Nikon D300 DX 12.3MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)

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Ive only had this camera for what seems a very short while. I bought it refurbished from Cameta through Amazon. It seemed like I was taking a chance in order to get quite a price break. I can tell you that it was worth it. I have had no problems with the camera. It came with all the standard accessories. Other merchants were selling refurbished D300 cameras but they did not come with all of the manufacturers standard accessories. I feel as though I have just scratched the surface of the features that this camera offers. I upgraded from a Nikon D1H with 2.7 megapixels. I got quite an increase in picture detail. I am quite pleased that I am able to use all of my Nikkor lenses that have the AI mount and anything newer. I am very impressed with the wide exposure latitute this camera offers (if I use that term correctly having used film SLRs since 1971). The noise reduction is as good as they said it would be. I was concerned about that due to Nikons reputation for not having the best noise reduction in its DSLRs of the past. This camera handles it well. The 3 inch monitor is wonderful unless youre in bright sunlight. My only criticism of the camera is that I find myself looking at my own reflection rather than the image I have just taken. I recently took my wifes portrait because she needed an 8X10 for a head shot. The best frame turned out to be a horizontal one and I cropped it quite a bit to get a vertical print. You would never know from the quality of the print that it had been cropped from perhaps 30 to 40 percent of the frame. I dont think I could have done this with my 2.7 megapixel camera. I look forward to a lot more fun and productive picture taking using the Nikon D300 and I recommend it highly.

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Im going to try to keep this short. Controls are perfectly spaced and in the right places, 6 Frames per second is fast but add the MB-D10 grip and you get 8 frames per second. Its been great not just for sports but also photographing children on the go. Thanks to Nikons picture control system adding different profiles to the camera or sharing with other photographers is a snap. id also recommend the mb-d10 grip as it balances out the camera and just feels right. there just seems to be something missing without it. not to mention the ability to power the camera from AA batteries rather than 40 dollar EN-EL3e batteries. For $20 you can buy Energizer 2500mah NiMH batteries which last longer than the 1500mah lithium ion batteries. HDMI output is nice but have only used it to test it. Live view is great for the strange tight spots photographers sometimes find them in. ive used it to take pictures over the heads of other people in crowds or while setting the camera on my shoe but didnt want to smash my face into the ground to look through the viewfinder. the shutter release takes a little getting used to and expect to occasionally snap two shots while in Ch mode (highspeed). the high iso performance is great however if you are looking for unbelievable high iso performance look at the D3. For examples of photos taken with this camera go to [...] .

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Very easy to make the setting on P mode using the buttons and most of the setting can be made using the buttons. A custom setting is very easy and can be made fine adjustment later. Most of all, I like the fine adjustment of White Balance in the menu and can be taken illusion photo by using this adjustment. Very low noise at higher ISO setting. I took group of about 150 dance recital photo first time in the theatre yesterday. I have to make quick move to take the photo because of prohibited photo taken, but result are very good using manual focus and ISO setting at 1600 without flash. No need to use daytime flash by using D-Lighting system and can be set before taking the photo or make a adjustment after photo taken. The result is much better quality than the using the Nikon software D-Lighting adjustments. The only thing I like to have is a 35mm size sensor like D3 model. The other future did not try yet but I give five stars for the picture quality and true colors.

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I had been planning to buy a second DSLR body when the D300 came out late last year. At the time I was using a Nikon D200 and was very happy with the quality and versatility of that camera. I decided to put off my purchase and see how the new D300 was received by both amateur and professional photographers. After reading many reviews I decided to go for the D300 and I couldnt be happier. I shoot in a wide variety of situations, from indoor and outdoor sporting events, wildlife photography,fine art images, to portraits and advertising. So the ability to shoot fast and under varied lighting conditions was of considerable importance to me. I was happy with the abilities of the D200 when paired up with fast lenses. But fast lenses tend to be expensive lenses and although I do have a couple of great fast lenses, I primarily use a 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens just for its versatility. With the High ISO/Low Noise capability of the New D300, I gain about 2 stops over the D200. What that ultimately means is I can shoot without a flash in more situations and maximize the flashes capability when I do use it. Another feature of the D300 is Active D-Lighting. This feature allows you to preserve the details in high contrast images such as those with a bright sky and a darker foreground by expanding the dynamic rang of the image.This saves you from spending lots of extra time making adjustments to each image later in post processing at home. I have now shot about 10,000 images with the D300 and I find the build quality to be solid as a rock. The camera is a bit on the heavy side, but not so much so as to be uncomfortable. The large LCD display is much brighter an easier to see than that of the D200 and the addition of Live View", the ability to see through the lens on the LCD screen, makes composition and focusing in awkward positions much easier. Overall, although the D200 and D300 share many great features and look very similar, the D300 is a much more serious Pro-sumer camera which is very well suited for the rigors and wide ranging needs of both the Amateur and Professional Photographer.

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As a professional wedding photographer in todays marketplace it is difficult to keep pace with technological improvements and remain profitable. Not many of us can afford to replace a $5,000- $8,000 camera annually. I have used Nikon Cameras since the NIKON F was introduced. We use multiple photographers in my wedding business and I have never been happy with our photo sharpness and quality since we migrated from the medium format Hasselblad film cameras to the Nikon D100, D70, D200; Fuji S2, S3; and Canon 20D, 30D, XT, XTi cameras. With the advent of the D300 we see a major improvement in linearity of the image quality at both ends of the characteristic curve, there is much better control of the shoulder (highlights), and we see more detail more faithful color reproduction and much less noise in the toe, (dark areas) and picture to picture variation minimization. It has been difficult to get matching exposures when taking multiple flash photos of the same subject taken seconds apart. Finally, we have a camera that reliably an repeatedly reproduces the subject we are photographing brides, grooms or the Gymnast portraits we shoot! Our on photo-journalistic bridal photographs are much more controlled, with improved control of the detail in the whites of the gown. The Fuji S3, and the Nikon D200 showed improvement in this area, but the D300 is a big step up from its look-a-like the D200. Focus is another area that Nikon has improved tremendously with the adoption of 51 focus points. This was my chief reason for changing back to NIKONs from the my Canon Cameras. I purchased Canons best quality lenses, yet I still had to take additional photos with my Canon cameras to assure that my focus was where I want it. Formal Groups in churches can be difficult, as the camera wants to focus on the background instead of the group. One other interesting note, is that we get many more closed eyes with the Canon 580 strobes than we do with the Nikon SB800. I wonder if the infrared frequency of the Canon autofocus system is more visible to some people than is the Nikon infrared system. I do know that we get less closed eye shots with the Nikon than we do with the Canons which my assistants use. Prevention of over exposure of mens faces, causing a Pillsbury dough boy look due to camera metering subject failure when using available light or flash wedding to take pre-wedding portraits is another area that Nikon has trumped Canon with the D3 and D300 metering improvements. The Nikon D300 is a great wedding camera which has improved my available light ceremony photography, at ISO 3200.... with minimal sensor noise. I love using this camera, and highly recommend the D300.

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I was looking for a used camera that was fully manual and had a sharper display and more focus points than my D3100. I dont shoot video and I like photographing animals, events, and conventions. The D300 had everything I was looking for which include a larger sensor, 51 focus points, and individual dials for selecting everything from aperture to shutter speed to focusing mode. Also, the camera has a built-in focusing motor which will allow me to pick up some more older lenses that will not autofucus with the D3100. The magnesium-alloy body is amazing - Ive read reviews stating that the D300 is built like a tank, which it definitely is. This camera was used, but not abused - had some light scratches at the base of the body and some dirt here and there, but it was from normal use that was cured with a quick wipedown. At $225, I couldnt be happier. I picked up some CF cards and a new screen protector, and after I check for a firmware update, Im ready for spring! NIKON FOR LIFE!

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I moved from a Nikon D70S to the D300 as my primary DSLR. The D300 has marvelous control placement - of course there are still myriads of menus that one may make choices from, but the controls one most often needs are at fingertip access. Learning curve on all of the possibilities of this machine are formidable; its obviously not designed to be used in automatic or "scene" modes - there are no "scene" modes to be had. (Although with custom menus one could create such if desired). It is possible to charge the battery, attach a lens, and shoot right out of the box; however the real power in this machine lies in knowing all of the controls available and applying those controls to achieve the desired results. The physical feel of the machine is one of solidness; Ive added the external battery grip (which allows the entire machine to function off of 8 AA batteries, as well as Nikon camera batteries) and the balance, for my hands, is as good as Ive ever had in a camera. (The external grip also bumps the frames per second from 6 to 8 when using AAs or some Nikon camera batteries.). Ive not weighed the machine with an 18-200 VR lens and external grip w/batteries, but its a heavyweight and I would recommend a different strap than the Nikon supplied strap that comes with the camera body. There is no "stealth mode" on this machine as there is on my Canon G-9 P&S; the shutter is loud, and putting it into rapid fire mode at 8 fps will get the attention of those around you. The camera will be happiest with high speed compact flash cards - Extreme IVs, Ducatis, or other cards of that ilk. Slow cards, especially if one is capturing NEF+jpg fine images will slow the write buffer down. Plan on getting 4 gig or 8 gig cards - they fill up rather quickly. I will let others comment on the images this camera can record - Ive not had enough field experience yet to give an intelligent opinion. However, I will say that the camera (again) is not designed for shooting on automatic, out of the box. This machine requires input from the operator to function well. Also this machine requires good lenses to maximize its potential; the 18-200 VR Nikkor that works so well on my D70S seems softer on the D300. Heavily recommended for: Those who have Nikon cameras and have maxxed out the possibilities with those machines and are looking for greater challenges. The D300 will support Nikkor lenses made since 1959 (although the ones made before 1977 may need a minor, inexpensive modification to fit on the D300). Not all older lenses, of course, support auto-focus. Those who have other camera brands but who have not yet invested large sums in glass or accessories. Those who wish to become involved in photography at a serious level; this machine requires investment of both time and money. Not recommended for: Well heeled users who are looking for an expensive point-and-shoot or all-automatic machine. I am massively pleased with the D300 (good thing, considering the cost of one of the machines for a non-pro photographer!). My only real gripe is the cost of the machine - and the "hidden" costs associated, such as faster CF cards, better lenses, upgrading camera bags (this is a large beast and what my D70S fits into comfortably wont hold the D300 with grip and lens attached). However, at the level that the D300 plays in it is comparable in price with its counterparts and (currently) its feature set is well above the competition. Of course, that latter part will change - no one camera model stays on top for very long. HTH

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My first foray into digital imaging was in 2002, with the purchase of a Nikon D100 and a D1X. Both cameras have been workhorses for me for almost 10 years to the date. This purchase for me represents an upgrade in pixel dimensions, image quality and a leap forward in the technology. My 6 megapixel cameras were giving me outstanding results, the reasons for the upgrade were the peripherals. My 6mp D100/D1X would only accept up to 2gig cards and function properly. The new D300 (for me) solves that issue very handily. I am very pleased. The technology just keeps getting better. The sellers item was as described, "...in excellent condition." . . . bgs. .

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This D300 has been reliable and effective. It was refurbished by Nikon and works as new. Ive been using it for years now without any problems except some aggressive dust on the sensor that took the local pros 1.5 hours to get it off (after several tries by me). Its getting to the end of its anticipated life, but I am not seeing any problems. The internal light meter reads low (I shoot 2-3 stops higher than it recommends to get proper exposure) but I quickly learned to compensate. I do EVERYTHING in manual mode.

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What a steal!.. fell I love with this professional camera right out of the box. I was going to use it for our photo booth but I’ll keep it instead for personal use. Came in excellent condition.. I will definitely buy again.

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