Nikon D300 - Expert Reviews

Review summary: With camera phones increasingly popular and useful as a means of taking a spur-of-the-moment snap, attention has shifted from digital compacts to their more fully-featured cousins for amateur photographers wanting to get the best quality stills. We ...

Award: Editor's Choice!

Review summary: The Nikon D300 has more features than the beginner photographer would ever need. It now also features Live View, which works like in most other DSLRs. Which is to say, it is not like what you are used to on your consumer point-and-shoot digicams. The ...

Review summary: A semi-professional 12-megapixel (MP) camera, the D300 benefits from some of the technology developed for Nikon's latest pro model, the D3. It's a substantial upgrade over the highly-rated D200 with two megapixel of additional resolution, a CMOS (not ...

Pros: Attractive design, Scroll ball is comfortable and easy to use, Works with Windows and Mac systems, Integration with Tiger is flawless

Cons: Side buttons are hard to squeeze, Comfort could be improved

Review summary: The 12.3-megapixel Nikon D300 updates the older D200 with more resolution on a new CMOS sensor that promises improved noise control. The D300 is the first DSLR in Nikon's line to include dust reduction, and sits between the $999 D80 and the $3,499 ...

Pros: - Great handling - Clear, bright viewfinder - Fast autofocus - High-res LCD - Fast Burst mode - Manual focus in the live view - Excellent image quality

Cons: - No in-camera image stabilization - Heavy - Break in the live view for AF - Overly basic included software

Verdict: The 12.3-megapixel Nikon D300 is a fine upgrade to its predecessor, adding a huge range of features to the popular D200. The Nikon D100 was introduced in 2002 with 6.1 megapixels and a 5-point autofocus system. The D200 improved that to 10.2 ...

Review summary: Stellar Shooter

Pros: Great image quality. Substantial, comfortable body. Snappy response time. Live-view LCD mode. Gives complete image control. Good high-ISO performance. Useful stabilizer in bundled lens.

Cons: Every surface seems covered with buttons.

Verdict: . The D300 fits nicely between professional and beginner digital cameras. Complete manual control and excellent images make it a great backup for pros or an upgrade after intermediates outgrow their starter DSLRs.