| Nikon D300 DX 12.3MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only) | 
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| Buy New: $1,445.00
Buy New/Used/Refurbished
Avg. Customer Rating:   (based on 204 reviews)
Sales Rank: 122
Category: Photography
Publisher: Nikon
Studio: Nikon
Brand: Nikon
Label: Nikon
Media: Electronics
Autographed: 0
Memorabilia: 0
Batteries Included: 0
Included Software: Yes
Special Features: nv:Sensor^12.3 Megapixel|Image Resolution^4288 x 2848|Storage Media^Compact Flash|Compressed Format^JPEG|LCD Monitor^3.0-inches|LCD Pixels^921,600 pixels|LCD Coverage^100%|Shutter Speed^30 - 1/8000 sec.|Light Metering Method^Spot AF|Light Metering Method^Center Weighted|Exposure Modes^Manual|Exposure Modes^shutter priority|Exposure Modes^Aperture-priority Auto|Exposure Modes^Program Auto|ISO Speed Range^Auto 200/400/800/1600/3200|Flash Mode^Rear-Curtain Sync
Optical Zoom: 1
Display Size: 3
Continuous Shooting Speed: 5
Maximum Resolution: 12300000
Has Red Eye Reduction: 1
Warranty: 1 year warranty
Shipping Weight (lbs): 4.4
Dimensions (in): 0.1 x 0.1 x 0
MPN: 25432
Model: 25432
UPC: 018208254323
EAN: 0018208254323
ASIN: B000VJX7DW
Release Date: February 18, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | 12.3-megapixel captures enough detail for poster-size photo-quality prints | | • | 3.0-inch LiveView LCD display; new 51-point AF system | | • | In burst mode, shoots up to 100 shots at full 12.3-megapixel resolution | | • | EXPEED Image Processing System and similar Scene Recognition System to that found in the D3 | | • | Self-cleaning sensor unit; magnesium alloy construction with rubber gaskets and seals |
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| Customer Reviews: Read 199 more reviews...
Nikon D300 DX SLR January 9, 2009
I have owned many cameras of all sizes over the years including several different professional level cameras when I owned a studio and color photo lab. I did portrait and wedding photography for many years. Back then you didn't dare show up to shoot a wedding using a 35mm camera. (I used Hasselblads). I owned several Nikon 35mm cameras...the last being the Nikon F3 which I used for vacation and nature shots. When I retired I made the switch to digital and I used both Nikon and Sony products to record travel and family events. Digital initially wasn't too impressive but has evolved into a medium that depending on the equipment can exceed film in print quality and in all cases ...ease of use. Now...35mm size SLR digital cameras are the norm for weddings and most other events.
I recently bought a Nikon D300 and have to say that this is by far one of the best camera I have ever owned. The quality of the pics at even high ISO's of 1600, 3200 and even 6400 are pretty amazing. With most other digital cameras that I have used the photos start noticeably coming apart at around 400 or 800 and at higher ISO's usually weren't acceptable for printing larger prints.
The Nikon D300 is solidly built and a joy to use. There is a little bit of a learning curve..(the Manual is 461 pages long)...depending on your degree of photo expertise. At this point in time I can't see myself buying any other camera for years to come. As far as anything negative the only thing I can think of is that the camera is a little on the heavy side. I did a lot of online research... reading testing and feedback reports... before I bought this camera. In all cases the Nikon D300 received high marks.
Excellent camera January 7, 2009
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I won't make this a technical review as there are already many of those...
My photography experience stems from being a Photojournalist in the Navy for 6 years shooting film, and then more recently being a photo assistant for some commercial shooters just for extra cash. (most of them using cannon equipment)
I like the Nikon D300, and their products in general, because of their easy functionality, the menus are easy to navigate and settings can be quickly switched on-the-fly. Image quality is superb. You can go full-manual, or select aperture or shutter priority, or switch to program mode and let the camera do all the hard work with it's pre-programmed "scene recognition" system. Some of the lower-end Nikons have extra modes such as Sport, Portrait, Landscape, etc... right on the dial, the D300 does not, but it does allow you create those types of modes with your own custom setting for each and then save then on your custom shooting menu... no problem.
I got the 200mm zoom lens kit, which is a decent piece of glass, but would recommend the 50mm fixed lens for stills, portraits and landscapes.
In general, this camera does everything the big-buck cameras do, uses the DX format lenses that are far less expensive than the full frame FX ones, and has wonderful image quality and reliability as well as ease-of-use out of the box. The only limitation is the user... You!
A big step up, but worth every penny January 3, 2009
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I finally took the leap into the higher price points and picked this camera up. For indoor shots I use the sigma 30mm f1.4, for the outdoor zoom pictures I use the sigma 50-150mm f2.8. I found the best approach for me is to use it in standard mode with +1 saturation.
In summation, this camera takes amazing crisp photos. The clarity and vivid colors are no less than stunning. The numerous tweakings will take some time to experiment with, but for point and click I'm very happy with the results so far. 51-points of autofocus - also the 3" LCD viewfinder is glass, and has 920,000 pixels of resolution vs. 230,000 for lesser models. It gives you a far superior image, and thus very accurate information for adjusting your pics.
 SOME D300s HAVE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS January 1, 2009
2 out of 7 found this review helpful
I bought the D300 through Amazon in Sep 08. Work & other commitments left me no time to put it to the test until Christmas break and WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT. I insert freshly charged Nikon battery and the next day the camera says battery discharged WITHOUT taking any photos. This is referred to on numerous internet sites as the "low battery problem". I've been struggling for the past two days trying to fix this and other problems with little success.
If you're interested in buying this camera, there a lot info out there about problems with the batteries or power to the camera. Buyer beware. I've found references to these problems dating back to Jan 08. Strangely, there there is absolutely nothing on the Nikon service site about these problems. Or maybe not strangely, I sent them email 30 hours ago and I'm still waiting for Nikon's 24 hour response.
Next step I guess is to find how to return the camera through Amazon.
Image-maker par excellence, the Nikon D300 December 30, 2008
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
I've been using Nikon DSLR's since 2005 for my "paying hobby". Officially, I created a photography side-business in early 2005 using a Nikon D70s (great camera). This was after a couple of years of ramping up my photography interests from an occasional point-and-clicker to a very serious hobbyist. I very quickly upgraded to the D200 (better camera), using the D70s as a backup. And, in early 2008 upgraded to the D300 (best camera), selling the D70s , leaving the D200 as my backup. I've captured around 15000 images with the D200, and am currently up to about 8000 clicks with the D300. I shoot all types of photography: wildlife, landscape, portraitature, architectural, wedding & other misc. events. I do not consider myself a Pro (only about 10% of my current income comes from photography), but I would like it to evolve into my full time career, someday. :)
In my opinion, the Nikon D300 is easily Nikon's best DX format (not comparing to FX formats, like the D700, etc.) DSLR out to date. And, currently, the best in its class compared to other brands. Please keep in mind that the latter statement (my opinion) is only based on much reading-on & a little hands-on experience with some of the rivaling Canon DSLR's. I am not discounting Canon's great line of photographic equipment (or other brands) at all, just comparing current models with closely related price range and feature set. As a matter of fact, to this day, I still advise all who ask that since the quality of the top brands is so close, that the most important thing to do before making a decision on your first DSLR purchase is to personally handle several models of several brands, and choose the one most comfortable and easiest to understand; it's all about individual user preference. I DO tell them that I am MOST familiar with the Nikon line, and will be better able to "assist" them, if they get Nikon.
Here are a few features that I find useful and that I have not found repeated hundreds of times over in hundreds of other reviews (like excellent focusing, vivid colors, noise handling, etc.):
- One of the in-camera editing tools, the Crop tool, allows me to simulate a 4x5 crop (8x10) when taking group portraits. This enables me to make sure that I'm not cutting off people parts when clients will invariably order 8x10's of large group shots. I wish the largest cropping boundary would start at the outer most edge of the image, but that's really nit picking a good feature.
- The D-light edit allows me to quickly see how an image looks with the shadows brightened up a bit, even though I only shoot RAW. I will end up deleting this jpg copy when I copy images to the PC, and post-edit the exposure, but I can immediately see if the image still looks good with a brighter exposure adjustment.
- The My Menu feature is GREAT for quickly accessing my most accessed settings. With the latest firmware update, you have a choice to use the My Menu or a Recent tab (like the D200 has).
Little things about the D300 that are different from the D200 (that haven't been mentioned hundreds of times):
- D300 Command and Sub dials are more recessed in, so they are not as easy to accidentally spin.
- The D300 lens mount seems to lend a tighter connection.
- The D300 shutter release sounds "tighter", does not have the slight echo/vibration sound at the end of the click, like the D200 does.
- One small feature that I actually do NOT like better on the D300 is the highlights display feature. It blinks on the most uncluttered display page, not on the cluttered data page that has the image as a thumbnail, but that's nit-picking really.
Another good thing is that I'm not at all tempted to upgrade since the D700 would mean getting at least two more fast/pro lenses to take advantage of the full size sensor, leaving all but one of my lenses (Nikon 70-200 2.8 VR V beautiful lens!!) "out of the picture" (I know that I could still use them at 5 megapixels, but that doesn't count for me). And, I don't need the video feature of the D700 at all. The D700's much better noise handling at high ISO's would be nice, but the D300's noise handling works really well with 99% of my shots. In fact, thanks to the D700, at least in part, the price of the D300 is much more affordable!
Also, I highly recommend David Busch's Nikon D300 Guide book. I was very familiar with Nikon DSLR's already, but his book really helped fill in the gaps, and helped me take advantage of all of the D300's excellent features.
The photographer IS still the most important part of the image capturing equation, but I truly believe that overall the D300 delivers better looking images than the D200, and all earlier DSLR models (even considering identical lens, technique, and minor settings differences to take advantage of individual camera body's features), and is well worth the extra expense of a new body purchase.
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