The Nikon D300 is the camera I switched from Canon to Nikon and acquired. This review will be pretty straight forward, as a list of specs can be found nearly anywhere on the web. I will cut it down to real world usage.
Nikon D300 is Nikon's "pro DX" camera (also including the D300s which added another memory card slot and video capabilities as well as control function changes). It's autofocus system, weatherproofing, viewfinder and buffer size / FPS make it so. I switched from a Canon 5d classic and 40d to this camera and a D90 (another review for that to follow) and could not be happier. The first things I noticed in regards to the D300 is its AF system - 51 point with intelligent "3d" tracking in continuous focus mode. This system is very fast, and accurate even in low light. The 3d tracking locks on to a single point of your choosing, and then keeps focus automatically as you recompose your shot, or the subject moves in the frame. This is a very neat feature and is the only AF mode I use, even for portraiture or still objects...no more missing focus due to focus / recompose and shallow DOF.
12mp is more than enough for me, and my D90 shares this "almost" same sensor. I can still crop enough to get the outcomes I desire in portrait work. The colors and AWB seem to be right on the money in most circumstances, other than in the worst of indoor lighting.
Speed is very quick. Turns on instantly, ready to go, writes files even 14 bit raw rapidly and I have never had to wait for any files to save, or filled the buffer up at all. Although I do not shoot sports or autocross, so write speed is not too incredibly important to me.
Battery life is stellar. I have shot multiple portrait sessions in one day with one battery - probably 1200 shots if I had to guess. Actually, the battery information is very detailed. The menu shows life, condition of battery, shots and percentage remaining. Good stuff.
The viewfinder is 100%, and nice and bright and clear once I dialed the diopter to adjuster for my poor eyesight.
Micro focus adjustment - D300 has it. It is nice. I used it on every single lens I own. Most required minor adjusting.
ISO...the single drawback in my eyes that shows this cameras age. ISO 3200 is practically unusable. 1600 is usable with some post process noise reduction. ACR is what I use, and detail remains "ok" at best with ISO 1600. Idealy I use 800 or less for most everything. In fact, the auto ISO guidelines you can set is much better than Canon's system. You can set minimum shutter speed, and max ISO, which is really nice.
Overall, this camera is the cats meow for me. It may be older tech, but the build quality and functions make it so nice. Image quality is actually very good. The dynamic range and color range is more than enough for me, and seems to retain much nicer detail in shadows than my 40d. My old 5d being FF has an upper edge in that realm, but the other features of the D300 blow it away.
9/10 - Highly recommended. I purchased mine for $430 from Adorama with less than 10k clicks in perfect condition. Stellar performance for the money.
