Nikon D300S

Nikon D300S

Type	Digital single-lens reflex
Sensor	23.6 mm × 15.8 mm Nikon DX format RGB CMOS sensor, 1.5 × FOV crop, 5.50µm pixel size
Maximum resolution	4288 × 2848 pixels (12.3 megapixels)
Lens	Interchangeable, Nikon F-mount
Flash	Built in Pop-up, Guide number 13m at ISO 100, Standard ISO hotshoe, Compatible with the Nikon Creative Lighting System
Shutter	Electronically-controlled vertical-travel focal-plane shutter
Shutter speed range	30 s to 1/8000 s in 1/2 or 1/3 stops and Bulb, 1/250 s X-sync, 1/320 s X-sync with Nikon SB-600/800/900.
ASA/ISO range	200–3200 in 1, 1/2 or 1/3 EV steps (down to 100 and up to 6400 as expansion)
Exposure metering	TTL 3D Color Matrix Metering II metering with a 1005 pixel RGB sensor
Exposure modes	Programmed auto with flexible program (P), shutter-priority auto (S), aperture-priority auto (A), manual (M), (Q) quiet mode.
Metering modes	3D Color Matrix Metering II, Center-weighted and Spot
Focus areas	51-area AF system, Multi-CAM 3500DX AF Sensor Module
Focus modes	Instant single-servo (AF-S); continuous-servo (AF-C); auto AF-S/AF-C selection (AF-A); manual (M)
Continuous shooting	7 frame/s (8 frame/s with optional MB-D10 battery grip).
Viewfinder	Optical 0.94x, 100% Pentaprism
Flash bracketing	2 or 3 frames in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 2/3, 1 or 2 EV
Custom WB	Auto, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Sunlight, Flash, Cloudy, Shade, Kelvin temperature, Preset
Rear LCD monitor	3.0-inch 920,000 pixel (VGA × 3 colors) TFT-LCD
Storage	CompactFlash (Type I) and Secure Digital, SDHC compatible
Battery	EN-EL3e (7.4 V, 1500 mAh) Rechargeable Lithium-Ion
Weight	Approx. 840 g (1.85 lb) without battery, memory card or body cap
Made in	Thailand

The Nikon D300S is a 12.3-megapixel DX format digital single-lens reflex camera (DSLR) announced by Nikon on 30 July 2009. It replaces the D300 as Nikon's flagship DX format DSLR adding HD video recording (with autofocus). It has some similarities to the Nikon D700, with the same resolution, but has a smaller, higher-density sensor.^[1] The D300s was finally superseded by the Nikon D500, announced on January 5, 2016.

Features

• Nikon's 12.3 megapixel Nikon DX format CMOS sensor.
• Nikon EXPEED image/video processor with 12- or 14-bit processing.
• D-Movie mode 720p, 24 frame/s, AVI, with contrast autofocus and ability to use smaller apertures.
• 16 bit/44.1 kHz stereo sound and external stereo input. Optional manual sound level control.
• In-camera movie editing
• Active D-Lighting with bracketing and Auto / Extra High Active options.
• Automatic correction of lateral chromatic aberration for JPEGs. Correction-data is additionally stored in RAW-files and used by Nikon Capture NX, View NX and some other RAW tools.
• Expanded Retouch menu
• Shutter unit tested to 150,000 cycles.
• Quiet shutter mode.
• Live view mode with dedicated Live View button
• 3.0-inch 920,000-dot resolution VGA TFT LCD
• Dual slots for CompactFlash (Type I) and Secure Digital, SDHC compatible memory cards. Backup, overflow and RAW/JPEG separate mode.
• Continuous Drive up to 7 frames per second and 8 frames per second with optional MB-D10 battery grip.
  • The rated maximum speed is available when recording JPEGs or 12-bit RAW files. However, when recording 14-bit RAW files, the maximum speed is only 2.5 fps.^[2]
• Faster startup, shutter release and autofocus time
• 3D Color Matrix Metering II with Scene Recognition System.
• 3D Tracking Multi-CAM 3500DX autofocus sensor module with 51 AF points.
• Nikon F-mount lenses.
• i-TTL flash exposure system with built-in wireless CLS (Nikon Creative Lighting System) control.

• Virtual horizon.
• File formats: JPEG, TIFF, NEF (Nikon's RAW, 12- or 14-bit compressed or lossless compressed), AVI (Motion JPEG).
• Up to 950 (CIPA) shots on a single EN-EL3e (7.4 V, 1500 mAh) rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery.
• Built-in flash covers 16 mm
• Dedicated center Direction pad button.
• Dedicated Info button.
• GPS interface for direct geotagging supported by Nikon GP-1

Reception

The Nikon D300S has been tested by a number of independent reviewers, receiving generally favorable reviews.^[3][4][5] Digital Photography Review concluded in its extensive review: "The D300S is not the standout product that its predecessor was and unless you find your clients are clamoring for video footage, we can't see much need for existing owners to upgrade. But that shouldn't take away from an absolutely excellent product – a gently polished and refined update of a product that we considered a benchmark when it was released."^[6]

ePHOTOzine.com said that there was "a lot of scoffing at the release of this camera simply due to its only visible upgrade which is the inclusion of video. But it doesn't look like Nikon have been sitting back on their laurels at all and I think this is a worthy camera to add to the stable."^[7]

References

1. Richard Butler and Andy Westlake (July 30, 2009). "Nikon D300S brief hands-on". Digital Photography Review. Retrieved December 16, 2009.
2. Laing, Gordon (September 2009). "Nikon D300s: Features". CameraLabs.com. Retrieved October 5, 2011.
3. "Nikon D300S – Digital Camera Reviews". Digital Camera Tracker. December 4, 2009. Retrieved December 16, 2009.
4. Nikon D300S Expert Reviews Alatest
5. Nikon D300s review summary Dcviews
6. http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/nikond300s/ Nikon D300S Review at Digital Photography Review
7. http://www.ephotozine.com/article/Nikon-D300s-11934 Nikon D300S Review at ePHOTOzine.com

External links

• Nikon D300S – Nikon global website
• Nikon D300S Microsite
• Nikon D300S A/B 1.0.1 firmware update released January 6, 2010