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12.3-megapixel
DX-format CMOS sensor
 I
keep threatening to write a book called: "Keeping One Step Behind" because
that's where I always seem to be.
I've only
had the D200 for two years and boom here comes Nikon with yet another great
way for me to spend my money.
Let's
think about this for a moment: I can make 2'X3' prints from my D200
that you can examine with magnifying glass and not see any problems, so why
bother with the D300? Because, it's simply better!
Even
though the D200 had a minimum ISO of 100 and the D300's is ISO 200, a side
by side test comparing both cameras set at their respective standard ISO
settings, and with the same lens, the D300 won hands down! It was
sharper, and showed no signs of digital noise.
The D300 has Low-noise
files at ISO speeds ranging from 200-3200
You can also customize
the D300's Minimum and Maximum ISO settings in the Shooting Menu by 0.3,
0.7, and 1, in this case giving you an effective ISO of 100 when set at LO
1.
 Almost
everything about this camera says wow! It's quieter, faster, with a
better overall feel.
Like the D200, the D300 has
rugged
magnesium-alloy construction,
and is sealed against dust and moisture.
It
also has a 3" VGA color monitor instead of the 2-1/2" LCD the D200 had.
Also new on the
D300 is LiveView. It has two settings; one for handheld shooting, and
the other for tripod use.
This is a great idea when you're shooting from challenging angles.
The
MB-D10 power grip fits
and feels better although there is one change that I'm not sure I care for.
Now, instead of 2 batteries in the grip, the D300 stores one in the camera's
original spot, and one in the grip. Problem? Well, you have to
remove the power grip to get at the battery in the camera. Would this
keep me from buying the camera? Obviously not, because my wife Pam and
I both have one.
Fortunately Nikon solved
this problem in a couple of ways. First,
the batteries last longer even though they are the same battery as the D200.
Secondly, you can change the custom settings so that the battery in
the grip drains first then the one in the camera body second. And the
advantage is? I can keep a fresh battery in my pocket and only change
the battery in the grip, allowing the battery in the camera to remain full
and use it only as needed.
Okay Gary, why not buy the Nikon D3 or the new D700? Well money for
one thing. The D300 is about $1,699, while the D3 is $5,000 and the D700
comes in at around $3,000. The other reason is ...now don't laugh!
I prefer the DX sized 1.5X sensor over the full-frame sensor. I like
being tricked into thinking that my 300mm f/2.8 is now 450mm f/2.8. I
like knowing that I can add a quality 1.4x tele-converter and get a 630mm f/4
wildlife lens for a fraction of the cost of a Nikkor 600mm f/4. It's
economics plain and simple. It's much easier for me to buy a wider
lens like my Nikkor 12-24mm zoom than the big telephoto.
I will admit
that the new low-light capability of the D700 has me drooling a bit.
 Here
is a new feature worth its weight in gold! Ask yourself; have you ever
had your camera all set up on your tripod ready to shoot that great
landscape, and you realize that you may have forgotten to change a
particular setting?
Yup! I have!
So you loosen the head on the tripod, tip the camera back, so you can see
the rectangular window on top of the camera and re-check the settings to
make sure you didn't forget anything.
Oh sure you can see some stuff through the viewfinder but...
Anyway, now
you just press the "? Key" button on the back of the camera and there is all
the information right in front of you, cool!
Another feature for those of you who have been nervous about cleaning your
camera's sensor, or sending the camera back for cleaning, is the
Dynamic integrated dust reduction system. This is a
self-cleaning ultrasonic sensor unit that minimizes degradation of image
quality due to dust particles.
 If
you are a Nikon shooter you probably already know this, but it is worth
repeating. I have a Nikkor 200mm f/4 macro lens that is totally manual
with the aperture ring still at the back of the lens. No electronics period!
This is no problem thanks to Nikon. You can use almost every manual
lens Nikon ever made clear back to 1977.
 Goldenrod
Spider on Cow Vetch
Nikon D300 w/ 200mm f/4 Micro Nikkor (manual)
To use my old
favorite, the 200mm macro on the D300, I simply go into the Set-Up menu and choose Non-CPU
Lens, and tell the camera what focal length and f/stop I'm using and
I'm set to go! Remember that you do have to manual focus and manually
set your f/stop using the aperture ring on the lens. I think it's magic but my wife says it's just math. Shuush, don't tell her!
Flower,
Mylar and Chrome
Nikon D300 w/105mm Macro
2.5th sec at f/22
I'm sure by now most of
you have read and re-read every spec on this new camera. Trust me, in
this industry word travels fast. What a great camera! If
you want to know everything that there is to know about the D300, D3, or the
just announced D700, check out
DP Review,
www.dpreview.com I actually believe they have more
information about
this camera than Nikon!??
It's like reading 'War and Peace.'
 Annisquam
Light
Cape Ann, Massachusetts
Nikon D300 w/Nikkor 18-200VR
ISO 200, 1/40th sec at f/22
In typical Nikon
fashion, moving from one camera body to the next is usually pretty painless,
and the D300 is no exception. The layout of the
controls and overall feel of the camera are much like my old D200 and very
similar to the D700.
Nikon's exclusive Scene Recognition System (SRS): It has an
improved 1,005-pixel 3D Color Matrix Metering II which provides even more
intelligent auto exposure capabilities, along with smarter auto white
balance detection.
There are
quite a few more menu selections and custom features on the D300 than on my
D200, but I found the menu easy to navigate, and within a few minutes I was
very comfortable with the camera.
Bottom line: This camera
didn't win camera of the year for nothing! It is a superb design from
the ground up and well worth delegating my D200 to back-up camera.
 Common
Loon with Crab
Fisherman's Beach, Swampscott, MA
Nikon D300 w/Nikkor 80-400VR
ISO 200, 1/400th sec at f/5.6
This shot was
easy thanks to a
fast,
accurate 51-point auto focus with 3D focus tracking.
Gary
W. Stanley
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