Nikon D300S Digital Camera Review - Nikon DSLR

Nikon D300S

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D300S Manual
Nikon D300S Manual

	Introduction
Like Rip Van Winkle, Nikon arose from a 2 1/2 year slumber, took a look at Canon and Sony, and tacked some catchy features from the D90 onto the aging D300. As you might have inferred from its model name, the $1700 Nikon D300S is a relaunch of the 3-year-old D300, with a few modern upgrades. At the same price as the Canon 7D, Nikon delivers its usual mediocre 720p video, where Canon kicks it up to 1080p, at 30 frames per second. Performance like this is why Canon has a pro video following Nikon can only dream of. Hardcore Nikon shooters won't be disappointed by this camera. You'll still have access to Nikon's amazing collection of lenses. The D300S is tough and weather-sealed—you could whack a rhino with this camera and it wouldn't break. And it's heavy enough to do some damage. The D300S color and noise performances are outstanding. The autofocus system is familiar, but we see no reason to mess with success. The camera does offer a new 7fps burst, and the addition of dual memory card slots is a welcome change. The camera might be worth the investment if you're a pro on a budget or a demanding amateur, but we were hoping to see more innovation. Otherwise, you're essentially buying the S-less D300 from three years ago. If you don't want to read through our complete, lab-tested review, feel free to skip to our sample photos, product tour, or other sections below. There's also no shame in jumping straight to the conclusion for spoilers.
		Page 1 of 21	Product Tour

Section		The Good	The Bad
	Product Tour	Rugged weather-resistant construction	Size and weight limit portability
	Sample Photos	See sample photos taken with the Nikon D300S under different conditions
	Color	Accurate color reproduction overall	Unimpressive long exposure results
	Noise	Low image noise in bright light	High ISO noise reduction causes significant loss of fine detail
	Resolution	Good sharpness results, very low chromatic aberration	Dynamic range limited at higher ISOs
	White Balance	Decent custom white balance results	Auto WB system stymied by incandescent and fluorescent light
	Playback	Thorough on-screen info options	No calendar view; limited slide show
	Hardware	First-rate viewfinder and LCD; long battery life; dual memory cards	Mono audio output for standard-def video
	Controls	Fast autofocus and burst shooting	Slow Live View performance, no auto or scene modes
	Design & Handling	Extensive customization options with memory banks for quickly switching configurations	Steep learning curve for camera controls
	Conclusion	Read our final conclusion on the Nikon D300S


Video Section		The Good	The Bad
	Video: Color & Noise	Good color accuracy and low noise levels	Saturation level could be a bit higher
	Video: Motion & Sharpness	Sharpness was decent for a camera that records 720p; motion was better than on previous video-capable DLSRs from Nikon	Doesn't record Full HD video (no 1920 x 1080 option).
	Video: Low Light Performance	Overall low light performance was very good	None
	Video Features	External microphone jack and limited audio controls	Manual controls are limited and difficult to adjust in video mode.

	Page 1 of 21		Product Tour
Nikon D300S Digital Camera Review Navigation
Intro	Product Tour	Color	Noise
Resolution	White Balance	Sample Photos	Playback
Hardware	Controls	Design & Handling	Video Color & Noise
Video Motion & Sharpness	Video Low Light	Video Features	Canon 7D Comparison
Nikon D5000 Comparison	Panasonic GH1 Comparison	Sony A550 Comparison	Conclusion
Specs & Ratings

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Intro	Product Tour	Color	Noise
Resolution	White Balance	Sample Photos	Playback
Hardware	Controls	Design & Handling	Video Color & Noise
Video Motion & Sharpness	Video Low Light	Video Features	Canon 7D Comparison
Nikon D5000 Comparison	Panasonic GH1 Comparison	Sony A550 Comparison	Conclusion
Specs & Ratings