Nikon D300 (w/ 18mm-200mm lens)
Cameras Buying Guide
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August 31, 2007 07:25
4.5/5
Move over Canon, the KING is here. After playing with the D300 at an Asian trade show I must say that the D300 is real and a very good camera. Yes it's APS-S... no it's not full frame... however, it is the best APS sized sensor camera available and it will probably remain that way for a long time. I believe this may be the last of the APS professional cameras by Nikon, however, birders and sports shooters should rejoice - this thing is KING. -
January 27, 2008 01:48
4.5/5
I just bought my Nikon d300 w/ 18-200mm VR AFS lens and I'm still testing my new camera out. Please check out my blog to check out photos taken with my D300. I will be testing this camera out to see what it can do and what it can't.
www.photocrumb.blogspot.com
You can click on my shots to get an enlarged version of all of my photos. Have fun with your camera. -
April 4, 2008 06:09
4.5/5
Just to get to the point: this is hands down the BEST DSLR for almost all enthousiast photographers -- bar none. (And depending on where you buy, it can be dirt cheap as well -- I got mine for less than $2000 AUD (body only, but I also got the 18-200 mm VR and 50 mm f/1.8 prime plus SB-600 flash))
The reasons are many for this commendation. From its almost identical feature set to its bigger brother, the Nikon D3, such as superior colour rendering (able to be EXTREMELY vibrant/saturated), tone and contrast control (Active D-Lighting works VERY well); to unbelievable ease-of-use and ergonomics -- this is a true D3 without the weight or size (and lack of built-in flash). (However, the high-ISO capabilities are nowhere near that of the D3, but neither is any other camera out there that doesn't cost less an arm or a leg.)
The importance of aforementioned features (esp. better colour, tone and contrast control) really make photographing so much easier -- from beginning to end. Less or no adjustments are needed during both the shooting and review stages, which just makes life so much better for prolific shooters (like myself - 20,000+ shots since Dec 2007!). Artistic vision is so much more easily realised with this camera - it's truly ground-breaking. Time saved with this camera is easily worth the premium over other DSLRs like the Canon 40D.
Miniscule gripes include the lack of a dedicated Picture Control button (as on the limited-edition D3P for members of NPS) to change quickly between different colour modes (like Saturated, Normal, Neutral, Monochrome, etc.) as well as no detailed Manual Focus indicator (as in the small arrows which give detailed feedback during manual focusing).
Tiny nit-picking aside, the D300 is an amazing camera with which anyone who is truly serious about their photography (and is looking for a DSLR) should definitely top their short-list.
Go to
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mentalman1369/
for some photos I've taken with the D300. -
February 11, 2008 01:31
4.5/5
Nikon again proves it is the top of the line. -
July 8, 2008 05:01
5.0/5
I played with the Sony a700 and overall, the D300 was easy to use and the image quality, awesome. Saw a post about the auto focus, but mine has been perfect. I do not regret purchasing this camera.
Also, hold the camera feels so natural. I love this camera. I am going acamping this weekend and I know I willhave some great pictures to share! -
June 25, 2008 07:41
5.0/5
After my Nikon D70 I bought the D300 and used the "old lenses" with the new D300 camera. I have now bought the VR AF-S Nikkor 18mm-200mm lens and the combination is very fine. -
June 15, 2008 01:46
5.0/5
The Nikon D300 performs like my 35mm film camera. Its fast, clear and sharp. The focas is quick to lock on and is accurate. The operation is easily mastered and can be used by both the novice as well as the professional. Simply put the camera in program mode and its a point and shoot and even my wife will use it. Switch the camera over to aperature, shutter or manual and with all the options, bells and whistles it is a professionals dream. This camera will be with me for a long time to come. -
June 10, 2008 10:03
4.5/5
Got this Camera 3 weeks ago and debated over the 40D.
This camera is just very pleasant to use and learn. Lots of flexibility and excellent noise reduction beyond ISO 800.
Top-notch LCD display and awesome/quick 51 point AF.
Quite impressive good/useable low-lite photos without using the built-in flash. Its worth the $500 diifference over the 40D IMHO. I like the 18-200MM lens (27-300mm equiv.) package w/c eliminates or minimizes lens-switching w/c also reduce the risk of debris getting in your camera. Almost got the 40D w/ 2 Canon lenses (equiv. to Nikon 18-200mm VR) but the thought of the inconvenience switching lenses swayed me towards the D300. Not to mention D300's 12 Mp resolution over the 40D's 10 Mp. Bottom line you can't go wrong with either!
It boils down to pre-owned gear, economics, and
personal taste/ preferences. BTW I upgraded from an OLYMPUS E500 8Mp-dual lens which I plan to keep. Got my D300 at a local Ritz Camera store. Great service! If your considering either cameras I strongly suggest to do your homework and try them out at your local camera store before making that investment. NOTE: This camera does not have an "auto" mode nor does it have the scene- presets like you're use to ( Point-and-shoot cameras and some DSLRs). Hope this helps potential DSLR enthusiast buyer. -
June 5, 2008 10:25
5.0/5
Really, just cruise the internet and read the photo journals to see how good this camera is (and its full frame cousin, the D3). Paired with the 17mm-200mm VR lense, this camera is a dream. I really can't add to the substantial in-depth analysis that one can obtain from all the internet sources. I can only verify that the D300 is really that good! A little expensive but worth it. -
March 4, 2008 10:27
4.0/5
This is a great camera, and I use it as my backup camera when I shoot weddings. I love the high mega pixel count, and it uses all my DC lenses. I would discourage others, however, to venture into the wedding business with this as their main camera. It is not set up as a professional DSLR...it is more consumer based.
<A HREF="http://leerandallstewart.com">Lee
Randall Stewart Photography</A>
