| Model: | Nikon D300 |
| Kind: | Digital single-lens reflex |
| Sensor: | Nikon DX format 23.6 mm × 15.8 mm CMOS |
| Res: | 4,288 × 2,848 (13.1 M/12.3 M pixels sensor/effective) |
| Lens: | Interchangeable, Nikon F-mount |
| Shutter: | Electronically controlled vertical-travel focal plane shutter |
| Shutterrange: | 30 s – 1/8000 s, bulb |
| Metering: | Three-mode through-the-lens (TTL) exposure metering |
| Emode: | Programmed Auto [P] with flexible program; Shutter-Priority Auto [S]; Aperture Priority Auto [A]; Manual [M] |
| Mmode: | 3D Color Matrix Metering II, Center-weighted and Spot |
| Farea: | 9, 21 and 51 points, 51 point 3D tracking, 15 cross-type sensors |
| Fmode: | Instant single-servo AF (S), continuous-servo AF (C), manual (M) |
| Cont: | 6 frame/s (8 with AC Adapter or Multi-Power Battery Pack with AA or EN-EL4 battery), 6 with Li-ion Battery, up to 100 frames (JPEG normal/large) |
| Viewfinder: | Optical, 100% frame coverage |
| Speedrange: | 200–3200 in 1, 1/2 or 1/3 EV steps (down to 100 and up to 6400 as expansion) |
| Flash: | Manual pop-up with button release Guide number 12/39 (ISO 100, m/ft) |
| Flbkt: | 3 to +1 EV in increments of 1/3 or 1/2 EV |
| Wb: | Auto, Six presets, Manual preset (four), Kelvin temperature, Fine tunable |
| Wbbkt: | 2 to 9 frames in increments of 1, 2 or 3 |
| Battery: | Nikon EN-EL3e Lithium-Ion battery |
| Rearlcd: | 3-inch TFT LCD with 307,200 pixels (921,600 dots) |
| Recording Medium: | CompactFlash (Type I or Type II) or Hitachi Microdrive |
| Weight: | About 825g without battery, memory card, body cap, or monitor cover |
| Obp: | MB-D10 battery pack with one Nikon EN-EL3e or eight AA batteries. An optional carrier can hold a Nikon EN-EL4 or EN-EL4a battery. |
| Predecessor: | Nikon D200 |
| Successor: | Nikon D300S |
The Nikon D300 is a 12.3-megapixel semi-professional[1] DX format digital single-lens reflex camera that Nikon Corporation announced on 23 August 2007 along with the Nikon D3 FX format camera. The D300 was discontinued by Nikon on September 11, 2009, being replaced by the modified Nikon D300S, which was released July 30, 2009. The D300S remained the premier Nikon DX camera until the D7100 was released in early 2013.
The D300 was designated by Nikon as the ultimate in DX format performance.[2] It is quite similar to the D700, with the main difference being that the D300 uses a DX sensor instead of an FX sensor. It offers both high resolution and high speed (being able to capture 6 frames per second, and 8 frames per second with the addition of an optional MB-D10 battery pack).
The D300 has not only a built-in autofocus motor for all Nikon autofocus-lenses, but includes CPU and metering for older Nikon F-mount AI/AI-S lenses and the new generation perspective control lenses (PC-E).[3]
The built-in intervalometer (timer) can be used for time-lapse low-light movies.[4]
The Nikon D300 was announced on August 23, 2007.[5] [6] Shutterbug Magazine,[7] and the UK magazine, "What Digital Camera"[8] presented initial 'First Look' reviews. Imaging Resource and Photocrati also did their own initial reviews.[9] [10] DCR[11] and Camera Labs[12] have full reviews of the D300. Digital Review Canada[13] compares it to the older Nikon D200. Popular Photography named the Nikon D300 for their official "Camera of the Year 2007" award.[14] The magazine also reviewed the camera, and noted at that time that Nikon Capture NX software was packaged with the camera;[15] more recent packages include a 30-day trial version.
The MB-D10 is an optional accessory battery pack that provides a vertical grip as well as additional shutter release and autofocus buttons, command dials and focus point selection control.
The MB-D10 allows the D300 to be powered by an additional EN-EL3e battery or AA batteries. An optional carrier is available which allows for an EN-EL4 or EN-EL4a battery to be installed instead. The camera can be configured to assign priority to either the internal EN-EL3e battery or the MB-D10 grip such that the other battery is used only when the primary battery is dead.
The D300 can shoot 8 frames per second with the MB-D10 & AA/EN-EL4/EN-EL4a battery installed, otherwise the camera is limited to a 6 frames per second 'shooting' mode. The MB-D10 is also compatible with the D700 but not the D200.
On January 15, 2008, Nikon released three additional picture control modes for the D300 which emulate the D2X/D2XS color modes I, II and III.[16]
On February 14, 2008, Nikon released a firmware upgrade which resolves an issue where vertical banding can occur when long exposure noise reduction is enabled for shutter speeds of 8 seconds and slower.[17]
For several years there have been third-party firmware patches available for this and other Nikon Cameras. Some have added features while others have attempted to correct defects in the original firmware.[18]
Although the D7000 was released in 2011 D300S production continued in parallel until the release of the D500 in 2016. In February Nikon announced that the D7100 would replace the D300s as their flagship DX format camera; this would later be replaced in 2016 by the D500. The D7100 features the same Multi-CAM D3500 DX module as the D300s.[19] However, the controls of the D7000 series departed from the standard of the D200, D300, D700, and D800 cameras. The D500 returns to that format.