Nikon D300S

The Nikon D300 is hugely popular with enthusiasts and professionals alike, but does the newer D300S offer enough features to become the new favourite? 

Rather than reinvent the wheel with a completely new model, Nikon has tinkered with the current D300 to arrive at an improved ‘S’ version in the Nikon D300S, but is there enough on this improved model to keep it at the top of its game and justify an upgrade?

Features & build
As it’s a subtle revamp, the body remains virtually identical to the D300, bar a couple of minor changes. The body is constructed from magnesium-alloy with a large, positive handgrip and a host of environment seals to protect it from the elements. This solid construction results in a body-only weight of 840g (5g heavier than the standard D300), adding to the reassuring, go-anywhere feel of the camera. A vast majority of the body is finished with a non-slip rubberised grip that offers a very similar high-end feel to the full-frame D3 and D700 bodies.  If there’s one complaint to be levelled at the build, it’s that the D300S has the same slide card cover on the D700, rather than the more secure switch release found on the D300.
An initial look at the top-line specification of the Nikon D300S reveals that again, it’s almost identical to the D300. The resolution remains the same at 12.3Mp, while the ISO range is also identical, running from 200-3200. The ISO range can be expanded, however, with an ISO equivalent range of 100 (L1.0) to 6400 (H1.0). There’s the latest EXPEED image processing engine which now allows for a burst rate of 7fps (frames per second), an increase from 6fps on the D300 and almost as fast as the super-quick D3 with 9fps. It’ll still accept the same MB-D10 battery grip as the D300 and D700, and 8fps can be achieved if you invest in an additional EN-EL4/EL4a battery (the same as found in the D2/D3 series).
Like the D300, there’s still a 3in screen with a resolution of 920 dot VGA, and while Live View is still supported, it has been slightly refined. Now there’s a dedicated Live View activation button, rather than it being an option on the release mode dial. There’s also the option of overlaying a Virtual Horizon onto the display (first seen on the D3) to check if your horizontals are level, while probably one of the biggest developments is the inclusion of HD video. Like the D90 and D5000, the Nikon D300S can record up to 720p at 24fps, but unlike the other two, it allows contrast-detect AF during recording.     
The AF system is identical to that of the D300, with a maximum of 51 AF points to choose from. The central 15 AF points are of the cross-type variety, allowing for faster and more accurate autofocusing in low contrast scenes. There’s an array of focus tracking options, including 3D tracking, that uses all 51 AF points and the D300S’s Scene Recognition system to intelligently track a subject round the viewfinder.      
Nikon’s Vibration Reduction (VR) anti-shake system is entirely lens based, so it’s dependent on the lens attached featuring VR technology. Additionally, there is Nikon’s self-cleaning sensor system that shakes dust from the imaging chip.  
 
Performance & handling
The 7fps that the Nikon D300S dishes out is impressive, and it can capture 17 RAWs consecutively before the buffer becomes full, and double that when shooting JPEGs. Now while that may not seem quite as impressive as some affordable models that can shoot 100 JPEGs continuously, the Nikon D300S is doing it at a much faster frame rate.
The D300S’s 51-point Multi-CAM3500DX is one of the best systems around, and is only really bettered by the Multi-CAM3500FX system found on the D3/D3X and D700. The amount of AF points in use can be defined, with a choice of either 11 or the whole suite of 51 points, and it’s the same for AF tracking (Dynamic AF), with either 9, 21, or 51 points as an option, with AF point selection quickly carried out using the revised D-Pad at the rear.
The 3D tracking, while not 100% foolproof, works very well, locking on and tracking subjects depending on tone, and it works especially well when tracking skin tones. As you can see from the test images that were taken in a fast-paced environment, the AF really came up trumps. 
Handling characteristics are virtually identical to the D300 (and D700 for that matter), with all the key settings controlled via a series of buttons and switches dotted round the body. Quality, WB and ISO are within very easy reach, while the drive modes are easily accessible, too.
As you’d expect with a high-end orientated camera, there are no scene modes, just a simple choice of either M, A, S, P. The LCD top-plate displays a wide-variety of shooting information, and is even larger than that found on the D3/D700, with the extra space used for AF settings.
For such a comprehensive specification, the menu system is intuitive to navigate and use quickly, toggling through a wide range of settings. And that’s one of the beauties of the Nikon D300S – the way pretty much every setting can easily be fine-tuned and adjusted to your liking. 

Value & Verdict
The Nikon D300S is a couple of hundred pounds more than when the D300 was first launched, but a lot of that can be placed on the present financial climate and a strong Yen. But even though we can expect the price to drop a tad after launch, it’s still only currently about £250 less than the full-frame D700. Granted, it shares a similar design, but the appeal of a full-frame sensor with an improved ISO performance does make for a tempting proposition and will be worth the extra investment for some.
That said though, if you’ve got a selection of DX format lenses and don’t want the extra outlay of new lenses that’s often the case when going full-frame, then the D300S makes a great case for itself as an upgrade or second body.
The build quality is first-class, handling excellent, performance superb, images solid and there’s a spec list brimming with features. For professionals, it’s the perfect back-up body, while the extra 1.5x crop over a full-frame D-SLR makes it great for sport and wildlife snappers. 
For the serious enthusiast, it’s a natural progression for existing D80/D90 owners who want to make the jump, while there’s just enough here on the Nikon D300S to make an upgrade from a D200 justifiable. However, if you’ve already got a D300, keep your money in your pocket or invest in some new lenses.
Although the changes have been subtle, the Nikon D300S has established itself as one of the best D-SLRs with an APS-C sized sensor around today.

AT A GLANCE
Price: £1499 (body only)
Resolution: 12.3Mp (4288x2848 pixels)
Lens mount: Nikon F
Focal length multiplication: 1.5x
Focusing: 51-point selectable
Burst rate: 7fps (17 RAW & 34 JPEG)
Write times: 1.5secs (RAW), <1sec (JPEG)
ISO range: 200-3200, expandable to 100 (L1.0)-6400(H1.0)
Shutter range: 30-1/8000secs + B
Monitor: 3.0in, 920K dot VGA TFT
Anti-shake: Lens based
Live View: Yes
HD Video: Yes: 1280x720 @  24fps
Storage: CompactFlash & SD/SDHC
Weight: 840g
Dimensions: 147x114x74mm
Visit: www.nikon.co.uk

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