Nikon D300

Review Date
March 11, 2010

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Reviewed by
William Kazak , Professional

Price Paid
$1800.00 at Dave's Camera Munste

Photography Experience
21+ years , People

Summary
I moved up from a pair of D70s digital bodies to a pair of D300 bodies and I am glad that I did. This camera has a nice preview screen, the AF works better and I get better results with the SB-800 flash units. Higher ISO is also better as well as more dynamic range. I shoot everything in Nikon NEF. I import to Adobe Lightroom, tweak a few settings and I am good to export as JPG.
This camera handles well for my small hands and it has all of the features I need and more. I always shoot with the camera in M for control. I tweak my fill flash using the SB-800 with the D300 in M and I know what the camera is going to do. The camera will not over ride my tweaks when in M mode.
This camera was a lot of money for me but for the weddings it shines. I like the DX crop factor, being a people photographer, and it works well at the darker receptions. I never used Live View at all nor active D lighting because I don't need it. I don't use the fastest cards either and the camera writes fast enough for me to get a short burst if necessary without the SB-800 flash. Battery life is just fine. I carry a spare with me, even taking it to the beach.
Make no mistake about it. This is a pro levelcamera to me. Get a hand held meter and use it for consistent results.

Strengths
AF works well once you understand your settings. Sturdy/pro level results. Nice preview screen.

Weaknesses
AF is very hard to understand with all kinds of options which seem silly to me. Simplify it so that we can immediately get the idea. Pre-flash does not work with all settings nor does your focus point become visible at all settings. Menu seems overly complex and not intuitive. I don't trust the meter because I don'rt know what the Matrix is really doing. Therefore, I use an external meter and I leave the camera on M. The built in meter seems handy but you must learn to make tweaks with it for best results.

Similar Products Used
This reminds me of my old F3 camera bodies; pro level build and works well with my small hands for many years of service.

Customer Service
Not necessary.

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Review Date
March 8, 2010

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Reviewed by
Prettym1k3 , Casual

Price Paid
$1040.00 at Private seller

Photography Experience
2-5 years , Other

Summary
I love this camera. While I like the "ok" or "enter" button in the center of the D-pad on the D300s better, that's about the only thing that I like better then the D300. The 6fps is plenty fast enough, and if it's not, add the battery grip and give it 8fps. Fast enough to capture just about anything.

As for the camera itself, it's built strong and tough, and takes a beating. It's weather resistant, and hasn't failed me yet. I've got about 40,000 clicks on it.

Strengths
Strength, weather proofing, fast FPS, ease of controls.

Weaknesses
Focus points are iffy, and my continuous/single/manual focus switch drops down into continuous on its own sometimes. Maybe that's because it's a used body.

Similar Products Used
Nikon D40/D50.

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Review Date
February 16, 2010

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Reviewed by
Axle , Expert

Price Paid
$1800.00 at Henry's

Photography Experience
6-10 years , Other

Summary
Don't need a D3?
But feel you've grown out of your D70s, D80, but don't really want to get a D90.

Try your hand at a D300. This beautiful piece of equipment is the flagship of Nikon's DX (APS-C) sensor cameras. This is the perfect camera for the advanced amateurs who want to do more with there cameras or the budding professional.

If you've shot with Nikon equipment before it will be dead easy to switch over to the D300, with similar menu structures and camera controls, going up from a D40, D50, D60 or similar camera may be too much of a leap when it comes to controls, I would upgrade to a D90 first if you're going to upgrade from one of those machines.

Since I've gotten this camera I've taken it into many abandoned buildings, weddings, portrait sessions, and vacations and it's never failed me. It hangs at my side, I flip it on, pull it up and it's ready for action right off the bat.

Strengths
- Live View: handy for manually setting the white balance

- Battery Grip: if you're putting on big/heavy lenses the grip is key for better balance, plus if you upgrade to a D700, the MB-D10 grip can just be removed and placed on the D700.

- Weather Sealing: I've used the camera out in a downpour and through abandoned buildings and have never had a problem.

Weaknesses
- Weight: This sucker is heavy.

- No Video: it was introduced with the D300s.

Similar Products Used
Nikon D70s
Canon 30D

Customer Service
None required.

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Review Date
June 30, 2009

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 3 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 4 votes

Reviewed by
hitec_sl , Intermediate

Price Paid
$1690.00 at Singapore

Photography Experience
2-5 years , Outdoor

Summary
I started with a Nikon D 70 then updated to Nikon D 70s further updated to Nikon D80. I still have the Nokon D 80 - just bought the Nikon D 300 >am really impressed & enjoying the Camera after the D70s.Buy this camera if you have passion for Photography other wise you shoudl go for point & shoot. Dont see the date of manufacture when you by this camera. Look at the features and what it can do - Till date the best. I also use a Canon 50D but still this one continues to impress me.

Strengths
very fast speed - absolute superb pictures.Built like a tank.

Weaknesses
If you knit pick then there are so many flaws other wise superb no major ones to talk about.

Similar Products Used
Canon D 50 D

Customer Service
still did not need to use customer service

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Review Date
June 27, 2009

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5, 2 votes

Reviewed by
PhilipT , Expert

Price Paid
$0.00

Photography Experience
11-20 years , People

Summary
Nikon D300 - Great camera with good quality both jpeg and RAW / Good focus and back screen. In fact there is a lot to learn !

Strengths
12 meg pix

Weaknesses
None yet !

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