Customer Rating: 
Summary: The D300 is a superb camera.
Comment: I've been using the D300 for slightly over a month now and so far I haven't been disappointed in any way with how it's performed. At the beginning I wasn't getting pictures as sharp as I would have liked them but that was mostly my fault and since then I've refined my technique and I don't think I've ever seen sharper results. The camera is fast and paired with a faster CF card you can just keep shooting and never run out of buffer space shooting in raw.
If you're coming from an older camera like the D70s like I did, some of the new features may take some getting used to, the biggest change was the focus points. They did away with Closest Subject, the Dynamic Area focus is now quite complex with options for 9/21/51/51 point 3d area tracking options and the third option is "Big White Rectangle Mode" Ken Rockwell refers to it as such and since I can't remember it's actual name, I'll just refer to it that way. BWRM uses all 51 points automatically and the camera decides what should be the focus point, so far it's worked great for me, the things I want in focus are usually sharp, sometimes it gets it wrong, but since the camera can't read my mind, I don't mind really. Unfortunately the camera can sometimes be bogged down in 51 point mode if there's a really busy scene. The focus can sometimes lag before taking your initial shot but if you choose a mode with less than all 51 points then you'll never have this problem.
Battery life on a single EN-EL3e seems to be around 400-500 shots with heavy LCD usage which is much better than I thought it would be. Still, I ordered a second battery and the MB-D10 grip so I can continuously shoot without stopping to change batteries. I'll probably do an update to this review once the grip is here.
I don't think I can say anything bad about the camera, it's definitely a step up from the D70s, using the D300 exclusively then trying out the D70s makes the D70s feel like a child's toy. The D70s is still a great camera that I took some wonderful pictures with but I'd never go back to it after using the D300.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Pull out all the stops for this great camera
Comment: The Nikon D300 is everything the advertising claims and more. I own a D200 and as such a person you wouldn't think I would need to upgrade to a 300, however, I needed a second camera and thought what the hey...lets get the newer one. And, it makes the d200 seem like a kids toy. The options are even better laid out, the reaction time is faster, and the quality of the image is unreal. This camrea is all Nikon claims it is and more.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Outstanding Value
Comment: I upgraded to the D300 from the D80 about a month ago. I have been an advanced amature and avid Nikon user for many years. The D300, simply put, is not only the best camera I have ever owned, it is the best value.
The D300, of course, includes many improvements from previous digital Nikon SLRs which it shares with the D3. Some of these improvements are incremental, others are much more useful for people who really care about their photography. These include the new processing system for exposure, the new 51 point AF system, and especially the greater flexibilty in the D300 for modifying color saturation and gamma values. This allows much more flexibility for creativity than for previous Nikons I have owned before. For example, setting the color saturation for vivid with a plus 2 or 3 value allows me to take photographs with much deeper color on the D80 or the D200. In addtion, the gamma control allows manipulation of overall tint without the need for having to purchase a range of color filters. The advanced focusing system really comes in handy when photographing moving subjects either in performance or sports.
At perhaps a third of the price of the D3, and sharing most of it's features (with the exception of having a full-frame sensor) the D300 is a tremendous value and offers entry into professional photographic equipment with advanced capablity at a relatively low price. All I can say is go for it!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Nikon D-300 first photos for vacation to Alaska came out goo-to-poor on 18-200mm
Comment: Bought this D300 with 18-200mm package based on the all reviews here for Alaska vacation just week before we left. Pictures came out good to poor and wildlife/landscape pictures came out very soft to soft at 200mm. Lens is not sharp as lot of pics shot wide angle 18mm and telephoto 200mm are soft. Disappointed. Also, lack of experience with Nikon D300 may have hurt me. Initial pictures were shot with RAW+Fine JPEG (14 bit loseless uncompressed) but that slowed D300 in taking pics and took up lot of memory so switched to fine JPEGs with optimal quality. That worked fine. Found Noise in the pics after came home as I had not changed factory camera settings and auto ISO caused some shots taken at 400-800 ISO with noise. Also, somehow factory settings had all my pics shot as bracketed 0EV and then next one -1.0EV for all of them. This will ruin my panoramic pics of landscapes and make my job harder in trying to correct it.
I would rate this camera with 18-200mm VR II lens package 3 stars based on picture quality and performance. Complex menu system with lots of options.
Also, I would like to see Nikon include robust RAW software free instead of buying it.
Hopefully with more experience and lot of manual reading this camera will allow me to take better pictures.
Definitely not for entry level or not too experienced amateurs.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Went from Canon, to Leica to THIS!
Comment: I am one of those guys who finds a brand and sticks with it. I have been using Canon's for 12 years. I have had everything from a Canon EOS 1N, to a 1V, 1D, 1D Mark IIN, etc. But I gave up on Canon because they didn't have camera bodies that were light, or small enough but also took amazing photos. I switched from Canon to Leica and bought the $5,000 M8. A truly incredible machine worthy of the high price tag. But it was limited. I found after using it for several months that I had gotten used to having all the latest bells and whistles that the new digital SLRs have.
So, I spend countless hours researching what Canon to get. Luckily, I needed a camera with auto focus for a shoot and my friend loaned me her D300. I can honestly say that it was love at first sight. I had only had the Leica for a couple of weeks, but I knew at that moment I had to ditch it.
The D300 has just about everything I'm looking for in a camera. Yes, I would love it if it could fit into my shirt pocket, be as light as a feather, etc. But it isn't. It is however, when paired with my Nikon 17-55mm DX lens about 1.2 pounds lighter than my Canon EOS 1D Mark IIN when paired with the Canon 24-70mm L lens. And I have to say, I think this is as capable, if not more capable than that camera and lens system. The shots I have gotten from it are unlike anything else I've taken. They have a depth and clarity that I rarely got from my Canon gear.
Here are my plus points:
1. The feel of the camera. It sits in your hands nicely and you know you're holding something strong and robust.
2. All of the latches, seals, doors, etc. are nice and tight. They don't feel like plastic, but like a composite of some kind. Everything snaps nicely into place without protest.
3. Images are extremely sharp and the color rendition is incredible.
4. It's size. It's not so small and light that you think you're going to break it. But not so big that you wouldn't want to bring it everywhere with you.
5. There are so many dials and buttons right at your finger tips. It takes longer to learn than my trusty old Canon system did, but once I got the hang of it, it was easy.
6. The 3" display is a marvel. It makes my images sing!
7. The dust removal system. Haven't had a lot of time to test this out, but if it works, it's great. It doesn't take more than a second and makes almost no noise.
8. The shutter seems much quieter than my Canon. It is definitely much quieter than my Leica which sounded like a plane landing.
That's about it. I just really love it. Well done Nikon! With this I believe they can overtake Canon in sales and if not in sales, than in customer satisfaction.
No Canon has felt like this in my hands except for the $4,000 1D models which are bears to carry around. I won't lie and say the D300 is the best SLR out there. The Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III is world beyond this, but it's $8,000. And no one needs 21.1mp. The Nikons 12.3mp will satisfy anyone for many years to come. Very large enlargements can be made from this camera. My website www.tayloryoungphotography.com will be showcasing many photos taken with this beauty. I promise!
Summary: The D300 is a superb camera.
Comment: I've been using the D300 for slightly over a month now and so far I haven't been disappointed in any way with how it's performed. At the beginning I wasn't getting pictures as sharp as I would have liked them but that was mostly my fault and since then I've refined my technique and I don't think I've ever seen sharper results. The camera is fast and paired with a faster CF card you can just keep shooting and never run out of buffer space shooting in raw.
If you're coming from an older camera like the D70s like I did, some of the new features may take some getting used to, the biggest change was the focus points. They did away with Closest Subject, the Dynamic Area focus is now quite complex with options for 9/21/51/51 point 3d area tracking options and the third option is "Big White Rectangle Mode" Ken Rockwell refers to it as such and since I can't remember it's actual name, I'll just refer to it that way. BWRM uses all 51 points automatically and the camera decides what should be the focus point, so far it's worked great for me, the things I want in focus are usually sharp, sometimes it gets it wrong, but since the camera can't read my mind, I don't mind really. Unfortunately the camera can sometimes be bogged down in 51 point mode if there's a really busy scene. The focus can sometimes lag before taking your initial shot but if you choose a mode with less than all 51 points then you'll never have this problem.
Battery life on a single EN-EL3e seems to be around 400-500 shots with heavy LCD usage which is much better than I thought it would be. Still, I ordered a second battery and the MB-D10 grip so I can continuously shoot without stopping to change batteries. I'll probably do an update to this review once the grip is here.
I don't think I can say anything bad about the camera, it's definitely a step up from the D70s, using the D300 exclusively then trying out the D70s makes the D70s feel like a child's toy. The D70s is still a great camera that I took some wonderful pictures with but I'd never go back to it after using the D300.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Pull out all the stops for this great camera
Comment: The Nikon D300 is everything the advertising claims and more. I own a D200 and as such a person you wouldn't think I would need to upgrade to a 300, however, I needed a second camera and thought what the hey...lets get the newer one. And, it makes the d200 seem like a kids toy. The options are even better laid out, the reaction time is faster, and the quality of the image is unreal. This camrea is all Nikon claims it is and more.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Outstanding Value
Comment: I upgraded to the D300 from the D80 about a month ago. I have been an advanced amature and avid Nikon user for many years. The D300, simply put, is not only the best camera I have ever owned, it is the best value.
The D300, of course, includes many improvements from previous digital Nikon SLRs which it shares with the D3. Some of these improvements are incremental, others are much more useful for people who really care about their photography. These include the new processing system for exposure, the new 51 point AF system, and especially the greater flexibilty in the D300 for modifying color saturation and gamma values. This allows much more flexibility for creativity than for previous Nikons I have owned before. For example, setting the color saturation for vivid with a plus 2 or 3 value allows me to take photographs with much deeper color on the D80 or the D200. In addtion, the gamma control allows manipulation of overall tint without the need for having to purchase a range of color filters. The advanced focusing system really comes in handy when photographing moving subjects either in performance or sports.
At perhaps a third of the price of the D3, and sharing most of it's features (with the exception of having a full-frame sensor) the D300 is a tremendous value and offers entry into professional photographic equipment with advanced capablity at a relatively low price. All I can say is go for it!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Nikon D-300 first photos for vacation to Alaska came out goo-to-poor on 18-200mm
Comment: Bought this D300 with 18-200mm package based on the all reviews here for Alaska vacation just week before we left. Pictures came out good to poor and wildlife/landscape pictures came out very soft to soft at 200mm. Lens is not sharp as lot of pics shot wide angle 18mm and telephoto 200mm are soft. Disappointed. Also, lack of experience with Nikon D300 may have hurt me. Initial pictures were shot with RAW+Fine JPEG (14 bit loseless uncompressed) but that slowed D300 in taking pics and took up lot of memory so switched to fine JPEGs with optimal quality. That worked fine. Found Noise in the pics after came home as I had not changed factory camera settings and auto ISO caused some shots taken at 400-800 ISO with noise. Also, somehow factory settings had all my pics shot as bracketed 0EV and then next one -1.0EV for all of them. This will ruin my panoramic pics of landscapes and make my job harder in trying to correct it.
I would rate this camera with 18-200mm VR II lens package 3 stars based on picture quality and performance. Complex menu system with lots of options.
Also, I would like to see Nikon include robust RAW software free instead of buying it.
Hopefully with more experience and lot of manual reading this camera will allow me to take better pictures.
Definitely not for entry level or not too experienced amateurs.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Went from Canon, to Leica to THIS!
Comment: I am one of those guys who finds a brand and sticks with it. I have been using Canon's for 12 years. I have had everything from a Canon EOS 1N, to a 1V, 1D, 1D Mark IIN, etc. But I gave up on Canon because they didn't have camera bodies that were light, or small enough but also took amazing photos. I switched from Canon to Leica and bought the $5,000 M8. A truly incredible machine worthy of the high price tag. But it was limited. I found after using it for several months that I had gotten used to having all the latest bells and whistles that the new digital SLRs have.
So, I spend countless hours researching what Canon to get. Luckily, I needed a camera with auto focus for a shoot and my friend loaned me her D300. I can honestly say that it was love at first sight. I had only had the Leica for a couple of weeks, but I knew at that moment I had to ditch it.
The D300 has just about everything I'm looking for in a camera. Yes, I would love it if it could fit into my shirt pocket, be as light as a feather, etc. But it isn't. It is however, when paired with my Nikon 17-55mm DX lens about 1.2 pounds lighter than my Canon EOS 1D Mark IIN when paired with the Canon 24-70mm L lens. And I have to say, I think this is as capable, if not more capable than that camera and lens system. The shots I have gotten from it are unlike anything else I've taken. They have a depth and clarity that I rarely got from my Canon gear.
Here are my plus points:
1. The feel of the camera. It sits in your hands nicely and you know you're holding something strong and robust.
2. All of the latches, seals, doors, etc. are nice and tight. They don't feel like plastic, but like a composite of some kind. Everything snaps nicely into place without protest.
3. Images are extremely sharp and the color rendition is incredible.
4. It's size. It's not so small and light that you think you're going to break it. But not so big that you wouldn't want to bring it everywhere with you.
5. There are so many dials and buttons right at your finger tips. It takes longer to learn than my trusty old Canon system did, but once I got the hang of it, it was easy.
6. The 3" display is a marvel. It makes my images sing!
7. The dust removal system. Haven't had a lot of time to test this out, but if it works, it's great. It doesn't take more than a second and makes almost no noise.
8. The shutter seems much quieter than my Canon. It is definitely much quieter than my Leica which sounded like a plane landing.
That's about it. I just really love it. Well done Nikon! With this I believe they can overtake Canon in sales and if not in sales, than in customer satisfaction.
No Canon has felt like this in my hands except for the $4,000 1D models which are bears to carry around. I won't lie and say the D300 is the best SLR out there. The Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III is world beyond this, but it's $8,000. And no one needs 21.1mp. The Nikons 12.3mp will satisfy anyone for many years to come. Very large enlargements can be made from this camera. My website www.tayloryoungphotography.com will be showcasing many photos taken with this beauty. I promise!