Nikon D300 Review

The Nikon D300 is the long awaited successor to the D200 and is basically a compact version of the D3. However, the D300 is not an upgrade by any means - it’s a totally new camera with new 12.3 MP DX - format CMOS Sensor, 8 frames per second continuous shooting with battery grip, 51-point autofocus with 3D subject tracking using the EXSPEED image processing concept and many more interesting features. Let’s take a closer look at the camera.

Design

The Nikon D300 is similar to Nikon D200 but not exactly identical. The contours are much smoother, buttons and connector covers are reshaped but most of the main controls are at the same place. The curves are slightly more interesting with a restyled red accent on the grip. The rubberized surface is tacky and well-textured for a secure hold. The back has the same number of components in familiar places. The LCD is reinforced with tampered glass and the main body is built with magnesium, so it is a pretty tough candidate also.

Autofocus

Nikon’s new Multi-CAM 3500DX AF system will silence the critics who felt Nikon’s cameras were short in number of AF points. Its 51 point focal system includes 15 cross type points which are sensitive to both horizontal and vertical lines allowing for precision focus. This is not all, the new Scene Recognition System will work with the AF system to enhance the subject tracking even when it leaves the AF Area. However, though the 51 AF point is great, focus acquisition is quite slower. It is slower than the D3 or even some lower priced Canon cameras which have fewer AF points.

Sensor

The sensor measures at 24 X 15 mm with 12.3 MP effective resolution. The ISO Rating of the CMOS Sensor ranges from 200 to to 3,200 with a Lo-1 at 100 and a Hi-1 at 6400. The analog to digital conversion mode can be selected between 12 bit and 14 bit to allow for a bit more color detail of the images though the JPEGs are saved at 8 bit. But you can use the detailed colors in the RAW images.

Speed

It uses Nikon’s latest EXSPEED Processor to boost up the speed. D300 is capable to shoot images at six frames per second and up to eight frames per second with the optional battery pack stuck to it. However, the normal six fps goes down to 2.66 while shooting in RAW mode but still the speed seems reasonably good. Normal shutter lag is 45 ms and the viewfinder blackout is 100 ms which is standard for a camera like this one.

Active D Lighting

Found also in popular cameras like Nikon D40 or D80 D lighting is a post processing feature that processes the images to overcome underexposed images and bring the details of the shadows. It’s seen as a solution to a number of common problems, including backlit images where fill lighting could have been applied, but wasn’t.

Dust Cleaning

It has a dust cleaning mechanism that even D3 does not have. It uses four different resonant frequencies to vibrate the optical low pass filter. Using four different frequencies is a brilliant idea as any single frequency won’t necessarily vibrate all the parts inside. However, don’t think that you won’t need to send this system for cleaning manually. The system is basically a ‘dust reduction’ system which would prevent you from sending it for cleaning very often.

Live View

Though it is not actually a typical SLR characteristics, ‘Live View’ on DSLRs has become a very common feature which was actually triggered by Olympus and Panasonic. There is traditional mode of Live View in which you have to flip the mirror for Live View Mode and flip it back to focus as the AF sensors are blocked as you flip the mirror for Live View Control. Other that this normal mode, there is another mode in which you can use the AF in Live view. To focus, the system simply reads off the data from the CMOS sensor and evaluates the contrasts of the different adjacent points of the image what is actually the technique used in digcams called contrast detect AF. In this mode you can focus the objects while in Live View Mode without flipping the mirrors. However the process is very slower if you compare it to standard technique of phase detect AF system.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, it is a great digital SLR camera which will exceed your needs with its excellent features. If you require faster frame rate or quick autofocus, you may opt for D3 but it has its own great size and weight. If you are using D200, I won’t suggest you to upgrade to D300 immediately but if have the money to spare, the $1700 price tag is worth it.