Nikon D300

[DanH]

So who else got theirs today? I was going to buy mine in the New York next week, but they were selling them for 1200 GBP at Jessops so went for it as 200 quid extra for a warranty and support on a brand new product to market seemed worth it. Especially when you look at the problems Canon are having with their new models needing to be recalled.

Edited by DanH on Friday 23 November 16:46

[DanH]

Wow no one else?!?!

[F355GTS]

Dan

i've ordered mine to replace the D200 but get them through the trade so whilst it's a bit cheaper I have to wait another 3 Weeks

[DanH]

F355GTS said:

Dan

i've ordered mine to replace the D200 but get them through the trade so whilst it's a bit cheaper I have to wait another 3 Weeks

In time for Christmas at least! Only had it out the box for 10 mins so far and never had a camera in this league to compare it with really so I won't make any comments on it. I'm happy so far though.

[_dobbo_]

Yesterday I saw a sample snapped in a camera shop from a D3 taken at ISO6400 and the lack of noise was astonishing. If the D300 is even close to that good I'll be upgrading, just need to find a buyer for the D200 and a few hundred quid.


trudges off to look down the back of the sofa for spare change

[DanH]

D300 now has a CMOS sensor so whilst not FF I have high hopes for the low light sensitivity.

[_dobbo_]

On another forum I lurk about on a pro posted the following about his D3 vs his D2x:

bloke said:

i tried comparing iso200 vs iso3200. even when viewed at 200% i cant tell the difference.
iso6400= D2x ISO200
iso 12800 = D2x ISO400
iso25600 = D2x ISO800.

Which I have no reason to doubt - even if it's a slight exaggeration it's still staggering. A Nikon with better noise performance than Canon - I never thought I'd see that.

I'll reserve judgement on the D300 until I see some full size samples at high ISO, my wallet might prefer it not to be such a big step forward...

[GetCarter]

Thanks Ben... every time I finally decide not to spend all that cash on a D3, I read something like that!

[neilr]

What conditions were the shots taken though? ISO performance (especially high ISO) varies dependant of the amount of available light. In daylight the high ISO of the D2x is perfectly acceptable (i know, ive got one) but in low light (stage lighting for example) my 5D is light years ahead. Horses for courses though really.

Having said that the reviews by well known reviewers and user comments were all highly complementary of the D2x High ISO performance wen it was released, the truth was somewhat different though. 1600ISO on the D1X is at least the same as the D1X, and IMO the files (RAW) responded better to manipulation if needed. My experience of this is limited mainly to artificial stage lighting so your milage may vary of course.

Be nice if Nikon really did have a good performer for High ISO/Low light conditions. Although I wont be buying it, the 5D suits me down to the ground.

That having been said, theres more to photography than ultimate high ISO performance and a techno-w*&kfest. You'd be forgiven these days for wondering how photog managed to even capture an image in bright daylight 10 years ago when all the had was that funny film stuff. Strange, I managed just fine!

[_dobbo_]

GetCarter said:

Thanks Ben... every time I finally decide not to spend all that cash on a D3, I read something like that!

You know you'll crack eventually, it's just a matter of time, as will I. I like to think it's not weakness, I'm not sure the wife would agree.

The guy who wrote that did get given a D3 by Nikon for free... Make of that what you will, though I've seen samples at ISO6400 that blew me away.



edit to add...

neil - having been a "victim" of Nikon's low light high ISO performance for the past several years, you'll have to forgive me clinging to the hope they might finally have caught up with Canon.

I don't think it's a w*nkfest in this instance, I've had otherwise good shots ruined by noise. I suspect that noise is the new megapixel, expect low noise compacts at a Comet near you soon...

Edited by _dobbo_ on Friday 23 November 19:06

[DanH]

D300 on high ISO thread:

http://www.nikoncafe.com/vforums/showthread.php?t=...

Look pretty good at the forum size.

[flat-planedCrank]

DanH said:

D300 on high ISO thread:

http://www.nikoncafe.com/vforums/showthread.php?t=...

Look pretty good at the forum size.

Does look impressive
Need to reserve judgment on whether is outperforms the 1d mk3 / etc.. until we see some 100% crops. Surprising how good shots can look scaled down

[Elderly]

DanH said:

So who else got theirs today? ................... a brand new product to market . ......... look at the problems Canon are having with their new models needing to be recalled.

Edited by DanH on Friday 23 November 16:46

I'm surprised that the D300 appears to be already so widely available in the shops.
It looks an excellent package that I want, rather than need, but I'm telling myself that I can't justify relegating my 7 month old S5Pro to the role of 'back-up' body just yet, and I don't really like being an 'early adopter' for the reason DanH mentioned.

[_dobbo_]

You can't really tell from those forum images - I can still see what looks like substantial noise in the background. Really need to see full size crops to be sure, I might try to think up a way of doing a comparison.

Dan - will you be up for posting some 100% crops if I can think of a way to do a fair(ish) test, I'll post crops from my D200?

[V6GTO]

Dan, first you a sell a Noble to buy Porsche, and then you get a Nicrap...there really is no hope for you, you're a lost cause

M.

Edited by V6GTO on Saturday 24th November 18:52

[DanH]

_dobbo_ said:

You can't really tell from those forum images - I can still see what looks like substantial noise in the background. Really need to see full size crops to be sure, I might try to think up a way of doing a comparison.

Dan - will you be up for posting some 100% crops if I can think of a way to do a fair(ish) test, I'll post crops from my D200?

I would be happy to try, but I have to confess that I'm only really getting into photography now (so yes I don't really need a camera of this quality...) and I don't think I'm likely to do it justice. Additionally, I only have the 18-200 nikor which isn't fast enough I'd have thought to do a fair comparison?

I suspect the mags will be out soon reporting on the quality in low light. British Journal of Photography mag has done its review and it was glowing. They say 'Detail is preserved unusually well at high ISO settings' 'The D300 yields very low noise high ISO images, even with the NR turned off. It's better than the D200 or D2X by a good margin, and equals the D80 despite the higher pixel density'.

[DanH]

V6GTO said:

Dan, first you a sell a Noble to buy Porsche, and then you get a Nicrap...there really is no hope for you, you're a lost cause

M.

Edited by V6GTO on Saturday 24th November 18:52

I know. I have sense

To be honest mate if I could stretch to a 1D mk3 I'd have considered going the crapon route (when they fix the focussing problem), however the d300 really did seem the best camera in the type of price range I have budgeted. I think it may prove to be better than the 5D in most ways. Also I don't like the canon UI as much. I just need a 70-200 F2.8 and I'm set.

The other thing is I'm lazy and I really like the idea of the 18-200 for when I'm travelling and can't be arsed lugging lots of lenses.

The thing that is nagging at me is that I have a suspicion Nikon may move to full frame for their semi pro upwards cameras and I'm about to make a big lens investment. If I could afford a 1d mk3 it would be a no brainer...

Edited by DanH on Saturday 24th November 22:34

[DanH]

Full rockwell review up now :

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d300.htm

[_dobbo_]

Much as I might want to ignore anything Rockwell says - as a D200 owner who has moved on to a D300 he says nothing at all that makes me want to upgrade. My bank balance may live to fight another day... for now

On the other hand, that D3 looks better and better!

[GetCarter]

_dobbo_ said:

On the other hand, that D3 looks better and better!

Stop it!