Nikon D300 Digital Camera (2007)

Name: Nikon D300
Brand: Nikon

A semi-professional digital single-lens reflex camera announced in 2007 with a 12.3-megapixel DX-format sensor and 51-point autofocus system.

Overview

The Nikon D300 is a digital single-lens reflex camera built around a 23.6 x 15.8 mm CMOS sensor. It shoots at a maximum resolution of 4288 x 2848 pixels in a 3:2 aspect ratio. Nikon announced it on August 23, 2007, and it launched in December of that year. It replaced the Nikon D200 and was positioned as a pro-level DX-format DSLR. It shares its launch day with the full-frame Nikon D3, and it served as Nikon’s flagship crop-sensor model. The body is magnesium alloy, and the rear LCD is 3 inches with 921,000 dots of resolution. It supports Live View shooting. It uses the Nikon F mount with AF coupling and contacts, so it works with Nikon F mount lenses that have AF coupling and AF contacts.

Specifications

Screen	3"
ISO range	200 to 6,400 (with Auto ISO)
Autofocus system	51 sensors
Viewfinder	the best finder in 20 years
Exposure compensation	adjustable in thirds (default) or full stops
AF Fine-Tune Adjustment	available, range is "very narrow"
Lens mount	Nikon F mount (with AF coupling and AF contacts)
Sensor	12.3-megapixel
Sensor type	DX format 23.6 mm × 15.8 mm CMOS
Max resolution	4288 x 2848
Image ratio	3:2
Shutter speed range	30 s – 1/8000 s, bulb
Continuous shooting	6 frame/s (8 frame/s with optional MB-D10 battery pack)
Monitor Resolution	921000 Dots
Battery	Nikon EN-EL3e
Weight	About 825 g
Construction	Magnesium alloy

Design

The rear AF selector-mode switch is praised for its thumb-operated design. You can work it without taking your eye from the viewfinder. The control dials are slightly canted for easier access. The camera also has Live View, in-camera lateral chromatic aberration correction, a self-cleaning sensor, and optic-by-optic autofocus fine-tuning. Face detection is claimed to work with D or G lenses. In testing it failed on people but worked reliably on dogs.

Context

The Nikon D300 replaced the D200 in Nikon’s lineup and launched on the same day as the full-frame D3. The D300s succeeded it. That model kept the same sensor but added more features and speed.