This is truely a great camera! And in combination with the 18-200 VR it's amazing! This is 90% of the D3 at a fraction of the cost. If you are serious about photography, this camera is strongly recommended.

However, there are some drawbacks, but these applies to all pro level cameras in general. It's a solid camera, but is also big and heavy. A D40 looks like a compact compared to the D300. But if you're serious about photography, this is a price you are more than willing to pay.

This camera is so well-designed with many, many useful features. Great results even with ISO 3200 (looks like 800 did on the d80). I upgraded from the d80 and it's an enormous difference. I would buy it all over again. The auto-focus "fine-tune" feature for different lenses has been great. It is alot heavier than the d80, but you adjust quickly to the difference. You won't be sorry!

Wow!. Coming from the last 4 years with a D70, this is a phenomenal camera! Combined with my 18-200mm VR Everyday, and 70-200mm VR occasional sports lens, there's nothing else I need and I'm in love with this thing!

I'm not going to bore you with details. I've a headache from trying to read the hundreds of stellar reviews here. Everything that needs to be said has already been said. Can't go wrong with this camera.

Other reviews have gone into depth with the d300's superb technical features. They should be carefully considered. This is not a camera for the casual amateur. There is no fully automatic control that casual amateurs use probably 99% of the time. This camera's strengths are in the shooter's ability to control the extensive capabilities that Nikon has designed into the d300. One doesn't learn this camera overnight. Pros should find the d300 a challenge and valuable tool as well. For me this is a great step up from my d70. And, I can use all my Nikon lenses from my film shooting days.
I also want to praise Photoworld, Amazon's sales partner, for the prompt and thorough handling of the order, especially when a problem occurred. Photoworld had processed the original order within 24 hours and shipped via UPS. When I saw no UPS tracking action beyond the pick-up notice, I contaced Photoworld which contacted UPS immediately. After a UPS trace failed to locate the shipment, Photoworld shipped a replacement immediately. Photoworld is a model of superior service.

I was using the Nikon D50 for the last 18 months before deciding to upgrade my camera body. I knew I was outgrowing the D50. I was beginning to see the inconvenience of some of the features of the D50 because I was going into menus more and more frequently.

I initially thought of the D80 but felt it was not enough of an upgrade. I then looked at the D200, but the D300 was just announced and I knew that was the one I would upgrade to.

I am very pleased that I chose this camera. The buttons are well placed and eliminates me from having to go into the menus as often and even then, the My Menu function allows me to add my favotire functions to my own custom menu.

I also love the low light/high ISO capabilities. I do a lot of dusk/night shots in the street and find my results are better than I could ever do with my D50.

The last thing I love is the build. It just feels right in my hands. The addition of the MB-D10 grip is not needed, but is an added benefit for further balancing the camera with a long pro-level zoom lens.

Overall, I have not been disappointed and would recommend this to anyone looking to upgrade to a semi-pro camera.

I have always been a Nikon person and having this camera shows me why I love Nikon so much. When the D100 came out I bought it right away. Since then I have had two kids and found out that Nikon was about release the D300. I read the reviews and decided it was time for me to buy my new camera. I bought the D300 about a month ago and have shot about two thousand pictures. All of my shots were like Wow.
I did have a problem with the memory card slot though. Never have I seen a camera have this problem. I treat my cameras like babies. I went to change out a memory card and the eject wouldn't work. Finally I got the card out only to see that it wouldn't let me put a new card in. I looked in the slot to see that one of the gold prongs was bent. I looked at my memory cards and they were fine. So I was a little upset. I took the camera back to where I bought the camera and they were as shocked as I was. They right away gave me a new camera and I couldn't have been happier.
Everything that other people have said about this camera are so true. I highly recommend this camera.

I have owned a D100, D200 and now a D300. It is an easy camera to use and gives excellent photos. In using the D300, there is nearly a seamless transition between the D200 and D300 with an improved quality and features. Another positive feature is that both the D200 and D300 use the same Compact Flash card, battery and cable release.

Known for their outstanding products - especially in the field of photography - Nikon never skimped when it came to their cameras or lenses. Following in this tradition comes the Nikon D300. Not only does it incorporate the Nikon practice of excellence, it actually manages to surpass itself.

Before you look at the price, consider that the D300 (especially coupled with the 18 - 200 lens) is a masterpiece of construction and quality. If you have owned an SLR digital before, setting up is a breeze. The results of the hard efforts that Nikon put into this product are immediately noticeable with your first shot.

The screen is larger than the D200 (and subsequent models). Also, the camera manages to take photos so crisp and sharp that EVERY DETAIL is apparent. Touch-ups via software programs are not needed. The D300 allows you to do some clever editing while taking the shots so that you merely have to load the pictures to your computer/ printer and print them. In fact, it is almost impossible to take a bad shot with this camera.

Adding to the much appreciated bells and whistles you will find that the flash is improved. D-Lighting technology allows you a wide variety of choices. A self-cleaning sensor (via the menu screens) is something that cameras have needed for quite some time. Now throw in the 3 inch VGA monitor (makes editing with the D300 a snap), the 6 frame per seconds shooting capabilities and the 51 points that autofocus allows you and it adds up to everything any photographer could want.

Is it heavy? Weighing in at approximately seven pounds (with the lens), it is but the amount of flexibility and the excellence of the pictures more than make up for this. The body is soundly constructed and a Quick Set Up guide is very generous in details so that you can start taking photos like a pro right out of the box. Just holding it inspires the rawest of photographers to take professional pictures. Is it expensive? Yes but the flexibility, ease of use and choices that the D300 provides the photographer with more than make up for the cost. Not even the smallest detail has been omitted when it comes to this camera. I can not imagine the difference between the D300 and the D3. A generous 12.3 megapixels give your photos amazing clarity and the sharpest details available.

So the weight and the cost can not be factored into the highly professional results the D300 provides to users.

I had the D300 for a little over 3 days and the back LCD Monitor failed - it started flashing and wouldn't quit! Bummer for a $1800 camera.

Over the 3 days the camera had been on for about 5 hours and I had taken about 50 images. I hadn't taken it out of the house.

I had to send the camera back for warranty repair. It has been 12 business days and Nikon can't tell me when it will be shipped back to me. Check the web before you buy. The D300 has lots of problems.

Infant mortality is indicative of manufacturing problems and poor quality control. I replaced my D200 with the D300. The D200 was solid and very reliable. If you can't trust your camera what good is it. What do you do if you're in Africa, Thailand, etc?

RECOMMENDATION: Ignore the hype. Buy a D200 or wait 12 months till Nikon sorts out the bugs in the D300. Or, heaven forbid, buy a Canon.

I bought the D300 through AMAZON - Cameta Camera. They changed their 800 number to an internationl number with a $5 access fee. They were no help with this problem.

RECOMMENDATION: Buy high-end gear and electronics from Adorama or B&H, they will help you - no problem. Just buy books and CDS from Amazon.

My personal experience in digital photography began with a Sony 4.1 megapixel point & shoot in 2001, and graduated through the Nikon Coolpix 8400, D-200 and now the D-300. The D-200 is an excellent DSLR but the D-300 represents a substantial upgrade, particularly in color saturation, focusing, noise reduction and real-time display. Using the same lens( 18-200 VR DX lens) has resulted in deeper and richer colors with greater resolution, exclusive of post exposure processing software. This camera best approaches film resolution and color saturation of any digital camera I have experienced. The cost is significant but the results justify the investment. The professional reviews rave about the D-300 and those reviews are accurate according to my personal experience, both in shooting and printing the shots on my Canon Pro-9000. If you can afford it, the D-300 is well worth its purchase price.

Fantastic Camera that just keeps getting better every time I pick it up. I waited for years to jump from 35mm to digital SLR, scary jump when you think how fast technology leaps forward. The Nikon D300 has more features than I know how to use, guess its time to take a digital photography class. I am getting that rush that came long ago with taking pictures and the results are awesome.

I Owned a D80 for a bit over a year and too about 15,000 pictures with it and thought it was great. I picked up one of these and didn't take a picture with it and realized that I wanted one. Everything is just in the right place and works better. If you are at all on the fence about getting one just do it. Yes it may seem like a lot of money but anything less is throwing money away.

I already have Nikon D200 .. but will I see the D300 I said I must buy it >> when its come to me and I start photo !!! waw wonderfull color and white balance ... and the built in flash much much better in white balance also ... The live view is great and its 8 frame dode ! I use it for sport photography I have it with nikon SB-800 and Nikon 17-55mm and Nikon 70-200mm + 1.7X telecoverter ,,, all from amazon ....
The camera is in wonderfull price ....

Something unbleveable ! is the High ISO ... comparing with the D200 if I make it more than ISO800 its start noise , In D300 you can photo up to ISO1600 with few noise ,,,

Last thing the foacus point ... they are full in the frame 51 point !!! but you can use 15 of them in one times .... The battery still more than The D200 ...

The negative thing I feel the body in some swiths in the camera became worest (the m,s,c) swich near the lens ... + the on and off swithcs and the memory open swithc and (the facous switch) need to be more strong such as the D200,
the battery cover + the memory cover + the Nikon MB-10 grip they are made of plastic !!!

This is the only things need to approve by nikon ... and you can feel it for the first time ... If something more ... you can ask me Question

I am an amateur with experience (meaning I don't pay my bills through photography). I previously owned a D70 and an EOS for 35mm film.

Thing is, I wanted to upgrade the digital system I had with the D300 and, in summary, the camera is SO BEAUTIFUL, SO RELIABLE, INCREDIBLE PICTURES, etc etc... it's a dead-on choice for a digital SLR!!

This camera has many pluses:

-Many pro's says 12Mpx for an APS sensor (= sensor with a conversion factor, smaller than a 35mm film's frame size) is too much for such a small sensor, since the image's will be quality-restricted because the pixels are too small... My response is that after shooting for a couple years with a 6 Mpx D70, the quality difference IS GREAT... There IS a leap in resolving power with the 12Mpx sensor in the D300.. It blew my mind away. More on this at the end of the review.

- The D300 picture controls, specially saturation, reaches a level of in-camera adjustments unheard of in previous Nikon DSLR's. Saturation levels will reach levels comparable with Fuji's Velvia film, and that's a lot! This gives you the advantage of reduced post-production, since you are capable of tweaking pictures in-camera that will suit your taste (It did for me)

- Active D-lighting. DSLR's tend to have problems with highlly contrasted subjects (Subjects with ample dynamic range), and this is one of the many reasons why many pro's still use film (because it will deal better with high contrast). The ADL function in the D300 does allows me to capture contrasty subjects under difficult light conditions, reducing highlight blowout in the picture, while preserving shadow detail.. It really works. It allows me to use digital for shot's that would have required film or in-camera filtration!

- Splendid ISO range!! Now I can take pictures in very low light conditions that would have been impossible with my D70 because of the high noise inherent to a high ISO. The D300 does manage high ISO noise like no other camera I've used in the past! ISO 1600 images are very very clean (ISO3220 is clean, HI-1 mode (ISO 6400) is too noisy for me)! This is great news! This also means I don't have to lug a tripod for low light shots (unless I were doing landscape work; In such case, I do use a gitzo tripod for every shot I take, which takes me to the following point):

- Mirror up mode! I didn't have this feature in my D70, and I love to be able to raise the mirror when doing tripod shots (Landscape) in order to gain maximun sharpness by minimizing vibrations.. Also included are Live view mode (It allows you to see the subject in the camera LCD while composing the picture, instead of using the viewfinder. I use this feature when the camera position won't allow me to see through the finder, and it really helps).

- The D300 autofocus is very reliable (3D autofocus mode is realy helpful when tracking moving subjects). Very high frame per second count ( Up to 8 FPS with the accessory grip).

- Weather sealed. I live in a tropical part of the world, where things can get pretty damp and wet, and the D300 is all about getting pictures, and I don't have to worry about the weather!!

- 14 bit RAW is the way to go if you are interested in the highest image quality and rich tonal gradations. My D300 gives me that option! with my D70, i had to work with an inferior 12 bit Raw file... I usually shoot RAW (14 bit) + JPG (You NEED a a 4 Gigs CF card as a minimum, since the files tend to be big..)

- Last, the camera allows me to save the combination of settings i need tuned for specific purposes. I have a menu bank tuned for portraits, another menu bank for landscape, another for low-light conditions and another one for highlly saturated images! This is just wonderfull!! For example, let's say I am doing tripod work and I need to change the camera setting for portrait work, and I need to do it FAST, instead of browsing all the settings I need to change, I just select a menu bank tuned for portraits, so I don't loose my time changing setting by setting!

On the minus side:

- Nikon didn't implement a release timer when using mirror up mode, which seems foolish to me, since a timed release AND mirror up, when used on a tripod, are the way to go in order to reduce vibrations... this forced me to buy a release cable, and this leads me to the next point:

- The cable release for this camera is of the 10 pin family, and it is expensive, compared to the 15$ IR release I used on my D70...

- As much as I've become in love with Active D-lighting, there are times when i need to turn it off. This happens when I shoot for silhouttes (heavy backlighting) since I WANT a deep, textureless black ( silhouttes are meant to look like that) and the ADL function will try to preserve shadow detail, creating a murky grey instead of a deep black.


To sum it up, this camera is great!! My jaw still falls wide open whith amazement with the images coming out from the D300...

One final point: I HAD an EOS 35mm film camera, because I no longer feel that 35 mm film gives me superior quality when compared to my beloved D300!!! This camera is THAT GOOD!

I wrote a review of the D80 after I had used it a fair amount. The D80 was OK, but definitely did not warrant all of the praise that people heaped on it.

The D300 is a usable camera. First, the noise has been greatly improved at higher ISOs. I shoot a lot of available light and indoors, and I no longer fear going over 400 ISO, as I did with the D80. I get usable shots every time at 1600 ISO. That's plenty fast for any indoor shots as well.

The D300 is well sealed. I shoot in a humid climate (San Francisco fog), and the D80 would get moisture in the body. The D300 is tight as a drum.

The review screen is amazingly bright and clear. Again, a vast improvement.

I would recommend the D300 highly to anyone. This is coming from someone who gave the D80 only 3 stars. There is no comparison between the two cameras.

Since mine will be the 73rd review, I will try not to rehash in great detail all the great things about this camera (plenty of great info elsewhere), but instead, briefly try to mention some of the things that make this camera, to me, so extraordinary and so valuable.

Color rendition. Once I read about the extraordinary control over color now in the photographer's hands, this camera became extremely compelling. You can get the details elsewhere, but I can hardly believe all the options in color available. Still mastering it. Amazing.

Fast frame rate. You can get 6 frames per second as is, and with the battery pack option, you can go to 8fps! Not much difference between that and a D3 @ 9fps. That's incredible!

MUCH better ISO/noise performance. "3200 is the new 800," the Nikon rep said. He said it's not the company's official claim, but I would say that's pretty close. My shots in ISO 3200 are MUCH cleaner (less noise) than I used to be able to take at 1600. It compares to 1000 and/or 1250. So maybe a bit less than 2 stops.

3" LCD. It's not color accurate, but colors are GREAT for a camera LCD and it's obviously great for exposure and details. ZOOM control on this is lightning fast, too!

51-point AF. You have to use it to appreciate it. Much more convenient for precise focusing than the 11-point I used to rely on.

12mp CMOS sensor (self cleaning). 14-bit RAW files produce at about 25MB.

D3 performance for barely more than 1/3 the price!

My conclusion is that this is not merely an evolutionary leap for Nikon, but really a raising of the bar in terms of performance. And they did it while holding costs down in the reasonable range. These improvements really open up a lot of possibilities beyond what existed before. If you're a committed Nikon shooter, and you can live without the full frame of the $5k D3 (you can), then don't miss this gem of an SLR!

In a list of so many glowing reviews, I will keep this one short and sweet.

This is a fantastic camera, if you can afford it. The standouts are fantastic color saturation, terrific white balance control, terrific ISO performance, incredible AF functionality and on and on. Full-featured, ergonomic, sturdy and substantial, this is clearly the leading "prosumer" model currently. Having said that, this is a camera designed for more advanced amateurs and the professional market -- you don't have preset "shooting modes" like other digital SLRs have, for example -- you have the standard "P, S, A, and M" options. The camera assumes you know enough about photography to judge exposure decisions yourself for certain scenes, and this camera fully empowers you to do that easily and ergonomically.

The kit version comes bundled with an excellent lens, too! The 18-200mm VR lens is terrific -- a wide range of uses, actually a terrific "walk-around" lens, and the VR (vibration reduction) feature greatly reduces the need to have a tripod for most shooting conditions.

In all, if you can afford this price range, and are up to a camera geared for a more advanced amateur photographer, this is the best in class at the moment.

I came to the d300 by way of a d70. Wow. That is like going from a Honda Civic (my car, actually) to a Mercedes. Everything about it is in a new class. The 14-bit a/d converter results in more nuanced colors (although this is not a radical change). The meter is the best I've used in 40 years of hobby photography. The controls, once I got used to them, are perfectly intuitive. Build quality is fantastic. The manual, though 421 pages long (!), is well written and easy to use. My d300 came with Nikon CaptureNX, which has a few annoying interface features, but works quite well. Best levels/curves function I've used (much better than Adobe's). What fun to own a toy like this!

I HAVE OWNED NIKON CAMERAS SINCE 1972 STARTING WITH THE NIKON F SERIES
INCLUDEING THE PHOTOMIC F-2 ETC. ETC.......
AND THEN I EVENTUALLY WENT DIGITAL........THE BEST MOVE I EVER MADE
WELL AFTER OWNING VARIOUS NIKON DIGITALS.......I NOW OWN THE NIKON D300
I RECIEVED IT LAST NIGHT........MADE ALL THE SETTING ON THE MENUS THAT I PREFER..........MADE SOME TEST FOTO'S DOWNLOADED THEM TO MY COMPUTER
AND PRINTED THEM WITH MY EPSON PHOTO PRINTER........TO SAY THE LEAST
I"M VERY IMPRESSED WHAT THIS MAGNIFICENT MACHINE CAN DO.......
THE NEW SENSOR AND THE THREE INCH HI DEF VIEWER , TRULY ARE WONDERFUL............ THE FEATURES ARE JUST TO NUMEROUS TO MENCHION
IF YOURE CONSIDERING THIS AWESOME MACHINE........I HIGHLY RECCOMEND IT
AND I WOULD PURCHASE IT THRU AMAZON AS I DID........I CANT WAIT TILL I GO ON MY NEXT CRUISE VACATION TO USE MY NEW TOY.........

There is nothing else to say. Because it is just an amazing camera.

Regards,
Burak Imir

I have owned Nikon Cameras and Lens' since 1965 when I bought my Nikon F from Schiller Camera in Pacific Beach, California. I purchased my present Nikon F4 in 1991 with an Auto-Focus 28mm-105mm lens. The F4 represented the Evolution of Nikon Cameras to that time. The F4 remains an awesome Film Camera to this day. Due to the present-day value of this fine camera, I did not have the heart to sell it on eBay. Instead, I will give it to my 7-year old grandson when he visits this coming Fourth of July. It is my hope that he develops the same passion for the Art of Photography as I have experienced over the years. Two years ago my wife and I gave Chris a Collegiant Microscope. Since that event, he places his observations and findins into a Journal. The Nikon F4 can expand his curiosity... It also provides me the opportunity to show him the joys of photography and convey to him the respect that the excellent Nikon camera equipment deserves. At the same time, I can continue to expand my horizons with the incredibly advanced Nikon D300...

Nikon d300--- I am a rank amatuer---this is the finest camera around for the price. Suitable for pros and a blessing for the rest of us. Buy one and be happy for life.

I had been planning to buy a second DSLR body when the D300 came out late last year. At the time I was using a Nikon D200 and was very happy with the quality and versatility of that camera. I decided to put off my purchase and see how the new D300 was received by both amateur and professional photographers. After reading many reviews I decided to go for the D300 and I couldn't be happier.
I shoot in a wide variety of situations, from indoor and outdoor sporting events, wildlife photography,fine art images, to portraits and advertising. So the ability to shoot fast and under varied lighting conditions was of considerable importance to me. I was happy with the abilities of the D200 when paired up with fast lenses. But fast lenses tend to be expensive lenses and although I do have a couple of great fast lenses, I primarily use a 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR lens just for its versatility. With the High ISO/Low Noise capability of the New D300, I gain about 2 stops over the D200. What that ultimately means is I can shoot without a flash in more situations and maximize the flashes capability when I do use it.
Another feature of the D300 is Active D-Lighting. This feature allows you to preserve the details in high contrast images such as those with a bright sky and a darker foreground by expanding the dynamic rang of the image.This saves you from spending lots of extra time making adjustments to each image later in post processing at home.
I have now shot about 10,000 images with the D300 and I find the build quality to be solid as a rock. The camera is a bit on the heavy side, but not so much so as to be uncomfortable. The large LCD display is much brighter an easier to see than that of the D200 and the addition of 'Live View", the ability to see through the lens on the LCD screen, makes composition and focusing in awkward positions much easier.
Overall, although the D200 and D300 share many great features and look very similar, the D300 is a much more serious Pro-sumer camera which is very well suited for the rigors and wide ranging needs of both the Amateur and Professional Photographer.

Outstanding camera. I've owned several SLR/DSLR Nikons over 40 years and this is by far the best. It has great balance and control, even with my relatively heavy 18-200mm Nikkor VR lens. I've shot over 300 pictures with it in the first week under different shooting and lighting conditions and the results were amazing! The metering system is right-on and I'm still using the battery with it's initial charge. I highly recommend this camera.

Oh yes, the D300. I upgraded from my D200 (which sold the next day), and I could hardly ever consider going back! The D300 surpasses the D200 in so many ways. Although, the price is very expensive, the camera is very much worth it. If you don't need the FX sensor and the other features of the D3, then this is DEFINITELY the way to go!

This is my first digital SLR. I found it very very suitable for my hands. Very good shots, especially with picture control set to Neutral - very live colors. If you prefer somewhat more saturated than real (like in Canon), you can use Vivid or Standard. Good autofocus. Increadible back screen. Topmost ergonomics.
The only thing I would like to add is a second spare programmable button.
This is definitely a camera for those who love photographing.

Have had this camera for 4 months now and have taken over 11,000 photos so far, and counting. As many other people have already mentioned it is a great camera and well worth the 5 star average rating.[...]. 3200 ISO allows even dimly lit photos to be useful. A beautiful 3 inch LCD that will be much sharper than your computer, which can be acutually a drawback because some photos look great on the LCD but less sharp on my computer when downloaded. But I'm also learning better technique, so I can't blame the camera too much for that. The other drawbacks include I'm taking so many photos with this great camera that I'm quickly running out of memory on the 4 GB Compact Flash card and have to buy multiple cards now. I've also had to buy multiple external hard drives to backup and store all my photos. I can get about 321 photos on the Large & Fine Jpeg settings. The battery life is also amazing. I can easily get close to 1000 photos and constant LCD reviews of my photos on just a single charge. It's always nice to have a backup battery but I've never had to change it in the field yet. I use this camera with my Nikon 18-200mm, Sigma 10-20mm, and Nikon 50mm f/1.8. The only regrets......I didn't get this camera earlier, I missed the opening ship date by about 2 weeks :-) Hope this helps. You deserve a reward, go buy it from Amazon.com where I did.

I recently purchased the Nikon D300 as my first digital camera. It may seem like I was jumping in feet first by purchasing such a complicated camera, but with over 30 years of photo experience under my belt it really wasn't all that difficult.

I am quite satisfied with my D300, especially with its 51 point focus zone that allows me to pinpoint exactly where I want the focus. I initially had some problems with exposure, but as it turned out I was the one making the errors, not the camera, so that is now water under the bridge.

So far my only serious gripe about the D300 is the arrangement of its controls. While I fully realize that this is a very complex camera, and there is only so much room on the body for control buttons, some of them are very badly placed. I have missed several photo opportunities because I didn't have my finger on the shutter button, but on either the on/off switch, or the exposure control button, which are placed right next to it. A lot of times my photography requires literal snap shots, with little or no time to pause and gaze at the camera to make sure I have my fingers in exactly the right place. It's point, shoot, or lose the photo. Fixing this problem doesn't even require moving any of the buttons; Nikon should have made the shutter button more prominent, or different in a tactile sense so that the moment you touch it, you know you are in the right place, and that's actually what I've gone and done. I found some small self adhesive vinyl plastic nubbins and stuck one of them atop the shutter button, making it much more obvious, and I haven't lost a shot since, but considering the price of this camera I shouldn't have to be doing stuff like this.

I've had the camera for about a month now. After going through several point and shoot cameras (e.g., Canon G1 and Nikon 8800), I decided to jump into the D-SLR market. I don't believe I had a preference for Canon vs. Nikon vs. Olympus, etc. The reason why I picked the Nikon D300 is because it felt great in my hand plus the functionality is somewhat similar to my Nikon 8800...also the reviews on the D300 are stellar.
I have not been disappointed so far. This camera is solid all around.

After taking some digital photography classes at the local reseller, I've taken this camera on nature hikes (for nice landscape shots) and fast action shots (college sporting events like tennis). In both situations, the D300 along with the Nikon 18-200mm VR lens that I used on both occasions produced excellent shots. The multi battery pack (MB- D10) gave me the adequate fps to shoot fast moving college tennis players with no problem. The photos are crisp and clear. I've also taken indoor shots of my dogs and used the same lens and camera along with the SB-800 and the shots were also crips and clean.

Again, I would highly recommend this camera for those who want to step up from a point and shoot or from an entry level D-SLR. The reason why I jumped straight into tha "semi-pro" D-SLR like the D300 is because friends of mine who purchased an entry level D-SLR often wished they had ponied up more money and bought a D-SLR with more features (actually lack of fast fps was often cited as a complaint).

I sold my D70 and bought the D300 from Amazon. What a difference ! About 600 pictures in 2 weeks and only 2 deleted (clearly my mistakes). I am not a pro but a very serious hobbyist . My fist Nikon was a F2 and I have a big collection of Nikkor lenses. My favorite is now the 70-200 2.8 VR but I get great results with an old "standard' 50 mm 1.8 .

The D-Lighting feature works like a charm and I love the big , high resolution monitor.

I can't see any difference between Iso 200 and 800 and even at 1600 the pictures look perfect to me. With the D70, I couldn't get good results over 400.

I just hope the cleaning mechanism really works. With the D70 I had a lot of specs and dirt on the sensor .

The D300 is a must have you are into photography in a serious way.
Highly recommended.

I have been a Canon user for over 15 years, I have shot on many cameras including Nikon, Olympus and Sony, but still I believed that the Canons (specifically the 5D and the 1D MkII) are/were the pinnacle of camera design and image quality that I have used.
Needless to say that opinion has now changed, for how long I can't be sure, but believe me when I say that it is tough not to give the camera five stars.
Superb build, ergonomics, image quality and the sheer amount of features put many other cameras to shame. There are a few features I would like to pull out for special attention that really sealed the deal; 3D Matrix Metering II and automatic in camera CA elimination (not just reduction, but elimination). Now I love my 17-55mm f2.8, but when it comes to CA it leaves a lot to be desired... Until now. JPEG's are simply amazing with the CA elimination, not to mention the active D-lighting (if you wish to have the benefits of these features for NEF files you HAVE to use Nikon's Capture NX, but more on that later).
The Matrix Metering used in this camera is the best I've used bar none, it is extremely accurate and it really will make you a better photographer (or some say a lazier photographer, lol).
I don't have to say much about the image quality of the D300, there are plenty of examples floating around the net, suffice to say it is very, very good.

Now, I do have a negative. Capture NX. It is a resource hog, also in my subjective opinion it can be an unintuitive nightmare. That doesn't mean that the images that it produces aren't any good, in fact they're great, if you want the most out of the camera (CA elimination and Auto D-Lighting) you will need capture NX. I also use Lightroom, Apple Aperture and Adobe RAW, oh how I wish that I could tap the CA and D-Lighting in those programs - it would mean that I could avoid Capture NX completely. But I can't.

Now there are some around here who would toss irrelevant comments at me for such a knock (Capture NX is free! or some such nonsense), but the reality is that many don't own an application such as Aperture or Lightroom, they really need this software to get the most from their camera purchase, which is not an insignificant dollar amount. I thank Nikon for finally realizing that Capture should come bundled with it's camera, but there is still some work to be done regarding it's performance in terms of speed of use and it's huge resource requirements. As a serious photographer I can't bear the thought of the horrendous time wasted waiting for changes to occur to my image in NX, but when some of the cameras best features will only be achieved through NX, it seems I don't have a choice.

I was tempted to drop the rating to four stars because of the software, considering I can't do four point five stars; but A)It's harsh on the camera, and B)Giving the camera four stars is like bait to the Nikon fanboys, if you don't believe me look at some of the flaming in those four star reviews. They would probably just add a dose of unnecessary idiocy to a simple question; Is it a worthy purchase? Yes, yes it most certainly is.

I own a D200 and a D300. I do a lot of Macro work outside while hiking. The D300 focuses much more reliably for this. I also like the that there is more dynamic range.
There are still things I like better about the D200 which is one of two reasons I deducted a star from a 5 star camera. One of the things I liked about the D200 was the multi-focus point area focus. The D300 can simulate this, but but exactly.
The other deduction is that Amazon did a lousy job of packing the camera. The camera box was tossed into a large box with just a few air filled packing bubbles. It could bounce around in the big box. Luckily it is packed well from Nikon and has no issues.

The D300 has very awkward controls and their menus are a pain to figure out. Why did Nikon ever go with a non-standard dial on top of the camera. I can never turn it as easily as the normal dial. Their button and dial approach to changing between P, M, A is just awkward. I do not want to look at the LCD just to change my mode. Their hand grip is also off. I have no place to put my thumb. The grip on the Canon 40D is much better, a nice solid grip and feel.

The Canon 40D also seems much easier to use. The 40D has a normal dial on top, all the menus are 1 deep and you never need to scroll down some menu. Very nice and quick to use. All the buttons are easy to memorize. I rarely have to take my eye away from the viewfinder. Plus I save $700 for basically the same image quality and dynamic range.

The 40D even has a lower noise rating between ISO 100-400. Which is important to me. But it was surprising to learn that since the Nikon cost $700 more and the Nikon has lower noise ratings above that ISO range. I guess they had to skimp on the lower ISO's to reach 6400. This is according to popphoto.

I also found out Nikon has the worst reliability among DSLR cameras, according to consumer reports. Almost twice the problems compared to top rated Canon. Thats all I need, spend $1800 today for a Ford (Nikon) that may have problems a few years from now. Looks like quality has suffered in their desperate attempt to beat out Canon.

RELIABILITY RATINGS FOR DSLR BRANDS: The smaller the number, the fewer the problems. This data includes 2007 cameras. Pulled from consumer reports. The numbers are correct. Useful information.

4...Canon
4...Olympus
5...Fujifilm
7...Nikon

Note: For those interested, the reliability ratings for point and shoot digital camera's were closer. But I am a little more worried about cameras over $500.

5..Canon
5..Sony
5..Olympus
5..Kodak
6..Fujifilm
6..Casio
6..Nikon
7..Pentax

(Data are based on over 221,000 responses about digital cameras to our Annual Product Reliability Survey conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center. Data have been adjusted to eliminate differences solely linked to age and usage. )

Needless to say I ended up purchasing the Canon 40D. It was not even a contest. I love its look and feel. When I compare it to the Nikon and the Sony's, it just feels better built and looks like a Pro camera. I'm loving it. Just in time for spring/summer travels.

Dont let the positive reviews fool you. Look at both and feel them both in your hands.

I started Nikon digital cameras with the Coolpix E5700, 5200, D70, D80 and D40. Enjoyed the technology improvement. Until I got my new D300, I was shocked by it's new EXPEED image processing engine. The color rendition is so dramatic and extraordinary. The very low noise high ISO and 51-point AF system made this machine a must to own. The controls are so easy to use and quick to make any adjustment you want. They are all at your fingertip. The rigid body and handfeel make me want to shoot all the time. I enjoy every minute of having it even I am not a professional photographer. Only thing I regret is that I should have bought it earlier.
I am still learning all the customizations I can set for different shooting situations.
If you are in the market for one, do not hesitate, this is the one you want.

nikon needs to come out with a dvd on there nx like photoshop has had this d300 sent dec only shoot with it when my wife has the fu s5 way have a great camera if you don,t have the software let me know at dc296@msn thankyou

I previously owned the D80, and could never get the sharpness that I was looking for in my pictures, they all looked soft? I bought almost every lens that Nikon makes, and could never get that razor sharpness that I desired, until I bought the Nikon D300. Wow, the Nikon D300 is INCREDIBLE! The problems I had with sharpness, were related to the SENSOR I believe, and it makes sense! Yes, the D80 takes "good" pictures, but the D300 takes INCREDIBLE pictures. The D80 has a CCD sensor, and the D300 has a CMOS sensor, is this the difference? I don't know, but my D300 takes razor sharp images! Wow. I sold my D80, and I've never been happier with the D300!

Having been used to using the more advanced settings of my D70 the first day I purchased the D300 I had to do a photo shoot of a Salsa class and took the worst photos of my life. Day two I read the manual and spent much time getting used to the D300 and customising the settings. My photos since then have been stella.

Best bits compared with the D70:- Better colour, lower noise, better screen, better dynamic range.

The worst part of the camera is the sensor cleaning which is not really up to the task - poor at best.

Fantastic camera but you need to learn how to use it otherwise your photos will be dire. All the main things that you need to change are on the outside of the camera.

In low indoor light I fould that the hand held pictures were a little dark and had too much image noise(ISO 3200 using aperture priority setting). One tip is to up exposure compensation by +0.7 or more which gives very quiet pictures which you can then post process to -7.0 if you wanted.

The dynamic range of the camera coupled with the real time "Adaptive D-Lighting" means that I don't have to use my gradual grey filters so often.

For me the 12MP is not such an advantage as I never crop or print poster sized pictures. My Brother used a 6MP camera (D50) and actually produced poster sized photos for his company which they were very pleased with and paid him alot of money for. One of my customers was paid £3000 when he snapped 80 photos of a balloon going over his house with a D40. He approched the advertising company, his solicitor negotiated the deal - wow.

For the avaerage photo taker I would recommend the Nikon D40 which is an absolute bargain price and takes fantastic pictures. If you need fast shutter cycle times, complete and instant control of your photos and a rugged camera than this is one to consider. Highly recommended for the right user.

If you are considering this camera and have the disposable income, don't hesitate. This camera has exceeded my admittedly high expectations. Low light shots are amazing, colors are very nice, and it is a dream to shoot with. My only complaint is that the camera tends to over saturate my shots a bit with the default settings, but that can easily be changed.

Nice job Nikon!

I moved from a Nikon D70S to the D300 as my primary DSLR.

The D300 has marvelous control placement - of course there are still myriads of menus that one may make choices from, but the controls one most often needs are at fingertip access.

Learning curve on all of the possibilities of this machine are formidable; it's obviously not designed to be used in automatic or "scene" modes - there are no "scene" modes to be had. (Although with custom menus one could create such if desired). It is possible to charge the battery, attach a lens, and shoot right out of the box; however the real power in this machine lies in knowing all of the controls available and applying those controls to achieve the desired results.

The physical feel of the machine is one of solidness; I've added the external battery grip (which allows the entire machine to function off of 8 AA batteries, as well as Nikon camera batteries) and the balance, for my hands, is as good as I've ever had in a camera. (The external grip also bumps the frames per second from 6 to 8 when using AA's or some Nikon camera batteries.).

I've not weighed the machine with an 18-200 VR lens and external grip w/batteries, but it's a heavyweight and I would recommend a different strap than the Nikon supplied strap that comes with the camera body.

There is no "stealth mode" on this machine as there is on my Canon G-9 P&S; the shutter is loud, and putting it into rapid fire mode at 8 fps will get the attention of those around you.

The camera will be happiest with high speed compact flash cards - Extreme IV's, Ducati's, or other cards of that ilk. Slow cards, especially if one is capturing NEF+jpg fine images will slow the write buffer down. Plan on getting 4 gig or 8 gig cards - they fill up rather quickly.

I will let others comment on the images this camera can record - I've not had enough field experience yet to give an intelligent opinion. However, I will say that the camera (again) is not designed for shooting on automatic, out of the box. This machine requires input from the operator to function well. Also this machine requires good lenses to maximize it's potential; the 18-200 VR Nikkor that works so well on my D70S seems softer on the D300.

Heavily recommended for:

Those who have Nikon cameras and have maxxed out the possibilities with those machines and are looking for greater challenges. The D300 will support Nikkor lenses made since 1959 (although the ones made before 1977 may need a minor, inexpensive modification to fit on the D300). Not all older lenses, of course, support auto-focus.

Those who have other camera brands but who have not yet invested large sums in glass or accessories.

Those who wish to become involved in photography at a serious level; this machine requires investment of both time and money.

Not recommended for:

Well heeled users who are looking for an expensive point-and-shoot or all-automatic machine.

I am massively pleased with the D300 (good thing, considering the cost of one of the machines for a non-pro photographer!).

My only real gripe is the cost of the machine - and the "hidden" costs associated, such as faster CF cards, better lenses, upgrading camera bags (this is a large beast and what my D70S fits into comfortably won't hold the D300 with grip and lens attached).

However, at the level that the D300 plays in it is comparable in price with it's counterparts and (currently) it's feature set is well above the competition. Of course, that latter part will change - no one camera model stays on top for very long.

HTH

d300 is a state of the art camera and amazon delivered in two days at the best price ,100%recomendable

The best. Hands down.

But bear in mind: It is heavy, especially compared with the D40. And the infrared remote doesn't work with it.

Those are the only two negatives I can think of. Unbelievably good camera!

I am a previous D200 and D70 owner. Maybe it is that the controls are very similar but for whatever reason I am getting really stunning results with the D300. It seems to have much better ability to evaluate the lighting conditions and come up with really nice tonality and color. I am still working on the new focusing issues, but even without fully understanding it the results seem really good. Worth the upgrade.

I am a technology geek. An early adopter. I also work in the outdoors, shooting wildlife photographs. I used to use film cameras, and unfortunately was spending far more money in developing costs than groceries! So I made the early move to digital with a little point n' shoot Olympus. Many times I was so frustrated that the camera was almost thrown overboard. Then came the Nikon D70, a digital SLR. I was hooked. I loved being able to shoot 6 MP shots, 3 frames a second. Being able to preview pics and throw away what I didn't want. But soon my D70 was looking long in the tooth so to speak, so I began researching and prowling around for a new camera. My boss also used to shoot a D70, and had just made the jump over to a Canon D40 as the lenses were cheaper. Me, I'm a pretty loyal guy, so I gave the D300 a hard look.

I looked at many websites and forums that compared the top DSLRs. And I kept coming back to the D300. Even Macworld gave it their recommendation, so I went online and bought a package that included a D300, a 70-300 VR lens, a 2GB card and shipping for 1999.99. The camera arrived, and here are a few observations after only a few days use:
1. This is a heavy camera. Very solid. Heavier than my D70, but the weight is balanced feeling.
2. SPEED!!! Wow! I am using a Lexar 2GB 300x card, and when I hit burst rate the other day, I shot nearly 13 frames in about 2-3 seconds.
3. LCD display is incredible! At 3" in size, it really enables you to get a good feel for how the camera is operating. Live View is a new feature for when you are using a tripod or having to hold the camera at strange angles---it seems to really work well.
4. In camera processing---some features that I used to wait to process in Photoshop I can do in the camera now (red-eye reduction, etc.) Very helpful.

Now for the things I don't like (which is a very short list at this point):
1. Getting CF cards that really take advantage of the camera's lightning speed are expensive!
2. Lenses for this camera are expensive!
3. Owner's manual leaves something to be desired in explaining how to use the camera.

I am an intermediate user, and so I feel a bit lost trying to figure out all the options of this camera and how to best utilize them. But fortunately for you and me, there are lots of books, websites, etc, to help you take this Ferrari and use it to its' fullest extent! If I had to choose a camera again, I would DEFINITELY buy the Nikon D300 again.

Just got my D300, and it is truly a wonderful camera. With a tweaking of the settings (ie vivid) my photos are looking HOT! Better than reality! BUT, this morning I came outside and was shooting some purple flowers, that ended up looking blue onscreen. I played around with the WB and reset the picture settings to normal and even nuetral, even set the auto white balance to a slightly different setting - in other words LOTS of tweaking...- and eventually more of the purple came out than blue. But, still not as satisfactory as I'd like. So watch out for the colour purple. This camera reads it as blue! Any suggestions, please email me at ideasfromtravel@googlemail.com

I purchased the Nikon D300 body from Amazon because I already had lenses and a flash unit from previous Nikon film cameras and a D70s. When I received the camera I mounted a 18-200 Nikon VR lens on it and took some test shots for about two weeks and I was very satisfied with the results. Then I took a trip down to Washington DC to take some pictures and the camera stopped working. I called Nikon and I really thought they would FedEx a camera body to my hotel being I was about 500 miles from home and the camera was so new but they refused to help me at all telling me I will have to bring the camera into the service center when I get back home. In other words after spending $1799 on the camera body and owning thousands of dollars worth of Nikon equipment over the past twenty five years, Nikon's answer was oh well when you get back home we will fix it (forget about the reason for the DC trip - PICTURES). When I returned home I brought the body into Nikon's service center and spoke to a supervisor that said he would get back to about the problem I had with the camera. I did receive the repaired camera back but I never received a call back, so I got in touch with the vice president of Nikon who said he would look into the matter and I could rest assured he would get back to me to compensate me some how for the problems with the camera. It has now been four weeks and numerous phone calls back to the vice president with no response. Bravo Nikon ! After twenty five years and thousands of dollars spent on being a loyal Nikon customer, my next camera will be a Canon. Thank you Nikon customer support !

Previous to purchasing the D300, I was using the Canon 400d with several prime lenses. All I say is after switching to the D300, it is like the fog has lifted and I can finally see.

The colors and sharpness is just remarkable!

This is a fantastic camera. I upgraded from a D80, which I was happy with, but this camera is in a completely different class. Handling is excellent, build quality superb and colours are fantastic. The Active D-Lighting is a great feature, and the high ISO performance is unbelievable.

I upgraded from the D70 ad it was well worth the money. One great feature is that in Auto mode you can enable and disable the flash. So if you want to not use it, you don't have to keep flppig it down. The quality and clarity of pics are unreal.

Received a D300 from Amazon today. It is a grey market camera clearly labeled for the Australian market. No USA warranty material was included, indeed, no warranty material was included in the package at all.

So far so good it takes wonderfully clear brilliant pictures, Operationally I am learning the camera its a wonder. LM

As a professional wedding photographer in today's marketplace it is difficult to keep pace with technological improvements and remain profitable. Not many of us can afford to replace a $5,000- $8,000 camera annually.

I have used Nikon Cameras since the NIKON F was introduced. We use multiple photographers in my wedding business and I have never been happy with our photo sharpness and quality since we migrated from the medium format Hasselblad film cameras to the Nikon D100, D70, D200; Fuji S2, S3; and Canon 20D, 30D, XT, XTi cameras. With the advent of the D300 we see a major improvement in linearity of the image quality at both ends of the characteristic curve, there is much better control of the shoulder (highlights), and we see more detail more faithful color reproduction and much less noise in the toe, (dark areas) and picture to picture variation minimization. It has been difficult to get matching exposures when taking multiple flash photos of the same subject taken seconds apart. Finally, we have a camera that reliably an repeatedly reproduces the subject we are photographing brides, grooms or the Gymnast portraits we shoot!
Our on photo-journalistic bridal photographs are much more controlled, with improved control of the detail in the whites of the gown. The Fuji S3, and the Nikon D200 showed improvement in this area, but the D300 is a big step up from it's look-a-like the D200.

Focus is another area that Nikon has improved tremendously with the adoption of 51 focus points. This was my chief reason for changing back to NIKONs from the my Canon Cameras. I purchased Canon's best quality lenses, yet I still had to take additional photos with my Canon cameras to assure that my focus was where I want it. Formal Groups in churches can be difficult, as the camera wants to focus on the background instead of the group. One other interesting note, is that we get many more closed eyes with the Canon 580 strobes than we do with the Nikon SB800. I wonder if the infrared frequency of the Canon autofocus system is more visible to some people than is the Nikon infrared system. I do know that we get less closed eye shots with the Nikon than we do with the Canons which my assistants use.

Prevention of over exposure of mens faces, causing a Pillsbury dough boy look due to camera metering subject failure when using available light or flash wedding to take pre-wedding portraits is another area that Nikon has trumped Canon with the D3 and D300 metering improvements.

The Nikon D300 is a great wedding camera which has improved my available light ceremony photography, at ISO 3200.... with minimal sensor noise.

I love using this camera, and highly recommend the D300.

If you buy this camera, be prepared to fork out a lot of money (after buying the body). You're going to go broke.

This camera will inspire you like you've never dreamed of. You'll throw caution to the wind and buy top of the line lenses and filters. My polarizing filter alone was $185. I only put the best filters on this camera.

I love this DSLR so much that I bought more lenses, a SB800 and a SB600 flash unit. Then I bought a wireless remote (absolutely fantastic). Don't forget to buy a few SanDisk Extreme IV 8GB memory cards with the Extreme IV reader; it's worth it! After I learn this camera, I might buy the battery pack.

I bought a D90 within the past year but so many of my pictures were blurry or didn't come out right and when I increased the ISO speed I got way too much noise. Now when the light is low or I need a faster speed I don't hesitate to crank up the ISO to 1600 or even faster. (btw: CaptureNX does a much better job of reducing noise than Photoshop CS2.) The year before I bought a Canon XTi with a $1200 lens but the viewfinder was so dark that I couldn't manually focus so I bought the D90.

Nearly every photograph out of the D300 are absolutely perfect. Many of the photos require zero photoshopping.

I've been doing photography for over 30 years (non-professionally but I went to art school full time and majored in photography for 3 years). I started off with 4x5, 5x7 cameras and a Nikon FTN. Aside from the 5x7 camera, this is the best camera I had in my whole life.

This camera is heavier than the D90 and I couldn't imagine hauling around a D3. The rubber grips are very comfortable and I thought the D90 was fairly decent.

On the downside, Nikon manuals really suck and the menus are a beast to learn. For auto-ISO, what were they thinking by setting the max shutter speed to 1/250th of a second? Why not go for the full range? With a telephoto and fast action I want at least 1/2000th of a second.

CaptureNX (included for free) but it has a number of issues that I won't go into detail here but it does have some great features. You will need an ultra-fast computer with a lot of memory. It's a major CPU and memory hog. I bumped up my RAM to 4GB and even with a new fast Intel dual-core, the CPU is typically pegged out.

I found one store that had the camera in stock and on my birthday I went out and bought it full price. I don't regret it.

A word of caution: If you're going on a vacation or going shoot something important, buy the camera at least a month or earlier and learn the options to maximize the desired results. There are tons of tweaking you can do. Or just use 'P' mode and treat it like a point-and-shoot.

I'm not familiar with the other high-end ($1700 range) cameras but I gotta tell you, this camera is absolutely spectacular which is why some stores are almost always out of stock and they put you on a waiting list; and this camera has been out for quite a few months.

Truth be told, the D300 is an incremental improvement over the D200. In contrast, the D200 was an evolutionary leap over the D100. For some reason, I tend to confuse the exposure comp button with the shutter release; this was never the case with the D200.

This past weekend was my first opportunity to use my new Nikon D300. I have had other digital cameras but never a DSLR -- only the "point and shoot" variety of cameras. So far I love this Nikon D300; it is a super camera! I took it to a family gathering and took some shots both indoors and out. I was shooting in "P" mode and occasionally beginning to "tweak" some settings. What I am excited about is that I can take good pictures right out of the box with this camera. Also I know as I learn more about photography that I can "grow" with this camera. The shots from this weekend had good color and were very clear. I am very happy with this purchase! Also I would recommend buying the Introduction to the Nikon D300. This DVD is sold by Amazon.com and is a very helpful tool in learning how to use the D300.

i've had a d300 for a while now; comparing it to my can 5d for what i want it for,(sharpness, color, natural hues, and more depth of field; the NIKON D300 IS FAR AHEAD OF ALL I HAVE TRIED PEROID........

The "False Dead Battery" problem has received a lot of attention in various forums, but apparently nothing official from Nikon has been released. Basically, what happens is that while in the middle of shooting, the camera displays a low battery, and ceases to operate. Most people are able to clear the problem by either turning the camera off and back on, or buying a cleaner (deoxit) and carefully cleaning the lens and camera mount surface areas and contacts. Much speculation about what is happening ranges from poor ground contacts to a possible electrical problem in the electronics. The problem seems to happen most on the heavier, more expensive VR lenses, as they put more physical strain on the lens mount plus consume more power. Again, there is a lot of speculation as to what exactly is the problem.

I experienced this problem while shooting with an 18-200 VR. I had been using this combination for weeks without incident when all of a sudden it happened. Since then, it has happened on and off during casual shooting. I did inspect my lens mount and discovered what appeared to be some sort of filmy lubricant...similar to a white silicon grease I've seen used in products that have plastic gears. I cleaned the mount with a lint-free cloth, and so far, I've not seen the problem come back.

The other thing that I was not able to find in many of the forums was if this occurred as frequently with non-VR lenses. I did change to my 24-85 AF-S for a bit and didn't experience any problems with that. But that is not the most scientific experiment.

The reason I am giving this a one-star rating is to simply draw attention to the fact that there ARE users who are having issues. Some folks have commented that when disucussing this with Nikon, they either get a "we've not seen this problem before" or "send your camera, lens, charger, any battery in so they can be analyzed" responses. I am sure that that doesn't set well with most people. Some have indicated that this only affects a very small percentage of cameras - well, if Nikon is truly producing these at 66,000 per month, I'd say that even several hundred of the course of months looks like a statistical nit. Also, those who have sent in their equipment report that the problem is still there when they get it back.

This is the only problem or complaint I have about the D300. Otherwise, it is a remarkable product. The results are stunning. I have confidence that Nikon will do the right thing and address this, but not as quickly as everyone would like. But for now, I think it only fair to let everyone know that you could experience this problem. Virtually, there's no middle ground on this one...either you won't see the problem and you'll think this is the best camera on the planet, or you'll be very frustrated at spending a lot of money because you were the statistical nit.

Do I still recommend the camera - yes, I do. But I can't say I'm 100% happy or confident as I once was. For now, I'm waiting to see if the problem returns as cleaning is not a big deal, but if it's something else, I will have to give up the equipment before the warranty ends.

I'm a neophyte photographer that has been shooting DLSR for a year now. To be fair, I'm more of a technocrat than an artist; that is, I know the bells and whistles of this camera, and the D40 and D80 that I own. It's truly easier to be a technocrat than an artist.

I would strongly against recommending this camera as the first DSLR for anyone. The exception being experienced film shooters. My reason being the power of this camera can only be appreciated by those that need the features that comes with this puppy. If you're a pro, you can stop reading now. If you're considering upgrading to this from another DSLR or is a point and shoot person with interest for photography, read on...

Where to I begin? POW! 6 fps, way better metering than my D80, solid and stable in the hands, ADR with smooth contrast, Nikon finger ergonomics on the grip and buttons, 900K pixel 3" LCD (with impact resistence), 1000+ shots on a single charge (EN-EL3e), shoot at ISO1600+ (with optional high ISO noise reduction) and the magic EXPEED processor that renders gorgeous images. It's much easier to get better pictures with D300.

I've since added the MB-D10 battery grip to up the shooting to 8fps, and yes the Nikon grip is solid and connects perfectly to the D300 body. It shoots THAT much faster, but that's another story (and another review).

For $1700 street price, forget everything else if you know you need something like this and go for it.

Downside? Weight. Moving to this body from a backup or lower end DSLR, you'll need to deal with the extra weight and probably want to invest in a better strap. Add on a battery grip and a pro level lens, and we're talking about lugging a backup or good size camera bag around. It ain't all that sexy when you're hiking multiple miles with easily 4-5lbs with basic body and lens combo. On the note of downside with weight, if you don't give a damn about weight and got the money, want to shoot in low light/high ISO, and shoot a lot of sports, go for the D3 and be done with it already.

The D300 is spectacular. It's truly a solid and gorgeous product with great ergonomics for photographers, cutting-edge/pack leading features, great picture rendering, and Nikon's reliability in construction. Go out and buy one!

This is an amazing camera! To me, it was well worth the upgrade from my D80. I use it with Nikkor 18-200VR and 50mm f/1.4. Tokina 100mm macro and 12-24 f/4, and Tamron 200-500 zoom. It makes every single one of those lens' images look better than they did on my D80. CA, which I was constantly fixing in pictures taken in bright light with the 18-200, is a thing of the past. Highlights are just there - I love the active D-Lighting feature. The saturation capability is so high that I'm not using the highest setting - something that I just turned on by default in my D40 and D80. It's not perfect - my opinion says that the menu system needs a lot of reorganization for usability. But it's still five stars, no question.

For an old timer in photograophy(amateur)this machine is awsome and I am studying from David Busch's book on the D300 in Digital Photography. I have much to learn.

I'm a long time Nikon user. But I preferred to save some big money and picked up a Sony Alpha 700 - which uses the same image sensor, made by Sony - for $800 on closeout at Best Buy. (Sorry, no more left.)
If you are a pro and have Nikon lenses, this is a no brainer. Get this camera.
If you are starting off, the Alpha 700 is the same sensor for much less money (even not on sale) and virtually the same image quality (no worse or better as Sony and Nikon take slightly different approaches to sensor adjustments).
But wait! By the end of 2008, Sony will have a bunch of new DSLR cameras, as will probably Nikon.

I've used D200 extensively and thought it would be the best digital SLR for years to come. However, Nikon surprised me with D300 and it actually makes it easier to create significantly better images.

The D300 has better color, highlights, shadows; it's sharper because it fixes lens flaws, and its superior AF system. Except for the full frame sensor the D300 shares a lot of good things from D3 and comes at a much cheaper price. The D300's tweaks and far more processing power have made it possible to realize superior image quality. These improvements are readily seen in the images you shoot. The D300 has an amazing automatic ability to fix color fringes. This gives better and sharper results. No need to activate this, it just works. On a full battery, I get about 800-900 shots and it is more o