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| Brand: Nikon
Category: Photography
Buy New: Too low to display
New (20)
Avg. Customer Rating:  191 reviews
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Batteries Included: No
Includes Software: Yes
Optical Zoom: 1
Display Size: 3
Continuous Shooting Speed: 5
Maximum Resolution: 12300000
Has Red Eye Reduction: Yes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 5.4
Dimensions (in): 0.1 x 0.1 x 0
nv:Sensor: 12.3 Megapixel
Image Resolution: 4288 x 2848
Storage Media: Compact Flash
Compressed Format: JPEG
LCD Monitor: 3.0-inches
LCD Pixels: 921,600 pixels
LCD Coverage: 100%
Shutter Speed: 30 - 1/8000 sec.
Light Metering Method: Spot AF
Light Metering Method: Center Weighted
Exposure Modes: Manual
Exposure Modes: shutter priority
Exposure Modes: Aperture-priority Auto
Exposure Modes: Program Auto
ISO Speed Range: Auto 200/400/800/1600/3200
Flash Mode: Rear-Curtain Sync
Warranty: 1 year warranty
MPN: 25432
Model: 25432
UPC: 018208254323
EAN: 0018208254323
Release Date: February 18, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Customer Reviews:
Excellent value for the $$$! November 26, 2007
57 out of 69 found this review helpful
I had this camera and the D3 on order ever since they were annouced, with my luck the D300 came in first! I just picked it up today! Although I need the D3's full frame more! However, it is an excellent camera for the $$, I only paid $1800+ tax, mind you I spend a lot at my dealer over the years! I owned and still own a couple of Nikons, so for me it was a very easy transition, and finally Nikon has a good comprehensive manual to go wth the camera ifyou need any help. Also, for the first time the Capture NX is included - sort of: Ok I had to download it, and insert the product key, regardless this is a good step by Nikon, and it was about time!!
The focusing screen is much better designed now, and if you get the MD-D10 multi-power battery pack for the built in motor drive, it will be faster than my D2X and also has a lot bigger buffer up to 100 shoots for jpg, vs only 35 on my D2X, and with the right adapter BL-3 it will take the same high capacity battery as my D2X uses! The only drawback is that nobody has the BL-3 adapter in STOCK!
As for image quality, it is excellent even at higher ISO, I tested the D300 at 400, 800 and 1600 ISO, unlike the D2X which is only good up to 320 or maybe 400 before some noise is noticable and gets worse very fast after that as ISO is increased. (I am not talking about for 4x6" prints or just looking on the monitor but for 11x14"prints and up!!)
I highly recommend this camera, it is better than my more expensive D2X or D2Xs, performance and price wise!!! In fact you could buy 2 DX300s for the cost of one D2Xs! Finally Nikon has a winner!
 Fantastic device, but... June 7, 2008
56 out of 96 found this review helpful
...beware of the dreaded Dead Battery Syndrome (DBS) as experienced and discussed by many affected users. Please check discussion forums at the review site you see here on Amazon, as well as [...] and put pressure on Nikon to remedy the issue soon.
Nikon is an immensely reliable brand and the D300 is a true gem. No argument; and the poor rating is given just to draw attention. There is a huge population of satisfied owners and they may never experience a problem during the first 5000 clicks. Professionals who have been shooting away since November have a different take. If you need to depend on every shot at any moment, "not right now" is not what you'd expect from your gun. I mean tool...you know. My own purchase is contingent on a timely resolution. Otherwise, massive D3 here I come. What's a few grand amongst friends?
Edit (06/11/08): As it turned out, the $5000 Nikon D3 is also having the same DBS problem, only at a lower rate. The issue is serious and what we can hope for is a firmware update as opposed to sending the camera in for repair.
Edit (07/01/08): Nikon just released a firmware update which is supposed to fix the DBS issue. The whole point is moot now but it seems impossible to change the rating.
Side note: The new FX format D700 is announced.
Edit (07/19/08): The firmware results are not all in yet. Read dpreview and see for yourself. There are people who still have the DBS problem after the update. And about the two comments, I updated my review before you posted your nonsense. So, read again: IT IS A HUGE ISSUE AND, YES IT IS WIDESPREAD.
Don't Buy This Camera March 6, 2008
55 out of 198 found this review helpful
I had the D300 for a little over 3 days and the back LCD Monitor failed - it started flashing and wouldn't quit! Bummer for a $1800 camera.
Over the 3 days the camera had been on for about 5 hours and I had taken about 50 images. I hadn't taken it out of the house.
I had to send the camera back for warranty repair. It has been 12 business days and Nikon can't tell me when it will be shipped back to me. Check the web before you buy. The D300 has lots of problems.
Infant mortality is indicative of manufacturing problems and poor quality control. I replaced my D200 with the D300. The D200 was solid and very reliable. If you can't trust your camera what good is it. What do you do if you're in Africa, Thailand, etc?
RECOMMENDATION: Ignore the hype. Buy a D200 or wait 12 months till Nikon sorts out the bugs in the D300. Or, heaven forbid, buy a Canon.
I bought the D300 through AMAZON - Cameta Camera. They changed their 800 number to an internationl number with a $5 access fee. They were no help with this problem.
RECOMMENDATION: Buy high-end gear and electronics from Adorama or B&H, they will help you - no problem. Just buy books and CDS from Amazon.
Honest opinion from a primary Canon shooter January 19, 2008
50 out of 50 found this review helpful
I own a Canon EOS 5D, 40D and 30D so this is my first Nikon DSLR. Being primarily a Canon photographer I always wondered what shooting with Nikon would be like.
Let me just say, this Nikon is an absolute gem and pleasure to shoot with. The technology packed into this product is definitely a jump in quality making it worthy of being called a "next generation" DSLR.
I could tell you about all the fancy specs, its abilities, and why people think it's better than Canon, but the other reviews pretty much say it all. Otherwise, this camera does deliver what it promises.
I feel that both Canon and Nikon DSLR's are fantastic for people wanting to learn and/or continue their photography. Sure, right now I'd say Nikon absolutely has the lead in technology, but historically these two companies have been going back and forth all along so eventually Canon will take the crown back.
My advice for anyone seriously considering buying this camera or any DSLR (since it'll put a nice size whole in your pocket) is go to the store and test out the camera that is right for you. See what best fits in your hand, build quality, weight, etc... because I guarantee 8/10 people buying these cameras won't notice any difference in image quality. Both Canon's and Nikon's are fully capable cameras so it's really the photographer who makes ANY difference.
(Last bit of advice would be to buy your gear online cause stores tend to mark up their stuff to a nice inflated price. Also, when buying these DSLR's, the glass you have (i.e LENSES) make more difference than the camera you're using (especially after >8.0MP).
Good luck and just have fun with your camera! You capture the most memorable shots in the moment. ^_^
One small step for Nikon... one giant step for mankind! January 23, 2008
49 out of 50 found this review helpful
I've been holding back from buying the D300 since the launch because I own a D200, but when my wife came home and surprised me with one... not only was I surprised by her gift, but also by what Nikon has packed inside this camera. I will try not to write on what others have already said, but I'll point us to some areas which are new and may not have gotten enough attention towards.
1. AF Fine Tuning - this is a great feature that puts in the user's hands the power to calibrate a lens to the camera body. In the past, if you have a great prime lens (e.g. 85mm f/1.4) and want to calibrate it to work optimally to the camera body, you would need to send it to teh Nikon Service Center to do that. With AF Fine Tuning, you can now do it yourself. Because there will be a slight degree of inaccurarcy in AF systems, i.e. front or backward focusing, you can now fine tune that lens (with +/- 20) to the camera body so that it works optimally. It recognizes Nikon lenses without a problem but 3rd party lenses would have to catch up. It can store up to 12 lenses' fine tuning information, so that when you plug back that lens, it would know the fine tune data to use.
2. Monochrome Picture Control - The monochrone picture control now comes with filter effects or yellow, orange, red, and green... so gone are the days of carrying these filters when taking black and white shots. You can also adjust the toning from black and white, sepia, cyanotype, and also a range of red, yellow, green, blue green, blue, purple blue, and red purple.
3. Improved Picture Control for colors - the settings now are sharpening, contrast, brightness, saturation and hue. You can also download from the internet D2XMODE picture controls (there are 3 modes) and load it in to emulate these modes from the D2X bodies.
4. White balance fine tuning - The Canon 5D had long since had this feature in the white balance tuning where you can shift the white balance in a grid, and finally, this is now incorporated in this camera. Even the other white balance fine tuning is much improved, e.g. for flourascent, it hast a list of different florescent lights to choose from for fine tuning. For the present white balance, you can save up to 4 presets.
5. In camera picture editing made easier - Once you take a picture, when you press the "ok" button, a list of in camera picture editing tools come up (where you can trim the pic, change to monochrone, use filter effects of skylight or warm filter, or edit the color balance). The color balance feature here is great because you can shift the color balance of the picture to the desire effect you like.
6. Help button - at anytime when you need some help as to what that feature is about, you only need to press the "?" button and it brings up a page explaing that feature. This is like the D40/x and the menu layout also looks like that of the D40/x.
The D300 is without a doubt leaps and bounds ahead of the D200 and their competitors. The high ISO is great, and auto white balance more accurate. It is without a doubt the best semi-pro camera Nikon has produced.
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After 2 months of using the D300, and shooting some events, this is what I have discovered about it. I thought it was going to be easy to move from a D200 to D300, but realized there is a learning curve as well. I was frustrated at not being able to capture a shot like I did with the D200, but as I discovered along the way while using the D300, that it gives you more flexibility and adjustments, which means more control in your hands... but that also means that just out of the box may not get you what you used to have almost out of the box for the D200.
When shooting in a well-lit outdoor scenario, the D300 performs very well. Focusing is fast, sharp, and auto-ISO works well too. Most of my issue arise when shooting indoors with difficult lighting... and the following points have all to do with indoor shooting.
- When shooting an indoor concert with a fast lens and no flash and using auto-ISO with different metering modes, the camera tends to over expose the shots, and some were very over exposed. The overexposure come from the inability of the D300 to decide what ISO to use, and in some scenarios, it went to ISO 1600 when ISO 200 or 400 in that lighting condition would do. Advise is to forget about auto-ISO with indoor shooting.
- When shooting indoors without flash, the camera tends to overexpose the shot by 1/3 to 2/3 with matrix metering. This is easily resolved by adjusting the exposure compensation. Another way is to use center-weighted average, which is more consistent in the metering.
- The default sharpening for the D300 is less than the D200. Hence, the pictures may look a little soft, so would need to bump up the sharpening by maybe +3 in your picture control. This is more for shooting in jpegs, but some people prefer to leave the sharpening to post processing.
- With a 12MP camera, my shooting flaws + lens sharpness is more evident. This is where breathing techniques, how to hold the camera, etc. becomes more evident with the pictures taken. Also, I have found the AF fine tuning useful to adjust the front or back focusing of the lenses... and even Nikon lenses needs some adjustments.
- The LCD is too bright and does not reflect the true exposure of the picture. The picture may look alright on the LCD but when downloaded onto a computer, it looked underexposed. You would need to decrease the LCD brightness by -1 or -2.
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