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Nikon D300S vs Nikon D780

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

NikonD300SNikonD780
Overview
ReleasedAugust 2009January 2020
Image and sensor
Camera typeDSLRDSLR
Sensor formatAPS-CFull frame
Sensor typeCMOSBackside-illuminated CMOS
Sensor dimensions23.6 × 15.8 mm35.9 × 23.9 mm
Effective resolution12.3 MP24.5 MP
Largest image4288 × 28486048 × 4024
RAW recordingYesYes
Standard ISO range200–3200100–51200
Sensor detail13.1 million total pixels; low-pass-filter vibration for dust reduction25.28 million total pixels; sensor cleaning and image-dust-off reference data
Image formats12-bit or 14-bit NEF RAW, compressed, losslessly compressed or uncompressed; JPEG, TIFF RGB and RAW plus JPEG12/14-bit NEF RAW with lossless or ordinary compression; JPEG and RAW plus JPEG
ISO detailExpanded equivalents ISO 100–6400; Auto ISOExpandable to equivalent ISO 50–204800; Auto ISO available
Image processorEXPEED image processing and Scene Recognition SystemEXPEED 6
Lens and shooting
Lens mountNikon F mountNikon F mount
StabilisationOptical lens stabilisationOptical lens stabilisation
Maximum continuous burst7 fps12 fps
Lens detailBody 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 unsupportedF-mount G/E/D, supported AF, P and AI non-CPU lenses with restrictions; DX lenses use a crop; non-AI, IX and F3AF lenses unsupported
AutofocusMulti-CAM 3500DX; 51 points including 15 cross-type, dynamic 9/21/51-point modes and 3D tracking; AF fine-tuningViewfinder Advanced Multi-CAM 3500II phase detection with 51 points, 15 cross-type and 11 supporting f/8. Live-view hybrid phase/contrast detection provides 273 FX still-image single-point positions and eye detection. UK/Japan sensitivity −3 EV viewfinder, −5 EV live view or −7 EV low-light AF under maker conditions; US launch prose's −4 EV viewfinder claim conflicts with exact specs.
Shutter1/8000 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 cyclesMechanical, electronic front-curtain and electronic shutters; 1/8000 to 30 seconds, Bulb and Time; manual-mode extension to 900 seconds. Flash sync 1/200 second with compatible Auto FP support.
Burst detailApproximately 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 fpsUp to 7 fps through the optical viewfinder; silent live view up to 12 fps with 12-bit RAW or 8 fps with 14-bit RAW. Low-speed 1–6 fps viewfinder or 1–3 fps live view; quiet continuous 3 fps. Reduced-resolution movie-frame still captures at up to 120 fps are separate from full-resolution continuous shooting.
Stabilisation detailOptical VR depends on the attached lens; no sensor-shift stabilisationNo sensor-shift stabilisation; optical VR depends on the attached lens; electronic movie VR available
FlashPop-up i-TTL flash, guide number approximately 12 at ISO 100 in metres; commander support, hot shoe and PC sync terminalNo built-in flash; ISO 518 hot shoe and compatible external i-TTL Speedlights; optional AS-15 provides a flash-sync terminal
Exposure controlsP/S/A/M; 1005-pixel RGB 3D Colour Matrix Metering II; Active D-Lighting with bracketing and interval timerAuto, P/S/A/M, effects and U1/U2 settings; ±5 EV still-image or ±3 EV movie compensation; 180K-pixel RGB viewfinder metering sensor
Video
Highest video resolution1280 × 720 at 24 fps3840 × 2160 at 29.97 fps
Video detail1280 × 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 modeUHD 3840 × 2160 at 29.97/25/23.976p without extra FX crop, oversampled from 6K sensor data; Full HD up to 119.88p and separate silent slow-motion modes. H.264 MOV/MP4; limit 29 minutes 59 seconds. 10-bit N-Log and HLG require an external HDMI recorder and cannot simultaneously record that output to the camera card. UK prose's DX 50/60p statement does not mean UHD 50/60p; exact maker UHD table tops out at 30p.
AudioBuilt-in mono microphone; 3.5 mm external stereo microphone input with adjustable microphone sensitivityBuilt-in stereo microphones, external 3.5 mm microphone input and headphone output; PCM or AAC depending on file format; microphone attenuator
Screen and viewfinder
ViewfinderOpticalOptical
Screen size3″3.2″
Screen dots921,0002,359,000
Touchscreen–Yes
Tilting screenNoYes
Display detailFixed TFT with 170° viewing angle. Nikon USA specifies 921000 dots; Japan rounds this to approximately 920000. Dots count subpixelsApproximately 100% coverage, 170° viewing angle and vertical tilt; maker UK states 2359K dots, Japan rounds to approximately 2.36 million; dots count subpixels
Viewfinder detailPentaprism, approximately 100% coverage and 0.94× magnification with 50mm at infinity; 19.5 mm eyepointPentaprism, approximately 100% FX coverage, 0.7× magnification with 50mm f/1.4 at infinity, 21 mm eyepoint and −3 to +1 dioptre adjustment
Connections and design
Wi-FiNoYes
Bluetooth–Yes
Battery life (maker's claim)950 photographs2260 photographs
Body weight840 g755 g
Release detailNikon's US announcement specifies late August 2009 availability; Japan records 28 August. Main retains the monthNikon US announced on 6 January 2020 and specified availability in late January; global announcement dated 7 January. Main uses the confirmed month without inferring a UK retail day.
Recording mediaDual 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 unsupportedTwo UHS-II SD/SDHC/SDXC slots; overflow, backup, RAW/JPEG separation and card copying
PortsHi-Speed USB, analogue NTSC/PAL output, mini HDMI Type C, ten-pin accessory/GPS terminal and PC flash syncUSB-C SuperSpeed USB, mini HDMI Type C, 3.5 mm microphone and headphone sockets, accessory terminal for MC-DC2; optional WT-7 provides network connectivity
Wireless connectionsOptional WT-4/WT-4A transmitter supports network transfer; no built-in Wi-FiWi-Fi IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac and Bluetooth 4.2; SnapBridge
Battery life detailEN-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 cellsEN-EL15b; approximately 2260 CIPA single-frame shots or 4570 shots under Nikon's separate continuous-shooting test; approximately 95 minutes of movie recording. EN-EL15a/15 compatibility with restrictions; EN-EL15c may be supplied.
ChargingMH-18a external charger; optional EH-5/EH-5a AC adapterIn-camera charging with EN-EL15b and optional EH-7P; external MH-25a charger. Optional AC adapter and EP-5B power connector.
DimensionsApproximately 147 × 114 × 74 mmApproximately 143.5 × 115.5 × 76 mm
Weight detailApproximately 840 g excluding battery, memory card, body cap and monitor coverApproximately 755 g body only or 840 g including battery and SD card, excluding body cap
MaterialsMagnesium-alloy body with seals and gaskets at key pointsWeather-sealed magnesium alloy construction; maker operating range 0–40°C
In the box–EN-EL15-series battery, MH-25a charger, UC-E24 USB cable, AN-DC21 strap, BF-1B body cap, DK-5 eyepiece cap and DK-31 eyecup; battery revision may vary

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