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Reviewed by
mattbikeboy
, Professional
Price Paid
$1559.00
at B&H Photo Video
Photography Experience
11-20 years
, Other
Summary
When I dropped my D700 with the AFS 24-70 (in a camera bag) I lost the use of my full frame camera since the 24-70 is my only medium zoom for a full frame sensor. I debated whether to buy another lens or go for a pro-level DX sensor body. I'm glad I chose the later. The D300s is an amazing little body. It doesn't have the high ISO capability of the D700 and the image quality is different (not better or worse, just different) than the D700. I've shot several thousand frames at work through it and and other thousand or so shooting wildlife (the crop sensor makes my 200-400 VR just a little bit longer). ;)
I can safely say that I didn't miss any shots while my lens was getting repaired and found a couple of really great features in the D300s (listed below).
Strengths
1) Fast, this D300s has the 51 point focus of it's big brothers and uses it well.
2) Color balance!! The firmware version for the D300s is amazing. I don't normally shoot in auto white balance when shooting weddings -- but I tried it out and was completely blown away. Auto white balance is far more accurate than the Auto setting on the D700 and produces some great images without tweaking.
3) Uses D700 accessories like the battery grip and fast battery -- so I can switch when needed.
4) Uses DX glass and gives more reach with my telephoto lenses
5) Compact, with DX glass (or a fixed 50 f1.4) and no grip the 300s is fairly small
6) Tough, nice magnesium chassis can take lots of use.
Weaknesses
1) Doesn't have the same view finder as the D700 -- not a major complaint, but I had gotten used to the round eye piece.
2) ISO performance is good, but not at the level of the older brothers (D700, D3). If Canon can step up the high ISO performance on a crop sensor -- Nikon needs to take it up another notch too.
Similar Products Used
Nikon D80
Nikon D700
Customer Service
Haven't used with this body. But recent experience getting the above mentioned AFS 24-70 f/2.8 fixed and an SB900 flash gun fixed has shown that even with NPS membership the customer service was very good.
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