Nikon D300

Auto Mode (7.25)
There are only four exposure modes on this DSLR and the most automated is the Program AE mode. Although this can be sued as a full auto mode, it allows access to the shooting menu and just about every other setting except for shutter speed and aperture.

Movie Mode (0.0)
Like most SLRs, the D300 has no movie mode; there is no way to capture videos.

Drive / Burst Mode (9.0)
The Burst mode can be changed with a slide of the release mode dial on the left shoulder of the Nikon D300. It requires some coordination to slide the dial, though: you have to push in the stiff dial release button above it while rotating. It moves from S (Single) to CL (Continuous Low Speed) and CH (Continuous High Speed). It can then move to LV for the Live Viewing mode on the LCD screen, and then to a self-timer position and "Mup" (mirror up).

The Continuous Low Speed burst mode can be set to shoot 1 to 7 frames per second (fps), while the Continuous High Speed burst mode is set to shoot 6 fps; it can shoot up to 8 fps when the optional battery pack is attached. This burst is improved from the D200’s 5 fps and the D100’s 3 fps. The Nikon D300 is well above its competitors in this area; the Canon 40D has a 6.5 fps Burst mode that maxes out after 75 JPEGs, whereas the D300 maxes out after 100 shots. Indeed, the fast continuous burst of the D300 is addictive to play with. We took the D300 to a track meet and were thrilled with the camera’s speed and ability to get the victory shot every time – not to mention the glorious sound of the shutter clicking along. Photo finish? No problem.

The self-timer can be set to delay for 2, 5, 10, or 20 seconds. It cannot, however, take multiple images at the end of the delay like some digital cameras are doing now. Finally, the mirror lock-up mode reduces camera vibrations by keeping the shutter up and still up to 30 seconds before a shot is taken. This is to reduce blur in photos.

All in all, the high-speed burst is one of the best assets the D300 has to offer, and it will be a very powerful tool for sports photographers.

Playback Mode (8.0)
The high-resolution 3-inch LCD screen definitely makes the Playback mode a more enjoyable experience. It provides an incredibly smooth view of images and even allows you to greatly magnify images via the button to the left of the LCD screen. When magnifying, a smaller preview of the entire image appears in the corner with a superimposed yellow box showing what portion the rest of the screen is displaying. Pushing on the thumbnail button shows the bigger picture and then goes on to show four or nine thumbnails on the screen at a time.

Basic or full shooting info can be displayed with the image, along with an exposure histogram or an exposure histogram with red, green, and blue histograms. A highlight alert can also be set to flash.

Many of the Playback mode’s functions are tucked away into the menu.

There is also a separate Retouch menu on the D300. Many of these options are included on the D200, too.

D-Lighting	Low, Normal, High
Red-Eye Correction	(auto fix)
Trim	Save
Monochrome	Black-and-white, Sepia, Cyanotype
Filter Effects	Skylight, Warm Filter
Color Balance	+/- 5 green/magenta, +/- 5 amber/blue
Image Overlay	Image 1, Image 2, Preview

Most serious photographers will opt for a more sophisticated software program to edit their images, but in a bind these features can do wonders. The D-Lighting brings out the details in shadows. The filters and color effects will likely be passed up unless users are in need of some speedy direct printing.

The Nikon D300 has a slide show option available, but it isn’t anything fancy. It doesn’t hide shooting information, like most digital cameras, and it has a basic transition effect and a few selectable options for the length of the displayed image. It does not have the Pictmotion musical slide shows the D80 has, but that likely won’t be missed by most shooters.

Overall, the Playback mode has a decent amount of viewing and editing options. The enormous LCD screen provides one of the smoothest views we’ve ever seen on a digital camera, which enhances the viewing experience in the Playback mode even more.

Custom Image Presets (0.0)
The Nikon D300 does not have "Scene modes" per se, but it does have picture control settings. You can save nine combinations of settings on the camera and up to 99 combinations on a CF card. These settings are discussed further in the Picture Effects section of this review.