Making engineering with pro-level features, functionality and performance, the 12.3 effective mega pixel Nikon D300 digital camera combines latest new technologies with advanced features; functionalities get from Nikon’s newly announced D3 professional digital SLR camera to offer photographers remarkable performance combined with agility and functionality. The D300 features Nikon’s exclusive EXPEED Image Processing System that is midrate to driving the speed and processing power needed for many of the camera’s new features. The D300 features a new 51-point auto focus system with Nikon’s 3D Focus Tracking feature and the two new Live Views are shooting modes that allow users to frame a photograph using the camera’s high-resolution LCD monitor.
The Nikon D300 promises to greatly enhance the accuracy of auto focus, auto exposure and auto white balance by recognizing the subject or scene being photographed and applying this information to the calculations for the three functions. The D300 reacts with lightning speed, powering up in a mere 0.13 seconds and shooting with a45 millisecond shutter release lag time. The D300 is have the capability of shooting at a fast six frames per second and can go as fast as eight frames per second when using the another option MB-D10 Multi-Power Battery Pack. In continuous bursts, the D300 can shoot up to 100 shots at full 12.3 mega pixel resolution. To handle this tsunami of data, Nikon turned to the D3’s new high-speed EXPEED image processor. Not only does it move RAW data, but it also works its noise-reduction, dynamic-range, and color-algorithm magic on stored JPEG.
The only reason the D300 didn’t earn a great image quality rating at ISO 6400 was the higher noise levels in shadows. Since the EXPEED processor leaves RAW data pretty much alone, other than applying some data compression or converting 14-bit color to 12-bit to save space (all options you can select), RAW files processed in the supplied Viewing software don’t get the full benefit of the processor’s noise-reduction savvy. As a result, noise ratings for RAW images are noticeably higher than for JPEGs when using that utility. However, our test results confirm that the noise reduction algorithms in Nikon’s RAW converter, Capture NX version 1.3, match or exceed the noise reduction capabilities of the EXPEED processor. The tradition of camera makers removing top-plate data LCDs has been avoided by the Nikon, the D300 easy to read LCD that takes the entire right side of the camera’s top plate enhancing its ease of use when tripod mounted.
