Nikon D300

Sorry D200 users. I think it IS worthwhile to make the upgrade to the D300. It does everything just a little better.
When I first bought the D300 I put my big Pro lenses on it and carried on using the D200 with the 18-200. I like the D200, I was at home with it. After about 4 months I realsed I'd hardly used the D300 at all so I forced myself to use it - by putting the 18-200 on it.

First thing to master is the focussing system. There are 51 focussing points all over the viewfinder. My camera is set up so that the camera chooses what it thinks is the best focussing point and displays all the points that are in focus. This sounds easy but it took me a while to trust it. I can always switch back to a single-oint focus like I have on my D200.

The rest is easy. The exposure is even more accurate than on the D200, so is the flash exposure, I have set up Active D-lighting on a custom menu for high-contrast situations. I haven't noticed any noise yet (I have auto-ISO enabled, and I use 3200 ISO more often than I was expecting.

I just got back from holiday with the D70, which has allowed me to measure the progress made in only 4 years. Shooting RAW on the D70 and correcting the image in NX afterwards, I can get the results. But I have to spend time over it. The D200 was a leap in advance and the D300 is another step forwards. I feel I have a camera that makes a lot of good choices and that finally improves my chances of getting the shot right.

Viewfinder. Focussing system. Exposure. Flash exposure. Noise. Active D-lighting. Custom menus.
Feels like the camera is on my side and is helping me.

It's rather heavy. This is fine for serious shoots but for wandering about I prefer something lighter
No true 100 ISO setting. For studio shoots I use the D200.

Nikon D200
Nikon D70
Nikon F100

Haven't used it

Best d**n camera I've ever used. A masterpiece of design, handling and function. And, of course, the output is superb.

Just about everything is great - well worth the price. BTW, the dust removal mechanism also works great. The battery life is superb.

When shooting in RAW the CA reduction does not take place in the camera. You have to use Capture NX.

D2X, D200, D70s plus several Canon bodies

Friendly and knowledgeable.

I am a very satisfied D200 owner. I was given the opportunity to try a D300 for several weeks and must admit it is a very fine camera. For a vast majority of the D200 users, the 200 is all you need. You will not see that big a difference in image quality if you are keeping your enlargements 16x20 and under, which is what most of us do! I am amazed when I read the reviews by DSLR owners in regards to how many they have owned in the past 6 years or so. The digital world is trying to turn us into equipment junkies!! Think about how long you used the same film camera. I used by Nikon F4s for over 10 years! Then my F5 for nearly as long! I went from the D70 to the D100 to the D200 in less than 5 years!! ENOUGH already. The D300 is great, but for my needs, the 200 is fabulous. Maybe in about 5 or 6 years I'll but the D700!!!

Great for low light, if that is your thing. More autofocus points, but considering the difference, the image quality is not that different unless you enlarge poster-size!

Bracketing is more difficult. If you are not enlarging beyond 16x20, the price difference is such that you are better off getting a D200 with a nice lens!

D200

I write very brief reviews. This my fourth Nikon DSLR. I am very delighted with this camera. I was amazed with the accuracy of the exposures I am getting compared to my previous Nikons. The photographs I am getting from this camera are first-rate. If you are a Nikon person, you will not be disappointed.

Very fast. Image quality;most people will never need more than the 12.3 megapixels this camera has. Someone mentioned the battery life. I noticed it runs down a bit sooner than my previous Nikons, however, I have never found this to be an issue. Wonderful LCD screen. It's a great help doing portraits. The results at higher ISO settings are very impressive.

Not really a weakness but I wish it had the full sensor that the D3 has. This would help improve quality much more than extra megapixels could ever do. Although I have a 12-24 zoom lens for this camera, I still want the full frame without paying five grand. Plus, I would not want to lug around the extra weight. No ISO 100.

Several Nikon DSLR cameras, various other cameras in my forty + years of taking snapshots. A raft of lenses and professional lighting equipment. Images look great from my Epson Photo R2400.

I have never had a need to have any of my Nikon equipment repaired. I don't know if this is normal. However, Roberts (Indianapolis) is a very fine camera store with great prices and great sales people.

When first released I was reticent and did not intend to buy the D300. I was happily playing with a D2XS and a D3 when the shop assistant handed me a D300. I was amazed. And 3 months later continue to be amazed.

As a wildlife photographer I turned to digital to gain extra reach and have owned D1 D100 D2H and D200. I thought the D300 would be like the D200 with gimics. It is not it is a step change in technology

In comparison with the D2X it has less noise and is lighter

Lined up against the D3 it scores less well on noise but has more pixel density and so gives better resolution and also crops the image to give more reach. While the D3 (like the D2X) can be cropped pixel density is lost

Size and weight wise it is great it handles well and follows traditional Nikon layout protocols, having handled it for 10 minutes there was no alternative other than to walk out of the store with one

Autofocus seems faster and less prone to hunting than D200 / D2

Buy this if you do; macro live view zoomed gives you the chance to get absolutely crisp images, are a wildlife photographer who needs the crop and magnification of the DX format, your agency is demanding bigger and higher resolution files

Live view - for macro work and shots in awkward positions (ground level or overhead)

Size and weight and great handling

Awesome image quality better than the D2Xs

Improved noise

Price 2 x D300 < 1 x D3

Build quality and sealing

Battery life

Custom menu function

None spotted yet, though I do wish Nikon would supply more discrete straps. The yellow on black screams out "mug me" and it certainly isn't camouflage

D200, D2H, D2Hs, D2X, F5, F100