Nikon D300s: test of a semi-professional "DSLR" with new lenses. Comparison of Nikon D7100 and D300s Afterword from Sergey Lakhardov on the characteristics of the Nikon D300s

The result of the planned update of the D300 model was the appearance of professional cameras, indicating that such a decision of the manufacturer should be called a marketing ploy rather than a necessity. The fact is that the previous modification is still relevant and is in great demand in the European and American markets.

Key differences from its predecessor

The new camera has several fundamental differences compared to the previous modification. In particular, the speed of work has increased in it. The device now has a connector for connecting an external microphone, a button for direct start of video recording, an HDMI slot, and two connectors for installing additional memory (CF and SD cards) are provided. In addition, the user has the ability to record videos with a resolution of 1280x720 in HD format with automatic contrast focusing. There are some more interesting innovations. More details about the new product will be discussed later.

general description

The model has a one-piece case made of magnesium alloy, and therefore the light weight and high strength have become the hallmarks of the D300S. Reviews from the owners of the device indicate that it will not suffer with minor drops. Another interesting feature of the novelty is the large enough buttons, which are easy to press even with gloves. In other words, the developers have provided for the possibility of operation in cold weather conditions, which is very important for our country. The rubber pad has noticeably decreased and remained only in the place of the influx under the thumb. Working with two memory cards is carried out as they are filled in in the order established by the user. If you need to store very important frames, they can be automatically saved in different formats on both drives. In connection with the appearance of the Info buttons and the direct start of video shooting, the model has lost the lock of the compartment with memory cards. Be that as it may, its accidental discovery is ruled out here.

The user can edit the captured photos and movies without even connecting the Nikon D300S to the computer. Lenses from the manufacturer's arsenal, in turn, allow you to achieve a variety of creative effects.

Ergonomics

The device is very comfortable in the hands. Feedback from the owners of the model suggests that even a beginner will not think about which button and where is located after a few days of using the camera. It is especially easy to get used to the device in terms of ergonomics for owners of other Nikon SLR models. Soft rubber covering the body protects the device from slipping out of your hands. Even with the use of oversized lenses, it is very convenient to work with the camera and transport it, and due to its low weight, hands do not get tired.

Menu

A large degree of congestion can be called a characteristic feature of the Nikon D300S camera menu. The parameter settings are very broad. The user has the ability to save them as profiles and call them with full names. Thanks to this, preparation for shooting takes a minimum amount of time. The HELP key significantly helps to understand the mastering of the menu, because it is able to display a textual explanation to any of its points. This function will be especially relevant for novice photographers.

Display and viewfinder

The model is equipped with a high-resolution liquid crystal LCD display of 920 thousand pixels for instant viewing of the footage. Its viewing angles are about 170 degrees. Despite the lack of anti-reflective coating, information remains readable even in sunlight. In addition, the device has an additional monochromatic screen. It is highlighted in green and serves so that the photographer can quickly assess the basic parameters of the shooting. It also displays information on the state of charge of the battery, recording format, the amount of available memory and some other nuances.

The viewfinder boasts 100% frame coverage and vivid, comprehensive shooting information. It should be noted that this feature is not typical for most of the model's competitors. Novice users may be confused by the rather large amount of information displayed here. As for the display of the viewfinder frame itself, it shows a framing grid and information about how full the memory is.

Main characteristics

At the heart of the camera lies an effective resolution of 12.3 million dots. In combination with the proprietary EXPEED processor, it allows you to create sharp and rich photos, which are characterized by a minimum amount of digital noise and subtle gradation of shades. The sensitivity in the standard mode ranges from 200 to 3200 units, and in the extended mode - from 100 to 6400. The focusing system, consisting of 51 points, has been slightly improved compared to the previous modification. At the same time, the developers have provided for the possibility of manual and automatic focusing Nikon D300S. The instructions for the device, in turn, will allow you to easily deal with the virtual electronic level implemented in this model, designed to facilitate landscape photography.

The camera is equipped with a rechargeable battery with a capacity of 1500 mAh. As practice shows, its resource is usually enough to create up to one thousand images. Experts call this figure very impressive, since few cameras can boast of something like that.

In handheld mode, the camera uses fast phase focusing (the mirror goes up, the camera focuses and the mirror goes down) and the slower contrast AF, which is used in tripod mode. In order to perfectly focus on the focus, there is the possibility of enlarging part of the frame. The magnification is split into 7 steps and ends with a maximum magnification up to a 1: 1 ratio.

All menu setting parameters, as well as all custom camera settings values, can be saved as profiles (menu banks) and named. This is very convenient for multipurpose use of the camera and allows you to prepare for shooting in a minimum time by simply loading a saved bank. The HELP button, which displays a text explanation of the selected item, greatly helps in mastering the menu.

The camera performs well in all modes. While the automatic exposure is fine, you have the ability to fit into the histogram even better: thanks to Active D-Lighting, the camera adjusts the exposure without knocking out light, giving the camera better histogram hit. D-lighting settings can now also be assigned by the camera independently, and for those who like soft tonal transitions there is an even more powerful value - Extra High.

When shooting with Active D-Lighting, the recording time on the memory card will slightly increase and the burst buffer will be noticeably smaller. Simple D-Lighting is also available via the menu, which optimizes the dynamic range after shooting, programmatically. In addition, there is a custom Picture Control that allows you to adjust parameters such as sharpness, contrast, brightness, saturation, and tonality. You can also apply filter and toning effects to your liking.

Up to 72 pictures can be displayed simultaneously in playback mode. Information about the captured frame is divided into several pages and includes information about the file, general information (color space, vignetting correction, white balance parameters, etc.), GPS data, histogram of brightness and RGB channels. Therefore, it is not at all difficult for a photographer to obtain comprehensive information about the footage without using a computer.

It is also convenient to delete images - you just need to press the delete button again; in Canon cameras, pictures are deleted in the same way, only to confirm you need to turn the wheel, which is frankly annoying if you need to delete several pictures in a row.

I'll just describe their differences:

Nikon D300S has increased burst speed without using the battery pack. D300S can shoot at a speed 7 fps, could only shoot at 6 fps. Nikon D300s can accelerate and shoot at the fastest possible speed 8 fps but only when using JPEG or 12-bit RAW and only using the optional MB-D10 battery pack or EH-5a / EH-5 AC adapter. To get the camera to shoot at 8 fps, the MB-D10 alone is not enough. You need to use the special holder MS-D10 with 8 AA cells (batteries or rechargeable batteries). The MS-D10 holder is included with the MB-D10. Also, 8 fps can be achieved using a larger EN-EL4 battery (from cameras, D2hs,) or EN-EL4a (from cameras,, D3x), but this requires an additional BL-3 cover (which is not included with MB-D10). In addition, if you buy an EN-EL4 or EN-EL4a battery, you will have to additionally buy and charge Nikon MH-21 / Nikon MH-22 for it. If the MB-D10 uses a standard EN-EL3e battery, the burst speed will not change. The MB-D10 battery pack is equally suitable for, D300S and. Personally, I don't like the fact that for these cameras you have to ‘dance with a tambourine’ to achieve the coveted 8 fps.

Added ‘’ function when sighting via Live View. The Nikon D3 had the same function, but was not copied into the.

Added the ability to use Active in ‘Auto’ and ‘Extra High’ modes.

Added video function... True, the D300S only shoots with the maximum quality up to HD 1280X720 from 24 fps and the maximum video length is only 5 minutes. Also, the modes 640x424 and 320x216 are available at the same frame rate, while the shooting duration is increased to 20 minutes. Unlike its predecessor models - and, the D300S now has the ability to shoot video using contrast focusing. The D300S is the first Nikon DSLR to feature automatic focusing when shooting video (to focus, select the Live View ‘Tripod’ mode and press the AF-ON button when recording a video). It is believed that video shooting is one of the main differences between the D300 and D300S. Also on the D300S you can find an audio input for using a stereo microphone, and speaker to output audio when watching video. And the menu now has a function for very simple video editing.

D300S removed the lock for opening the memory card compartment that the D300 had. The memory card cover now opens in the same way as on. Some buttons have changed. The D300s has 'LV' button to quickly switch to Live View mode, on the D300 this mode was selected on the control tower. Added a convenient 'Info' button, the same as on, and with it the new interactive display (can display data on a black or white background, depending on the lighting). And most importantly, the central button of the joystick was made separate. On the D300, it was sometimes inconvenient to press the center button of the joystick. On the D300s, the center button is just as easy to use as on and.

In the new cell appeared 'Q' silent shooting mode(‘Quiet’ - ‘Quiet’), which is selected by a wheel on the control tower. In turn, the ‘LV’ mode disappeared from there, which is now activated by the ‘LV’ button near the joystick.

D300S now has the ability to use immediately 2 memory cards 2 different types of SD (SDHC) and CF. The D300 worked with only one CF memory card. Of course, various possibilities have been added for writing data to memory cards.

• It is possible to record pictures first on one card, and when it is filled - on another.
• You can duplicate material on two cards at once, which is sometimes an indispensable function for saving images in case of failure of one of the cards.
• It is possible to record RAW and JPEG files on separate cards separately.
• You can set the card on which video files will be recorded.

Only one of the specified working methods is selected.

Added face detection function on the footage, with the ability to instantly enlarge this part of the image.

Face detection function. Image taken from Nikon's official website.

The image quality has improved slightly, but there has been no such dramatic change as when switching from the Nikon D3 to. A synthetic comparison can be viewed.

You can find information that cameras use a different matrix: IMX021 for D300 and IMX038 for D300s (as well as for and). But information changes from source to source. Based on the data from the instructions for the cameras, we can conclude that the Nikon D300s has the same sensor as the Nikon D300 and differs from the sensors installed in and (it is easy to determine by the total number). But most of the sources agree that the D300s is used by the IMX038.

The Live View picture on the Nikon D300 slowed down noticeably (a similar problem exists with the Nikon D300). On the D300s, the picture is displayed normally in Live View mode.

Nikon D300S uses 'C' type HDMI, D300 'A' type.

The menu is slightly different, moreover, Nikon D300s can edit the footage, including RAW files.

It is very strange that the D300S not cured of a serious illness which the D300 had. Both cameras get very slow when shooting at 14-bit color depth, with a maximum burst speed of a measly 2.5 fps. For example, the Nikon D3 from the same era chewed 14-bit RAW at 9 fps without any problems. And the one that was released between the D300 and D300S coped with this task without any problems at a speed of 8 fps. By the way, a disease with brakes from processing 14-bit RAW files was transmitted (cannot accelerate to 7 fps, works at 6 fps) and (cannot accelerate to 5 fps, works at 4 fps).

My experience

For me, the only important innovations in the D300S are: the ability to work with 2 memory cards, a slight improvement in image quality and an adequate central joystick button. It may seem strange, but just one single button makes the D300S much more convenient to use. On the D300, I was constantly annoyed by this stupid button, which you press, pushing the entire joystick into the camera body, but in the end you still can't press it (instead, one of the joystick directions is pressed).

Nikon D300S is still the best crop reportage camera. No offense, but all of these are of a lower class, do not accelerate to 8 frames per second, have a meager buffer, do not have such a solid body and professional control as the Nikon D300S.

Attention, quote! This text once came to my mail. Original spelling and punctuation preserved.

“Good afternoon, Arkady. I own the BEST Nikon camera ever. And you still haven't reviewed this camera. In general, I think that you only needed to review her and EVERYTHING. The rest of Nikon's cameras aren't even worthy of public attention. There is only ONE best camera, the Nikon D300s the best camera for real alpha males! 7 frames per second, the best, 2 CF + SD slots, super ergonomics, shooting 720p video clips, really working ISO3200, 51 autofocus points scattered from edge to edge of the frame (and not knocked down in the center like in. A lot of little things for photos can be found on Aliexpress.

D300S officially discontinued.

‘Used shnuyu’. Nikon D300S sells one and a half to two times more expensive than Nikon D300. Personally, I think that when choosing between the D300 and the D300S, a photographer should think 10 times whether he should pay extra for video shooting and a few other small improvements.

Outcomes

Nikon D300s - one of the best Nikon DX cameras ever released. Many years later, at the beginning of 2016, Nikon D300s received a full-fledged continuation - Nikon D500.

Many may wonder what the new product looks like in comparison with its predecessor - Nikon D300S. Given the huge delay between releases, the D500 can be argued to be a more powerful and advanced camera. However, what do we see if we compare the specifications of these two cameras? Let's find out by comparing Nikon D500 and Nikon D300S.

To begin with, let's look at the passport specifications of the cameras:

Camera characteristic	Nikon D500	Nikon D300S
Matrix resolution	20.9 megapixels	12.3 megapixels
Matrix type	CMOS	CMOS
Matrix size	23.5 × 15.7 mm	23.6 × 15.8 mm
Matrix pixel size	4.2µ	5.5µ
Low pass filter	No	There is
Dust removal system	There is	No
Image size (pix)	5 568 x 3 712	4 288 x 2 848
GPU	EXPEED 5	EXPEED
Viewfinder type	Pentaprism	Pentaprism
Viewfinder coverage	100%	100%
Viewfinder magnification	1.0x	0.94x
Built-in flash	No	Yes, with commander mode
Storage interfaces	1x XQD, 1x SD	1x CF, 1x SD
Continuous burst shooting speed (fps)	10	7, with battery grip - 8
Buffer size (RAW, 14-bit lossless)	200	30
Duration of continuous burst shooting	20 sec	4.3 sec / 3.75 sec
Exposure range	from 1/8000 to 30 sec	from 1/8000 to 30 sec
Shutter resource	200,000 cycles	150,000 cycles
Exposure metering sensor	180,000-pixel RGB sensor 3D Color Matrix Metering III	1,005-pixel RGB 3D Color Matrix Metering II sensor
Base ISO	ISO 100	ISO 200
Base ISO range	ISO 100-51 200	ISO 200-3 200
Expandable ISO range	ISO 102 400-1 640,000	ISO 6 400
Autofocus system	Advanced Multi-CAM 20K	Multi-CAM 3500DX
Autofocus points	153, 99 cross type	51, 15 cross type
AF detection	above f / 8	above f / 5.6
AF detection range	-4 to +20 EV	-1 to +19 EV
Automatic AF adjustment	There is	No
Video recording	There is	There is
Video recording format	MOV, H.264 / MPEG-4	AVI, Compressed
Maximum video resolution	3 840 × 2 160 (4K) @ 24p, 25p, 30p	1280 × 720 (720p) @ 24p
Audio recording	Built-in stereo microphone,	Built-in microphone (mono), External stereo microphone (optional)
LCD size	3.2 ″ TFT-LCD	3.0 ″ TFT-LCD
LCD resolution	2,359,000 points	921,000 points
Rotatable LCD	Yes	No
Touchscreen LCD	Yes	No
Bracketing	from 2 to 9 frames	from 2 to 9 frames
Built-in GPS	No	No
Built-in bluetooth	Yes	No
Built-in NFC	Yes	No
Built-in Wi-Fi	Yes	No
Accumulator battery	Li-ion EN-EL15	Li-ion EN-EL3e
Number of frames on 1 battery charge	1240 frames	950 frames
Charger	MH-25a Quick Charger	MH-18a Quick Charger
Waterproof housing	Yes	Yes
Body material	Magnesium alloy	Magnesium alloy
USB version	3.0	2.0
Weight (body)	760 g	840 g
Dimensions (edit)	147 x 115 x 81 mm	147 x 114 x 74 mm
Price	1,999 (announced)	1,799 (at the time of the start of sales)

As expected, Nikon D500 surpasses the D300S in every parameter - 7 years of technical progress, of course, gave rise to a real chasm between the characteristics of the cameras in question. The first significant difference is obviously in the sensor technology - the D500 has a 20.9MP sensor, while the D300S has a 12.3MP sensor. In addition to the difference in resolution, both cameras have completely different dynamic range and noise reduction characteristics. While the D500's high ISO performance is yet to be tested, it is safe to expect the new Nikon camera to outperform its predecessor significantly, both in terms of dynamic range and noise reduction performance at high ISOs. Even the basic ISO cameras speak for themselves (ISO 100-51200 versus ISO 200-3 200).

But still, the most significant difference between the new item and its predecessor lies in the new AF system - 153 AF points (99 of which are cross-type), while the D300S used a 51-point AF system (with 15 cross-type points). In addition to this, Nikon D500 can focus in almost complete darkness thanks to a sensor with a sensitivity of up to -4 E.V., which is unattainable for the D300S with its sensor sensitivity of up to -1 E.V.

Finally, the D500 will be able to successfully work with teleconverters, providing accurate autofocus operation even at f / 8, while in the D300S this capability is available at an aperture of at least f / 5.6.

There are also significant differences in camera GPUs - the D500 comes with the latest EXPEED 5, which is 5 generations better than the original EXPEED on the D300S. Thanks to the faster processor, the D500 is obviously capable of handling a lot more data. The new camera is capable of not only shooting at a higher speed - 10 frames per second versus 7 frames per second for the D300S - but also recording higher quality video - 4K video versus 720p on the D300S. Add to that the huge D500 buffer for 200 RAW images - the predecessor camera had only 30 RAW images.

Another feature of Nikon's new camera is that the D500 lacks a built-in flash. This is the first semi-professional Nikon camera in which the manufacturer decided to abandon it. Nikon may have decided that the D500 didn't need it, as the camera is aimed primarily at sports and wildlife photographers. In addition, the lack of a built-in flash enhances the camera's tightness, especially in rainy weather, which significantly improves its all-weather protection.

It differs for the cameras in question and the switching capabilities - in Nikon D500 there is Bluetooth, NFC, and Wi-Fi, the D300S does not have any of these wireless data transmission interfaces.

In general, despite the fact that the D500 is a direct descendant of the D300S, their differences are so great that it makes no sense to compare them with each other. Nikon D500 unconditionally surpasses its predecessor in everything!

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The D300S is a professional SLR in a compact DX format that empowers photographers who value creative freedom. Housed in a compact body is Nikon's D-movie function and built-in photo editing, letting you quickly switch between great stills and movies with stereo sound *. This camera features an extremely sensitive 12.3 Megapixel CMOS sensor and supports continuous shooting at an unrivaled 7 frames per second. The CF and SD card slots add flexibility to your work, allowing you to capture pictures on one memory card and movies on another. Nikon's proven 51-point AF system provides larger area coverage and high sensitivity in low light conditions. Selectable Picture Controls simplify post-processing, and the 3-inch LCD screen supports D-movie and two monitor framing modes. Protected by a durable, lightweight, waterproof and dustproof magnesium housing, the D300S will change the way you think about the photography profession.

* Requires a compatible stereo microphone.

12.3 megapixel DX-format CMOS sensor. Built-in module self-cleaning of the matrix to a minimum reduces the influence of dust.

Continuous photography at 7fps (8 fps with optional MB-D10 battery pack).

Function D-Movie provides beautiful high-definition movie recording with stereo sound *, as well as start and stop editing functions.

Double slots for memory cards: CF and SD card slots for increased flexibility.

ISO 200-3,200: can be increased to ISO 6400 equivalent or reduced to ISO 100 equivalent.

EXPEED image processing system With 14-bit A / D conversion and 16-bit image processing, it delivers stunning color tones.

AF System Multi-CAM3500DX with 51st point. Possibility to select and adjust one of the modes with 9, 21 or 51 focus points.

Performance thanks to switching on in just 0.13 seconds and fast shutter lag (no more than 45 ms).

Quiet shooting mode: Ideal for quiet shutter photography due to dramatically reduced noise from camera mechanisms.

Picture Controls simplify in-camera image processing by allowing you to adjust image settings before shooting and control the sharpening, contrast, brightness, saturation, and hue of images in various color modes.

3-inch VGA LCD monitor with 920,000 dots with a wide viewing angle of 170 degrees.

Active D-Lighting function Helps you get stunning, high-contrast images by automatically adjusting the tone at the time of shooting.

Durable magnesium alloy housing: moisture and dustproof.

Reliable shutter mechanism, tested for 150,000 operating cycles.

Video output HDMI Allows you to connect your camera to high definition video systems.

Intuitive ergonomic design with optimal button placement for fast operation and convenience.