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Nikon D300 · Nikon USA front photograph with a lens; lens is not part of body specifications

Nikon D300
Photo 1 of 11

Nikon D300 · Nikon USA front photograph with a lens; lens is not part of body specifications

Nikon · Nikon DSLR

D300

Released November 2007

A 12.3-megapixel DX-format DSLR with 51-point autofocus, a 100% optical viewfinder and 6 fps shooting.

Type
DSLR
Sensor
APS-C
Megapixels
12.3
Lens
Nikon F mount
Video
–
Body weight
825 g

What reviewers say

Both praise construction, responsive shooting, autofocus and natural-looking photographs, but find it heavy and costly. Cameralabs praises the viewfinder and screen, while finding default JPEGs soft and dust cleaning ineffective. TechRadar praises high-ISO noise control despite reduced texture and saturation, and finds the navigation pad vague. Both consider live view less convenient than its specification suggests.

From cameralabs.com and techradar.com

Specifications

Report a wrong or missing spec

Image and sensor

Camera type
DSLR
Sensor format
APS-C
Sensor type
CMOS
Sensor dimensions
23.6 × 15.8 mm
Effective resolution
12.3 MP
Largest image
4288 × 2848
RAW recording
Yes
Standard ISO range
200–3200
Sensor detail
13.1 million total pixels; vibrating low-pass filter for dust removal; Image Dust Off reference data
Image formats
12-bit or 14-bit NEF RAW, uncompressed, compressed or losslessly compressed; JPEG, TIFF RGB and RAW plus JPEG
ISO detail
Expanded equivalents ISO 100–6400; Auto ISO
Image processor
EXPEED image-processing system; Scene Recognition System

Lens and shooting

Lens mount
Nikon F mount
Stabilisation
Optical lens stabilisation
Maximum continuous burst
6 fps
Lens detail
AF coupling supports compatible screw-drive lenses. Supported non-CPU AI lenses permit aperture-priority and manual exposure; entered lens data enables colour matrix metering. IX and F3AF lenses unsupported
Autofocus
Multi-CAM 3500DX phase detection; 51 points including 15 cross-type; single-point, auto-area and dynamic 9/21/51-point modes with 3D tracking; AF fine-tuning
Shutter
1/8000 to 30 seconds and Bulb; standard flash sync 1/250 second, with 1/320 available at reduced flash range; shutter tested to 150000 cycles
Burst detail
Approximately 6 fps with the body's EN-EL3e. Up to 8 fps using MB-D10 with EN-EL4/EN-EL4a or eight AA cells, or EH-5/EH-5a AC power; an EN-EL3e in the grip alone does not provide 8 fps. 14-bit RAW limits speed to approximately 2.5 fps
Stabilisation detail
Optical VR depends on the attached lens; no sensor-shift stabilisation
Flash
Pop-up i-TTL flash; guide number approximately 12 at ISO 100 in metres, 13 at full manual output; commander support, hot shoe and PC sync terminal
Exposure controls
P/S/A/M; 1005-pixel RGB 3D Colour Matrix Metering II; ±5 EV compensation; Active D-Lighting and interval timer

Screen and viewfinder

Viewfinder
Optical
Screen size
3″
Screen dots
920,000
Tilting screen
No
Display detail
Fixed TFT with 170° viewing angle; dots count subpixels; removable protective cover
Viewfinder detail
Pentaprism, approximately 100% coverage and 0.94× magnification with 50mm at infinity; 19.5 mm eyepoint; selectable grid

Connections and design

Wi-Fi
No
Battery life (maker's claim)
1000 photographs
Body weight
825 g
Release detail
Nikon's original US announcement specifies November 2007 availability; Japan records 23 November. Main retains the month
Recording media
CompactFlash Type I/II, including UDMA, and Microdrive; single slot
Ports
USB 2.0 Hi-Speed, analogue NTSC/PAL output, full-size HDMI Type A (HDMI 1.3a), ten-pin accessory terminal and PC flash sync; optional MC-35 connects compatible external GPS receivers
Wireless connections
Optional WT-4 transmitter supplies network transfer; Wi-Fi is not built into the body
Battery life detail
EN-EL3e; approximately 1000 shots under CIPA conditions with AF-S VR 24–120mm f/3.5–5.6G ED, flash on alternate exposures and no live view. Separate Nikon continuous test claims approximately 3000. Optional MB-D10 accepts EN-EL3e, EN-EL4/EN-EL4a or eight AA cells
Charging
External MH-18a charger; optional EH-5/EH-5a AC adapter
Dimensions
Approximately 147 × 114 × 74 mm
Weight detail
Approximately 825 g excluding battery, card, body cap and monitor cover
Materials
Magnesium-alloy construction with dust and moisture seals; not a waterproof rating

Video

Video detail
No movie recording. Handheld live view uses phase-detection AF with mirror interruption; Tripod live view uses contrast-detection AF

Pros and cons

Pros

  • 51-point autofocus with 15 cross-type sensors
  • Optical viewfinder covers the whole recorded frame
  • Magnesium-alloy construction and environmental seals

Cons

  • 14-bit RAW reduces continuous shooting to 2.5 fps
  • Fixed rear screen and no movie recording
  • Faster 8 fps shooting requires additional power equipment

Closest rivals

Model
TypeSensorMegapixelsLensVideoBody weightReleased
SonyAlpha DSLR-A700
DSLRAPS-C12.24Sony A-mount–690 gSept 2007
NikonD40x
DSLRAPS-C10.2Nikon F mount–495 gMar 2007
SonyAlpha DSLR-A100
DSLRAPS-C10.2Sony A-mount–545 gJul 2006

Sources

  1. nij.nikon.com/products/lineup/slr/d300/spec.html
  2. nij.nikon.com/products/lineup/slr/d300
  3. cdn-10.nikon-cdn.com/pdf/manuals/noprint/D300_en_noprint.pdf
  4. nikonusa.com/p/d300/25432/overview
  5. nikonusa.com/press-room/nikon-introduces-the-new-d300-
  6. cameralabs.com/nikon_d300
  7. cameralabs.com/nikon_d300/2
  8. cameralabs.com/nikon_d300/3
  9. cameralabs.com/nikon_d300/4
  10. cameralabs.com/nikon_d300/5
  11. cameralabs.com/nikon_d300/6
  12. cameralabs.com/nikon_d300/7
  13. cameralabs.com/nikon_d300/8
  14. cameralabs.com/nikon_d300/9
  15. cameralabs.com/nikon_d300/10
  16. cameralabs.com/nikon_d300/11
  17. cameralabs.com/nikon_d300/12
  18. cameralabs.com/nikon_d300/13
  19. techradar.com/reviews/cameras-and-camcorders/cameras/digital-slrs-hybrids/nikon…

Photo: Nikon USA front photograph with a lens; lens is not part of body specifications

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