Nikon D300 review

[BIGredsARTWORLD1]

How is this camera during not so well let lights? like a basketball gym

[ellaellsbells]

How much money does this camera cost?

[ZombiesAteLexx]

Dear Santa,

[darkn1ghts]

thnx for video,,,one question how to on video mod...?

[I2YANx]

Hello! Please can you help me? I am in the market for a Nikon D90 18-105, main purpose is stills! What are the best alternatives and is the D300 one? Many thanks in advance :)

[SilkTeddy96]

@NIBIR98 ...No but i wannna know whats better???

[apoel94]

i have a question? how many cameras do you have?

[cameralabs]

@apoel94 Hardly any, these are all on loan for review purposes, then returned.

[SilkTeddy96]

D300 or D3100 ?

[NIBIR98]

@SilkTeddy96 are you mad??????

[MrPlaystationboy]

will you review the olympus e-p3 ?

[cameralabs]

@MrPlaystationboy Yep! Keep your eye on cameralabs . com over the following weeks...

[MrPlaystationboy]

@cameralabs ok I love your video review's and written review' whenewer im considering getting a new photo gear you and DigitalRev TV is always the first place i look for reviews

you also seem to be like the onley one to alway mention the burst mode which i like alot ,,most people onley mention it if its more then 5fps

[johnnyLikeVideo]

What about dynamic range? For example, what about shadow detail? I have read the shadow detail of the d300 is "good." This also could be a reason to upgrade. Is this part of what you mean by image quality?

[MontenegroDJsOffical]

D300 or D3100 ?

[dannggken]

@MontenegroDJsOffical D300

[Ishcoa]

@MontenegroDJsOffical

D300

[johnnyLikeVideo]

Do you think the 51 autofocus points are better than the 40D's AF points?

[coolz1231]

do you have a review on the Nikon D3100?

[cameralabs]

@coolz1231 Yes at cameralabs . com!

[exenrontexas]

So since you are a photo expert don't you think it might be wise to illuminate your video better and while you are at it use a remote lavalier mic to improve audio especially in the beginning?

[cameralabs]

@exenrontexas I never said I was a video expert!

[exenrontexas]

@cameralabs The useful tips that I mentioned were meant to be construtive and they are NOT at the expert level, just simple basics. Since you are doing this work, I thought you might be interested in improving it.

[cameralabs]

@exenrontexas I know, but I don't have lighting equipment, nor a lavalier mic.

[FLIGHTANIMATION]

@exenrontexas If you want better video, go buy him the equipment or piss off!

[exenrontexas]

@FLIGHTANIMATION All the equipment in the world is no substitute for knowledge and motivation. I was trying to impart some knowledge. It is up to him to motivate himself. If you don't get that then...piss off.

[euyoooo]

@exenrontexas

hey doesn't get money for these reviews so stop complaining and thank him dude 

[exenrontexas]

@euyoooo I guess I am naive enough to think that some one may actually listen and be grateful for good advice. It is irresponsible to see stupid mistakes made by novices and not give them the benefit from many years of experience and knowledge.

[chiachhu]

heeey ! when i got to live mode and to tripod our hand mode, and i press ok and then press the shutter allthe way in and it takes the picture , it wont show any grids on the screen! and when i press the shutter half in as you said it switches back to take picture mode and the picture goes away?!?! can u help mee+!?!

[cjgan80]

LOL!

Battery low!

[MazenGh]

Hello!

You mention that upgrading to this camera from a 10MP camera won't give you better image quality, would that apply if you're upgrading from a Nikon D40x? Since it's an entry level camera i would expect this semi-pro to give much better quality (using the same lens).

thanks

[madzyification]

Great video. so is this camera worth buying? good on low light? I missed out on how many megapixels it was? :)

changeable lens? Also im hoping it to be at least 2,500 and not higher..

[carterkiller]

I'm just starting out photography, and this review has sold me on buying the D3000 as my first DSLR. Would you agree that this is a good buy? or should I be looking towards buying something else?

[panzarw]

I want it.

A btw i don't know if i will go to any other dslr's company.

a d80 is top for me, but the d300 has the little things i need that would make my camera choice complete.

[moedem]

hey mr bald camera tester,good reviews and informative,i also have this camera,great camera

[cameralabs]

@TheRamadanHasani I appreciate seeing the same photos again and again can be boring, but you're mixing a test site up with a general photography site. My job is to test cameras and as such I need to take - and show - the same photos every time. That won't change, sorry! There's loads of different photos in the cameralabs . com forums if you look there.

[cameralabs]

@TheRamadanHasani Hang on, the photos I'm taking are around Queenstown, New Zealand, widely regarded as one of the most beautiful locations on the planet! What exactly would you prefer me to take pictures of? PS - I take the same pictures for every review so that people can compare the quality on different models.

[ViniCarvalho88]

great job dude! thks for the review

[teddoy1]

nikon is stingy to make bigger megapixel, love nikon's design

[venomic13]

newbie here, just want to ask if the nikon d300 is compatible with AF nikkor 50mm 1.8 D lens, thanks

[hejjaghetertoni]

yes it is

[NLS87]

@venomic13 yes

[scrapdaddy811]

@venomic13 the d300 works with nearly all lenses ever made by nikon> I even use some of my old manuel focas lenses with mine.

[BIGLEPUS]

My camera! *.*

[novola1972]

Could anybody tell me , what king of Nikon flash would be well suited for Nikon D300 ?

[sk8thugs]

king of flash nikon sb900

well suited sb800 or sb 600

[miavonni]

sb800 is a very good choice

[sutherlandrobyn]

@novola1972 sb 900

[lorikzzz]

what lens is that ??

[littletiger06]

Hi Gordon,

I am really looking at getting into photography. If you were to choose a camera., would you pic a D300 or 50D Canon, assuming you don't have any bias one way or the other with lenses?

[gliderama]

If you are just looking to get into photography you don't need half the features on the d300

[cupcakecommando]

yup i agree i think a anything in between a d40-d90 would be cool.

[fallenembers08]

The D5000 is between the two.

[cupcakecommando]

lol lemmie rephrase that anything from the d40-d90 would be cool :D

[fallenembers08]

lol thanks... FAIL!

[cupcakecommando]

D: whut?

[CrazyJimKU]

well, I know you didn't ask me, but gonna give you some advice anyways.

if you're just getting in to photography, I wouldn't recommend a semi pro DLSR. but an entry level DSLR.

[atyl1972]

gordon in your opinion, for the d300s, which is probably the best all rounder lens to buy?

[cameralabs]

As a general purpose model, the DX 16-85mm VR is probably the best quality option overall. Unless you want more range, then the 18-200mm, or unless you want f2.8, in which case the 17-55mm f2.8.

[cameralabs]

PS - feel free to discuss your options in the Nikon section of the cameralabs forum...

[theroden]

nikon 18-200mm VR

[murneey87]

which one is better and cheaper ?

d90 or d300 ?

[cameralabs]

The D300 is better. The D90 is cheaper. See my reviews of both models at cameralabs . com to compare their differences.

[saurabh31gautam]

Hi Gordaon,

Love you reviews and to some point I have been able to cut short my list of SLR's. I will be using SLR for the first time and now I am stuck in between Nikon D90 and Nikon D300. in your opinion which one would be better for me to shoot some nature photography and a little bit of Native Wildlife.

If I purchase a Nikon D90 I might be able to spend a little bit more on the lenses.

So please help me in getting out of this confusion.

Advise would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Saurabh

[cameralabs]

Hi Saurabh, best discuss this one in the Nikon section of the cameralabs forum...

[cizmthemantiz]

I will not sell my d300 now simply because you talk so nicely about it with your british accent. :)

[s38a5t13n]

it kinda sucks that it doesn't take SD cards, ocs that's all I use :(

[nosaeRfOecioV]

Allow me list the professional DSLR's that do take SD cards (The D300 being a semi-pro used by many pros as a backup):

Well, that's about it. If I think of another one I'll list it too.

[stubones]

I think you need help with your list of Pro DSLR's that take SD cards:

Canon EOS 1DS mk3

Canon EOS 1D mk3

They both take CF cards and SD cards.

[nosaeRfOecioV]

I knew there was a reason I felt those were more pro-sumer cameras! Kidding. I'd rather have dual CF. I'd rather not have to buy two formats for one camera.

[stubones]

:)) LOL, I wish they were pro-sumer price! I am thinking the way forward is SDHC. I have 32 gb of SDHC (2x16) and together they cost just over half the price of the 8GB CF card for my 50D. That makes CF memory almost 4x more expensive..Two of the same is better for sure..

[stubones]

correction almost 8 times more expensive..

[s38a5t13n]

yeah and what about the D300S, it takes SD and CF, and so does the D3

[nosaeRfOecioV]

Actually the D3 takes two CF cards. A solution I like much better than a combo unit.

[helmesazanda]

hey gordon, i'llbe buying a D300 very soon but as you know lens is very important and i just wanna know what kind of lens you would recomend for walk around and maybe all sort of use!? i like your reviews BTW

[cameralabs]

I'd go for the 16-85mm or 18-200mm, but feel free to discuss it further on the cameralabs . com forum - and be sure to see my lens reviews there too!

[machine909]

nakakalungkot naman

[man16prz]

thanks for the review. just got my d300 and starting playing with it.

[marinell8228]

hey Gordon do you have a review of the D3x?

[cameralabs]

Sadly not yet!

[nirestevie]

hello Gordon I love your reviews i always look some up when getting a new bit of kit. i have a question. what body and lens is your fav? and what will be the next bit of kit you buy?

sorry to take it of topic! :)

thanks for all the reviews!

Stephen

[cameralabs]

Hi Stephen, there's no single favourite, but the models which have most impressed me are in the best buys section at cameralabs . com...

[BradshawBen14]

On the Nikon Website it says the Nikon D-300 can shoot up to 8 frames per second. I need 8 frames per second becasue im practising to be a professional Skateboard Photographer. To get into magazines with Continous shots(sequences) the minimum spped is 8 fps. any camera suggestions?

[MeHateSome1]

8 Fps is with a batterygrip on.

6 Fps as it is :)

[nirestevie]

hey the d300 6fps is fast enought to start with i find it very fast. i dont no what the money like for you but if you pop on the mb-d10 grip you get 8fps for around £200-£250 but the d300 is a good bit of kit.

[StylusEcho18]

If the viewfinder specs on this are 100% coverage and 0.94x magnification, how large is it compared to the D700's 95% and 0.72x?

[cameralabs]

Good question. Remember the D300's viewfinder specs are in reference to a smaller DX sensor, compared to the larger full-frame sensor of the D700. So even though the D700 has a lower magnification, the overlal view looks bigger. See the Design page of my D700 review at cameralabs . com.

[ohmygoditsdhaval]

Hey Gordon, one question. Can Video shooting be done on D-300, or D-90 is the only DSLR from Nikon to have this feature. I am looking forward to buy D-300 but am not sure whether i will be able to shoot videos with it.

[cameralabs]

The only Nikon DSLRs with video recording facilities are the D90, and the brand new D5000 (see preview at cameralabs . com!)

[chargerfun34]

What lens do you have on the D300 during the video?

[cameralabs]

It's the Nikkor DX 17-55mm f2.8.

[chargerfun34]

Alright, and thanks for replying so fast.

[cameralabs]

You're welcome! Don't forget to check out my full reviews at cameralabs . com and also our forum over there...

[superjae]

I currently have a D70 with a few lenses. i'm looking to upgrade and was thinking of moving across to cannon after using a friend's camera. I've found that with the D70 the photos are quite red and i have to adjust each image in Photoshop. If I stay with Nikon I want to ensure this won't happen with a newer camera. Does anyone have any suggestions or advice???

[Guitarfool5931]

What setting are you using on the camera? You might want to adjust the white balance on it. Im sort of a newbie myself so its one of the first thing that comes to mind. I've been using my D40x for a while now and love it. Considering upgrading to a D300 myself. I can't say I haven't had any problems with this one though (that wasn't my own fault of course).

[MadSon011]

id say a Nikon D90 has the best upgrade potential for you and it also has great vibrant colors

[EdwardTo]

Funny, the warm "red-orange" white balance is what's tempting me to switch from CANON to Nikon! I never knew nikon had this issue as well?

[toad2039]

hey i have a question this is gona be my next camara unless you tell me to be faithfull to canonn (i have and kept a 30d) and was planing on gtetting a 50d

[bipz0007]

Great review mate! I've seen many reviews- but yours is very technical.. I like the way you went through all the functions.. Very helpful..

[gunsarecool1985]

Thanks for all the reviews! Would you personally take the D300 or the canon EOS 50D? (given you have no lenses and are starting out with a new system)

[cameralabs]

It's a very personal choice, so all I can do is point you towards the reviews and especially the verdict pages of both models at cameralabs . com...

[kokorisa]

great camera... I need one.

[eshghemaniran]

is it true that d90 is better than d300 in ISO mode?

[Radqq]

no, it's not, it's quite the same.

[jonnyweston]

If you're very clever you can get 9 frames a second out of the D300 without having the buy the battery pack.

Do a search on youtube for D300 8fs without battery grip and I am sure you will find the instructions.

God Bless

[cameralabs]

Good point - you change the mode on the D300 and Nikon's pro cameras by holding a button and turning a dial. There's an explanation on the design page of my D300 review at cameralabs . com.

[cameralabs]

Don't worry, all DSLRs, even professional ones, have auto modes, or program modes which are also fully automatic.

[gezter]

hi there may i ask can you turn off the shutter click.( though i love it) It scares my wildlife away!, thanks

[cameralabs]

I'm afraid not - the shutter click sound on a DSLR is the actual sound of the mechanics operating inside. Have a look at my Canon 40D silent shoot video though as it demos a quieter option, albeit only for one frame at a time.

[luna8181]

Hi there. I've got a D60. And I want to go little up of Nikon's DSLR. And I'm thinking about D90 or D300. What you recommend?

[cameralabs]

I can't spend much time on youtube, but feel free to ask on the cameralabs . com forums!

[RedSeptember21]

hows the performance of D60?im planning to buy one

[Recon9143]

its awsome and is awsome for atleast 3 years when ur new to Slr's, get the d60 or d40 with the 18-mm Vr and the 55m-200mm Vr lens then in like 2 -3 years depending on how you like it, ur skill, and ur money, buy a d300, or d700. Use the d60 for a backup. The d60 is awsome and yeah it aint shooting at 9 fps but itll shoot 3 and thats fast enough unless your a Pro and need it but yeah. lol get the Aftermarket Bat grip for the d40, d40x, or d60 :P thanks!

[xpopxeyex]

what is a good beginners camera?

[cameralabs]

Check out the budget DSLRs in the Best Buys section at cameralabs . com - those are the models I'd recommend right now!

[FoxyFlu]

a dslr may not be your best bet for ur first camera. you will need to learn about f-stops, exposeure, depth of feild, etc. my first camer before i was able to understand slr's was a finepix Z by fujifilm. its a great point and shoot digital acmera. ultra crisp pictures (10 mp+) and is very portable and easy to use.

[aviloud]

i'm thinking of getting this camera as an upgrade from my canon xti rebel...but i already have a bunch of lenses for my canon so i might get a 5d? any suggestions?

[cameralabs]

A 5D is full frame, so won't work with EF-S lenses if you have any of these. Feel free to discuss it further on the cameralabs forums.

[amazingdany]

Probably the kind that NatGeo or Sports Illustrated use.

[dryan2]

ha, i wish.

[cameralabs]

Nope, it's extra.

[chadsexinton]

Hi, what camera do you own?

[cameralabs]

I own several cameras from a variety of manufacturers for testing purposes, but the one I use day-to-day is the one I'm testing at that point.

[Maalevolent]

is the little sister of D3

[panakosXX]

Actually, the D3 is the little sister, cause "she" has been released after D300 ;)

[outdoorsboy]

this is the camera i want to upgrade to. from a D70 i want to do more and more sports photography and i NEED a faster frame rate and yes, higher megapixels than i am shooting with now. so, i like the speed of this camera, the cost and the 12.3 mp.

great review though. nice to get honest opinions out there.

[jhancq]

Hey Gordon! If I would've known about you, I would've watched this before buying my new D300!

I'll tell you what I like most about you and your videos....

Whether Canon, Nikon, or any other camera, you keep the fight and the opinions at bay and discuss what's really important- photography!

Keep it up Gordon! :)

[cameralabs]

Thanks! You've got yourself one of the best DSLRs on the market today, but do check out the cameralabs forums for advice and tips from other D300 owners! We also have several Nikkor lens reviews at cameralabs...

[chickenflavoredchips]

Hi Gordon, I have some small questions which are not mentioned in the review:

1. Does the D300 offer the traditional +/-2EV 3Frame option for AEBracketing? (On Cameralabs website it only mentions the +/-1EV 9Frame mode.)

2. Are the rear and top LCDs easily scratched? Did you find excessive hot pixels on some long exposure images or on the rear LCD?

I'd appreciate it if you could answer some of the questions. And thanks again for another excellent review!

[cameralabs]

My test D300 went back to Nikon a long time ago, but I'm pretty sure it offered the bracketing you're after, and I had no problems with scratches or hot pixels in my testing. But there's several D300 owners on the Cameralabs forums, so I'd suggest asking them!

[c11umw]

Yes it does :o)

[dryan2]

17-55mm f/2.8

[cameralabs]

Hi dryan, are you aksing if that's the 17-55mm f/2.8 ? If so, then yes, it is!

[meetarnav]

I browsed cameralabs website but could not find any review for the Fujifilm pro-DSLR models... Do they compare to the Nikon d300, Canon EOS40D and the Sony A700....? If so... please review them.. like the Fujifilm S5 pro... especially because the fujifilm has a feature that NONE of the other brands have... the SUPER CCD sensor...!!

[cameralabs]

You're right, I've not tested the S5 Pro, so I can't comment on it, sorry!

[newyorkfish]

This is an awesome review !!

Question: Where on your website do I click to get the comparison of the 40D -vs- D300 ??

The Canon 40D is more affordable, but the D300 has such potential.

This is mind boggling technology !!

[cameralabs]

If you go to our D300 review at Cameralabs . com you'll find a feature comparison on the verdict page, and a resolution comparison on the second results page.

[JD95]

I know you get this alot but your videos are so easy to follow and just simply awesome. I also like the fact that you pronounce NIKON the correct Japanese way "NiKON" and not "NaiKON.":) Looking forward for more videos!! Oh and I also enjoy your webpage!! Full of information!! I'm just about to the the D300. Do you know if they are coming out with a D90 soon?

[cameralabs]

Thanks for your comments everyone! PS: JD95 - everyone thinks Nikon will do a D90 in September for the Photokina show, but then we also all thought they would for PMA in January and it never happened... it's all speculation!

[xlined]

These videos are incredibly informative and I really appreciate them. Thanks guys.

[cameralabs]

Hi Alex, thanks! Don't forget to check out the full reviews at the Cameralabs site, our monthly assignment in the forum, and of course our technique site, dslrtips . com!

[eLeMeNtdserv]

Very nice review.

im looking to upgrade from D40 becuase i want faster burst and more pixels :P

Its gonna be a big change by the looks of it though

[cameralabs]

A big change, but a great one! Do see if you can pick up and handle a D300 first though as it's much bigegr and heavier...

[mathiassoderlund]

why would you need live view on a SLR camera..

[cameralabs]

Some people won't use it, but for others it's very useful - for example, the magnified manual focus assist is invaluable if you're into macro or astro photography - see our Canon 40D astrophotography video for a demo...

[blimey2]

Very interesting review. Is there an option to keep the rear screen switched off, especially so your face is not lit up when doing night photography?

[cameralabs]

In terms of shooting info, I believe the main screen doesn't show anything unless you press the Info button.

[alexzman2002]

I'd actually like to know how to keep the screen on when you press Info.

[cameralabs]

Without the camera in front of me, I can't say. Are you saying it goes off after a few seconds? I'd check the menus for an option to extend this power saving time. There are also D300 owners on the Cameralabs forum if you'd like to ask them!

[lim2k2]

Hi Gordon! I have a question...when using LIVE MODE...does it drain the battery faster?

[cameralabs]

Yep, it will becuase you're using the screen all the time. Same for any DSLR Live View mode...

[lim2k2]

Thanks alot Gordon!!!! cant wait to see more reviews and tutorials..

[cameralabs]

No worries! Hey, you have seen the full reviews at the Cameralabs website, right?

[cognaccognac]

I had a quick question..how do you change from S, A, M, etc..on this camera?

[cameralabs]

Hi, there's no dial for the shooting modes. Instead you press and hold the Mode button by the shutter release and turn the thumb dial. There's full details in our review at the Cameralabs website...

[stackedsubs]

Absolutely phenomenal review, thanks a lot, really helped me to make an informed decision on whether to buy or not.

[cameralabs]

Thanks! Don't forget there's tons of extra info and sample images in our full review at the Cameralabs website!

[stackedsubs]

I'll check it out, thanks again!

[gugmi01]

I'm a first time camera buyer, and im hoping to save up for one this summer. Would you reccomend me getting a better one like the D300 first or something like the d40x. Also, which one is better. the nikon d40x or the canon rebel xti? thanks!

[cameralabs]

Well there's a big difference between the D40x and D300. Depends what you want and how much you have to spend... there's also the D80 in the middle. There's discussions about these models in the Cameralabs forums...

[camilobueno]

Hey Gordon!!!

I'm just starting with SLRs and you know very very much!!

Overall, which camera would you recommend to me?

Thank you very much... like the site a lot!!

[cameralabs]

Check out the Budget DSLR Buyers Guide at the Cameralabs website for the models I'd recommend! But bear in mind there's some new ones coming in the next few weeks...

[Xzanve]

Yeah possibly a Nikon d90, d80x or something in that light.

[GuzzaBee]

Hi Gordon,

I'm looking to buy one of these for the company - it will therefore have a couple of users. Is it possible to have user settings to allow for easier/faster customizing?

[cameralabs]

Good question - mine's now gone back to Nikon, but there's D300 owners on the Cameralabs forum who may be able to help...

[AlexMerenkov2]

do you think you could do a vidoe about how the light metering mode works in the d300 when using a manual nikkor lens the nikon d300 has a feeler that knows what the appature setting is how dose all that work? putting in the lens data ?

thanks : )

[cameralabs]

We've got some further info on the metering modes in the full review at the Cameralabs site, but for the details with every lens, check out Nikon's site. There's also a few D300 owners on the Cameralabs forum if you'd like to post any questions there!

[warrock556]

Hey Gordon why is your hands all shaky compared to the Canon 40D review?

[cameralabs]

Maybe I was hungry?

[cognaccognac]

I'm saving my money to buying this camera! I decided I needed to step up from my d40x, and thought about the d80 and d200, but figured out that d80 and d200 are practically same but way different price. And I really wanted the 6 fps, 51 AF system, and live view. So I'll just gather the money :)

Good choice??

[cameralabs]

If you'll use the features and can afford it, then it's a great choice! Do read the verdict page of our D300 review at the Cameralabs website though to compare it against its rivals...

[hanzakbar]

Hello Gordon, I had this very quick question regarding the D300, i may be classified as Stupid of saying that. But dont you think that 52 point AF (not manual as 40D) is just remained the level of mentioning high numbers. As the actual are covered on Mirror and presumably the sensor is the same as the 9point of Canon. The 51 point dont get your focusing on the corners right.. Please correct me if i am wrong at this point.

[cameralabs]

They don't extend to the corners, but they do cover a large area and are very effective at tracking moving subjects - see our review at the Cameralabs site for full details.