Nikon D300S

Recording Options (6.00)

The Nikon D300S uses the Motion JPEG (MJPEG) codec to record video, which is the same codec used on previous video-capable DSLRs from Nikon (the D5000 and the D90). The MJPEG codec has been around for a while, so compatibility with the video files captured by the D300S shouldn’t be an issue. On the downside, Motion JPEG is also a bit out of date and it isn’t as efficient as AVCHD. Many manufacturers employ the MJPEG codec on point-and-shoot cameras that feature video modes.

The D300S has one HD record mode that shoots with a 1280 × 720 resolution, and it has two standard definition settings. All three formats use 24p frame rates when recording video. The maximum file size for a single recorded video on the D300S can’t be larger than 2GB. If a video clip reaches this size, video recording will automatically stop—and you must start it again (as a new clip) by pressing the record button again. There is also a maximum time limit of 5 minutes for video clips shot in the HD record mode (the SD modes have a 20 minute time limit).This clip length limitation is one of the many drawbacks of using the D300S as a video recorder. Find out how the D300S performed in our video image quality test.

Format	Resolution	Codec	Bitrate
1280 x 720 (16:9)	1280 x 720	MJPEG	24p
640 x 424 (3:2)	640 x 424	MJPEG
320 x 216 (3:2)	320 x 216	MJPEG

Video Controls (4.00)

The D300S suffers from some very poor controls in video mode. The camera barely has any manual control options — only exposure, white balance, and limited aperture adjustment can be made in video mode — and the camera does not have a continual autofocus function.

Auto Controls

The D300S doesn’t have a very good set of automatic controls. For starters, the camera’s autofocus system doesn’t work unless you hold down the AF-ON button on the back of the camera (or hold down the shutter button halfway, depending on what mode you are in). When you do perform an autofocus, the camera’s lens will shift and the autofocus light may come on for a moment — all things that will distort your video image if you try to autofocus while you are recording. The D300S isn’t alone with this problematic autofocus, as most video-capable DSLRs lack a continual autofocus feature.

The D300S does have an auto exposure system that works in video mode, but we found the transitions to be choppy and slow. The exposure system on the D300S definitely doesn’t work as smoothly or as quickly as on most regular camcorders. Some people may like this choppy transition effect as you move from light to dark shots, but we found it to be somewhat jarring.

Zoom

Zoom on the D300S entirely depends on what kind of lens you attach to the camera. We did our video testing using an AF-S Nikkor 16-85mm lens, which translates to a roughly 5x optical zoom. As with all DSLRs, the zoom is controlled by rotating the zoom ring on the front of the lens.

Focus

As we stated earlier, the D300S does not have a continual autofocus function. If you want to focus in video mode, you must either do so manually (by rotating the focus ring) or by pressing the focus button. If you choose to press the focus button, be prepared for the camera to take a few seconds to perform its autofocus (while simultaneously disrupting your video recording by altering exposure and shifting the lens).

Exposure Controls

Exposure is the only setting that is really simple to adjust on the D300S in video mode. Even though it is easy, however, there is still a strange quirk involved. When setting exposure — which can be done during or prior to recording — the range for adjustment is -5 to +5 (in 1/3 EV increments). The thing is, only adjustments made between -3 to +3 EV have any effect in video mode. We’re not sure why Nikon doesn’t just alter the display to show the correct range in video mode, as this system makes things somewhat confusing.

Aperture can be set in video mode on the D300S, but in an even more confusing manner than exposure. First of all, aperture cannot be adjusted manually while you are recording video. To set the aperture you must do so without Live View mode engaged. Then you must go back into Live View mode to begin recording video. This roundabout function is the same setup Nikon employed on the D90 and D5000 and we hated it back then as well. Aperture is the most important manual control for a video-capable DSLR to have and Nikon gets it all wrong here.

Shutter speed cannot be set manually on the D300S despite the fact that the display gives you the impression that it is possible to adjust. As with the quirky exposure and aperture adjustment options, all this does is make the D300S video mode more confusing to use.

Other Controls

ISO is set to automatic on the D300S when you record videos. Like shutter speed, the camera gives you the impression that ISO can be set manually in video mode, but this is not the case.

The only other controls featured on the D300S that are available in video mode are white balance settings and some picture adjustment options. These settings work the same way in video mode as they do in photo mode, which makes them fairly simple to use if you’re already familiar with them.

Audio Features (2.75)

The built-in microphone on the Nikon D300S is absolutely terrible. It records mono audio, picks up plenty of unwanted mechanical sounds, and is placed in an area that is very likely to be covered by or rubbed against with your fingers when you grip the camera. The good news is, the D300S does have a 3.5mm external microphone jack. So, if you are at all concerned with audio recording you should connect an external mic to this input and record in stereo.

The other good news is that you can adjust the microphone sensitivity on the D300S. You have options for setting the mic to auto, high, medium, or low sensitivity — or you can turn the microphone off altogether. This whole package of audio features may not seem like much, but it is actually more than most video-capable DSLRs will offer in the audio department. Still, it is a far cry from what you would get on a high-end consumer camcorder (not to mention a professional or prosumer model).