Compared to...

As you can see from the balance between the positives / negatives versus the competition (below) the D300 is, on paper at least, one of the strongest DSLRs on the market. Its Live View feature provides both contrast-detect (like a compact digital camera) and passive (mirror-down) auto-focus options as well as a highly magnified option, these deliver excellent usability on the D300's next strong feature; its large, high resolution (640 x 480) LCD monitor and also in a studio setting through its HDMI output. Auto focus is mature and flexible with the highest number of AF points and largest range of selection / grouping options of any camera here and there's almost no need to mention the superb 1005 pixel RGB metering sensor which is widely accepted as probably the best in the business. Dive into the menus and the D300's extensive custom functions make it (along with the D3) one of the most configurable cameras on the market, providing the photographer with a massive range of customization and adjustment.

Positives versus the competition

• Both passive (mirror-down) and contrast-detect auto-focus in Live View
• Full 1:1 magnified view in Live View
• 51 point AF with wide range of selection / grouping options
• White light AF assist lamp (over the EOS 40D and E-3 which require flash to be raised)
• AF 'fine tuning' adjustment can be set for body and per lens
• Arguably the best metering of the bunch (1005 pixel RGB sensor)
• High shutter life
• Fully flexible Auto ISO function (max ISO and min shutter speed configurable)
• Up to eight frames per second continuous shooting with optional grip and battery
• Very flexible control system, various configurable buttons, dial operation
• 3.0" 922,000 dot LCD monitor (also on DSLR-A700)
• Detailed battery information (including lifetime / aging)
• High definition HDMI video output (also on DSLR-A700)

Negatives versus the competition

• Fixed LCD reduces the usefulness of Live View
• No built-in body stabilization (arguable as a negative but seen in two other SLRs here)
• No mirror lock-up (although 'exposure delay' can be used)

	Nikon D300	Canon EOS 40D	Olympus E-3	Sony DSLR-A700
Price (body only)	$1800 [check]	$1300 [check]	$1700 [check]	$1400 [check]
Quality zoom price	• Nikon 18-200mm VR • F3.5-F5.6 • 27-300 mm equiv. • $750	• Canon 17-85mm IS • F4.0-F5.6 • 27.2-136 mm equiv. • $600	• Olympus 14-54 mm • F2.8-F3.5 • 28-108 mm equiv. • $500	• Sony 16-105mm DT • F3.5-F5.6 • 24-157.5 mm equiv. • $550
Dust removal	• Self-cleaning filter • Dust-off image	• Self-cleaning filter • Anti-static coating • Dust delete data	• SSW filter	• CCD-shift shake • Anti-static coating
Environmental sealing	• Splash proof • Dust proof • Sealed lenses available	• Environmental seals on battery and CF compartment doors • Sealed lenses available	• Weatherproof seals throughout • Sealed lenses available	• Weatherproof seals throughout
Sensor type	CMOS	CMOS	Live MOS	CMOS
Sensor size	23.6 x 15.8 mm	22.2 x 14.8 mm	17.3 x 13.0 mm	23.5 x 15.6 mm
Sensor area	373 mm²	329 mm²	225 mm²	367 mm²
Image Stabilization	Lenses only	Lenses only	Built-in sensor shift	Built-in sensor shift
Effective pixels	12.3 million	10.1 million	10.1 million	12.3 million
Aspect ratio	3:2	3:2	4:3	3:2
FOV crop	1.5x	1.6x	2.0x	1.5x
Image size	4288 x 2848	3888 x 2592	3648 x 2736	4272 x 2848
Live View	• Yes • Up to 1:1 pixel view • Contrast detect AF • Mirror flip AF	• Yes • Up to 10x magnify • Mirror flip AF • Different modes	• Yes • Up to 10x magnify • Mirror flip AF	No
Lens support	• Nikon F mount	• Canon EF / EF-S	• Four Thirds	• Sony Alpha • Minolta A-type
File formats	JPEG, TIFF, RAW (NEF 12-bit / NEF 14-bit)	JPEG, RAW (CR2)	JPEG, RAW (ORF)	JPEG, RAW (ARW), cRAW (ARW)
Auto focus	• 51 point • 15 cross-type • -1 to 19 EV	• 9 point • 9 cross-type • -0.5 to 18 EV	• 11 point • 11 cross-type • -2 to 19 EV	• 11 point • 1 double cross-type • 0 to 18 EV • Eye-start AF option
AF illuminator	White lamp	Flash strobe	Flash strobe	Red lamp pattern
AF adjustment	Yes, body and per lens	No	No	No
Metering sensor	1005 pixel RGB	35 zone	49 zone	40 segment
Metering range	0 to 20 EV	0 to 20 EV	1 to 20 EV	0 to 20 EV
Metering modes	3D Color Matrix, CWA, Spot	Evaluative, Partial, Spot, CWA	ESP, CWA, Spot, Highlight spot, Shadow spot	Multi-segment, CWA, Spot
Exp. comp.	+/- 5.0 EV	+/- 2.0 EV	+/- 5.0 EV	+/- 3.0 EV
Exp. comp. EV steps	0.3, 0.5 or 1.0 EV	0.3 or 0.5 EV	0.3, 0.5 or 1.0 EV	0.3 or 0.5 EV
Manual EV steps	0.3, 0.5 or 1.0 EV	0.3 or 0.5 EV	0.3, 0.5 or 1.0 EV	0.3 or 0.5 EV
Sensitivity range (boost setting)	(100), 200 - 3200, (6400)	100 - 1600, (3200)	100 - 3200	100 - 1600, (3200, 6400)
Auto ISO adjust	Max ISO & Min shutter speed selectable	No	Max & Min ISO selectable	Max & Min ISO selectable
Shutter speed	30 - 1/8000 sec	30 - 1/8000 sec	60 - 1/8000 sec	30 - 1/8000 sec
Shutter life	150,000 exposures	100,000 exposures	150,000 exposures	100,000 exposures
Continuous rate (high)	6.0 fps (8.0 fps with battery grip)	6.5 fps	5.0 fps	5.0 fps
Continuous buffer	• 100 JPEG Norm • 17 RAW	• 75 JPEG • 17 RAW	• ?? JPEG • 19 RAW	• Unlimited JPEG • 18 RAW / 25 cRAW
White balance	• 7 presets • Color temp (K) • Manual (4 mem.)	• 6 presets • Color temp (K) • Manual	• 7 presets • Color temp (K) • Manual (4 mem.)	• 6 presets • Color temp (K) • Manual (3 mem.)
Image parameters	• 4 presets • Saturation +/- 3, A • Contrast +/- 3, A • Brightness +/- 1 • Hue +/- 3 • Sharpness 0-9, A • Quick adjust +/- 2	• 6 presets / 3 user • Saturation +/- 4 • Contrast +/- 4 • Color tone +/- 4 • Sharpness 0-7	• 5 presets / 1 user • Saturation +/- 2 • Contrast +/- 2 • Sharpness +/- 2 • Gradation (3)	• 13 presets / 3 user • Saturation +/- 3 • Contrast +/- 3 • Brightness +/-3 • Sharpness +/- 3 • Zone -1 to +2
Noise reduction control	4 levels	1 additional level	4 levels	3 levels
DR / Shadow adjust.	Active D-Lighting (4 levels)	None	Shadow adjustment	DRO (3 modes plus 5 manual settings)
Built-in flash	• Manual pop-up • Guide no. 12 (ISO 100)	• Electronic pop-up • Guide no. 13 (ISO 100)	• Electronic pop-up • Guide no. 13 (ISO 100)	• Manual pop-up • Guide no. 12 (ISO 100)
External flash	• Hot-shoe • PC sync terminal • Wireless flash	• Hot-shoe • PC sync terminal • Wireless flash	• Hot-shoe • PC sync terminal • Wireless flash	• Hot-shoe • PC sync terminal • Wireless flash
Flash sync speed	1/250 sec (1/320 sec reduced Guide no.)	1/250 sec	1/250 sec	1/250 sec
Customizable controls	• FUNC button • FUNC+dials • Multi-selector cent. • Preview button • AE-L/AF-L button • Dials	• SET button • AF-ON button • AE lock button • Dials	• Fn button • AEL/AFL button • Dials	• Custom button • Preview button • AF/MF button • AEL button • Dials
User memories	4 via menu	3 via dial positions	2 via menu	3 via 1 dial position
Delete in record review	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Storage	CF (inc. UDMA)	CF (inc. UDMA)	• CF (inc. UDMA) • xD-Picture Card	• CF (inc. UDMA) • MS Duo / Pro Duo
Viewfinder	• 100% coverage • 0.94x magnification	• 95% coverage • 0.95x magnification	• 100% coverage • 1.15x magnification	• 95% coverage • 0.9x magnification
LCD monitor	• 3.0" TFT LCD • 922,000 dots	• 3.0" TFT LCD • 230,000 dots	• 2.5" TFT LCD • 230,000 dots	• 3.0" TFT LCD • 922,000 dots
LCD articulation	No	No	Yes (flip-out & twist)	No
Top panel LCD	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Battery	11.1 Wh	10.3 Wh	10.8 Wh	11.8 Wh
Battery status	• Percentage (%) • Shots since charge • Battery aging	5 stages	4 stages	Percentage (%)
Vertical grip	Yes, MB-D10	Yes, BP-E2N, BP-E2 & WFT-E3/E3A (WiFi)	Yes, HLD-4	Yes, VG-C70AM
Mirror lock-up	No, exposure delay	Yes, custom function	Yes, 1-30 sec	Yes, with self-timer
Other features	• On demand viewfinder grid • GPS record with optional cable • Retouching	• Custom 'My Menu'	• RAW development • JPEG edit	• Included IR remote
Video output	HDMI (up to 1080i)	Composite	Composite	HDMI (up to 1080i)
Dimensions	147 x 114 x 74 mm (5.8 x 4.5 x 2.9 in)	146 x 108 x 74 mm (5.7 x 4.2 x 2.9 in)	142 x 116 x 75 mm (5.6 x 4.6 x 2.9 in)	142 x 105 x 80 mm (5.6 x 4.3 x 3.3 in)
Weight (no batt)	825 g (1.8 lb)	740 g (1.6 lb)	800 g (1.8 lb)	690 g (1.5 lb)