amazon Nikon D300s reviews
When it comes to handhelds, users will not see much difference between the D300s and predecessors. The three-dimensional body dimensions are 147 x 114 x 74 mm and the weight of the battery is about 918 grams, roughly equivalent to the D300. The live view mode on the dial rotates Mode Dial to the small key Lv located on the right side of the screen, making the transition mode more quickly. In addition, small holes for microphone installation (under the D300s logo) and speakers (right edge, back side of the machine).
Owning Nikon’s renowned biometric design, the D300s are solid and hand-held, though not lightweight. The body is made of magnesium alloy that can withstand dust and moisture. The D300s has two memory card slots, making it possible to use both SD / SDHC and CF Type I formats simultaneously. One of the two cards can be used as the main memory, while the remaining one is used in case of overflow, Back up photos or record high quality video. Data is also copied between the two cards thanks to tools available on the machine. Interestingly, users can even set up to record a NEF raw image onto a card and burn a JPEG image onto the remaining card.
The 51-point autofocus system of the D300s is powered by the Multi-CAM 3500DX autofocus sensor, similar to the old D300 and D3s. High accuracy tests show that the D300s focus a little bit faster than the D300s. The delay from the lock of the body until the shutter operates is only about 0.255 – 0.37 seconds when using Sigma 70mm f / 2.8 tubes in good light. The focus speed will become slightly slower than the theory if the environment becomes dim or when the live view feature is turned on. The metering mechanism employs a 1,005-pixel RGB sensor to work accurately even in complex situations, minimizing major object phenomena on missing or overexposed images. Data from this sensor is also used to support focus tracking and adjust white balance.
Similar to its “predecessor,” the D300s uses a 12.3-megapixel DX-format effective sensor (1.5x crop). The ISO range of the machine ranges from 200 to 3,200 (extends to 6,400). The analog / digital 14-bit port system allows for faster data transfer rates as well as widening the color range of images. Combined with the new generation Nikon Expeed processor, the D300s is capable of capturing up to 100 consecutive JPEG images at 7 frames per second, slightly above the D300 at 6 frames per second. According to the Imaging Resource, the D300s gives the image a bit more blur than the D300, but the difference is very difficult to spot. In addition, sharpness on JPEG images is also slightly poor. When transferred to save the file in the form of RAW, this problem is resolved thoroughly.
Testing in outdoor light conditions shows that the automatic white balance mechanism of the machine works perfectly. However, the D300s are still a bit difficult to shoot under artificial lighting. Photos tend to get warm even when set to Incandescent light. Image quality is optimized to the highest degree thanks to a wide range of intelligent features. For example, Automatic CA technology helps to correct malfunctions that often occur in high contrast areas. The Auto ISO feature compensates for the ambient light sensitivity and shutter speed when the ambient light is too complex. In addition, the D300s also offers Active D-Lighting, which reduces the loss of detail in areas that are too dark or too bright on the image. This feature should be turned on for indoor portraits or landscapes.
where can you get a Nikon D300s online
Nikon D300S 12.3MP DX-Format CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3.0-Inch LCD (Body Only) (Discontinued by Manufacturer): Buy it now
Nikon D300s 12.3MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II Lens: Buy it now
D300s noise cancellation mechanism works very impressive. The image retains almost the same clarity and details at the ISO 800 setting. Noise is almost unlikely to affect image quality even when the ISO is pushed up to 1600+. The tests also confirmed that, at the default setting, the D300s are noise-canceling and retaining much better detail than the Pentax K-7, slightly more than the Canon 50D and Canon 7D. The reason for this difference is that the resolution of the rivals from Pentax and Canon are larger than the Nikon D300s. Theoretically, when the sensor size is relatively the same, any model with more “dots” will make the picture more disturbing.
The LCD screen of the D300s is bright and sharp with a resolution of 3 inches, resolving 922,000 pixels. Users should also be careful because the color scheme on this screen is quite “eye-catching”, so images taken directly on the camera may be slightly different when viewed on a television or computer screen. The menu system of the machine is similar to the D300 version with the display line is somewhat monotonous. In return, Nikon carefully designed the help section with easy-to-follow instructions aimed at novice users. You can activate help in any position in the Menu by pressing the “?” At the back of the machine.
The ability to record 720p video on the D300s is also remarkable. You can change the aperture of the lens to control the depth of field during shooting. Other customizations such as ISO sensitivity and exposure are still determined by the camera. The autofocus speed by contrast comparison is still quite slow. However, the film quality is quite good with high definition and smooth color. The sound is only at 11 kHz, but it is very sharp and there is no noise due to the focusing mechanism in the active lens.
In general, the Nikon D300s is a semi-professional DSLR with state-of-the-art equipment, excellent performance and excellent image quality. However, in addition to a few extra features, the D300s has not really got any breakthrough compared to the previous version. This product is suitable for people with certain knowledge of dSLRs and who are looking to upgrade from the line of low-end lenses.