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Nikon D300S · Nikon USA front photograph with a lens; lens is not part of body specifications

Nikon D300S
Photo 1 of 38

Nikon D300S · Nikon USA front photograph with a lens; lens is not part of body specifications

Nikon · Nikon DSLR

D300S

Released August 2009

A 12.3-megapixel DX DSLR with 51-point autofocus, dual memory-card slots and 720p movie recording.

Type
DSLR
Sensor
APS-C
Megapixels
12.3
Lens
Nikon F mount
Video
1280 × 720 at 24 fps
Body weight
840 g

What reviewers say

Both praise construction, direct controls, image quality and dual-card flexibility, while finding little reason for most D300 owners to upgrade. Both criticise slow movie autofocus. Photography Blog praises tracking and the viewfinder, but dislikes the missing live histogram and recessed buttons. TechRadar enjoys rapid operation and useful video, while noting rolling-shutter distortion and weaker high-ISO results than full-frame alternatives.

From photographyblog.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; low-pass-filter vibration for dust reduction
Image formats
12-bit or 14-bit NEF RAW, compressed, losslessly compressed or uncompressed; JPEG, TIFF RGB and RAW plus JPEG
ISO detail
Expanded equivalents ISO 100–6400; Auto ISO
Image processor
EXPEED image processing and Scene Recognition System

Lens and shooting

Lens mount
Nikon F mount
Stabilisation
Optical lens stabilisation
Maximum continuous burst
7 fps
Lens detail
Body AF motor supports compatible screw-drive lenses. Supported non-CPU AI lenses permit aperture-priority and manual exposure, with colour matrix metering when lens data is entered. IX and F3AF lenses unsupported
Autofocus
Multi-CAM 3500DX; 51 points including 15 cross-type, dynamic 9/21/51-point modes and 3D tracking; AF fine-tuning
Shutter
1/8000 to 30 seconds and Bulb; standard flash sync 1/250 second, with 1/320 at reduced flash range; Quiet release mode; shutter tested to 150000 cycles
Burst detail
Approximately 7 fps with EN-EL3e in the body; up to 8 fps with MB-D10 and EN-EL4a. Nikon Japan specifies approximately 7.7 fps with eight AA cells in MB-D10 and 7.6 fps with AC power. 14-bit RAW is limited 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; commander support, hot shoe and PC sync terminal
Exposure controls
P/S/A/M; 1005-pixel RGB 3D Colour Matrix Metering II; Active D-Lighting with bracketing and interval timer

Video

Highest video resolution
1280 × 720 at 24 fps
Video detail
1280 × 720, 640 × 424 or 320 × 216 at 24 fps; Motion-JPEG AVI. Maximum clip length five minutes at 720p or twenty minutes at lower resolutions. Contrast-detection autofocus can be initiated during recording in Tripod mode
Audio
Built-in mono microphone; 3.5 mm external stereo microphone input with adjustable microphone sensitivity

Screen and viewfinder

Viewfinder
Optical
Screen size
3″
Screen dots
921,000
Tilting screen
No
Display detail
Fixed TFT with 170° viewing angle. Nikon USA specifies 921000 dots; Japan rounds this to approximately 920000. Dots count subpixels
Viewfinder detail
Pentaprism, approximately 100% coverage and 0.94× magnification with 50mm at infinity; 19.5 mm eyepoint

Connections and design

Wi-Fi
No
Battery life (maker's claim)
950 photographs
Body weight
840 g
Release detail
Nikon's US announcement specifies late August 2009 availability; Japan records 28 August. Main retains the month
Recording media
Dual slots for CompactFlash Type I with UDMA and SD/SDHC; backup, overflow, separate RAW/JPEG and card-to-card copying. CompactFlash Type II and Microdrive unsupported
Ports
Hi-Speed USB, analogue NTSC/PAL output, mini HDMI Type C, ten-pin accessory/GPS terminal and PC flash sync
Wireless connections
Optional WT-4/WT-4A transmitter supports network transfer; no built-in Wi-Fi
Battery life detail
EN-EL3e; approximately 950 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 shots. MB-D10 accepts EN-EL3e, EN-EL4/EN-EL4a or eight AA cells
Charging
MH-18a external charger; optional EH-5/EH-5a AC adapter
Dimensions
Approximately 147 × 114 × 74 mm
Weight detail
Approximately 840 g excluding battery, memory card, body cap and monitor cover
Materials
Magnesium-alloy body with seals and gaskets at key points

Pros and cons

Pros

  • 100% optical viewfinder and 51-point autofocus
  • Separate CompactFlash and SD slots support backup recording
  • 7 fps continuous shooting with the supplied battery

Cons

  • 14-bit RAW limits continuous shooting to 2.5 fps
  • 720p video clips are limited to five minutes
  • Fixed rear screen and 840 g body without battery

Closest rivals

Model
TypeSensorMegapixelsLensVideoBody weightReleased
SonyAlpha DSLR-A230
DSLRAPS-C10.2Sony A-mount–450 gJun 2009
SonyAlpha DSLR-A330
DSLRAPS-C10.2Sony A-mount–490 gJun 2009
SonyAlpha DSLR-A380
DSLRAPS-C14.2Sony A-mount–490 gJun 2009

Newer model: D500.

Sources

  1. nij.nikon.com/products/lineup/slr/d300s/spec.html
  2. nij.nikon.com/products/lineup/slr/d300s
  3. cdn-10.nikon-cdn.com/pdf/manuals/kie88335f7869dfuejdl=-cww2/D300S_EN.pdf
  4. nikonusa.com/p/d300s/25464/overview
  5. nikonusa.com/press-room/nikon-d300s-revitalizes-the-st
  6. photographyblog.com/reviews/nikon_d300s_review
  7. techradar.com/reviews/cameras-and-camcorders/cameras/digital-slrs-hybrids/nikon…
  8. techradar.com/reviews/cameras-and-camcorders/cameras/digital-slrs-hybrids/nikon…
  9. techradar.com/reviews/cameras-and-camcorders/cameras/digital-slrs-hybrids/nikon…
  10. techradar.com/reviews/cameras-and-camcorders/cameras/digital-slrs-hybrids/nikon…
  11. techradar.com/reviews/cameras-and-camcorders/cameras/digital-slrs-hybrids/nikon…
  12. 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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