Nikon D300s 12MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)

Nikon D300s 12MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)
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Customer Rating: Rating 4.5 out of 5 (65 Reviews)

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Product information Brand: Nikon
Publisher: Nikon
Category: Photography
Release Date: August 28, 2009
Style: D300s Body Only
Optical zoom: 0
Display size: 3
Model: D300s Body Only
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Features
  • 12-megapixel CMOS image sensor for high resolution, low-noise images
  • Body only; lenses sold separately
  • Nikon EXPEED image processing; D-Movie HD Video for cinematic 24 fps, 720p HD movie clips
  • 3-inch Super-density 920,000-dot VGA LCD; one-button Live View
  • Capture images to SD/SDHC memory cards (not included)
Special Featuresnv:Sensor: CMOS
Size: 23.6 x 15.8mm
Movie Resolution: 1280 x 720
LCD Monitor: 3 inches
LCD Pixels: 920,000 Dots
LCD Coverage: 100%
Shutter Speed: 30 sec.
Shutter Speed: 1/8000 sec.
Exposure Control: Shutter-priority Auto
Exposure Control: Aperture-priority Auto
Exposure Control: Manual Exposure
Exposure Control: Programmed auto exposure with flexible program
Exposure Compensation: ±5.0 EV range in 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV steps
ISO Speed Range: 100 - 6400
White Balance Control: Incandescent
Accessories
Editorial Review

Product Description: The All New D300s Has Now Begun Shipping

The rugged D300S' hallmarks include versatility, speed, agility and exceptional image quality. Versatility is its 12.3-megapixel, DX-format CMOS image sensor, with Nikon EXPEED image processing that captures stunning low-noise stills and extraordinary 24 fps, 720p HD video with sound. Speed is split-second startup and continuous shooting at up to 7 fps-8 fps with the optional MB-D10 grip, which also extends shooting capacity and makes shooting more comfortable. Accurate image review, Live View shooting and Menus come alive on a 3-inch tempered glass-protected, 920k-dot LCD monitor, while image quality is bolstered by a 51-area AF system and Nikon's 1,005-pixel RGB exposure sensor, in concert with the newly accelerated Scene Recognition System-technology that increases exposure and AF accuracy, improves white balance detection, and more. Photographers have preferences, and the D300S offers choices-including Picture Control, Center-Weighted and Spot Metering, user-assignable CompactFlash and SD card slots and an external stereo microphone input. Included is Nikon ViewNX software-ready to process rich 14-bit NEF (RAW) or JPEG files. For more editing power, optional Capture NX 2, with U-Point technology, safeguards image quality and speeds workflow. The D300S' pro-level performance, paired with world-famous NIKKOR lenses, was engineered to exceed the expectations of demanding photographers.

Nikon's D300s. Fast. Precise. Agile. Evolution in Motion.

  • 12.3-megapixel DX-format CMOS Image Sensor
    Delivers stunning high resolution, low-noise images with striking detail and tonal gradation.

  • Continuous Shooting up to 7 fps
    High speed shooting and fast response-essential to versatile performance in a wide variety of shooting disciplines.

  • Nikon EXPEED Image Processing
    Drives breathtakingly rich image fidelity, low noise and fast image processing.

  • Customer Reviews

    The Camera of My Dreams (But know what you're buying)

    by Daniel Neve 2009-12-07, 254 people found this review helpful
    Hello everybody, My name is Daniel and I am about as serious as you can be and still be considered "amateur". I have been taking photos on SLR's since I was 10 years old on an old film Minolta and I bought my first DSLR (a Nikon D50) and since then I have owned everything from a base line Canon XSi all the way up to the the best camera I have ever handled... the D300s. I have operated the D3, D3s, D3x and the top of the line professional $10k Canons, and this is still my favorite ALL AROUND camera. So here is the break down to why I love this camera and I will give you a list of pros and cons. I love this camera for many reasons... [...]... not many people can justify spending another $4,000 (2-3 times the money) when they are looking to spend around $1,500- $2,000 for a good DSLR. So here is the benefits that I see to D300s over the other great Nikon models.

    1. if you are into sports the D300s has a higher continuous frame rate than other models including the ever so popular full frame D700. With it's DX sensor it has a crop factor of 1.5 which means more bang for you buck when using a telephoto zoom lens. If you purchase the MB-D10 battery pack it will shoot at even higher speeds of 8fps when using continuous shooting and also allows for up to nearly 5,000 pictures to be taken on one charge (when upgraded battery is purchased). With 51 auto-focus and 3-D tracking you are almost guaranteed to have your subject in focus every time you take a picture. The D300s also features Active D Lighting which makes to so your pictures end up properly exposed so you don't end up with areas of under and over exposure which tend to be common in sports and in shadowy landscape photography

    2. Freedom: although all Nikon DSLR's allow you to manually adjust your settings they are difficult to change until you get to the semi-pro D300 model. If you understand f-stops, DOF, aperture, shutter speed, ISO, focus points, light metering and other technical jargon and really want to experiment with all of these then a D300s is the camera for you. with shooting modes including: single, cont. low speed, high speed, timer, quiet, and mirror up mode this camera gives you all the freedom you could ever ask for.

    3. Learning: this camera will make you learn the true in's and out's of photography. With the very accurate light meter it's not very hard to get the exposure right. No matter what your ISO and f stop is at.

    4. User interface. With the dedicated live view and info button new to the D300s over the original D300 it cuts menu times down significantly however it no longer has the memory card hatch release switch. The D300s includes great features such as custom menus, easy to understand menus with the classic (?) button which will explain every camera function in easy to understand terms. On the fly changes include ISO, WB, Quality, shooting modes, a user adjusted fn button, AF/AE lock, light metering, and af adjustments. So the only limitations are your imagination. Selecting your focal point is as easy as looking in the viewfinder and pushing the directional button and watching the selector move around until you have exactly the right spot selected. With two selectors (one for shutter speed and one for f stop) it allows you to never have to take your eye out out of the viewfinder.

    The bottom line (why you would choose this over any other Nikon DSLR):
    why you'd choose this over the D90: 51point AF w/ 3D tracking, more fps, control of image adjustments, not much more money for a lot more freedom and creativity, contrast auto-focusing during movies, ability to utilize dual card slots (CF and SD), 14bit RAW, Active D Lighting.

    Over the D700: full 12MP when using DX lenses rather than 5MP, more fps, $600-$1,000 less, movie mode, smaller pixels for more refinement at low ISO, 100% viewfinder coverage

    Over the D3 and D3x: A ton of money, shooting speed, optimization of DX and FX lenses and movie mode, and built in flash, 100% viewfinder coverage which allows for better framing.

    This is a great camera HOWEVER NOTE THE FOLLOWING!!!!!

    The D700, D3,x,s have FX photo sensors which allow for a much bigger and brighter view finder, it also allows for a wider view (no crop factor instead of 1.5x like the DX) which means if you want more area in your pictures for such things as landscapes then the D700 or the D3 lineup maybe a better option because a 50mm lens in a DX camera looks the same as a 75mm lens on an FX camera.

    The D700 and D3 lineup (minus the D3x) utilize the large FX sensor and still only have a 12MP capacity which means that the pixels are larger which allows for better depth of color, better definition in shadows, and better high ISO clarity. The D300 can go to extended ISO of 6400 however the image quality is poor at best when the D3 can shoot ISO 6400 all day long and look great. The D700 also does better at high ISOs than the D300 does because it has the same sensor as the D3 however the D3 still does better than the D700 at extreme ISOs. However also consider the fact that the smaller the image sensor the larger the depth of field so the D700 and the D3 are better for macro or portrait photography and the D300 will give you a larger DOF equivalent to about one f-stop.

    THIS IS NOT A VIDEO CAMERA video is pretty good and the utilization of lenses is a great feature however if you want good video spend the money on a video camera. Even a Flip HD does better. The camera produces good video but it doesn't do well during panning if you plan on putting the camera on a tripod and filming then by all means its fine and with the option for an external mic to give you stereo sound is nice.

    When it comes to portability, price, features, weight, usability, image adjustments ect. I personally believe it doesn't get any better I hope this review helped and I hope you get one too and really enjoy it as much as I have. This camera is the best of all worlds. I say save the money from an FX camera and buy a really nice lens or two or three for that matter. Anyway here is the camera of my dreams and hopefully the camera in your bag shortly I promise you'll love it, I know I do.

    UPDATE: For all you HDR photographers look no further than the D300s you can easily create HDR photos by selecting "multiple exposures" and then setting up multi-step exposures for + or - EV per exposure and after the exposures are done voila you have a beautiful HDR photo. Keep in mind however: you will need a cable release (I recommend the MC-36) for the multiple exposures. OR take a few pictures at different exposures and overlay the photos in the in camera retouch menu and there you have it perfect HDR photos every time! Goodbye Photoshop (for HDR anyway)

    The D300s and flash compatibility: I have noticed almost no one has talked about the fantastic flash compatibility with the D300s over many cameras. I figured it needed to be covered so here it goes: The D300s is a DREAM to work with when paired with any Nikon Speedlight Dynamic Lighting System. My favorite and most frequently used flash is the SB-600 Speedlight which can be wirelessly operated for NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE with the D300s, you just have to know what settings to change. Unlike the D3 which has to either have a hot shoe flash controller unit or an SB-800 ($900) the D300s can operate a nearly unlimited number of flashes wirelessly without any accessories. So if you are like so many other Nikon users and own an SB-600 just push and hold the "Zoom" and the "-" button at the same time until you get to custom menu and cycle through until you can adjust the squiggly Z shaped line and turn it to on and it defaults to channel 3 then either push and hold the "zoom" and "-" button to get out of the menu or just push the power button. Then go to the "Custom Setting Menu" (the pencil) on your D300s and change "e3" "flash cntrl for built-in flash" to the Commander mode and set to channel 3, and pop up your built in flash and there you go...ABSOLUTELY FREE WIRELESS FLASH with perfect exposure compensation every time using a $250 flash unit. Hope it helps someone I know it helped me so have fun and remember to change it back to TTL flash when you're done.

    UPDATE #2: I have had a lot of question on why you would get this over a D300 and here you go the main reasons for buying the D300s over the D300 is the designated info button, and live view button, movie mode, designated okay button instead of one crappy directional selector, quiet mode AND dual memory card slots. It's also 7 months newer so you won't have an out dated camera as soon. It also has slightly different menus and new software for shooting modes including landscape, and portrait modes.

    Awesome camera with the ruggedness and speed you need!

    by mikechang.photo 2009-11-17, 12 people found this review helpful
    I love this camera! It's a backup camera I bought to complement my D700 and for the 1.6 lens factor for my tele lens. Surprisingly, it's been the camera I reach for when I go out to shoot!
    I find it operates just as fast and focuses just as quick as my D700 and the Hi 1 aspect of ISO sensitivity is just awesome! Please see the photo inserts under mikechang.photo!
    I did not have a chance to thoroughly try out the video functions but from the initial use it's as good if not better than my HD camcorder from Panasonic.
    During one of the trip I accidentally dropped the camera from the camera bag which caused the battery cover to pop off and battery (and my heart) went flying out! I was able to popped the cover right back and reinsert the battery without any difficulty. The camera not a scratch! I checked all camera functions and it's files from shootings after all seems to work just fine! What a relief! From all the shooting that I did with both cameras the files looks and enlarges equally well. The resolutions of both sensors were very difficult to differentiate except under extreme enlargements ( perhaps 30x40) where the D700 gives you that added extra crispness and saturation. Otherwise, both camera functions almost the same. Same positions for most of the functions and same size display 3'' screen. It's however, slightly lighter and smaller but feels very solid. For the duration that i have this camera I am very satisfied! And, I really enjoy having this camera (along with my D700!)

    Great new semi-pro flagship from Nikon

    by Nicolaas Traut 2009-10-03, 18 people found this review helpful
    I actually planned to purchase the D300 as replacement for the D200 that used to be the backup for my D3, when Nikon announced the D300s. I placed the unit on pre-order with Amazon and received it shortly after the official launch date.

    First impressions out-of-the-box was that the unit is as solidly built as the D200 with a good grip and feel. Controls are well placed and within easy reach for manual shooters. I've now used mine for almost one month, primarily with the Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 lens, and some telephoto shooting with the 80-400mm Nikkor zoom. Focusing is fast and sharp, and picture quality is very good, with outside shots at ISO200 almost comparable to the D3. Shutter actuation sounds very smooth and quiet compared to the D3 and I used the D300s extensively inside some cathedrals without feeling embarrassed.

    I do lots of manual shooting, but also took many shots in P-mode with exceptional results and perfect exposure. Color rendition is great and noise is minimal, even at ISO800 on some of the indoor shots. This camera is a great option for any semi-pro or professional photographer and I give it a 5-star rating with confidence.

    One con is the fact that there is no menu option for having a PC see the D300s as a drive letter, so you need to use a Windows utility or the Nikon software to transfer files to the PC, unless you use an external card reader of course. I have logged a call with Nikon regarding this and will update this post when I hear from them. Another feature that are being criticized by some reviewers is the video capability. Of course this is a still camera and the video option is a nice-to-have. The couple of videos that I have taken looks quite good to me, but I am not a videographer, and if I were, I would have purchased a video camera without expecting it to take great photographs.
    Read more Customer Reviews

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