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Nikon D300 vs Nikon D300S Comparison

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Nikon D300

12 MP | APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) CMOS Sensor

Nikon D300
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Nikon D300S

12 MP | APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) CMOS Sensor

Nikon D300S
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Nikon D300 vs Nikon D300S Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing the D300 and the D300S, two Advanced DSLR cameras by Nikon. Nikon D300 was introduced to the market in March 2008 and Nikon D300S was launched in November 2009. There is 20 months difference between D300 and D300S so we don't expect to see a huge technology difference between these two cameras but it would still give an advantage to younger D300S, especially in sensor tech.

Here is a brief look at the main features of the Nikon D300 and Nikon D300S before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Nikon D300 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2008-03-12
  • 12MP - APS-C CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 200 - 3200 ( expands to 100 - 6400)
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder
  • 6.0fps continuous shooting
  • No Video Mode
  • 925g. 147 x 114 x 74 mm
  • Weather-sealed Body
  • Replaced Nikon D200 Compare

Nikon D300S Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2009-11-16
  • 12MP - APS-C CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 200 - 3200 ( expands to 100 - 6400)
  • Nikon F Mount
  • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder
  • 7.0fps continuous shooting
  • HD - 1280 x 720 video resolution
  • 938g. 147 x 114 x 74 mm
  • Weather-sealed Body
  • Replaced Nikon D300 Compare

Nikon D300S was replaced by Nikon D500. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Nikon D500 vs Nikon D300S
Nikon D500 vs Nikon D300

Let's read on in the following sections in order to better understand in detail how the Nikon D300 and Nikon D300S compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


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Reasons to choose Nikon D300 over Nikon D300S
Battery Life
1000 shots vs 950 shots 50 more frames with a single charge
Weight
925 g vs 938 g 13 g lighter
CHECK D300 PRICE


Reasons to choose Nikon D300S over Nikon D300
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs No very handy for portraits
Continuous Shooting
7.0fps vs 6.0fps 1 fps faster
Microphone Port
Yes vs No High quality audio recording option
Color Depth
22.5 vs 22.1 higher color depth
Dynamic Range
12.2 vs 12.0 higher dynamic range
Low Light ISO
787 vs 679 better High ISO performance
Max Video Resolution
1280 x 720 vs None Higher Resolution Video
Storage Slot
2 vs 1 Extra storage slot
CHECK D300S PRICE

Common Strengths of Nikon D300 and Nikon D300S
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs Yes Better for flash photography
Viewfinder
Yes (Optical) vs Yes (Optical) Better framing and control
RAW Support
Yes vs Yes Better image quality
LCD Screen Resolution
922k dots vs 920k dots High resolution screens
Max Continuous Shooting
6.0fps vs 7.0fps Fast shooting speeds
Environmental Sealing
Yes vs Yes shoot at tough conditions
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs Yes creative shooting
Top LCD Display
Yes vs Yes Help viewing and changing settings easily
AE Bracketing
Yes vs Yes Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Flash Sync Port
Yes vs Yes Connect off-camera flash
AF Micro Adjustment (Fine Tune)
Yes vs Yes Adjust each lens for accurate focusing
Shutter Life Expectancy
150000 cycles vs 150000 cycles High Shutter Rating
Common Weaknesses of Nikon D300 and Nikon D300S
In-body Image Stabilization
No vs No No Built-in stabilization
Fixed Screen
Fixed Type vs No Screen tilts or Flips out independently, perfect for both stills and video
Nikon D300 vs Nikon D300S: Physical Specs and Body Features Comparison

Size and weight are big decision factors when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, we are going to illustrate the Nikon D300 and Nikon D300S side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Nikon D300 has external dimensions of 147 x 114 x 74 mm (5.79 x 4.49 x 2.91″) and weighs 925 g (2.04 lb / 32.63 oz) (including batteries). Nikon D300S has external dimensions of 147 x 114 x 74 mm (5.79 x 4.49 x 2.91″) and weighs 938 g (2.07 lb / 33.09 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front-view size comparison of the Nikon D300 and the Nikon D300S. In this case, we can see that Nikon D300 and Nikon D300S have the exact same height, width and thickness.

Nikon D300 vs Nikon D300S Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of the Nikon D300 and the Nikon D300S Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of the Nikon D300 and Nikon D300S.

Nikon D300 vs Nikon D300S Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of the Nikon D300 and the Nikon D300S Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon D300 and Nikon D300S.
Nikon D300 vs Nikon D300S Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of the Nikon D300 and the the Nikon D300S Size

Weight is another important factor, especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Nikon D300 is 13g lighter than the Nikon D300S but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Also keep in mind that body weight is not the only deciding factor when comparing two interchangeable camera bodies, you also have to take into account the lenses that you will be using with these bodies. Since both Nikon D300 and Nikon D300S have the same Nikon F lens mount and APS-C sized sensors, lenses will not be a differentiator on total size of the system.

Weight Comparison

DSLR Cameras

D300
D300S
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

DSLR Cameras

D300
D300S
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Both the D300 and the D300S have weather sealings in their bodies, making them resistant to water and dust.

LCD Screen Size and Features

Nikon D300 and Nikon D300S's LCD screens have the same diagonal size of 3.00 inches.

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.


Nikon D300 vs Nikon D300S: Sensor Comparison

Both Nikon D300 and Nikon D300S have APS-C sized 12.0 MP resolution sensors so sensor size and resolution is not a differentiator between these two cameras.

Below you can see the D300 and D300S sensor size comparison.

Nikon D300 vs Nikon D300S Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon D300 and Nikon D300S Cameras


Nikon D300 and Nikon D300S have the same sensor sizes so they will provide same level of control over the depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

DxOMark Sensor Scores

DxOMark is a benchmark that scientifically assesses image quality of camera sensors. It scores camera sensors for color depth (DXO Portrait), dynamic range (DXO Landscape) and low-light sensitivity (DXO Sports), and also gives them an overall score. Nikon D300 and Nikon D300S sensors have been tested by DxO and the results show that D300S has a better overall score of 70, 3 points higher compared to D300's score of 67.

Model Overall Color Depth Dynamic Range Low-light ISO
Nikon D300 67 22.1 bits 12.0 Evs 679 ISO
Nikon D300S 70 22.5 bits 12.2 Evs 787 ISO
Nikon D300 vs Nikon D300S Comparison of Available Lenses
Which camera has more lenses?

The number of available lenses is a big deciding factor when choosing your interchangeable lens camera. Nikon D300 and Nikon D300S have the same Nikon F lens mount and currently there are 316 native lenses available for these cameras.

Another important factor is the availability of image stabilization. None of these bodies have sensor based image stabilization so you have to buy lenses with Optical stabilization feature. Currently there are 107 lenses with Image stabilization for Nikon F mount.

Lens Type # of Nikon D300 Lenses # of Nikon D300S Lenses
Standard Zoom 32 32
Standard Prime 22 22
Wideangle Zoom 33 33
Wideangle Prime 50 50
Telephoto Zoom 55 55
Telephoto Prime 46 46
SuperZoom 30 30
Wideangle Fisheye Prime 8 8
Macro Prime 26 26
Perspective Control Prime 11 11
Telephoto Mirror Prime 1 1
TOTAL 316 316

Here are some of the most popular Nikon F Mount Lenses on Camera Decision:

Popular Nikon F Mount Lenses for the D300 and the D300S
Model Coverage Weight Focusing Street Price
Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm f4-5.6G Lens Nikon AF Nikkor 70-300mm f4-5.6G
35mm FF 425gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon AF Nikkor 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR Lens Nikon AF Nikkor 80-400mm f4.5-5.6D ED VR
35mm FF 1340gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G VR Lens Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G VR
35mm FF 745gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Tamron SP 150-600mm F5-6.3 Di VC USD Lens Tamron SP 150-600mm F5-6.3 Di VC USD
35mm FF 1951gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 200-500mm F5.6E ED VR Lens Nikon AF-S Nikkor 200-500mm F5.6E ED VR
35mm FF 2300gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon AF-S Micro-Nikkor 105mm f2.8G IF-ED VR Lens Nikon AF-S Micro-Nikkor 105mm f2.8G IF-ED VR
35mm FF 720gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Sigma 300-800mm F5.6 EX DG HSM Lens Sigma 300-800mm F5.6 EX DG HSM
35mm FF 5880gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f1.8G Lens Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 35mm f1.8G
APS-C / DX 200gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
What types of Photography are Nikon D300 and Nikon D300S Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon D300 and Nikon D300S for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Nikon D300 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Nikon D300S for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE
Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) sensor
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
No Image Stabilization
Read the details
Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) sensor
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Nikon D300 for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Nikon D300S for Street Photography

AVERAGE
Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) sensor
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
No Image Stabilization
Large Body
Read the details
Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) sensor
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
No Image Stabilization
Large Body
Read the details

Nikon D300 for Sports Photography

GOOD

Nikon D300S for Sports Photography

GOOD
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
51 Focus Points
Good Battery Life: 1000 shots
Average Continuous Shooting: 6.0fps
No Image Stabilization
Read the details
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Continuous Shooting: 7.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
51 Focus Points
Good Battery Life: 950 shots
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Nikon D300 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Nikon D300S for Daily Photography

AVERAGE
Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Large Body
925g
Body Thickness 74mm
Read the details
Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Large Body
938g
Body Thickness 74mm
Read the details

Nikon D300 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Nikon D300S for Landscape Photography

POOR
Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Read the details
Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Read the details

Nikon D300 vs Nikon D300S: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far, but in case you wonder how we rated Nikon D300 and Nikon D300S, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 69 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Nikon D300 and Nikon D300S scores compare:

Nikon D300
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #56 out of 95 in Mid-size SLR cameras
Ranked #416 out of 1259 in all Cameras
Nikon D300S
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #49 out of 95 in Mid-size SLR cameras
Ranked #294 out of 1259 in all Cameras

Nikon D300S has a higher Overall Score than the Nikon D300 and would be our choice if we have to decide between these two cameras.

Nikon D300
Nikon D300
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Nikon D300S
Nikon D300S
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Nikon D300S vs Nikon D300 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon D300 Nikon D300S
Brand Nikon Nikon
Announced 2008-03-12 2009-11-16
Body Type Mid-size SLR Mid-size SLR
Sensor
Type CMOS CMOS
Size APS-C APS-C
Dimensions 23.6 x 15.8 mm 23.6 x 15.8 mm
Area 372.88mm2 372.88mm2
Megapixels 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Max Resolution 4288 x 2848 4288 x 2848
Max Native Light sensitivity 3,200 ISO 3,200 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity 6400 ISO 6400 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 200 ISO 200 ISO
Min Boosted Light Sensitivity 100 ISO 100 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 51 51
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount Nikon F Nikon F
Number of Available Lenses 316 316
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 3.00" 3.00"
Resolution 922k dots 920k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Optical (pentaprism) Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder Coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder Magnification 0.63x 0.63x
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/8000s 1/8000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization No No
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 12.00 m (at ISO 100) 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Max Flash Sync 1/250s 1/250s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 6.0 fps 7.0 fps
Multi-Segment Metering
Average Metering
Spot Metering
Partial Metering
AF-Area Metering
Center Weighted Metering
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution None 1280 x 720
Video Formats n/a Motion JPEG
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity None Eye-Fi Connected
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 925g 938g
Dimensions 147 x 114 x 74mm 147 x 114 x 74mm
Battery Life 1000 shots 950 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS Optional Optional
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score 67 70
DxO Color Depth 22.1 22.5
DxO Dynamic Range 12.0 12.2
DxO Low Light ISO 679 787
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