Nikon D300s - Keeping Up with the Times

Nikon D300s - Semi-pro Goodness with HD Video

Reviewing new products and successors are generally easy when they come with a list of upgrades and a bevy of feature enhancements. Then there are times when a new product is just rehash with minor tweaks, such as the Nikon D300s. That's not to say it isn't exciting because products that have less obvious enhancements are generally those that have established themselves so well that they becomes a blueprint for the next iteration. While we do think that Nikon could have added a bit more to the feature set, the improvements they did end up making are worth considering.

What's Different (or rather, What's the Same)?

The original D300 was indeed a monumental upgrade from the older, but trustworthy, D200. Most industry watchers, and of course Nikon fans, were delighted and overjoyed with the upgrades that came with it. The new D300s however differs very slightly from the D300. In fact, for the most part, the D300s is almost identical to the D300 - same 12.3MP sensor, same ISO range (100 - 6400, expanded), similar functions, slightly different feel due to a reduction in the rear grip area, similar noise handling.

The only upgrade that we would consider to be of real value to new adopters would be the video capabilities (720p at 24fps), and the slight increase in shooting speed (from 6 to 7fps without the battery grip). Oh, and say hello to the SD card slot, a first for a Nikon semi-pro DSLR. The first Nikon camera to introduce dual memory card slots was the D3, allowing you to use two CF cards simultaneously. The D300s also allows you to set how you want to manage your files. It allows simultaneous RAW and JPEG recording into two different cards in either overflow mode (recording in the next available card when the first becomes full), or still pictures in one and videos in the other.

The other significant change you'll see on the body is mainly aesthetic; for one, the button layout has been slightly rearranged to mimic the D700. This is particularly beneficial for photographers who use dual cameras when shooting. Having the exact, if not similar, button layout would mean speedier shooting and improved efficiency when changing settings on the fly.

Besides these key differences, the D300s is pretty much a minor improvement over the two-year-old D300. Check out the comparison of specifications in the table below:

Handling the D300s

As with most Nikon cameras, the D300s is solidly built, unlike some competing models which can feel plasticky, especially for those priced at the lower- and mid-level. Then again, you can always argue that this is why there's a substantial price difference; Nikon tends to lean on the pricier side for all its DSLRs, but at least it has good reason for doing so; the feel and weight of the body is certainly a factor.

The feel of the D300s is, again, very much the same as the D300. One difference that I would like to point out is that rear grip (where you usually place your thumb when shooting) seems to have had its surface area reduced, making the camera slightly harder to grasp with one hand. For those of you who have a habit of handling the camera with one hand while looking for interesting subjects to shoot, we suggest you take note of this aspect and factor it in when shopping for your next DSLR.

The camera has a good weight to it and doesn't seem overbalanced in our hands (with or without a lens). The button placement suggests an intuitive placement for the general photographer, giving you access to the most oft-used functions without having to delve into the menu. Need to format your card? Press the two buttons with the red dots beside them. Need to reset your settings? Press the two buttons marked with green dots. You spend less time diving into the menu system, and more time concentrating on what matters most: taking photos.

The design fundamentals of the D300 haven't changed drastically from the earlier Nikon DSLRs, and most Nikonians would be thankful for that. This again builds familiarity and comfort for every Nikon user looking to upgrade, perhaps from that D70s, D80 or D90. D700 owners will also be pleased with the D300s, knowing that the button layout is the same as the former, save for the inclusion of a dedicated Live View button just under the rear directional pad.

The 51-AF points system that Nikon provides in the D300s is something that sports photography enthusiasts will surely rejoice for tracking moving subjects. In fact, it's the same system used on the D3, D700 and the older D300. However, the shutter button does feel a little unresponsive at times, especially when holding it at the half-press position to lock your focus.

Even the directional pad is the same as on the D3 and the D700; the inclusion of the center button does make it easier for you to quickly switch back to the center AF point should the need arise. The directional pad on the D300 did have a problem in this particular area; every time you try to press the middle of the directional pad, the chances of you activating any other surrounding AF points is much higher because of the way the pad was designed. At least that little problem has been fixed on the D300s.

Video Quality Matters

Granted, this may only be Nikon's second foray into a video capable DSLR (the first being the D90), ardent Nikon fans would no doubt recall the rolling shutter issue the D90 suffers from. The D300s unfortunately exhibits the same problem.

To quickly recap, the D90 suffers from a jelly-like wobble every time you pan the camera (that is, moving the camera sideways from left to right, or vice versa). If your subject has straight, vertical edges, you can see these edges and lines bend and sway. For the football fans among us, you could say it mimics David Beckham's famous free-kicks. If you were to treat the video functionality as a bonus function, this might not be too bad of a concern for you.

Now, you would think that Nikon would have a fix for this, especially since the D300s is the second DSLR in their lineup to feature video (though also being the first semi-pro Nikon camera to do so), this doesn't appear to be the case. With the professional-level D3s hitting the markets soon, and with it too possessing video capabilities, we can only hope that Nikon fixes this problem soon. Or Nikon could remove it entirely and stick to what it is they do best - great looking stills.

You can find two great videos here taken by professionals prior to the launch of the D300s. Both videos were taken off Nikon Australia's YouTube channel:-

Do note that these videos are to be considered as professional works, and results will vary from person to person. If you didn't manage to notice any problems with the video, try looking at around the 10-second mark for the second video - look carefully at the rotor blades as the helicopter takes off. Also, be sure to check out the comments in the respective videos to see what other 'Internet critiques' had to say about the video capabilities of the D300s.

The Imaging Quality

So, how are the photos? To be perfectly honest, there's very little to add on that hasn't already been said in our previous review of the D300 (on our sister HWM publication). It's the same sensor (and megapixel count), with the only real addition being video capability on the D300s. As such, the photos from the D300s look just as great as the D300, which it managed well overall.

While the D300s isn't exactly the best performer when it comes to high ISO shots (the honour, for this category of cameras, belongs to Canon's EOS 7D), the camera does produce decent shots up to ISO3200. Slap on a fast prime lens, like the 85mm f/1.4, and the D300s will probably cover your low light shots very well.

The provided kit lens is, well, just that. While the range (18-135mm) suggests that this package might entice the first-time DSLR buyers, seasoned users will no doubt be better off just getting the body only.

More Sample Shots

Conclusion

So, do you really need this new camera body? This is the question that most DSLR owners will ask themselves whenever a new model gets launched. To be perfectly honest, if you already own a D300, stick to it. The D300s offers you just minor upgrades, so minor that you may have to think twice (or more) before committing the S$2,999 list price for it.

If you intend to use this as a video camera, and you already have a D90 or D300, ask yourself these following questions: Will you use the video function often enough to justify the expenditure? And does the jelly-like wobbling disturb you? If the answers are yes and no respectively, then by all means, go ahead. If you're looking for a camera solely for still pictures, you may want to consider instead the D300.

What if you're upgrading from an entry level DSLR? The D300s is mostly definitely an ideal candidate, more so if you need the extra video functionality that's able to record in 720p resolution at 24fps.

For what it's worth, the Nikon D300s scores 4 out of 5 in this review, having inherited a large proportion of technology from its D300 predecessor.

In a nutshell, the new Nikon D300s retains the goodness of the D300 with HD video recording functionality.

Our articles may contain affiliate links. If you buy through these links, we may earn a small commission.