Nikon D300s Body
The D300S is a compact DX format professional DSLR that stretches the possibilities for photographers who value creative overall flexibility. Features Nikon’s D-movie with in-camera cropping and editing functionality into a discrete overall body, letting you switch swiftly between capturing top-quality pictures or movie clips in stereo* sound. It boasts a extremely sensitive 12.3 megapixel CMOS sensor and supports a phenomenal 7fps continuous shooting. CF and SD card slots enhance workflow versatility, letting you capture photos on one card and movies on another. Nikon’s acclaimed 51-point AF system offers broad coverage and high sensitivity in minimal light. Selectable Picture Controls streamline post-production, and the high definition 3-inch liquid crystal display screen facilitates D-movie and two Live View modes. Guarded by means of a durable, yet light-weight, environmentally-sealed magnesium alloy body, the D300S will probably improve the way you approach the craft of digital photography.
*Compatible stereo microphone essential.
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Nikon D300S Digital SLR Camera (Body Only) List Price: Sale Price: £1,116.30 You save: £383.69 (26%)  Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours Average Rating:   |
Reviews
Nikon D300s
by dogenzenji from on 2010-03-10
Unless you can afford full frame this is the camera to buy. I own both this and the Canon 7D and the Nikon D300s is the better camera in my opinion. Faultless AF and metering and exceptionally fast. Do not skimp on cheap glass. Yes it is pricey but it is worth every penny. Exceptional.
Nikon D300S Digital SLR Fantastic Camera
by Mr. R. Wilkinson from Lisburn, N. Ireland on 2010-05-12
Nikon D300S Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)
I owned the Nikon D300 and was extreemly pleased with same; unfortunately it was stolen.
I replaced it with the D300S and believe that this is the best digital SLR on the market at the price.
However, as other reviewers have recommended - don't "skimp" on lens'.
I have the Nikon 18-200mm VRII lens and this is excellent to keep on the body most of the time.
I use the Sigma 10-20mm 1:4-5.6 DC HSM (a fantastic lens at the price)for wide angle shots and have ordered the Nikon 300mm f4 for wildlife photos.
Two storage card slots, SD and CF, give great flexibility and added security.
The increase to 7 photos per second is an improvement almost totally negating the need for the MD10 Battery pack (that only gives an increase to 8 photos per second).
It is an easy camera to use, with all the "buttons" in the right place allowing for most adjustments without having to resort to the menu system.
It produces colourful, natural, balanced, sharp photos in all lighting conditions.
I'm not very interested in the addition of HD Video as I use a camcorder but it could be useful on occasions that I do not have the camcorder with me.
Above all, Nikon is reliable and is well supported. I still have a D80 as "back-up"; this has been totally reliable over the past five years (used for weddings, competitions and holiday/family photography).
Prices for the D300S Body have come down recently; what are you waiting for? BUY it!
Nikon D300s
by Mr. Michael D. Gibson from UK on 2010-05-09
Baught this camera recently, as a current Nikon owner. However I wasn't focussing entirely on Nikon, looking at other competitors such as Canon and a little at Sony (but they are smaller). I was looking for an upgrade from my D40x which is a superb camera, but is starting to wear out! I found that this Nikon is an excellent camera, rather expensive (breaking through the £1K barrier!) but is certainly worth every penny. It offers 12.5 Megapixels, which you might think is a bit measly for the price, but compared to Canon with their equivalent 7D at 18Megapixels, Nikon have really refined the quality onto the sensor - so at stupidly High ISOs you can expect to see less grain and noise than that of the Canon where they've just crammed more pixels onto the same size sensor.
As Ken Rockwell, a great camera reviewer says "unless you're printing Bismark size" there's not much point in a larger size photograph - and its all space on your hard-drive!! These were the dilemmas I went though in this purchase.
But, the Nikon is excellent, and on printing some awesome photographs with great clarity and colour representation (which I think I read somewhere was a downfall of the Canon esp in low light). It has a nice texture to hold on the camera surface, although a little heavy if holding with one hand, it certainly feels sturdy and well built.
I found the menu system very easy to get around, which I felt was little confusing on the Canon, but I guess you get used to your own camera. With a large vivid LCD on the rear makes reviewing shots easy, and information display. It also has a Live View mode, with a horizon status which is very cool. And for those who pointlessly want to record video on it, its 720p and looks great.
I'd definitely recommend it, but I'd also say my Nikon D40x is nearly as good, but smaller! So if you're not looking for size (I wanted to have a larger camera to fit my monkey sized hands!!) then maybe a smaller and cheaper Nikon would be more suitable. But if you're getting this one, its worth it all the way!
Great Camera
by I. Bailey from London, UK on 2010-03-25
This is my second Nikon SLR (had a D70 before). Fantastic camera - esp. good with 35mm f1.8 Nikkor lens.
It's a bit heavy, but provided that doesn't put you off, there is nothing to complain about this camera.
Solid and well made camera.
by Nikon d300s Ian from on 2010-06-03
When you first pick up this camera compared to older or less expensive nikon slr's you realise what you have been missing ,every where you put your hands and fingers there is grip,I also purchased the mb-d10 battery pack,loads of grip and an added scroll button when in portrait shoot mode,however I do like the way the batteries come out of the mb d80 better.
Easy to use all the controls you need without going into the main menu,I would have gone for the d300,but there was no dedicated live view button also this one has a few upgrades one of which is dual memory card slots (nice).
I suppose I will keep hold of this camera until I can afford a full frame version like the d3s but a little pricey at moment.
Key Features:
- 12.3 megapixel DX format CMOS image sensor. Self-cleaning sensor unit minimizes the effect of dust.
- 7fps continuous shooting (8fps when shooting with the optional MB-D10 battery pack).
- D-Movie records beautiful, high-definition (HD) movie clips in stereo sound* with start/stop Edit function.
- Dual card slots: CF and SD card slots for enhanced workflow flexibility.
- ISO 200-3200: extendable up to ISO 6400 (equivalent) and down to ISO 100 (equivalent).
- EXPEED image processing engine with 14-bit A/D conversion and 16-bit image processing for superb tonal gradation.
- Multi-CAM3500DX 51-point AF system. Individually selectable or configurable in 9-point, 21-point and 51-point coverage settings.
- Quick response with approx 0.13 second power-up and 45 millisecond shutter release time lag.
- Quiet shooting mode: perfect for discrete photography, the sound of the camera’s mechanisms are noticeably reduced.
- Picture Controls streamline in-camera image processing by enabling customization of image parameters before capture, and offer complete control over sharpening, contrast, brightness, hue and saturation in various color modes.
- 920,000 dot 3-inch VGA LCD monitor with wide, 170- degree viewing angle.
- Active D-Lighting enables superior high-contrast images by automatically applying tone compensation at the moment of capture.
- Durable, magnesium alloy body: water and dust resistant.
- Durable shutter unit tested to 150 000 cycles.
- HDMI video output interface enables connection to high-definition video systems.
- Intuitive ergonomics with optimized button placement for fast and comfortable handling.
- *Compatible stereo microphone required.
Specifications:
| Type | Single-lens reflex digital camera |
| Lens mount | Nikon F mount (with AF coupling and AF contacts) |
| Effective picture angle | Approx. 1.5 x conversion factor (Nikon DX format) |
| Effective pixels | 12.3 million |
| Image sensor | 23.6 x 15.8 mm CMOS sensor |
| Total pixels | 13.1 million |
| Dust-reduction system | Image Sensor Cleaning, Image Dust Off reference data (requires optional Capture NX 2 software) |
| Image size (pixels) | 4,288 x 2,848 [L], 3,216 x 2,136 [M], 2,144 x 1,424 [S] |
| File format | • NEF (RAW): 12 or 14 bit, lossless compressed, compressed, or uncompressed
• TIFF (RGB) • JPEG: JPEG-Baseline compliant with fine (approx. 1:4), normal (approx. 1:8) or basic (approx. 1:16) compression (Size priority); Optimal quality compression available • NEF (RAW) + JPEG: Single photograph recorded in both NEF (RAW) and JPEG formats |
| Picture Control System | Can be selected from Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome; storage for up to nine custom Picture Controls |
| Media | Type I CompactFlash memory cards (UDMA compliant); SD memory cards, SDHC compliant |
| Dual card slots | Either card can be used as the primary card; secondary card can be used for overflow or backup storage, or for separate storage of NEF (RAW) and JPEG images; images can be copied between cards |
| File system | DCF (Design Rule for Camera File System) 2.0, DPOF (Digital Print Order Format), Exif 2.21 (Exchangeable Image File Format for Digital Still Cameras), PictBridge |
| Viewfinder | Eye-level pentaprism single-lens reflex viewfinder |
| Viewfinder frame coverage | Approx. 100% horizontal and 100% vertical |
| Magnification | Approx. 0.94 x (50mm f/1.4 lens at infinity; -1.0 m-1) |
| Eyepoint | 19.5 mm (-1.0 m-1) |
| Diopter adjustment | -2 to +1 m-1 |
| Focusing screen | Type B BriteView Clear Matte screen Mark II with AF area brackets (framing grid can be displayed) |
| Reflex mirror | Quick return |
| Depth-of-field preview | When depth-of-field preview button is pressed, lens aperture is stopped down to value selected by user (A and M modes) or by camera (P and S modes) |
| Lens aperture | Instant return, electronically controlled |
| Compatible lenses | • DX NIKKOR: All functions supported
• Type G or D AF NIKKOR: All functions supported (PC Micro-NIKKOR does not support some functions); IX-NIKKOR lenses not supported • Other AF NIKKOR: All functions supported except 3D color matrix metering II; lenses for F3AF not supported • AI-P NIKKOR: All functions supported except 3D color matrix metering II • Non-CPU: Can be used in exposure modes A and M; color matrix metering and aperture value display supported if user provides lens data (AI lenses only) •Electronic rangefinder can be used if maximum aperture is f/5.6 or faster |
| Type | Electronically-controlled vertical-travel focal-plane shutter |
| Speed | 1/8,000 to 30 s in steps of 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV, bulb, X250 |
| Flash sync speed | X = 1/250 s; synchronizes with shutter at 1/320 s or slower (flash range drops at speeds between 1/250 and 1/320 s) |
| Release modes | Single frame, continuous low speed, continuous high speed, quiet shutter-release, self-timer, mirror up |
| Frame advance rate | With Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL3e: Approx. 1 to 7 fps (CL), approx. 7 fps (CH);
With optional Multi-Power Battery Pack MB-D10 and Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL4a: Approx. 1 to 7 (CL) fps, approx. 8 fps (CH)* * With a battery other than Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL4a, the continuous shooting speed may be slower than 8 fps in continuous high-speed mode. |
| Self-timer | Can be selected from 2, 5, 10 and 20 s duration |
| Metering | TTL exposure metering using 1,005-pixel RGB sensor |
| Method | • Matrix: 3D color matrix metering II (type G and D lenses); color matrix metering II (other CPU lenses); color matrix metering available with non-CPU lenses if user provides lens data
• Center-weighted: Weight of 75% given to 8-mm circle in center of frame. Diameter of circle can be changed to 6, 10 or 13 mm, or weighting can be based on average of entire frame (fixed at 8 mm when non-CPU lens is used) • Spot: Meters 3-mm circle (about 2% of frame) centered on selected focus point (on center focus point when non-CPU lens is used) |
| Range (ISO 100 equivalent, f/1.4 lens, 20°C/68°F) | • Matrix or center-weighted metering: 0 to 20 EV
• Spot metering: 2 to 20 EV |
| Exposure meter coupling | Combined CPU and AI |
| Exposure modes | Programmed auto with flexible program (P); Shutter-priority auto (S); Aperture-priority auto (A); Manual (M) |
| Exposure compensation | -5 to +5 EV in increments of 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV |
| Exposure bracketing | 2 to 9 frames in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 2/3 or 1 EV |
| Exposure lock | Luminosity locked at detected value with AE-L/AF-L button |
| ISO sensitivity (Recommended Exposure Index) | ISO 200 to 3200 in steps of 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV; can also be set to approx. 0.3, 0.5, 0.7 or 1 EV (ISO 100 equivalent) below ISO 200 or to approx. 0.3, 0.5, 0.7 or 1 EV (ISO 6400 equivalent) above ISO 3200 |
| Active D-Lighting | Can be selected from auto, extra high, high, normal, low or off |
| ADL bracketing | 2 to 5 frames with strength levels varying according to number of frames chosen; for 2 frames, off and a chosen level are applied |
| Autofocus | Nikon Multi-CAM 3500DX autofocus sensor module with TTL phase detection, fine-tuning, 51 focus points (including 15 cross-type sensors) and AF-assist illuminator (range approx. 0.5 to 3 m/1 ft. 8 in. to 9 ft. 10 in.) |
| Autofocus detection range | -1 to +19 EV (ISO 100 equivalent, 20°C /68°F) |
| Lens servo | • Autofocus: Single-servo AF (S); continuous-servo AF (C); predictive focus tracking automatically activated according to subject status
• Manual (M): Electronic rangefinder supported |
| Focus point | Can be selected from 51 or 11 focus points |
| AF-area modes | Single-point AF, dynamic-area AF, auto-area AF |
| Focus lock | Focus can be locked by pressing shutter-release button halfway (Single-servo AF) or by pressing AE-L/AF-L button |
| Built-in flash | Manual pop-up with button release; Guide number of 17/56 (m/ft., ISO 200, 20 °C/68 °F) or 12/39 (m/ft., ISO 100 equivalent, 20 °C/68 °F) |
| Flash control | • TTL: i-TTL balanced fill-flash and standard i-TTL flash for digital SLR using 1,005-pixel RGB sensor are available with built-in flash, Speedlight SB-900, SB-800, SB-600 or SB-400
• Auto aperture: Available with Speedlight SB-900 or SB-800 and CPU lens • Non-TTL auto: Supported flash units include Speedlight SB-900, SB-800, SB-28, SB-27 and SB-22S • Range-priority manual: Available with Speedlight SB-900 and SB-800 |
| Flash modes | Front curtain sync, slow sync, rear-curtain sync, red-eye reduction, red-eye reduction with slow sync |
| Flash compensation | -3 to +1 EV in increments of 1/3, 1/2 or 1 EV |
| Flash bracketing | 2 to 9 frames in steps of 1/3, 1/2, 2/3 or 1 EV |
| Flash-ready indicator | Lights when built-in flash or flash unit such as Speedlight SB-900, SB-800, SB-600, SB-400, SB-80DX, SB-28DX or SB-50DX is fully charged; blinks after flash is fired at full output |
| Accessory shoe | ISO 518 hot-shoe with sync and data contacts, and safety lock |
| Nikon Creative Lighting System (CLS) | Advanced Wireless Lighting supported with built-in flash, Speedlight SB-900, SB-800 or SU-800 as commander and SB-900, SB-800, SB-600 or SB-R200 as remotes; Auto FP High-Speed Sync and modeling illumination supported with all CLS-compatible flash units except SB-400; Flash Color Information Communication and FV lock supported with all CLS-compatible flash units |
| Sync terminal | ISO 519 sync terminal with locking thread |
| White balance | Auto (TTL white-balance with main image sensor and 1,005-pixel RGB sensor), Incandescent, Fluorescent (7 options), Direct Sunlight, Flash, Cloudy, Shade, preset manual (able to store up to 5 values) and color temperature setting (2,500K to 10,000K); fine-tuning available for all options |
| White balance bracketing | 2 to 9 frames in steps of 1, 2 or 3 |
| Live View modes | Tripod, Hand-held |
| Live View autofocus | • Tripod: Contrast-detect AF anywhere in frame
• Hand-held: TTL phase-detection AF with 51 focus points (including 15 cross-type sensors) |
| Movie frame size (pixels) | 1,280 x 720/24 fps, 640 x 424/24 fps, 320 x 216/24 fps |
| Movie file format | AVI |
| Movie compression format | Motion-JPEG |
| Movie autofocus | Contrast-detect AF on a desired point within a frame is possible (Tripod mode) |
| Movie audio | Sound can be recorded via built-in (monaural) or optional external (stereo/monaural) microphone; sensitivity can be adjusted |
| Movie maximum length | 5 min (1,280 x 720 pixels), 20 min (640 x 424, 320 x 216 pixels) |
| LCD monitor | 3-in., approx. 920k-dot (VGA), low-temperature polysilicon TFT LCD with 170° viewing angle, approx. 100% frame coverage, and brightness adjustment |
| Playback function | Full-frame and thumbnail (4, 9 or 72 images) playback with playback zoom, movie playback, slide show, histogram display, highlights, auto image rotation, and image comment (up to 36 characters) |
| USB | Hi-Speed USB |
| Audio video output | Can be selected from NTSC and PAL |
| HDMI output | HDMI Mini connector (Type C); camera monitor turns off when HDMI cable is connected |
| Audio input | Stereo mini-pin jack (3.5-mm diameter) |
| 10-pin remote terminal | Can be used to connect optional remote control, GPS Unit GP-1 or GPS device compliant with NMEA0183 version 2.01 or 3.01 (requires optional GPS Cable MC-35 and cable with D-sub 9-pin connector) |
| Supported languages | Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish |
| Battery | One Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL3e |
| Battery pack | Optional Multi-Power Battery Pack MB-D10 with one Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL3e, EN-EL4a/EN-EL4 or eight R6/AA-size alkaline, Ni-MH, lithium or nickel-manganese batteries; Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL4a/EN-EL4 and R6/AA-size batteries available separately; Battery Chamber Cover BL-3 (available separately) required when using Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL4a/EN-EL4 |
| AC adapter | AC Adapter EH-5a/EH-5 (available separately) |
| Tripod socket | 1/4 in. (ISO 1222) |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | Approx. 147 x 114 x 74 mm/5.8 x 4.5 x 2.9 in. |
| Weight | Approx. 840 g/1 lb. 14 oz. without battery, memory card, body cap or monitor cover |
| Temperature | 0-40°C/32-104°F |
| Humidity | Less than 85% (no condensation) |
| Supplied accessories (may differ by country or area) | Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL3e, Quick Charger MH-18a, Eyepiece Cap DK-5, Rubber Eyecup DK-23, USB Cable UC-E4, Audio Video Cable EG-D2, Camera Strap AN-DC4, LCD Monitor Cover BM-8, Body Cap BF-1A, Accessory Shoe Cover BS-1, Software Suite CD-ROM |
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Nikon D300S Digital SLR Camera (Body Only) List Price: Sale Price: £1,116.30 You save: £383.69 (26%) Eligible for free shipping!Average Rating: |
 Nikon D300 Body Only List Price: Sale Price: £1,349.00 You save: £197.76 (13%) Eligible for free shipping!Average Rating: |
