the enthusiasts dSLR category. Offering a wealth of features, plenty of customization options, 12.3 megapixels of resolution, upgraded 51-point Autofocus System, a fast frame rate (when using a recommend 266x CF card) and excellent image quality, this model represents Nikon's best effort so far in this market niche. At a price of approximately US$1799, it's not inexpensive, but the D300's features and image quality justify the lofty price. We have no issues giving this camera our highest recommendation; Well done Nikon... ”
Steves Digicams's rating: |
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- 0 |
Complete review here
DPReview 's conclusion / rating - 13 March 2008 |
“ The D200 was a big step forward for Nikon, the 'baby D2X' certainly gave the competition a thing or two to think about. Its big problem was the fact that Canon was still a generation ahead in the noise stakes, managing to consistently deliver clean images despite megapixel jumps. With the advent of the D300 however Nikon has conclusively removed this disparity and if anything stepped ahead of Canon (mostly thanks to its chroma based noise reduction delivering more film-like grain rather than color blotches).
But that's just one aspect of the D300 story, almost everything else about this camera has been improved. Starting on the outside there's that stunning high resolution three inch LCD monitor, the usefulness of which shouldn't be underestimated (you'll find you get enough detail without magnifying as far), there's perhaps the best implementation of Live View to date with both contrast detect (like a compact camera, although not particularly fast) and passive auto-focus options, and there's HDMI output; a boon no doubt to studio photographers who can now provide live high resolution previews of a shot. And of course we can't talk about the D300 without giving Nikon credit for the superb build quality and robust 'go anywhere' feel the body has.
On the inside Nikon has worked hard to deliver both better image quality and better performance; you get usable images up to ISO 3200, extended image parameter control, improved dynamic range, automatic CA removal (which immediately improves the performance of all your lenses), six frames per second continuous shooting (eight with the grip / battery combo), a new AF sensor, AF tracking by color and scene recognition. There are also an almost infinite range of customization options available, everything from how many AF areas are used to the size of the center-weighted metering circle to what happens when you hold the FUNC button and turn the command dial.
My biggest problem writing this conclusion has been picking out the D300's weak points. The usefulness of Live View would certainly be improved with an articulating LCD monitor (although I'm sure Nikon would argue that this could compromise the integrity of the body), auto white-balance is poor in artificial light (although this isn't anything unique to the D300) and there's still no true mirror lock-up feature. But really, these few niggles are really the only things we could pick out as criticism.
There is price, but sometimes the best products demand a premium and the D300 is no exception. Nikon's biggest problem now will be bettering the D300; it raises the bar to a new high, and represents the state of the art despite strong competition from the likes of Canon, Sony and Olympus. There's simply no better semi-professional digital SLR on the market.... ”
Complete review here
TrustedReviews 's conclusion / rating - 19 February 2008 |
“ In the D300, Nikon has a camera that will appeal to a wide range of photographers, from advanced amateurs to professionals looking for a cheaper and slightly lighter alternative to the D3. It has class-leading build quality and ergonomic design, a mind-boggling array of features and options, blistering performance and superb image quality. In terms of what it has to offer the D300 is unquestionably one of the four or five best cameras currently on the market. However it is a very expensive camera, and the competition - in the shape of the Sony A700 - isn't far behind.... ”
TrustedReviews's rating: |
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- 5 |
Complete review here
Imaging Resource 's conclusion / rating - 07 February 2008 |
“ Saying that the Nikon D300 has a solid build and excellent design isn't really necessary. Its D200 heritage is all you need to know about its construction and durability. The same goes for its utility. All of the controls are right where you want them to be for quick access and easy adjustment. There are a lot of great cameras on the market, but the D300 more than any of them is designed for the serious photographer. Though the menus are deep enough to get lost on occasion, the D300's My Menu function helps you cluster the most important items where you can find them in a hurry.
The Nikon D300 acknowledges that all optics are not created equal with its Fine Tuning function, a welcome addition in a camera that seems to know the market better than others. 51 autofocus points cover almost as much area as the meter, allowing you to position your subject wherever you like. And the two systems work together to better track moving subjects in the frame. Chromatic aberration correction built right into the camera takes care of this common problem in every JPEG you save.
Active D-Lighting automatically adjusts the tone curve to rescue highlights and shadows without making the image look odd, and this too can be applied to each shot. In addition to fixing common problems, though, the Nikon D300 just performs better than any camera before it, especially in terms of high ISO performance. Its ISO 800 shots are not far different from its ISO 100 and 200 shots (with 200 being slightly better than 100). Low light performance was also excellent, with the Nikon D300 able to make good exposures at all ISOs down to 1/16 foot candle.
I could go on and on, but the bottom line is this: If you need a great digital SLR camera and the price is no issue, the Nikon D300 will exceed your needs. Those requiring a faster frame rate and greater autofocus speed should consider a D3, provided they can handle the extra size and weight. I won't call it a compelling upgrade for happy D200 owners, but it sure wouldn't hurt if you're in the market for something even better than the D200. Nikon's D300 is an amazing machine, well worth the $1,799 price tag, and a rare five-star Dave's Pick. ... ”
Imaging Resource's rating: |
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- 0 |
Complete review here
PhotographyBLOG 's conclusion / rating - 21 January 2008 |
“ Despite the fact that the Nikon D300 requires a fair bit of familiarisation to make use of all its on-board features – simply because there are so many functions you can tweak and customize to the nth degree – if required you can be up and shooting from the off fairly intuitively. So what does the D300 miss? A sensor-shift image stabilisation system perhaps, which just forces you to invest in a VR lens instead, plus a tilt and swivel LCD screen like that found on the Olympus E-3 and Panasonic L10 for making the best creatively out of those awkward angle shots. But overall, unless you are a professional photographer needing massive file sizes or even swifter image capture, the Nikon D300 could well be all the DSLR you'll ever need. Though that body-only price tag may appear decidedly steep to the average consumer, the pro will consider the D300 something of a bargain, particularly if he/she already has a collection of compatible optics waiting in a kit bag. Though Canon may currently rule the roost when it comes to the number of DSLRs it sells, for the discerning photographer the Nikons D300 has got to be pretty much near the top of any wants list.... ”
PhotographyBLOG's rating: |
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- 4.5 |
Complete review here
DCResource 's conclusion / rating - 14 December 2007 |
“ When Nikon announced the D300, the digital photography world stood up and took notice. When people call the D300 a "baby D3", they're not kidding. The D300 has nearly the exact same feature set, but with an APS-C / DX-format sensor instead of a full-frame one. That means you get the super-fast performance of the EXPEED image processor, live view on a brilliant 3-inch LCD display, a 51-point autofocus system, dust reduction, full manual controls, and the expandability that you'd expect on a Nikon SLR. You also get excellent image quality, especially if you tweak a few basic settings. It's not often that I review a camera actually lives up to the manufacturer's hype -- and the D300 does exactly that.
The Nikon D300 is a midsize digital SLR that's built like a tank -- mostly. The camera has rugged, magnesium alloy body whose controls, doors, and I/O ports are sealed against dust and moisture. The camera's cheap plastic memory card slot door feels really out of place, though. The D300 has a good-sized grip that puts the camera securely in your hands. The camera has more than its share of buttons, dials, and switches, so it takes a while to figure the whole thing out. The D300 has an ultrasonic dust reduction system (similar to what Olympus has been doing for years) to knock dust off of its 12 Megapixel CMOS sensor. The camera uses the standard Nikon F-mount, with support for scores of lenses with a 1.5X focal length conversion ratio. The D300 supports numerous accessories, most notably a battery grip (which doubles battery life and boosts continuous shooting speeds) and a wireless file transmitter. Another notable feature on the D300 is an HDMI port, which you can use to connect to a high definition television.... ”
Complete review here
Camera Labs 's conclusion / rating - 06 December 2007 |
“ There’s no denying the Nikon D300 is a highly capable DSLR which will delight enthusiasts and satisfy the demands of pros looking for a backup or ‘budget’ body. Certainly no-one does ergonomics like Nikon and despite a handful of annoyances, it’s also the most feature-packed DSLR of its class. But there’s also no denying it’s also comfortably more expensive than many rivals while not delivering significantly better image quality. Indeed in the case of the Sony A700, the image quality is essentially the same. If you’re after a big step-up in image quality from the Nikon system, you’ll need to look at the D3.
So it’s a case of weighing up the D300’s features against its higher price. The D300 is undoubtedly a great camera to use, but are its features worth 40-50% more than the Canon EOS 40D or Sony A700? Only you can decide, but don’t go for the D300 over these models expecting significantly better image quality. The extra cash is buying you superior build, handling and features.
The higher price also makes the downsides that bit more annoying, like the lack of a live histogram or self timer in Live View, and the requirement to buy remote control software and a special serial cable for GPS units when Canon includes the former for free and the latter could be solved with a direct USB link. It’s also a shame the anti-dust system didn’t prove effective in our tests.
But ultimately the D300 remains a superb DSLR and one of the best we’ve tested at Camera Labs – it’s certainly a model we can Highly Recommend. But unless you’ve already bought into the Nikon system, we’d advise closely comparing it to the rivals mentioned above. The D300’s features may on the whole be a step-ahead of the competition, but you may not personally need them, in which case your money is better spent on a cheaper body with better glass.... ”
Camera Labs's rating: |
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- 4.5 |
Complete review here
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