Nikon D300 hands-on preview

Nikon D300 hands-on preview

Sunday, 9 September 2007 14:00 GMT

Just posted! Our detailed hands-on preview of the Nikon D300 digital SLR. Our preview covers the design of the camera, control layout, operation use, displays and menus. Also included is a closer look at the D300 implementation of live view including videos of it in use. We've also explored HDMI output and included a couple of 720p video clips to give you an idea of how high definition may change the way we use video output on digital cameras.

Nikon D300 In-depth Review

Just under two years since the D200 Nikon reveals the D300, the range of changes is so significant that it wouldn't be inappropriate to call it a 'compact D3' (less the full-frame sensor of course). From the top there's a new CMOS sensor with twelve megapixels, a new auto-focus sensor with 51-points (15 of which are cross-type sensitive), there's focus tracking by color, scene recognition, Picture Control presets, six frames per second continuous shooting (or eight frames per second with a battery pack), Compact Flash UDMA support, Live View (with contrast detect AF) and the mighty impressive 3.0" 922,000 pixel LCD monitor (oh and HDMI video output). It's an impressive list, the D200 was a fair step up from the D100, the D300 can be seen as just as big a step, certainly more than enough to make the competition sweat.

Nikon D300 Key Features

  1. 12.3 megapixel DX format CMOS sensor
  2. Self-cleaning sensor unit (low-pass filter vibration)
  3. ISO 200 - 3200 (6400 with boost)
  4. 14-bit A/D conversion
  5. Nikon EXPEED image processor (Capture NX processing and NR algorithms, lower power)
  6. Super fast operation (power-up 13 ms, shutter lag 45 ms, black-out 100 ms)
  7. Shutter life 150,000 exposures
  8. New Multi-CAM3500DX Auto Focus sensor (51-point, 15 cross-type, more vertical coverage)
  9. Auto-focus tracking by color (using information from 1005-pixel AE sensor)
  10. Auto-focus calibration (fine-tuning) now available (fixed body or up to 20 separate lens settings)
  11. Scene Recognition System (uses AE sensor, AF sensor)
  12. Picture Control image parameter presets (replace Color Modes I, II and III)
  13. Custom image parameters now support brightness as well as contrast
  14. Six frames per second continuous shooting (eight frames per second with battery pack)
  15. Compact Flash UDMA support
  16. 3.0" 922,000 pixel LCD monitor
  17. Live View with either phase detect (mirror up/down) or contrast detect Auto Focus
  18. HDMI HD video output
  19. 'Active D-Lighting' (adjusts metering as well as applying D-Lighting curve)
  20. Detailed 'Control Panel' type display on LCD monitor, changes color in darkness
  21. New MB-D10 vertical grip fully integrates into body, multi battery type compatible
  22. Buttons sealed against moisture

Nikon D300 vs. D200 feature and specification differences

Sensor • 12.3 million effective pixel CMOS
• DX format 		• 10.2 million effective pixel CCD
• DX format
A/D converter 14-bit 12-bit
Image processor Nikon EXPEED Unspecified
Image sizes • 4288 x 2848
• 3216 x 2136
• 2144 x 1424 		• 3872 x 2592
• 2896 x 1944
• 1936 x 1296
RAW files NEF / Compressed NEF 14-bit NEF 12-bit
TIFF files Yes No
Dust reduction Self-cleaning sensor unit No
Auto focus • 51-point Multi-CAM 3500DX
• 15 cross-type sensors
• Contrast detect in Live View mode 		• 11-point Multi-CAM 1000
Focus tracking by color Yes No
AF area mode

• Single point AF
• Dynamic Area AF [9 points, 21 points, 51 points, 51 points (3D-tracking)]
• Automatic-area AF

 • Single Area AF
• Dynamic AF with Focus Tracking and Lock-on
• Group Dynamic AF
• Closest Subject Priority Dynamic AF
Sensitivity

• Default: ISO 200 - 3200
• Boost: ISO 100 - 6400
• 1/3, 1/2 or 1.0 EV steps

• Default: ISO 100 - 1600
• Boost: Up to ISO 3200
• 1/3, 1/2 or 1.0 EV steps

Continuous shooting • With built-in battery: up to 6 fps
• With AC adapter or MB-D10 pack and batteries other than EN-EL3e: up to 8 fps 		5 fps
Image Parameters • Picture Control (4 presets)
• Sharpening
• Contrast
• Brightness
• Saturation
• Hue 		• Presets (6 presets)
• Sharpening
• Tone
• Color mode
• Saturation
• Hue
Active D-Lighting Yes (also adjusts exposure) No
Viewfinder 100% frame coverage 95% frame coverage
LCD monitor • 3.0 " TFT LCD
• 922,000 pixels		 • 2.5 " TFT LCD
• 230,000 pixels
LCD Live View • Handheld mode (phase detect AF)
• Tripod mode (contrast detect AF) 		No
Compact Flash Type I / II (UDMA support) Type I / II
Vertical grip MB-D10 MB-D200
Video output HDMI (HD) Composite (SD)
Menu languages 14 13
Dimensions 147 x 114 x 74 mm (5.8 x 4.5 x 2.9 in) 147 x 113 x 74 mm (5.8 x 4.4 x 2.9 in)
Weight (no batt) 825 g (1.82 lb) 830 g (1.8 lb)