The Nikon D300: Great Image Quality, Awesome Speed, But Still Some Reliability Questions.
Written: Dec 15 '07 (Updated Aug 18 '08)
Product Rating:
Ease of Use:
Durability:
Battery Life:
Photo Quality:
Shutter Lag
Pros: Low noise at high ISO, improved dynamic range, professional feature set, very responsive.
Cons: Camera failures due to live view mode and poor lens mount, no in-camera image stabilization.
The Bottom Line: Conditionally recommended - great features and image quality, but still some questionable reliability, outdated live view mode, and no in-camera image stabilization,
jvandegr's Full Review: Nikon D300 Digital Camera with 18-200mm lens
Introduction
I've been shooting with a Nikon D200 for over a year now for my digital work. At low ISO with professional quality lenses, the D200 continues to impress me. At high ISO (800 and above), the D200 does not impress me. Indeed, I've generally stayed away from these higher sensitivities unless I really needed them. ISO 1600 on the D200 is certainly usable, but not ideal when image quality is paramount. Additionally, I have not been happy with the somewhat limited dynamic range of the D200 relative to that of film. So, I've been waiting for Nikon's next move, hoping they would give their professional line of cameras a significant image quality boost, without taking away all the thing I love about the D200.
Features
For those who are familiar with my reviews, you might be expecting a long list of D300 features here. However, since these features are readily available on every other camera review site and Nikon's website, I'd like to save some space and focus on my experience with the camera.
Build Quality
After over a year of abuse, my D200 hasn't shown any significant wear. I've never had a critical failure that caused me to miss a shot, regardless of the shooting conditions. I shoot in extreme cold and heat, from the driest climates to the wettest climates, and under some of the most extreme storms. The D200 hasn't missed a beat. So, is this relevant in a review of the D300? Yes, because the build quality seems even better than the D200. The D300 has the mostly same structural body as the D200 with just a few surficial modifications, such as a change in the location of a port and a larger LCD screen. So far, it has worked without any problems whatsoever in some very cold and windy conditions. I've also managed to cover it with snow, which then melted and soaked the camera thoroughly. Again, no problems whatsoever. As I indicated in my D200 review, this camera has a very solid feel thanks to its magnesium alloy structure and substantial weather sealing. However, I have noticed a lot of play between the camera lens mount and my longer lenses, such as the 70-200mm f/2.8 AF-S. This was also present on my D200, but not quite as much. This looseness does not inspire confidence, and may be the cause of some problems (see below). My much cheaper Sony A350 has a much tighter connection to 20-year old Minolta lenses, so I'm not sure what Nikon's problem is here.
Ergonomics
The ergonomics of the D300 are almost identical to the D200. This means they are excellent. Only the Nikon D3 offers better handling and control. Period. No other model produced by any other manufacturer even comes close. I've used the Nikon D80 briefly and found it to have good ergonomics but again, not as good as the D300. What makes it so good? As usual, Nikon has put as many controls as possible on the outside of the camera. These controls are easily manipulated thanks to their logical placement and relatively large interface (big buttons). The D300 is covered in even more sticky rubber than the D200, if you consider the new vertical grip configuration of the MB-D10. Not as much grip as the D3, but not bad either. The right hand grip itself feels identical to the D200 and has always felt secure and comfortable to me. In summary, this camera is easy to hang on to, and easy to use once you learn the function and placement of the controls.
Nikon has talked up the new LCD screen found on both the D3 and D300. Its three inch size is nice, but not a huge change from the D200's 2.5 inch size. The real difference is the quality of the screen. With three times as many pixels, it makes all other digital camera LCD screens look like something you'd find on a kid's toy by comparison. Since I rarely need to preview images in the field, this isn't a big selling point for me but it sure is nice to have.
Nikon supposedly increased the functionality of this screen further by adding "live view", which means you can compose your images by looking at the LCD screen instead of only through the viewfinder. In practice, this Live View mode has proven to be nothing more than a liability that is probably causing the many initial autofocus failure problems that have been reported (see discussion below). Since the LCD screen can't tilt at all, it is nearly useless. If I need to be directly behind the LCD screen to see it, why am I not just holding the camera up to my eye, especially since I can't focus in Live View mode? This is nothing more than a case of Nikon keeping up with gimmicks that other manufacturers put on their cameras, and it's very disappointing. Actually, it's upsetting because I probably paid quite a bit more for this liability. If a Live View LCD screen is useful to you, get the Sony Alpha 350 - you won't be disappointed.
The focus selector on the D200 could be accidentally operated when changing lenses. This selector on the D300 is in the same place, but seems to move less easily and I haven't had any problems with it so far.
Autofocus Performance
I was impressed with the focus speed and accuracy of the D200. If I missed a shot, it was due to user error, and not camera error, about 95% of the time. The D300 has noticeably quicker autofocus speed and greater low light accuracy than the D200 (which was never really an issue). I have found this to be true with all of my Nikkor lenses, from rear motor driven wide-angle primes to AF-S telephoto zooms. This new autofocus system easily keeps up with the Nikon D2X, and seems to be even faster. Compared with the Nikon D3, focus speed and accuracy are nearly identical. I might be able to convince myself that the D3 is ever so slightly faster, but not enough to really make a difference in my shooting. To date, this is the fastest autofocusing system I have ever used in the field, or even tried at a camera store.
I also compared the D300's autofocus system to that of the Canon 40D and Olympus E3. Both the Canon and Olympus have impressive autofocus speed. Olympus claims to have the quickest autofocus speed, but it was not as quick as the D300, regardless of the lighting conditions or focal length. Again, the Olympus E3 is still incredibly fast and I would happily shoot with it. Where the E3 fell noticeably behind the D300 was low light autofocus accuracy. The Canon 40D has really nice focus speed and accuracy and again, I would happily shoot with it - this really is a good camera. However, it was not able to keep up with the autofocus speed of the D300 when using similar wide-angle ultrasonic zoom lenses on both cameras. The Canon's low light accuracy seemed similar to that of the D300.
In both 12-bit and 14-bit resolution mode, the Nikon D300 has no noticeable shutter lag. In other words, as soon as I press the shutter release, the photo is captured. In both resolution modes, it is just as fast as the D200 and D3. I've thoroughly field tested the response time of the shutter release button shooting moving vehicles and under no circumstances was I able to detect any shutter lag in either 12-bit or 14-bit resolution mode. Indeed, my photos have shown even better focus accuracy than similar photos taken with the D200; this would not be the case if shutter lag was present. I've noticed that the shutter release button depresses a little further than the D200 before it activates the shutter, but this has been easy to adjust to. My findings are based on using the D300 in single-point focus mode and dynamic-area focus mode, but not auto-area focus mode. When the camera is forced to automatically select a focus point in auto-focus mode, the amount of time required for the camera to capture an image will likely increase by a fraction of a second due to the additional processing required. This is not shutter lag, but may sometimes be perceived as such. I've never used auto-area focus mode on any camera and I don't know of any professional or serious amateur who does, so this is all probably a non-issue.
Image Quality and Image Quality Comparisons
And now, the moment most reviewers are waiting for - just how good is the image quality? Nikon couldn't say enough about the image quality of this camera when they officially released it, and neither can I. My D200 almost obsoleted my F5 film camera, but not quite. The wonderful dynamic range of film kept me hanging on for certain environments. With an additional two megapixels of resolution beyond the D200 but on a sensor of the same size, I was concerned that image quality would stay the same or only improve slightly. As it turns out, my concern was unwarranted. Sony, the manufacturer of the CMOS sensor inside the D300, really got this one right. High ISO noise has dropped substantially and dynamic range has improved noticeably. How much? To exactly quantify the image quality of the D300 is the job of engineers, scientists, and those who insist on inspecting their images under a microscope, rather than under a loupe or hanging on their wall or published in a magazine. To qualify the image quality of the D300 is the job of the photographer, which is where I can be of some assistance.
Metering
Although many digital camera review sites are obsessed with quantifying sensor noise, it is usually the last aspect of image quality that I am concerned about. Focus accuracy, color rendition, and metering are always more critical in the construction of a successful image. The D300's metering system is good, but it's not the best I've used. It has a tendency to overexpose slightly, and sometimes more than slightly. Embarrassingly, my Sony A350 has more accurate metering for less than half the price. All that being said, The D300's metering is still good.
Compared with Nikon D200
In comparison to the D200, the D300 has an approximate two stop improvement in the amount of noise that is apparent in an uncompressed NEF image when viewed at 100%. Based on my observations so far, ISO 1600 on the D300 is comparable to ISO 400 on the D200. Exactly what the doctor ordered. This improvement is especially noticeable in the shadows. Nikon's greatly improved noise reduction system does a wonderful job of removing noise while maintaining detail. Noise reduction really kicks into gear at ISO 800 and above. So, as I said, ISO 1600 on the D300 looks like ISO 400 on the D200. However, ISO 400 on the D300 is a different story. Because high ISO noise reduction doesn't operate at this ISO, and because the D300 has even more photo sites crammed into the same area, ISO 400 is just slightly noisier than it is on the D200. Fortunately, there is no chroma noise and the noise that is apparent has a very film-like appearance to it that is very consistent throughout the image. Viewed at 50% size, the noise is undetectable. Additionally, it cleans up easily with just a touch of post-processing.
Dynamic range has also improved. At low ISO settings (200 to 400), I have noticed approximately 0.3 EV to 0.6 EV increase in dynamic range, especially in 14-bit mode. Although I would love another 0.3 EV increase, this is great. Considering the two megapixel increase in sensor resolution and no change in sensor size, this is very impressive. The physical resolution increase of the sensor (12 megapixels vs. 10 megapixels) is only slightly noticeable at large print sizes, or when viewed at 100% on a quality computer monitor.
While the D200 produced 12-bit images, the D300 is capable of producing 14-bit images. This increased color resolution does yield slightly more saturated images, if the intended medium is capable of reproducing this level of color resolution. In other words, although the color reproduction of the D300 is very good, think about what you intend to do with your images before allowing the 14-bit resolution to be a deciding factor in your purchasing. While I was always pleased with the color reproduction of the D200, I am even more pleased with D300. However, even with 14-bit resolution, the D300 still can't match the liquid colors of my Sony A350 with an old Minolta lens, but nothing really can. Even professional Nikon glass can look a little washed out when compared with a decent Minolta lens. So, I use 14-bit resolution all the time to try to make up for the difference. The trade-off when shooting 14-bit images is file size. When I shoot uncompressed NEF images in 14-bit mode for maximum image quality, the file size is around 24 MB. On my D200 with only 12-bit resolution and 10 megapixels, it was 16 MB. However, Nikon's loseless compression system on the D300 keeps my 14-bit NEFs at about 15 MB each without any loss of image quality. Strangely, the images still occupy 24 MB of space on my CF memory card, but at least I don't have to buy yet another hard drive.
In general, the D300 produces noticeably sharper images that have more vivid yet more natural colors than the D200. The D300 seems to have the ability to resolve more detail than the extra two megapixels it has been given. The tiny bit of extra noise that is sometimes noticeably at ISO 400 as a result is well worth this overall image quality improvement.
Compared with Nikon D2X
In many ways, the D200 and D2X are comparable in image quality. For certain image quality elements, I prefer the D200 and for others, I prefer the D2X. I would probably be able to more clearly prefer one camera over the other if I spent more time with the D2X, but I've only taken a few hundred shots with this camera. That being said, it is easy to see that the D300 offers a substantial improvement in overall image quality from the D2X. Award winning photographs will continue to be captured on the D2X for at least a couple years from now and I would still happily shoot with one, especially with its superb ergonomics. However, the improvement in color accuracy, noise reduction, and sometimes dynamic range offered by the D300 really allow to outshine the D2X in terms of image quality.
Compared with Nikon D3
My big question was this: Do I spend $5000 on a D3 camera to get back to full-frame shooting and incredible image quality, or spend $2000 on a D300 with the MB-D10 vertical grip that also has incredible image quality? I spent a lot of time trying to answer this question by looking at features and specifications, but ultimately it was answered only by looking at the images. After comparing test shots, I was able to see the differences in the FX and DX sensors that are hard to quantify. Does the D3 yield better image quality than the D300? Yes, and it is noticeable rather quickly to the trained eye. Is the image quality of the D3 more than twice the image quality of the D300 (in other words, an image quality comparison based on price)? Absolutely not. However, the D3 offers even better ergonomics and build quality than the D300. Still, I couldn't convince myself that my photography budget would be better spent on a slight but noticeable increase in image quality than on buying several nice lenses and airline tickets. Of course, you need to decide for yourself based on what you do with your photography and how you shoot.
Based on my test shots, the D3 offers a one stop improvement in noise reduction over the D300. In other words, ISO 3200 on the D3 has similar noise characteristics to ISO 1600 on the D300. With a wide angle lens, the D3 also provides a slightly sharper image overall, when viewed at 100% size. This may partially be caused by the D300's tendency to be a little soft at default settings, which is easily altered in the setup menu of the camera. Additionally, I've noticed approximately 0.3 EV improvement in dynamic range of the D3 over the D300. Color rendition is similar between the two cameras and I've had difficulty deciding which I prefer. In some settings, the D3 might yield a more accurate color reproduction, but I really have to stare at my images for awhile to convince myself of that.
Compared with Nikon F5 (film camera)
The F5 will always be regarded at the last word in 35mm film cameras. Nothing else really ever came close. This is one of the reasons I love the D3 in that it is essentially a digital F5 in terms of its build quality and ergonomics. Since digital photography really emerged not so many years ago, I've been waiting for it to truly bury 35mm film in the history book of photography and so far, it hasn't really been able to do it. The amazing tonal properties and dynamic range of film still produce an emotional response in the human eye-brain system that is unparalleled. The Nikon D300 really threatens the life expectancy of 35mm film even more because of its incredible ISO range and workable dynamic range. Yes, film still has the dynamic range advantage, but just barely. One of the reasons for this is D-Lighting feature of the D300. Essentially, it increases the amount of detail in shadow and highlight areas without a noticeable increase in noise. This can yield film-like images that will impress any client.
ADDED ON MARCH 2, 2008: Dust Reduction Performance
Since the beginning of photography, dust has been a problem. It finds its way into every step of the photographic process, film or digital. I had to clean my D200 sensor a couple times and found this to actually be quite easy, even though I had to use a swab and chemicals and risk damaging the camera. The D300 has built-in ultrasonic dust reduction to reduce the number of manual cleaning that are needed. From the factory, neither of my two D300 bodies had any dust whatsoever. After months of shooting thousands of frames and a few lens changes, still no dust. I accidentally left the body cap off when I was cleaning my lens contacts and a large piece of dust finally worked its way onto the filter that covers the sensors. I scrolled through the D300's setup menu and told it to clean the image sensor now. One try was all it took and I'm back to a clean sensor. So far, the D300 is the most dust resistant digital SLR I've used.
ADDED ON MARCH 2, 2008: Battery Performance
All digital SLRs have good battery life. I always wanted my D200 to have more battery life, but it never really had a negative impact on my shooting because I always carried two EN-EL3e batteries in the vertical grip. I'm amazed to say that the D300 has over *twice* the battery life of the D200, using the same battery. With a Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 AF-S VR lens, I shot 1023 RAW format images using one fully-charged EN-EL3e battery. This included occasional use of the LCD screen for reviewing, Vibration Reduction use 50% of the time, and below freezing temperatures about 30% of the time. Wow - I've never seen any camera manage its energy use this well. Without question, Nikon leads the way here.
ADDED MARCH 2, 2008: Problems Encountered
I own two D300 bodies. One of them has performed flawlessly from the beginning without a single glitch of any kind, and regardless of the conditions that I expose it to. My other D300 body has had two minor problems. First, it would not autofocus when I initially used it. Several other users have reported this problem and Nikon has been made aware of it. The solution is to put the camera in live view mode, take a photo, then return to your normal shooting mode. Since implementing this solution, I have had no further autofocus issues. Since I never missed a shot because of this problem, and since it is so easily fixed, I consider it to be a minor issue.
UPDATE: I just spoke with someone who had the same issue, but could not resolve it using the above solution. He contacted Nikon and they told him they have no record of any autofocus problems with the D300. In other words, Nikon USA is now lying to its customers! There are extensive posts all over the Internet about this problem and many posters have indicated they received the same run-around from Nikon's customer service. I've been a Nikon user for many years but because of this dishonesty, I may not be for too much longer.
The second problem I've encountered is potentially more critical. On two occasions, the camera went dead and I saw a flashing battery indicator on the LCD, despite the fact that I was using a fully-charged battery. In both cases, the camera had been sitting for several weeks without any use. Current speculation as to the cause of this problem seems to focus on the connection between the contacts of the lens and the lens mount on the camera. This may be caused by a loose connection between the camera lens and the lens mount, or an oily residue found on the lens mount from the factory. Several other users have reported finding the same residue, which none of us have seen on any other camera body that we have purchased over the years. I cleaned all of the lens and lens mount contacts, as well as the lens mount itself with Deoxit cleaner and the problem has not reappeared. However, I am not 100% convinced that this is the problem. If the problem reappears, I'll post my findings here immediately, and return the camera to Nikon for repair. No missed shots yet, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
UPDATE: This problem is now well documented in many online forums and is known as "Dead Battery Syndrome". In the last week, I spoke with two photojournalists who purchased their D300 bodies from two separate dealers and have the exact same problem, mostly with their 70-200mm AF-S lenses, but infrequently with other lenses as well. Like me, they said they no longer trust their D300 in critical situations.
UPDATE (August 18, 2008): Nikon has released a firmware update that is designed to correct the dead battery syndrome. My updated D300 body hasn't had any problems since the firmware update. However, this is an intermittent problem that is more common with some lenses than others, so I can't yet say for sure that the problem is fixed. Two of my colleagues shoot with the D300 and both have installed the firmware update. One of them says the firmware update appears to have fixed his dead battery syndrome. The other says he experienced dead battery syndrome once after installing the update. Interestingly, he had never had it before. So, the verdict is still out on whether this firmware update solves this problem. I'm pleased that Nikon is making an effort to address the problem, but I'm not pleased with the amount of time it took (nine months) for them to do something about it. I'm also not pleased with their track record of denial of the problem. However, I'm increasing my rating of this camera by one star to reflect this update.
Conclusions
Overall, the D300 outperforms the Nikon D200 and even the D2X, while also outperforming comparable offerings from Canon including the 5D and 40D based on my somewhat limited experience with these cameras. Does the D300 "wipe the floor" with these other cameras? Such claims of grandeur are usually made by people who are more obsessed with their equipment than their photography. That being said, the more I shoot with the D300, the more I realize that this is a really nice camera, when I'm not worried about another mechanical failure. Because of these obvious reliability problems and Nikon's dishonest customer service, it's getting more difficult to recommend this camera. Especially since my Sony A350 has proven to have more accurate metering, just as fast focusing, and just as good low light focusing accuracy as the D300 for less than half the price. Of course, the A350 also has far superior live view and in-camera image stabilization. So, unless you need the D300's ruggedness and higher frames per second rate, there may be some better options out there.
Happy shooting!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 1750 This Camera is a Good Choice if You Want Something... Solid Enough for a Professional
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