Nikon D700 vs D300 – Which one is right for you?

Nikon D700 vs D300 – Which one is right for you?

Too many choices too little time to enjoy your camera before the next good thing comes around!

I have compiled a table below to show the basic differences between the Nikon D700 and the Nikon D300. The Main difference between the 2 cameras is that The D700 uses a FX – full frame sensor and the D300 uses the DX – 1.5x cropped sensor. Which one is better? Well that depends on your needs.. If you are a sports shooter or birding.. the cropped sensor would be better because you get a 1.5x multiplier to your lenses but if you shoot weddings or need to shoot up close in tight, cramped spaces the d700 will be good for you. I basically boils down to use.. might even be good to have one full frame and one cropped as back-up to get the best of both worlds.

Do you see any difference from the 2 cameras? Is it just me or does the d700 look more compact since they had to cram in the full frame sensor without adjusting the body size? Check out the weight below, if you think the d300 was heavy enough, you will be surprised that even if it looks the same, there is an increase weight. The d700 goes up to 1074g while the D300 is 925g.

Now lets talk about sensor size, D700 uses a 36 x 24 size and pixel density is just 1.4MP/cm2 compared to the 23.6 x 15.8 Size and Pixel Density of 3.3MP/cm2. What does that mean? technically the D700 should have cleaner file since the pixel density is almost half that of the D300.. this means less noise in trying to cram data/info on the sensor.. probably the reason you see the ISO of the d700 shooting up to 25,600 ISO compared the to 6,400 limit of the D300.

Whats wrong with the D700? well it aint all that perfect.. the viewfinder coverage only gives you 95% meaning you may be seeing less than what is actually taken in your shot…not a big issue if you ask me.. but still the something to look forward to fixing in the next models.

Main Features of the D300

• All-new 12.3 effective megapixel Nikon DX-format CMOS image sensor with integrated A/D converter and the increased bit precision of selectable 14-bit NEF (RAW) output
• Incorporates Nikon’s original EXPEED digital image processing concept
• Nikon’s original Scene Recognition System greatly improves autofocus, auto exposure and auto white balance performance
• New 51-point autofocus system features 15 cross-type sensors that maximize the potential of lenses with apertures as small as f/5.6
• Rapid 8 fps or 6 fps continuous shooting for up to 100 shots
• Quick response of 0.13 sec. power-up and 0.045 sec. shutter release time lag
• 3-inch LCD with 920,000-dot (VGA) resolution and a 170° ultra-wide viewing angle
• Optional Multi-Power Battery Pack MB-D10 extends shooting capability, enhances stability, and provides the further shooting potential of added controls

Main Features of the D700

• Nikon’s original FX-format CMOS image sensor with 36.0 (H) x 23.9 (V) mm image size; 12.1 effective megapixels
• Superior picture quality throughout a wide ISO sensitivity range of ISO 200 to 6400; can be set to ISO-equivalent 25,600
• Incorporates Nikon’s original EXPEED digital image processing concept
• Continuous shooting speed is up to 5 frames per second with the included Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL3e, and up to 8 frames per second when using the optional Multi-Power Battery Pack MB-D10 and Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL4a/4 or eight AA-size batteries
• Two Live View modes enable shooting while confirming subjects in the LCD monitor
• 3-inch LCD with 920,000-dot (VGA) resolution and a 170° ultra-wide viewing angle
• Optional Multi-Power Battery Pack MB-D10 extends shooting capability, enhances stability, and provides the further shooting potential of added controls
• Nikon’s original Scene Recognition System, utilizing the 1,005-pixel RGB sensor, greatly improves autofocus, auto exposure and auto white balance performance

I have the d300, will I want to upgrade to the D700? maybe not.. The difference isnt that much to make me switch.. full frame? my lens selection is already customized to suit my shooting style from wide to tele.. maybe if I needed an extra body then I would consider it… but paying almost double the price is a big hindrance in any purchase since you can get a extra d300 at half the price and still get the same quality.

What is the best thing to do for now? wait.. wait till the prices go down then the gap between the D700 and the d300 gets closer and is easier to justify. If you are after quality then just go jump to the next level and get a medium format digital camera. If you have gadget lust, then go and feed your craving for a new toy.. and dont forget to let us know how the nikon d700 performs in the real world.

Happy shooting!

Nikon D200 vs D300 – are the features worth the uprade?

I have owned and handled both The Nikon D200 and the Nikon D300, both cameras are sturdy and built to take the punishment but if you ask me, the D300 has an edge and advatage in the low light category. The D300 gives cleaner and crisp photos at high ISO.. making ISO 800 and up more acceptable than that of the D200. You can finally walk around with your 85mm 1.4 and do street shooting without having to worry about the quality of photos you get knowing that the camera can handle high ISO.

Another advantage (maybe for the D2X and D3 users) is that the Nikon D300 can use the ELN4 and ELN4a and shoot with 8FPS.. giving you the advantage if you are into sports photography.

Here are some of the reasons the D300 is a good buy.

• The Self Cleaning sensor is a big help especially if you are on the road.. say good bye to visible dust on the your photos!
• 3.0″ LCD monitor (0.9Mpx), perfect for the Live View Function.
• (AF): 51 points, tracking by color, auto-focus calibration up to 20 separate settings by lens.
• 12.3 megapixel CMOS sensor for bigger prints
• powerup 13 ms, shutter lag 45 ms, blackout 100 ms
• able to shoot 8FPS using the ELN4a Battery used on D2xs and D3 Cameras.
• ISO Performance of D300 is clean and crisp.

At the End of the Day, both cameras can deliver, its just choosing that camera that will best suit your needs. Cost is a concern for many thats why D200 being an older model, will be more affordable but if price is of no concern, the D300 is the better buy with more features.

I would even admit that the quality of the D300 can easily challenge that of the D2x at high ISO.. my D2x stays in the bag if the ISO goes higher than ISO 640 and even at 640 the quality leaves much to be desired.

Will a better camera beat the D300? definitely, time dictates that a replacement of the D300 will be coming.. will it be better? it depends what you are looking for and if the d300 can fulfill all your needs now… The next generation will probably pack more Megapixel power into the unit.. and more hitech features.