I've been using Nikon DSLR's since 2005 for my "paying hobby". Officially, I created a photography side-business in early 2005 using a Nikon D70s (great camera). This was after a couple of years of ramping up my photography interests from an occasional point-and-clicker to a very serious hobbyist. I very quickly upgraded to the D200 (better camera), using the D70s as a backup. And, in early 2008 upgraded to the D300 (best camera), selling the D70s , leaving the D200 as my backup. I've captured around 15000 images with the D200, and am currently up to about 8000 clicks with the D300. I shoot all types of photography: wildlife, landscape, portraitature, architectural, wedding & other misc. events. I do not consider myself a Pro (only about 10% of my current income comes from photography), but I would like it to evolve into my full time career, someday. :)
In my opinion, the Nikon D300 is easily Nikon's best DX format (not comparing to FX formats, like the D700, etc.) DSLR out to date. And, currently, the best in its class compared to other brands. Please keep in mind that the latter statement (my opinion) is only based on much reading-on & a little hands-on experience with some of the rivaling Canon DSLR's. I am not discounting Canon's great line of photographic equipment (or other brands) at all, just comparing current models with closely related price range and feature set. As a matter of fact, to this day, I still advise all who ask that since the quality of the top brands is so close, that the most important thing to do before making a decision on your first DSLR purchase is to personally handle several models of several brands, and choose the one most comfortable and easiest to understand; it's all about individual user preference. I DO tell them that I am MOST familiar with the Nikon line, and will be better able to "assist" them, if they get Nikon.
Here are a few features that I find useful and that I have not found repeated hundreds of times over in hundreds of other reviews (like excellent focusing, vivid colors, noise handling, etc.):
- One of the in-camera editing tools, the Crop tool, allows me to simulate a 4x5 crop (8x10) when taking group portraits. This enables me to make sure that I'm not cutting off people parts when clients will invariably order 8x10's of large group shots. I wish the largest cropping boundary would start at the outer most edge of the image, but that's really nit picking a good feature.
- The D-light edit allows me to quickly see how an image looks with the shadows brightened up a bit, even though I only shoot RAW. I will end up deleting this jpg copy when I copy images to the PC, and post-edit the exposure, but I can immediately see if the image still looks good with a brighter exposure adjustment.
- The My Menu feature is GREAT for quickly accessing my most accessed settings. With the latest firmware update, you have a choice to use the My Menu or a Recent tab (like the D200 has).
Little things about the D300 that are different from the D200 (that haven't been mentioned hundreds of times):
- D300 Command and Sub dials are more recessed in, so they are not as easy to accidentally spin.
- The D300 lens mount seems to lend a tighter connection.
- The D300 shutter release sounds "tighter", does not have the slight echo/vibration sound at the end of the click, like the D200 does.
- One small feature that I actually do NOT like better on the D300 is the highlights display feature. It blinks on the most uncluttered display page, not on the cluttered data page that has the image as a thumbnail, but that's nit-picking really.
Another good thing is that I'm not at all tempted to upgrade since the D700 would mean getting at least two more fast/pro lenses to take advantage of the full size sensor, leaving all but one of my lenses (Nikon 70-200 2.8 VR ¡V beautiful lens!!) "out of the picture" (I know that I could still use them at 5 megapixels, but that doesn't count for me). And, I don't need the video feature of the D700 at all. The D700's much better noise handling at high ISO's would be nice, but the D300's noise handling works really well with 99% of my shots. In fact, thanks to the D700, at least in part, the price of the D300 is much more affordable!
Also, I highly recommend David Busch's Nikon D300 Guide book. I was very familiar with Nikon DSLR's already, but his book really helped fill in the gaps, and helped me take advantage of all of the D300's excellent features.
The photographer IS still the most important part of the image capturing equation, but I truly believe that overall the D300 delivers better looking images than the D200, and all earlier DSLR models (even considering identical lens, technique, and minor settings differences to take advantage of individual camera body's features), and is well worth the extra expense of a new body purchase.
Get more detail about Nikon D300 DX 12.3MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only).
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