Nikon D300 (Body Only) Reviews: Digital SLR Camera

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158 Real Customer Reviews - In Summary

+ This digital camera scores high on features. - It has no outstanding negative points. “I have had the d100 since its first release and over the years have seen nikon…” Mark, Peterborough View all 158 real customer reviews

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Product Details

3" Screen, 1x optical zoom, Compact Flash storage More »

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Real customer reviews

158 verified purchasers have reviewed this product.
93% of people recommend it.

Show scores of…

All purchasers (157)

Build Quality	9.5
Ease of use	8.7
Features	9.6
Image quality	9.5
Value for money (at time of purchase)	8.7
Overall rating	9.3

Experienced amateur (12)

Keen amateur (5)

Professional photographer (2)

Other (138)

*not all purchasers provided a score or review

Karl, London , “Experienced amateur”

Score 9.0/10

+ As expected, being of the better range of Nikon cameras, it's top quality. The D300 allows easy and quick access to all settings. Picture quality is very good when using a good lens. The little build-in flash is a great little addition which helps a lot when the hot shoe flash isn't available doing the quick point & shoot. Get one and see yourself.

- Price - but I might even complain if it would be for free.

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1 of 2 people found this review helpful

purchased 16 Mar 2009

Russell, Brighton , “Experienced amateur”

Score 9.0/10

+ Ergonomics, features, build and image quality. Low light performance also excellent

- price, but you get what you pay for

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1 of 2 people found this review helpful

purchased 31 Mar 2009

Ian, Oldham , “Experienced amateur”

Score 10.0/10

+ Fantastic build quality and superb photo quality. Really good LCD screen and very little noise at high ISOs. Not hard to use if you are familiar with the D200. Few changes to controls and layout. At last Nikon have replaced the pull off port covers with rubber covers permanently attached to the body. Big improvement!

- Setting auto bracketting is a pain but who needs it if you take in RAW and process in Photoshop?

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1 of 2 people found this review helpful

purchased 26 Mar 2009

Michael, Ross on Wye , “Experienced amateur”

Score 10.0/10

+ Its brilliant, easy to use when you are used to it, and very versitile

- None

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purchased 14 Apr 2009

Terry , Warrington , “Experienced amateur”

Score 9.0/10

+ The build quality is superb, as is the camera body's ergonomics. I like the large LCD display and the sensible control button layout at the rear. The degree to which the camera can be customised is very impressive, bewilderingly so. The 100% viewfinder is a boon.

- The positioning of the focus mode selector on the front left hand side of the lens mount is sometimes liable to be accidentally changed during handling. The dioptre correction wheel would be better sited on the right hand side of the pentaprism mount as with the D700, not partly shrouded by the eyecup. The menus can be confusing but perhaps less so with use. I'm a little concerned with the longevity of the rubber connector cover on the left hand side of the body.

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1 of 3 people found this review helpful

purchased 31 Mar 2009

COLIN, GRANTHAM , “Experienced amateur”

Score 4.0/10

+ DIRECT BUTTON ACCESS TO MAIN PICTURE TAKING SETTINGS, I.S.O., W.B., QUALITY., SHOOTING MODE,. BRACKETING,. D of F PREVIEW,. EXP: COMP: ETC......... NO SILLY "PIC-MODE" DIAL. GOOD HANDLING, BUILD QUALITY, FAST. SUPERB SHUTTER BUTTON. NO GIMMICKY FRILLS. CAN'T BE A BETTER DSLR BODY WITHOUT GOING TO FULL FRAME.......BUT

- I PUT MY NIKKOR AF-S 18-70mm f3.5-f4.5 G IF ED DX LENS ON D300 AND THE IMAGE QUALITY IS NO BETTER THAN WHEN USED ON A NIKON D60..... THE LENS IS VERY CONSISTANT AT ALL APERTURES AT ALL FOCAL LENGTHS, IN FACT I PREFER THE RESULTS ON THE D60!!! MAYBE I SHOULD SPEND AS MUCH ON A LENS AS ON THE CAMERA, AS THE OLD SAYING GOES....AH WELL.. DOES ANYONE WANT TO BUY A LITTLE USED D300.. I'LL KEEP THE D60!!!

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0 of 1 people found this review helpful

purchased 16 Jul 2009

Robert, stevenage , “Experienced amateur”

Score 10.0/10

+ Reviewer left no comment

- Live view is a huge plus but needs develolping further as it can be frustrating to use in many circumstances

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0 of 2 people found this review helpful

purchased 13 Feb 2009

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Expert reviews for Nikon D300 (Body Only)

PC Advisor expert review - by Gavin Stoker

Nikon's D300 is a good-quality, semi pro/enthusiast dSLR camera.

This Nikon D300 (Body Only) review continued on PC Advisor

reviewed 10 Mar 2008

TechRadar expert review

The Nikon D200 was a truly great camera that offered professional performance at an enthusiast's price. Even now, its 10-megapixel CCD sensor can easily hold its own compared with similarly-priced rivals, and the robust build quality was - and still is - out of this world.But Nikon clearly thought that it could do even better. And the result of its thinking is the brand-new D300, a camera that looks outwardly like the D200 but which includes a number of highly significant technical advances and real improvements when it comes to image processing.The most notable of these improvement is…

This Nikon D300 (Body Only) review continued on TechRadar

reviewed 11 Feb 2008

Product Features

Camera Type	SLR
There are 2 main types of camera: The SLR and the Compact. SLR stands for Single Lens Reflex. SLR cameras use a prism to reflect the exact image as seen through the lens and so offers a more accurate viewfinder. SLR cameras have detachable lenses offering greater flexibility if you wish to take a variety of different photographs. Compact cameras have a built in lens and an ‘above lens’ viewfinder which is less accurate but they are often cheaper, more sleekly designed and easier to carry anywhere with you to capture that moment perfectly without having to fiddle with complex settings or a bag full of lenses.
resolution (Megapixel)	12.3

Optical Zoom Ratio	1
The amount by which the camera optics (lens) can bring the subject closer.
Screen Size in Inches	3
Screen size is measured diagonally from corner to corner.
Digital Zoom Ratio	1
Not to be confused with optical zoom, digital zoom enlarges a portion of the image thus simulating optical zoom. In doing so, some image quality is lost.
Face Recognition	No
A function for automatically detecting peoples faces and correctly adjusting the focus and exposure to take the best photo
Image Stabilisation	No
If a photo is taken at a slow shutter speed, or at a long focal length, the effects of ‘hand shake’ will be amplified. Some cameras come with built-in image stabilisation which is designed to act against this to produce sharper images. It’s great for low light shots without a tripod, like at a gig.
Colour	Black
The main colour of the product.
Memory Card Slot	Yes
Having a memory card slot allows you to save data to a memory card and then transfer it to another device. For example you may put a photo from your camera or mobile phone onto a memory card and then plug it into your printer to print directly. Memory card slots come in many formats: Compact Flash Card Memory Stick Duo Micro SD Card MMC SD Card SDHC Card
Media Format	Compact Flash
This is the type of storage that your digital camera or camcorder uses to save images to. The main types of card media format: Compact Flash Micro SD MMC (Multi Media Card) SD Card (Secure Digital) SDHC (Secure Disk High Capacity)
PictBridge	No
An industry standard allowing images to be printed from camera to printer, without needing a computer. CIPA PictBridge Standard Website
Macro Mode	No
This mode allows close-up photograpy of small objects such as insects and flowers.
Video Recorder	No
Video recording functionality allows the capture of videos in mpeg or avi format which is great if you want to capture a whole scene, not just one moment.
Manual Focus	Yes
Almost all modern cameras have autofocus. Manual focus allows you to override the autofocus and set the distance yourself. This is especially useful if your camera is struggling to focus in a low-light or confusing scene.
Timer	Yes
Having a timer function is essential if you want to get into the shot yourself. Make sure your camera has this feature if you plan to go on holiday and capture photos of you and your friends or family having fun together.
Under Water	No
An under water feature means your camera is safe to dive with, usually between 3 and 5 metres. Most dSLR cameras will require expensive separate housing so consider investing in a waterproof digital compact first.
Dimensions (mm)	114x147x74
The size of the device in millimetres, in width x height x depth.
Weight (g)	825
The weight of the product in grams.
Flash	No
Whether or not your camera has an in-built flash. Flashes are essential for fully capturing a low light image.
Body Only	Yes
dSLR cameras have detachable lenses and are sold in a variety of combinations. This facet lets you know whether the package your are considering comes bundled with a lens or whether it is just the body of the camera.
Resolution (Pixels)	4288x2848
A camera sensor, that captures the photograph, is measured in pixels. The number given here is the horizontal amount of pixels followed by the vertical quantity of pixels. The more pixels a camera sensor has, the bigger and higher quality the image will be.
Shortest Shutter Speed	1/8000
This is the fastest speed at which the camera can take a photo. Faster shutter speeds really freeze the action and are great for sports photography.
Longest Shutter Speed	30"
This is the longest exposure your camera will take. The longer you take a photo for, the more light is let in and the more motion is captured. Long shutter speeds can give fantastic, artistic results. Try photographing the night sky at 30s or longer to see how the rotation of the Earth causes the stars to curve through the scene.
USB Port	Yes
Socket for connecting devices such as a computers and other components
WiFi	No
Wifi allows you to connect your device to wireless routers or modems which allows you to connect to broadband internet.

Also known as: Nikon D300 Body

Digital Cameras Buyers' Guide

Photos taken with this camera

Manufacturer's Description

The D300 defines a new class of compact professional SLR, incorporating groundbreaking technologies and performance of the D3 into a compact DX format body. The 12.3 megapixel CMOS sensor features a self-cleaning dust removal unit and delivers resolution suitable for commercial and stock photography. The EXPEED image processing engine supports a class-leading 6fps at up to 3200 ISO, and delivers superb tonal gradation. Its advanced Scene Recognition System produces superior exposures and is complimented by Nikon’s next-generation 51-point AF system, which offers broad coverage and high sensitivity in low light. Selectable Picture Controls streamline in-camera image processing, saving time in post-production, and the high definition 3-inch LCD screen supports two Live View modes plus a HDMI video output. Responsive, rugged and light, the D300 offers new levels of performance for pros on a budget.

Key Features

12.3 megapixel DX format CMOS image sensor . Built-in self-cleaning sensor unit minimizes the effect of dust.
6fps continuous shooting (8fps with optional MB-D10 battery pack with lithium-ion battery EN-EL4a or 8 AA batteries).
ISO 200-3200 : extendable up to ISO 6400 (equivalent) and down to ISO 100 (equivalent).
EXPEED image processing engine with 14-bit A/D conversion and 16-bit image processing for superb tonal gradation.
Advanced Scene Recognition System combines the camera’s metering and AF sensors for precise exposures and sharply-defined images.
Multi-CAM3500DX 51-point AF system . Individually selectable or configurable in 9-point, 21-point and 51-point coverage settings.
Quick response with approx 0.13 second power-up and 45 millisecond shutter release time lag.
Picture Controls streamline in-camera image processing by enabling customization of image parameters before capture, and offer complete control over sharpening, contrast, brightness, hue and saturation in various color modes.
920,000 dot 3-inch VGA LCD monitor with wide, 170- degree viewing angle.
Live View with Autofocus lets you compose images using the LCD monitor. Two modes are supported: Handheld or Tripod.
Active D-Lighting enables superior high-contrast images by automatically applying tone compensation at the moment of capture.
Durable, magnesium alloy body : water and dust resistant.
Improved battery performance : sequential power supply between camera’s EN-EL3 rechargeable lithium-ion battery and the (optional) Multi-Power Battery Pack. HDMI video output interface enables connection to high-definition video systems.
Intuitive ergonomics with optimized button placement for fast and comfortable handling.
Lightweight Magnesium alloy body.

Compare prices for Nikon D300 (Body Only) on 08 Dec 2009

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	91% 342 reviews of MicroWarehouse		£1210 + £7 delivery	Unknown	£1217	Go
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