Nikon D300

I have had the D100 since its first release and over the years have seen Nikon change its range, I very nearly brought the D200 but found that Nikon would soon be releasing the D300 so decided to wait. In September 2007 again very nearly brought the D200 as wanted to get my hands on a new camera but held back. I'm so pleased as in November 2007 the Nikon came through and what a piece of kit, this camera was well worth the wait. The one very bad point on my D100 was the camera was not very forgiving, if you made a slight error when taking a photo you paid highly for it, as I’m a complete novice when it comes to taking photos I more often than not managed to get it so very wrong. Even my young daughter on a Fuji 5m camera would take photos that made mine look as though it had been taken with an instamatic. I even sent the Nikon back to make certain there was nothing wrong with it as it was becoming embarrassing but every time the camera came back with no problems, so the conclusion was I’m rubbish at photography. Now with the D300 even me who struggled at times with the D100 found a new lease of life in taking photos as it's virtually impossible to get it wrong and even if you do the camera does a very good job of making a badly taken photo look good. The ease of use of the camera makes you want to take photos of everything in sight; the images are very clear and so sharp every time you press the shutter button. I can recommend selling everything that isn’t bolted to the floor for this camera especially if you’re like me someone who enjoys taking photos and really wants to capture a memory as it should be, this camera is amazing for the price, it again will be a number of years before I need to upgrade

It's still quite a heavy camera and no where to attach a shutter release cable, you’re going to need a remote control or the remote lead

The feautures are extremely user friendly.

The Nikon D300 is a sensational camera with the best handling and lowest image noise at high ISO that i've yet come across.

Slight concerns over intermittent battery contact and occasional focus hunting.

Super high ISO quality, a step up from the D200, built like a tank, go to weight training before buying, particularly if you use the MB-D10 grip and the pro f2.8 nikkor lenses like the 17-55 or 70-200. 8fps and a fast auto focus make this a dream sports camera. Although with so many settings it can be a different camera to different people.

For a inexperienced digital photographer this camera would be a nightmare, the very thing that makes it great for experienced users,i.e all the settings and modes, would have other users out of their depth. Not the camera to upgade to from say a compact digital.

It has the best focus, colour rendering and handling of any camera I have had.

The pictures are so stunning! And helding is just PERFECT>

I can't find any :)

all the above fristclass unit from easy ues to manual it one to buy spend 200 or 300 even 400 pounds more to get the best nikon on the market you dont need d3 or d700 even david bailey would whant one of these ....lovein it .mh

focus mode easy to change when handling needs to be lockable.....

Step up from the D200 I traded for this body. Much better at low light (less noise). Focus much quicker - especially moving objects. Improved sensor makes a difference with less post processing required - colour etc captured well first time! Sensor cleaner seems to work (no spots yet!!). Liveview feature on larger screen very useful for macro work and taking shots at strange angles including holding high over the heads of crowds! Very pleased I upgraded.

D300 Raw images not supported by Adobe CS2. Had to buy Elements 6 to use the camera raw plug-ins. Other than that I can't fault it!! Gave 9 out of 10 because nothings perfect!

Excellent quality my 20th Nikon to date and by far the best image quality in digital, equalling that of Hasselblad on film

No capture NX included

Fantastic image quality and noticeably better than the D200 in the way it handles colour saturation and highlights. Still has the normal superb Nikon build but add several features like the amazing screen, live view and 51 point focusing.

With so many functions and settings (the manual is over 400 pages!) you need to know how to use a camera to get the best from the D300.

As an existing D200 user the D300 is a real improvement, image quality through noise management is improved, focusing is faster and more accurate and battery life is greatly extended. I can now shot at iso 800 as I would have done at 400 on the D200. The viewfinder is brighter and the addition of a customisable personal menu makes finding your key menu items easier. 14bit RAW and TIFF file formats have been added. Live view is available as is a sensor cleaning facility.

I'm not keen on the single cover for all the ports, I tend to use the USB connection all the time but non of the others on the D200 these were separate and for good reason in my opinion. Nothing else to note.

Fantastic camera with many features ,suberb build quality, and great image quality, this camera is not for the amatuer user, only if you want to learn more serious photography,creative possibilies are endless, be warned the manual is thicker than normal. Look at the specifications for details, mine came with nikon capture nx as well, price may seem expensive but what you get is one mighty camera.

Cant think of any, except a hdmi lead included in the box would have been nice.

speed, accuracy & "quietness" of focus plus just about everything else!

Clot behind viewfinder! (sometimes)

Great = high ISO; viewing screen; high speed flash sync; auto ISO

Bad = nothing really, it's not as well built as my D2Xs but at 1/3 the price that's expected

Image quality, Ergonomics, LCD post shot review, Menu easy to use

Useless mirror lock up - no auto timer delay with it but one second exposure delay hidden in menu, not good enough, No permanent iso display, Active D lighting not as effective as the one on Nikon Coolpix

Fast AF, excellent image quality, solid build. A worthwhile upgrade from the D80 I had previously.

Not particularly "bad points" just a couple of observations really. If you're new to Nikon the menu system may take a little getting used to and the camera is also a little on the heavy side, you may not want to lug it around all day for casual shooting !

Lots of gadgets and high quality images

A complex camera and have yet to try manual options. It is heavier than my previous Nikon. The 18 -200 mm lens is an excellent all rounder.

Very solid piece of kit.

Should be issued with a video not a 400 page book......lots of tweeking to remember.

Better image quality than my D2X. More professional like sealing than a D200 so usable in most weather conditions.

Don't like the large rubber covers for flash socket, USB connector etc., prefered the old style screw in caps of previous Nikons.

Probably the best camera Nikon have produced.

Have not found any bad points yet

Very fast RAW storage , ability to obtain great exposures with light and dark images in the same picture, exposures using high ISO rating are fantastic .. who needs a flash ?

Amazing image quality, easy to operate and packed with loads of useful features. the build quality is fantastic. The d300 is the best camera i've ever owned.

I have used this camera for only a few weeks and am very satisfied. Nikon has made an excellent product. I won't bother writing about the various technical features. Those are already amply detailed in the camera description. Here are a few first impressions that I have of the camera: You can change ISO very quickly and it goes up to 3200. Very useful. There are many playback features such as zooming in close on an image and navigating around in it. A big improvement over previous models. The new playback screen is much bigger and has great resolution. You can live preview on it. There are several focus options, including the 51 point focus. You can press help on any menu item and it will explain what that item is clearly and easy to read. The menu is easy to navigate and easy to use. The 421 page User's Manual may seem daunting at first, but it's very clearly written and has several ways to cross-reference what you are looking for The camera is comfortable to hold, has a solid feel and all of the controls are within easy reach. Shooting mode, ISO and most other controls can be easily changed without going into the menu. All the above are features, but the most important benefit is excellent and sharp images.

There a steep learning curve for all of the possibilities of this camera; it's obviously not designed to be used in automatic or "scene" modes - there are no "scene" modes to be had. (Although with custom menus one could create such if desired). It is possible to charge the battery, attach a lens, and shoot right out of the box; however the real power of the D300 lies in knowing all of the controls available and applying those controls to achieve the desired results. The physical feel of the machine is one of solidness; I've added the external battery grip (which allows the entire machine to function off of 8 AA batteries, as well as Nikon camera batteries) and the balance, for my hands, is as good as I've ever had in a camera. (The external grip also bumps the frames per second from 6 to 8 when using AA's or some Nikon camera batteries.). I've not weighed the D300 with my 16-85mm VR lens, SB800 flash and external grip w/batteries, but it's heavy. There is no "stealth mode" with this camera; the shutter is loud, and putting it into continuous shoot mode will certainly attract attention..

Handling of light in both low and high lighting situations is great. It's a good sized camera so easily handled. Features found on it are suitable for professionals/semi-pro's. Quality bit of kit.

No bad points regarding camera - only the strap is the most uncomfortable I've ever come accross!

An amazing camera, though, as yet, I have not had chance to use it fully. Its functions are many and its level of automation spectacular. With this level of sophstication one cannot, with th best will in the world describe the camera as being very easy to use: though every effort has been made to make it so. All important controls are to hand without the need to delve into menus.

Have great quality image and very good building quality. Complete, extremely versatile and it can be configure in many ways. It is the best choice in its segment.

It is complex to operate initially. However after getting familiar with it, the camera is a lot simple than a first sight.

New Features and AF points

Pink and magenta skin tone, inconsistent. Underexposure at low light (mine does). Shutter sound very loud. Low Iso noise.

Having the main settings on top of the camera as well as in menu make it a lot easier to set up. The build is also impressive and the image quality is outstanding. I will be using this camera for product stock shots and its ideal for that

I've been using the camera over the last few weeks and haven't come across any bad points yet, and i don't expect i will!

The idea that the D300 is a progression from the D200 is misleading. certainly it has much the same looks, but inside it is based on the new D3 and this is reflected in the all important image quality. Improved features abound, such as the 51-spot focus system, designed to better all previous products. If the D400 follows this trend I'll be tempted to upgrade every 2 years!

The camera just feels right; it fits one's hands perfectly, and feels realy balanced. The large LCD screen makes viewing easy, even in bright light. The focusing is as near perfect as i've ever seen, and the build quality is really good, as I would expect from Nikon.

Can't think of any!

Beautifully built, robust, very well layed out, great image quality, easy-to-use menu system, excellent display, very "clean" images at high ISO.

Capture NX, Nikon's image manipulation software, is not included - demo copy only.

Everything - this is just an amazing all round camera. The pictures are stunning.

It is quite easy to knock the focus mode switch from Single Focus to Continuos Focus mode. Maybe it could have a little more resistance. I've moved this accidentally a few times without realising it.

Having returned to digital photography after several years absence I found the D300 a very logical piece of equipment to be up to date with.

No cable release on shutter, though there is a ten pin socket on the side of the camera

A significant upgrade from the D70 for me, far better metering and exposure control, far better real-life frames per second (as opposed to 'on paper'), so far I haven't really found anything to grumble about.

The supplied strap feels cheap an inadequate - I'll get an after-market replacement. Overall price reflects novelty value at the moment as this is currently the semi-pro camera to beat, and really needs to come down another hundred.

It brings the world of the professional photographer to an affordable level

When fitted with theMB10 battery pack and grip,it is very easy to trigger the shutter unintentionally whilst hanging fron neck strap

sturdy build and great features

not found any yet apart from flash sync port. My lead seemed to be a bit loose in it. apart from that, not much to complain about

Ease of use, size and feel of the body, features

excellent quality, layout and build.

a bit heavy after a long day

Fantastic image quality straight out of camera. Handling is so intuitive as expected for a nikon and focusing is quick and accurate. Colours, dynamic range and noise are excellent. Using this camera with top glass gives stunning results

Still a little overpriced (I paid £1000), although SO glad I bought it!!!

Everything

Nothing

eccellent features, ease of handling

-as amateur, so its a big budget just to go for the passion of the new camera

Read the user guide, which is very well written and takes a couple of hours, and you'll know everything there is to know about this camera, including some good tips.

It's a good build quality, but perhaps not that of the Nikkon of old...

the whole camera

sensor dust cleaning weak

Well made and nice to handle; every feature you could possibly need. The kit lens is good value!

Would have probably chosen a different lens more suited to my needs.

Exceptional image colour, sharpness and quality. Extremely sensitive and fast autofocus. Impressive customisable options and superb range of lenses and accessories available. Perfect build quality and ease of use. Every photographer's need has been thought of and catered for.

Literally none.

A wonderful camera with all the features (and more) than I require.

Complex to use unless one is fairly expert. Lack of compatibility with many older Nickon lenses - I have several which are unusable with this camera.

Most features can be accessed from the camera without going to the menu that makes it quicker to change a setting while using the camera. Other good features is the zoom option and the high definition connection to the TV or computer

No bad points so far

It is just excellent

A bit on the heavy side

High iso performance is excellent. Build quality is second to none

Excellent picture quality Ease of use 6fps shooting increased to 8fps with accessory pack

ISO 200 lowest range

This is the best amateur camaera on the market. Full stop. If you can afford it, buy it, simple. This camera does exactly what it should and lets you take photographs quickly and easily. It won't make you a better photographer, no camera does that, but it captures what you point it at. Nikon build quality goes without saying. If you want something less expensive buy the D40 which is also a great camera for the money.

None, it really is that good.

Not a newbie to Nikon SLRs having owned a D100 and D70 in the past, the D300 had to have something over the 2 cameras and sure enough it had- the manual was twice as thick and features too many to mention but the most impt. thing was the sharper and better images from the improved focussing system that came out of the camera. If you can afford it, go for it. coupled with good glass and your imagination, you are away.

Not any I can think of

Exceptional image quality. Intuitive menus.

None I can comment

Read the reviews, see the film, buy the book... it is all true... this is the best digi slr currently available except perhaps the D3 but for most of us that is just plain silly I work as a wedding photographer and this camera knocks spots off my old Canon 30D, the quality of my photos are instantly better without adjustment. I often use iso 1600 now as it really is good on this camera.

Got the 16-85mm lens as well... Top quality optics but slower to focus on the D300 than I'm used to

difficult to imagine how it could be better

no infrared connection for remote triggering - it may be there but I haven't found it

Fantastic camera for the enthusiast

Don't buy if you just want to point and shoot;

It is an excellent camera, has more features than I knew about when I bought it. I am very pleased with the camera and would recommend it

The camera is quite heavy but seems balanced for handling. I think you need an extra instruction book to understand it. More information should be available from the manufacturer at the time of purchase.

Phenomenal camera - great value for money. Impossible to take a bad picture with this camera. Having used Canon's 5D in my opinion this produces better results. I use the VR 18-200mm lens with it which is perfect 95% of the time. Super responsive camera, ergonomincal styling which produces sharp, vivid pictures and even at high ISO the noise isn't bad. Very easy to use. Highly recommended!

haven't found any yet

Ease of use, comfort, LCD review screen, build quality and features.

Only a trial version of Nikon Capture NX supplied, for the price it would have been nice to supply a full version

Excellent features and performance.

No glaring bad points.

The camera was alot better than I could have hoped for. The whole is just quality.

Nothing I can think of apart from having to pay for it.

Anothe excellent NIKON camera after the D200. Improved and faster than before.

White Balance in Auto still doesn't nail the picture.

Another winner from Nikon. Great features, good build quality, and at last a self cleaning sensor.

Great price for a great camera

No obvious begatives.

ease of use, ability to "push" "film speed", stunning picture quality, 420 page manual.

weight!

quality of image

weight

Great camera, great pictures, and great features. Definitely recommended.

So many options to look into and learn!

As good as all the reviews have said.

It not a D3.

quality of build and finish and excellent lense

none that I have found at the present time

Fantasic camera that offers all the features and quality that you would expect from a top manufacturer.

None to date.

Excellent build quality and feature set. Takes great photos with all of my lenses Buttons for all of the essentials - no delving into menus Customizable menus for frequently used other options Good higher ISO picture quality

Maybe a little intimidating for inexperienced users. Exposes the cheaper lenses faults The high pixel count is unforgiving of bad technique with regards to camera shake

live view, 12.3 mp, 51 point focus, active d lighting, battery life. Just a brilliant camera with so many features

none that will bother you too much.

fast Autofocus, large lcd screen

nothing so far. 400 page manual is a bit of a read

Fantastic LCD, great image quality and huge potential for customisation.

Auto-ISO stays active in manual mode, doesn't support infra-red remote shutter trigger