Review: Nikon D300 Digital SLR
By Terry Lane | theage.com.au | 04 March
Nikon D300 Digital SLR
Price: $2900 body only
Simply superb
Lowdown: This is a 12.3-megapixel camera with a CMOS sensor, in place of the CCD unit more common to Nikon. Sensitivity range is ISO200 to 3200 with extensions to 100 and 6400. The large, bright viewfinder shows 100% of the image area. There is also a choice of "live view" in which the LCD is used as the viewfinder. The 75 mm LCD is high resolution with almost 1 million pixels. Speed in burst mode is from 6 fps with internal battery and up to 8 fps with the optional battery pack. The autofocus system has an astonishing 51-point sensor for better moving subject tracking. The information from the sensor also affects exposure and white balance - a boon for sports photographers. Construction is rugged, with good sealing, and the ergonomics are outstanding. All important functions are accessible through buttons and knobs on the body.
Like: This camera is so responsive it is an extension of the eye. See the subject, think the photo, press the shutter and there is a properly exposed, sharp picture in all its 14-bit RAW colour depth glory. Nikon ergonomics have always been the best and they just got better. Image quality straight from the camera is faultless. We like the fact that auto exposure bracket can take a set of five exposures, which is useful for high dynamic range (HDR) processing - most cameras make do with brackets of three.
Dislike: The dioptre adjustment on the viewfinder is so stiff that it can only be moved at the cost of a broken fingernail.
Verdict: The D300 is in a class of its own. The Sony A700 shares the same CMOS sensor and LCD screen and costs considerably less, and the Olympus E-3 is a few hundred dollars cheaper and they are both worth considering. But if money is no object then the Nikon is hard to beat. Now that Nikon has fitted a self-cleaning function to the sensor, the Canon 40D no longer has that advantage. What's more, you can plug in your GPS device just in case you don't know where you are when you take the picture. All in all, a camera to dream of.
First published by TheAge.com.au on March 04 2008
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